Living in the Spirit
August 19, 2016

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

Reading the morning paper yesterday sitting back in my recliner with my feet up, the floor beneath me began to rock, and my chair joined in the chorus. I noted the time. It was 7:30 am. The shaking quickly dissipated. I have become a pro at earthquakes and whether and how I should respond to them. The first time it happened, the rocking lasted longer but since I did not know what was happening that was a good thing. It gave me time to realize what might be happening, but it also made me aware I did not know the proper response to earthquakes. I do know now. I probably am becoming complacent about these quakes being at the edge where no real damage happens. Not home when the only quake that did damage, I do not know how I might react to a more direct hit or a stronger quake. The fact that these quakes are in many cases the result of human actions is frustrating. We do not seem to know how to stop the quakes and continue oil and gas production activities. Understanding our priorities and our need to change our way of being to solve our own problems is difficult.

I sense our world is experiencing a series of social, economic, environmental, and political quakes that may seem a nuisance, but in more instances, than we want have caused major, life-changing catastrophes. These quakes too have human origin.

The writer of Hebrews warns us of such events while assuring us God is the only one who can stop this shaking. Our challenge is discerning God’s way for our lives rather than projecting our desires as God’s.

Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God,
              and put a new and right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10) 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.