Lectionary passage: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Judge Judy, Judge Jeanine Pirro, Judge Alex, Judge Mathis, Judge Brown, Judge Karen, wow! There is no lack of courtroom shows, and we just love to see someone get what’s coming to them! But when it’s me on the highway going 65mph in a 50mph zone (OK, it was a 40mph speed limit! But, just barely!) it’s not justice I want, it’s mercy! Last week I was never so glad to hear an officer tell me ‘I’ll just give you a verbal warning.”!!!!! Apostle Paul reminded us that regardless of our opinions, it’s what Judge Jehovah thinks that is really important!
And, as we sing in the praise song, “One day every tongue will confess you are God, one day every knee will bow, still the greatest treasure remains for those who gladly choose you now!”
I don’t want to wait for justice in the last day! Mercy is available for we who humble ourselves in repentance now, and get free and clear right now, and enjoy life to its fullest!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Revolution
Oppressed thousands in Egypt cry out for relief. It’s the story in today’s newspaper. It’s also the story in Exodus. Years of oppression and people will cry out for relief. And God heard them. And he sent Moses to lead them out. Not with a military force equal to that of Pharaoh, but with the words of God, to let his people go. Deliverance. They needed it then. We need it now. And God is the redeemer. It took 40 years for the Hebrews to navigate their wilderness, a lifetime for all but 2 of them.
So, today, when our deliverance seems to be taking our whole life, I guess it’s rather scriptural! Overcoming can seem to take forever! But we know that this revolution, the overcoming of evil by the blood of Jesus, is the REAL revolution. This one is the real thing. Choose to take heart, our deliverer is Jesus!
So, today, when our deliverance seems to be taking our whole life, I guess it’s rather scriptural! Overcoming can seem to take forever! But we know that this revolution, the overcoming of evil by the blood of Jesus, is the REAL revolution. This one is the real thing. Choose to take heart, our deliverer is Jesus!
The House That Breathes
Lectionary Reading 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
Building the kingdom is like building a house. Apostle Paul speaks to people of a long heritage of faith. It is a long line-a spiritual heritage which has seen great political kings and kingdoms come and go- Egyptian, Babylonian, Syrian, Sumerian, Persian, Roman. These ancient superpowers came against generations in this spiritual linage. All these kingdoms came and went, but this spiritual house remained, and came to it’s fullness at the cross. Christ showed us the ultimate example in kingdom of God ways, ways that don’t make sense to the cultures around us. His peaceful ways were a contrast to our warring world. His putting himself on the line in the name of love and mercy began a counter-cultural move which points us still today toward his Kingdom. A kingdom where mercy disarms our idea of justice, and love disarms hate and violence. In the spirit of Jesus, architect of our faith, we are being built into a living, breathing, house of faith, hope and love. It’s so simple we could miss it. But let’s not miss it!
Building the kingdom is like building a house. Apostle Paul speaks to people of a long heritage of faith. It is a long line-a spiritual heritage which has seen great political kings and kingdoms come and go- Egyptian, Babylonian, Syrian, Sumerian, Persian, Roman. These ancient superpowers came against generations in this spiritual linage. All these kingdoms came and went, but this spiritual house remained, and came to it’s fullness at the cross. Christ showed us the ultimate example in kingdom of God ways, ways that don’t make sense to the cultures around us. His peaceful ways were a contrast to our warring world. His putting himself on the line in the name of love and mercy began a counter-cultural move which points us still today toward his Kingdom. A kingdom where mercy disarms our idea of justice, and love disarms hate and violence. In the spirit of Jesus, architect of our faith, we are being built into a living, breathing, house of faith, hope and love. It’s so simple we could miss it. But let’s not miss it!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Graduate from the First Grade
Lectionary passage 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
You could call the condition arrested development. Apostle Paul pointed out that the spirituality of the Corinthians was as immature as a baby at the breast. A sweet, suckling little child can turn into a holy terror when removed from the breast. It’s quite expected from a newborn, but not from we who should have been weaned long ago. Growing up in Christ should be as natural as graduating from grade to grade in school, going on to bigger challenges and opportunities. Paul points to the division and contentiousness in people as proof that they do not understand the basics; first and foremost that Christ is our model, not any church figure, including himself. Paul’s humility mirrors that of Christ, who humbled himself to the point of death, showing us what true heroes do- serve humbly, give their lives, and grow into their gloriously humble and holy destiny.
You could call the condition arrested development. Apostle Paul pointed out that the spirituality of the Corinthians was as immature as a baby at the breast. A sweet, suckling little child can turn into a holy terror when removed from the breast. It’s quite expected from a newborn, but not from we who should have been weaned long ago. Growing up in Christ should be as natural as graduating from grade to grade in school, going on to bigger challenges and opportunities. Paul points to the division and contentiousness in people as proof that they do not understand the basics; first and foremost that Christ is our model, not any church figure, including himself. Paul’s humility mirrors that of Christ, who humbled himself to the point of death, showing us what true heroes do- serve humbly, give their lives, and grow into their gloriously humble and holy destiny.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
How to Know-What in the World God is Doing
February 6, 2011
Lectionary 1 Corinthians 2: 1-12 (13-16)
Of all the preachers and writers from the time of Apostle Paul to now, surely Paul could be considered an authority on communicating spiritual matters. But Paul humbles himself asking his audience to realize that the Spirit of Christ is the real authority as to what God is doing at any point in time. Paul knows well that people crave to know what the experts say on matters spiritual and otherwise.
We have Christian authors of books instructing us how to pray, how to grow our church, how to educate our children, and how to reach our communities. It’s easy to take what they have to say wholesale. It’s not that we cannot be inspired by how other ‘experts’ or churches have listened to God and scripture and responded to the needs of their community, but what about our own need to be in that same listening process? God is ready and able to speak to each of us individually and corporately. To know what in the world God is doing, why don’t we just ask and listen?
Lectionary 1 Corinthians 2: 1-12 (13-16)
Of all the preachers and writers from the time of Apostle Paul to now, surely Paul could be considered an authority on communicating spiritual matters. But Paul humbles himself asking his audience to realize that the Spirit of Christ is the real authority as to what God is doing at any point in time. Paul knows well that people crave to know what the experts say on matters spiritual and otherwise.
We have Christian authors of books instructing us how to pray, how to grow our church, how to educate our children, and how to reach our communities. It’s easy to take what they have to say wholesale. It’s not that we cannot be inspired by how other ‘experts’ or churches have listened to God and scripture and responded to the needs of their community, but what about our own need to be in that same listening process? God is ready and able to speak to each of us individually and corporately. To know what in the world God is doing, why don’t we just ask and listen?
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