Tag Archives: Wholeness

Persuaded to Trust

Living in the Spirit

October 2, 2022

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.

‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”’

Faith is to be persuaded, to come to trust*.

Faith (4102/pistis) is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, 4102/pistis (“faith”) for the believer is “God’s divine persuasion” – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4: for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. )*.

My book club is reading the book Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom. Anymore, I listen to most books, to lessen the strain on my eyes. I have been very busy recently and needed to find the time to read this book before our group meets to discuss it. I listen to the first chapter which was very sad, and I just laid it aside. I really did not want to return to it, but finally did. It is the story of life in families and communities where bad things happen to good people and where the strength to deal with that is in the gift of God’s faithfulness. The challenge lies in being able to come to that trust. There is a grandmother in the story who quietly prays without ceasing to intersect with the gift of God’s faithfulness.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. –1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of faith you share with us like the manna from heaven giving us enough faith when we need it. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/4102.htm

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.

Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places

Living in the Spirit

October 1, 2022

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.

‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”’

This is a dense scripture. One almost must be in the mind of the author to understand the message fully. The Interpreter’s Bible questions its grammar. I guess that is on the translator, but the original language was probably a challenge too.

The point is not that they need more faith; rather, they need to understand that faith enables God to work in a person’s life in ways that defy ordinary human experience. The saying is not about being able to do miraculous works or spectacular tricks. On the contrary, Jesus assures the disciples that with even a little faith they can live by his teaching on discipleship*.

I am not sure what that means either, but it reminded me of a conversation in a Bible study recently when we were discussing the state of our world right now. I noted that there seemed to be a need among people that to be of worth they must be better than another person or group of people. That sounds contradictory to the understanding that all people were made in the image of God and that it would be impossible to be better than anyone else. A thoughtful participant said, that even if we are made in the image of God, we must choose to follow God. Until we accept God’s grace, we cannot fulfill our discipleship leaving us wandering around trying to find love in all the wrong places to quote an old song**.  Serving God is a joy, not slave labor. I fall back on the scripture Matthew 11:28-30, ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Prayer: Lord, when we grow frustrated in our discipleship, bless us with the joy of being a conduit of your love. Amen.

*The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume IX Luke John page 322

** Lookin’ for Love by Wanda Mallette, Bob Morrison, and Patti Ryan

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 with Us

Living in the Spirit

September 29, 2022

Scripture Reading:

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us. –2 Timothy 1:8-14

Hymns often run through my mind when I read the scriptures upon which they are based. Many of those hymns have been removed from hymnals. While some may have questionable theology many just do not meet our current language and music styles. The one that flashed through my mind as I read the above scripture was, I know not why God’s wondrous grace To me He hath made known*.

1 I know not why God’s wondrous grace
to me is daily shown,
nor why, with mercy, Christ in love
redeemed me for his own.

Refrain:
But “I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I’ve committed
unto him against that day.”

In times like these, with storms, fires, wars, and injustice rampant, we need to read/sing/hear this message and know that our Lord is indeed able to keep that which all of us have committed against such times like these.

Prayer: Lord, help us remember who we are and whose we are as we deal with life’s challenges. Amen.

*I know not why God’s wondrous grace To me He hath made known by D. H. Whittle see at https://hymnary.org/text/i_know_not_why_gods_wondrous_grace_to_me

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.

Patience or Long Suffering

Living in the Spirit

September 28, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 37:1-9
Do not fret because of the wicked;
   do not be envious of wrongdoers,
for they will soon fade like the grass,
   and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
   so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
   trust in him, and he will act.
He will make your vindication shine like the light,
   and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
   do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
   over those who carry out evil devices.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
   Do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For the wicked shall be cut off,
   but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

The word translated in the NRSV Bible as patience among the listing of the fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23) in other translations reads forbearance or longsuffering. I tend to identify more with the translation longsuffering. Patience is a nice word. Longsuffering is a self-pitying word. Patience is encouraging a baby to take its first steps. Longsuffering is waiting for a teenager who is already an hour late from curfew while the parent wonders if the teen has been killed in a wreck or whether the parents want to wring the teen’s neck for being late and making them worry. Both understandings apply to our work in implementing the beloved community that Jesus called us to champion. At times, we take baby steps, and at other times we must step out in faith into the unknown of spiritual growth needed to complete the tasks set before us. Babies land on their back sides many times before that first step lands. Whether we like it or not, teenagers must learn from their own mistakes as adults also must.

The above Psalm teaches us that we never are alone as we journey through our lives serving God. We need to develop the spiritual disciplines to lean into God’s presence in all that we do and trust God to do God’s part.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your patience in helping us develop as your servants. Forgive us for any long-suffering we cause you as we learn from our own mistakes. 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.

Lamentations

Living in the Spirit

September 26, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Lamentations 1:1-6, 3:19-26

Judah has gone into exile with suffering
   and hard servitude;
she lives now among the nations,
   and finds no resting-place;
her pursuers have all overtaken her
   in the midst of her distress.

 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
   his mercies never come to an end;
 they are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
   ‘therefore I will hope in him.’

The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    to the soul that seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
   for the salvation of the Lord. –Lamentations 1:3, 22-26

I watched Ken Burns latest series on PBS which describes the USA’s interaction with the Holocaust. Most of it was not news to me but seeing it all gathered together was heart-wrenching. It was also frightfully similar to parts of our nation today. Some with their heads buried in the sand, some leaning toward fascism.  Others see what is happening but do not think it is theirs to solve, and others want to help but do not know what to do.  

Yesterday, I took a day off from the news. I have grown tired of hearing another senseless murder occured in my city overnight, and lamentapoliticians raving about issues that take the focus off the real problems that cry out to be addressed–lack of health care, poorly supported education systems, homelessness, and hunger. I needed to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations are good for the soul as God strengthens our backbones giving us the courage to rise and be the people God created us to be as we do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. (See Micah 6:8)

Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage we need 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.

In the World Not of It

Living in the Spirit

September 25, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Luke 16:19-31

Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’ –Luke 16:26-31

What does it take to make us do what is necessary to address a problem?  The phone part of my cell phone went dead on me this morning giving me the message that I had no SIM card. My very first reaction was, “what time does Target open?” I cannot live without a telephone. The store was not opened yet. I calmed down a bit so I accessed, via my computer, my phone carrier explaining my problem. The woman who responded asked me a few questions and then instructed me on how to access my SIM card and guided me through cleaning it. I chatted back that I would rather take it to someone else to fix. She said let’s try this first and I following her patient detailed instructions removed the SIM card, cleaned it, and reinstalled it. My phone worked again. If I had followed my first instinct, I probably would have spent a lot of time and money for no good reason because dust seeped through the edge of my phone and temporarily blocked its working.

As the scripture above indicates, we, too, have had Moses and the prophets and Jesus, who did rise from the dead, and still, we panic and search the ways of the world to address our life challenges before we recall we are children of God and our first step in managing our life should be to touch base with God and take strength in knowing who we are and whose we are. If we live our faith, eventually, like Paul in 1 Timothy 4:7, we will be able to say, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Prayer: Lord, help me stay in touch with you through my daily spiritual disciplines so that I seek your guidance in all phases of intersecting with the world. Remind us all, we are in the world not of it. 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.

Is Our Worldview, Ordering our Lives?

Living in the Spirit

Living in the Spirit

September 20, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Amos 6:1, 4-7
Alas for those who are at ease in Zion,
   and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
the notables of the first of the nations,
   to whom the house of Israel resorts!
Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory,
   and lounge on their couches,
and eat lambs from the flock,
   and calves from the stall;
who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp,
   and like David improvise on instruments of music;
who drink wine from bowls,
   and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
   but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,
   and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.

Well, one thing I am sure of, I am not at ease. I wake in the early morning stewing over how to fix what I see is broken in our world, while recognizing that what I see as broken many see as wholeness. Where and how did we get so divided? I recall a conversation a few years ago with a friend comparing our college years. While we both graduated in 1969, she was only vaguely aware that Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated or that the Democrat convention of 1968 broke out into a riot over the Vietnam War. Her college experience was centered on sorority parties, football games, and planning her wedding after graduation while I was protesting war, racism, and poverty. She was a good student and a caring loving person with a worldview far removed from mine. She grew up in an upper-middle-class home with loving parents who were active in the church. She did love her neighbors, yet she rarely had the opportunity to move beyond her neighborhood’s boundaries. We do not have to fight over whether true history should be taught in our public schools, we are immune from its reality. Our culture drives our understanding, and as Amos says so potently the worldview of Israel was leading them toward exile.

How do we reinvent our worldview? How do we let go of things that were or are so precious to us? I, too, like parties, football games, and celebrating friends’ marriages. That is not the point. There is a whole diverse world out there of which we are a part, where bad things happen to good people we are called to love as our neighbors. By widening our worldview, and stretching our ability to welcome the stranger, we may surprisingly find our way out of exile and into God’s Beloved Community.

Prayer: Lord, open windows in our worldview to finding our way out of division and into your Beloved Community. 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.

Self Examination

Living in the Spirit

September 19, 2022

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. In their presence I charged Baruch, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land. –Jeremiah 32:9-15

Jeremiah bought some land. He was given the first opportunity to buy it because he was related to the owner, and he did buy it. So what? Would we invest in land offered to us when all signs lead to the land being seized by an enemy? Would we be interested in buying a bombed-out home located in a part of Ukraine that has been seized by Russia right now?

Jeremiah was investing in his faith. He believed that God would rescue his people. He believed that at some point he would return to his land and dig up the deed he had buried starting the rebuilding of Israel. Most people long for peace. The great challenge is living in peace where everyone has enough to survive and work toward thriving. The gods of greed and lust for power must be thwarted if we are to live into such a vision of a beloved community, the Kingdom of God. Such a reality starts with each of us examining ourselves to see where the evils of greed and lust for power have seeped into our being and are so much a part of our lives that we do not recognize them as abnormal. I see that in my attempt to recycle. Why do I keep buying stuff made of plastic in the first place? What could Israel have done in the first place that would have strengthened their beloved community to withstand the evil that overtook it?

Prayer: Lord, help us to see ourselves more clearly so that we might serve thee 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.

Love Dispels Greed

Living in the Spirit

September 18, 2022

Scripture Reading:

John 3:13-17
No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

As a people, we cannot seem to accept progress without growing greedy. Society appears to follow a pattern from the beginning of recorded history, to move from bad times like war, slavery, or famine, for example, to a short-lived state of Common Good, which transforms gradually into greed leading to war, slavery, or famine. How do we end this pattern? How do we learn to value the Common Good being better than greed while continuing progress?

The reference to Moses dealing with the serpents in the wilderness describes the Israelites being plagued by snakes and Moses’ interceding to solve the problem*.  Moses’ pattern involved a close and communal relationship with God. One in which he understood God as being all-powerful along with being accessible. Later in history, God went the extra mile in demonstrating accessibility by dwelling with humans as fully human while also being fully divine. God proved his love for us by the death of God’s human self, Jesus, being crucified on a cross for the good of all people.

We must, also, practice and build a close and communal relationship with God like Moses knew. A relationship that fosters God’s love overtaking anything that might be tempting about greed.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we stray from our relationship with you toward the idol of greed. Take us to the higher ground of love. Amen.

*See Numbers 21

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.

Absolutes

Living in the Spirit

September 17, 2022

Scripture Reading:
John 3:13-17
No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

I do not remember when I memorized John 3:16. My guess is before I could read. The words written above were not the words I memorized. Mine came from the King James translation: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. When reading the above translation, I got stuck on the word “may”. It seemed to make a less powerful statement than should, but I think the original leans more toward the word “shall”, not present in either translation. Shall is an absolute word.

Indeed, we must be very careful when we use absolute words. We are hearing a lot of them in this election system in promises to keep and in defining the worth of an opponent. I hate all the emails and texts I am not getting asking me if I approve of a specified candidate. Ask me if I agree with a candidate’s stance on issues. I do not even know what they mean when they ask if I approve of the office seeker.

I trust the absolute nature of a loving God whose word is a lamp unto my feet and a light into my path (Psalm 119:105). And I do trust that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish but shall have eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, help us remember that where humans may fail you never will. 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.