Tag Archives: Serving God

Truth

Living in the Spirit

August 19, 2022

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:18-29

See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.’ This phrase ‘Yet once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire. –Hebrews 12:25-29

Truth exists. I have read descriptions of modernity as the state of being current, or up with the times. This may contribute to the downplaying of history current in our world. Now is all that matters, as tomorrow everything may change. The implication is that cultural changes are driving us. Today’s cell phone is out-of-date tomorrow. Truth in modernity thus is as malleable as we want it.

The reshaping of truth, however, is not modern. It is at least 2,000 years old. In the story of Jesus’ trial interview with Pilate, Jesus is quoted as saying, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ To which Pilate responds by asking, ‘What is truth?’  (John 17:36-38)

We are being shaken to our core today with the chaos of a divide and conquer war being waged to separate us from one another. Yet we are called to be one by Jesus to love and care for one another and not to be ruled by the principalities and powers of a greed-driven world.

let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1b-2

Prayer: Lord, Grant us the courage to serve you more nearly. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Faith Instinct

Eastertide

May 10, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Acts 11:1-18

At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.” And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’ Acts 11:11-18

The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. Did you ever feel that something came up and you knew instinctually that it was something you needed to take care of that you could feel that need in your bones? I think that would describe Peter’s response to the men who had traveled to bring him back to their community. The spirit not only told him to go but to make no distinction. We are all raised with certain norms, and ways of being that differ from those of others. The line Peter crossed just by going with the visitors took a giant step, but to treat them as he would a fellow Jew was even a greater challenge. We see that kind of behavior in emergencies. A man comes upon a car wreck with a driver in the front seat and a fire under the hood. The first man jumps from his car and pulls the driver out and away from the vehicle just before it explodes. Instinct kicked in. Peter’s faith instinct allowed him to make the journey, share the story of Christ, welcome these strangers, and then return to convince his fellow Jews that he did the right thing. We are called to nurture a vibrant faith instinct where we respond to life situations and people as Jesus would respond.

1 Corinthians 13:12—For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. Describes the dilemma we face when responding to our call to serve God. The KJV uses the word darkly rather the dimly in its translation. Either word illustrates that we are not necessarily seeing the whole picture. We must learn to trust in God when we serve in the dark. To do that we must maintain a lasting, deep relationship with the Lord, through prayers, communion, and study.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen our faith instinct as we work toward realizing the Kingdom of God.Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Answered Prayer

Eastertide

April 20, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 118:14-29

I thank you that you have answered me
   and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
   it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
   let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
   O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
   We bless you from the house of the Lord. –Psalm 118:21-26

The poet of the above scripture is possibly being very literal about being saved. His life may have been spared in a battle that was won by his people. The scenes of Ukraine are seared in our minds. I cannot imagine either the terror of the bombings or climbing from a hiding place and realizing the pain of losing a loved one or experiencing the joy that you and your family have survived the latest airstrike. I do believe that as Jesus said it rains on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45), but it does not lessen the pain of loss or joy when calamity had not won the day. What it does say is, do not give up on the Lord in any situation. When horrendous things happen to God’s people, God is present with them as they mourn the dead and take care of the injured or celebrate the joy in simply surviving.

Yesterday was the 27th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, and ceremonies were conducted in memory of those lost and injured and in thanksgiving of those who rescued and helped in the recovery. The Oklahoma City Memorial Garden is a beautiful site of remembrance. Since 1995 downtown Oklahoma City has blossomed into a vibrant center city. I pray for a similar outcome for Ukraine and for all the nations caught in the forces of greed and lust for power that place their faith in violence. May they discover or rediscover the blessing received in serving the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your constant presence in the good times and the bad. Thank you for answering prayers. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Serving God

Living in the Spirit

October 28, 2021

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 9:11-14

But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

Once for all. . . obtaining eternal redemption, Jesus’s death on the cross freed us from repetitious penitence, allowing us to devote our time and talent to loving God and loving one another.  I grew up on a farm and knew the labor necessary just to head a heifer to the desired location. I remember Dad bringing home a cow that turned out to be headstrong and wild. The whole family got involved in trying to get her in the milking barn. She even swam the pond to escape the barrier we had created to capture her. Consequently, she was returned to the sale barn the following week.

The above scripture could be a good metaphor for getting distracted by the dead works that entangle us from following the plan that Jesus set forth for us. I see that plan summarized in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and Jesus telling us we will be judged on how well we care for others described in Matthew 25:31-46. I am not critical of our faith ancestors who were offering items of worth in homage to God. However, Jesus’s death and resurrection tell us that the thing most valuable to God is our giving back, by choice, the life God gave us in service and in love to actualizing God’s original vision of our world.

Prayer: God of Grace, thank you for the teachings of Jesus showing us how to serve you and for Christ’s continuing support and love as we choose to love you more dearly and serve you more nearly. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Worship

Living in the Spirit

July 7, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 24

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
   the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas,
   and established it on the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
   And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
   who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
   and do not swear deceitfully.
They will receive blessing from the Lord,
   and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him,
   who seek the face of the God of Jacob. –Psalm 24:1-6

The above is part of a song sung as the Hebrew congregation enters the temple to worship. Apparently friendly greeting and conversation were transacted outside the temple itself. If you entered my church on Sunday in preparation for worship, you would observe a lot of friendly visiting and last minute getting everyone in the right place. We open with some announcements to get our attention and then share a song followed by a call to worship.

What does worship mean to us? The word worship in the English language is both a noun and a verb*. Even when used as a noun the word describes action. Other English words used to describe worship are venerate or adore*. The Hebrew words describing worship as to do homage, bow down to. The Greek speaks of showing reverence or doing service**. That word selection sounds like it was influenced by Jesus.

Psalm 24 proclaims the Lord as the source of the earth and an entity of such power must be approached with respect.  To come with clean hands and pure hearts, we must spend some time literally getting the dirt off our hands and figuratively cleansing our hears of anything that might separate us from God such as idol worship and deceit. We are the ones who receive blessings in the act of worshipping God.

Steeped in New Testament theology from childhood, I have always viewed Sunday as a day of spiritual renewal preparing me for my future work particularly that of the week ahead. I also appreciate the Sabbath God ordained in Genesis. I think we do need time to rest and pray—good preparation for a new beginning each week.

Prayer: Amen.

*https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/worship
**https://biblescan.com/searchhebrew.php?q=worship

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

God’s Kingdom Come

Lent

March 24, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 40:5-10

Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
   but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt-offering and sin-offering
   you have not required.
Then I said, ‘Here I am;
   in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do your will, O my God;
   your law is within my heart.’

I have told the glad news of deliverance
   in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips,
   as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
   I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
   from the great congregation.–Psalm 40:6-10

This week the lectionary focused on offering “things” to God that are of value to us but not of value to God.  I have always thought it interesting that the required sacrifices support a system that establishes worth based on wealth. The rich with much pomp brought their fatted calves, the middle class, a lamb without blemish, and the poor a couple of birds. Fair is fair; we should give based on our ability. I do not think God desires more of us than we can provide. However, our all too human self-righteous inclinations can create caste systems. What indeed does the Lord require of [us] but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [our] God*? Doing God’s will by choice is what God desires.

The Psalmist writes Here I am. . .I delight to do your will, and then talks about sharing the glad news of deliverance. When I was a child, my church’s evangelism group called on people new to our community to invite them to our church and called on people who may have lived there for years, encouraging them to come to church. Among the various churches in my small hometown, the preachers preached similar sermons. Bible school felt boards illustrated the same stories, and I was blessed to learn a few different hymns and choruses in each Bible school attended. I do not remember doing much mission work locally. We did support global missions.

Our world has become more complex. The diversity of denominations is the least of what divides us today. We now clash on who owns God. Evil has done Evil’s job well. We have it upside down and backward. Many believe Abraham Lincoln wrote, a house divided against itself cannot stand. He was quoting from Matthew 12:25. The verse was true when repeated and is still true today. He probably thought Christians in his hearing familiar with the verse would take heed.

God is at the center of God’s Kingdom, and all creation is called to be one working within the framework God designed. All people are of worth, all people are called to contribute their unique talents and skills, and all are held together by the sinew of God’s love.

Prayer: Creator of All, forgive us for forming our kingdoms and adding your name without your permission as an endorsement. Guide us to be all that we can be in oneness supporting your Kingdom. Amen.

*From Micah 6:

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

God’s Expectations

Living in the Spirit

October 4, 2020

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:33-46

Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’ –Matthew 21:33-41

Who has the corner on God? When did any group or groups win the right to define God’s kingdom? Why do some pursue, in God’s name, their enrichment to the detriment of others? While we struggle with this reality today, it is not new. In the Hebrew Bible, the prophets were the slaves in this story and the coming Messiah, the son. The religious leaders, when Jesus told this story, were the tenants with whom God had placed his sacred trust to bring forth the fruits of God’s love among all of God’s children. The religious leaders wanted it all for themselves.

We are all cast in this parable’s roles—some tenants, some slaves, some perhaps even identifying as owner or son. Jesus calls us to step off the stage and be the people God created us to be in the best way we can be. There is no pecking order in the Kingdom of God. There is no reward in accumulating wealth or power. Jesus says specifically, From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. (Luke 12:48b) and For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ (Mark 10:45)

Prayer: God, forgive us when we let greed and lust for power supersede our commitment to furthering your vision of our world. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Salvation is a Beginning

Living in the Spirit

August 7, 2020

Scripture Reading: Romans 10:5-15

But what does it say?
‘The word is near you,
   on your lips and in your heart’

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’’ –Romans 10: 8-15

Accepting Jesus as Lord is not a final act, it marks the beginning of a new life in service to God. Accepting Jesus as Lord does not immediately result in perfection but institutes our journey toward Christ’s wisdom and truth.  Accepting Jesus as Lord casts out exclusion and demands the inclusion of all of God’s children as all are created in God’s image.

Think about a person in your history that routinely drove you to distraction. The one you moved across to the other side of the room in avoidance when they entered. This is the one you must love. Consider what in your life caused you to shun them. Consider what in their being created the behavior you want to avoid as you learn to love them. As people of God, we must consider what made us the way we are and compare that to the way God calls us to be allowing God to create in us clean hearts and right spirits*, as we work together to build the Kingdom of God. These are the ones with whom we must seek common ground for the Common Good.

Prayer: Lord, our world in chaos and needs the power of your love to save it. Let your love flow through us as we strive to love like you. Amen.

*See Psalm 51:10

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Glorifying God

Eastertide

May 23, 2020

Scripture Reading: John 17:1-11

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. –John 17:1-5

Glorify or honor means to value something or someone for what it really is. Our work in the name of God glorifies God before others. We do much more at introducing God to others by our actions than our words. We, too, are called to finish the work that God gave us to do. We first have to discern what that work is. Our work calling can change over time as we mature and develop new skills.

Blogs did not exist 25 years ago.  I can remember punching holes in cards used to run programs through mainframe computers 45 years ago. Federal law required the permanent maintenance of all records in some instances. My staff created a footstool for me out of those cards we could not destroy. We transferred the data years before to other devices. We also had nothing available that could even read them, but we still had to keep them.

Knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ is an honor to us. Our returning that honor in all that we do and say is the best way we have of glorifying God. Even last year, I would not have imagined that I would now be glorifying God by wearing a mask or keeping a distance from others. Recently as I become frustrated at taking recommended precautions about COVID 19, I remind myself that taking those precautions is one way I can glorify God working together to protect all of God’s children from the pandemic.

Prayer:  Lord, grant us the will to do your will in loving one another. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Waiting for the Spirit

Eastertide

May 18, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Acts 1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ –Acts 1:1-5

This scripture indicates that the Holy Spirit was with the Disciples at Christ’s ascension and that they are now awaiting the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is mentioned throughout the Hebrew Bible over 200 times. As Christ was with God from the creation, so also was the Spirit. Christ was preparing the Disciples for taking over the reins of his quest to further the Kingdom of God throughout our world. We recall that Jesus’s ministry was introduced with the arrival of a dove from heaven and a voice saying, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’

This pattern of preparation in service to God also tracks throughout the Bible. I like the example of the airline staff giving instructions at the beginning of a flight when they say something to the effect that, if necessary, a mask will drop down from the ceiling of the plane. Put the mask on yourself before you try to help another put their mask on. The message is that we will be no good to anyone else if we faint from lack of oxygen. Establishing our link with the Holy Spirit is key to our success in service to God.

Paul would probably add here a metaphor about athletes always staying in training. Just as they need to be honed to the point of responding through muscle memory, we need to be ready to respond to life’s challenges through the Spirit memory that we receive and nurture for growth through the practice of spiritual disciplines like prayer and study.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.