Why Are You Baptizing?

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

The Lamb of God

John 1:24-28  The Message

^24-25 Those sent to question him were from the Pharisee party. Now they had a question of their own: “If you’re neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?”
^26-27 John answered, “I only baptize using water. A person you don’t recognize has taken his stand in your midst. He comes after me, but he is not in second place to me. I’m not even worthy to hold his coat for him.”
²⁸ These conversations took place in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing at the time.

For Reflection

 Baptism was practiced in the Jewish faith.  It was some times used after a circumcision as a rite of purification. 

John baptized as a purification rite.  John baptized to prepare people for the coming of Christ.  John baptized at a place which may have been the place where Israel had passed over Jordan into the land of promise.

And so it is today, baptism purifies in preparation for a life in God.  Baptism is a rite of passage, passing from the old life into the new life lived in righteousness.

Pray

pray prayers for the church which sustains the baptism of us all.  Pray that you will remember the meaning of your baptism and abide in God.

Make the Way Straight

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

The Lamb of God

John 1:19-23  The Message

Thunder in the Desert

^19-20 When Jews from Jerusalem sent a group of priests and officials to ask John who he was, he was completely honest. He didn’t evade the question. He told the plain truth: “I am not the Messiah.”

²¹ They pressed him, “Who, then? Elijah?”
“I am not.”
“The Prophet?”
“No.”
²² Exasperated, they said, “Who, then? We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something—anything!—about yourself.”
²³ “I’m thunder in the desert: ‘Make the road straight for God!’ I’m doing what the prophet Isaiah preached.”

 

For Reflection

 The Spirit of God moves John into action.  Who in today's world is "thunder in the desert?"  Who is making straight the path to righteousness?  Are you?
 
Pray

That you will follow the spirit with the zeal of John.  Pray that you are making the path to righteousness easy for others to follow.

Would That All Had the Spirit!

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

The Lamb of God

Numbers 11:26-29  The Message

²⁶ Meanwhile two men, Eldad and Medad, had stayed in the camp. They were listed as leaders but they didn’t leave camp to go to the Tent. Still, the Spirit also rested on them and they prophesied in the camp.

²⁷ A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!”
²⁸ Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ right-hand man since his youth, said, “Moses, master! Stop them!”
²⁹ But Moses said, “Are you jealous for me? Would that all God’s people were prophets. Would that God would put his Spirit on all of them.”

For Reflection 

One of the perks of being in a leadership position is that one receives attention and is elevated by those who are lead.  It is a good feeling, one that results in a kind of expectation that would rather not be lost.  So when Eldade and Medad began to assume the power of Moses as they prophesied, Joshua, who enjoyed his proximity and access to his master, the center of power, was threatened by a "competing leader."  He assumed Moses would also be threatened and be motivated by appeals to his need to keep control of his position.  Not so.  

 

Even though Eldade and Medad were in conflict with the call to the temple, Moses understood that bringing them into the tent and pardoning there infraction was most prudent.  As Matthew Henry points out in his commentary, " They modestly declined preferment, but God forced it upon them; nay, they have the honor of being named, which the rest have not: for those that humble themselves shall be exalted, and those are most fit for government who are least ambitious of it."

Pray

Pray for those who in humility place righteousness above polity.  Pray that those in government, church leadership or civil duty, will not be corrupted by the need to sustain themselves in it at the expense of righteousness.

The Spirit and Bezalel

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

The Lamb of God

Exodus 31:1-11  The Message

Bezalel and Oholiab

31 ^1-5 God spoke to Moses: “See what I’ve done; I’ve personally chosen Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur of the tribe of Judah. I’ve filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft to create designs and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to cut and set gemstones; to carve wood—he’s an all-around craftsman.

^6-11 “Not only that, but I’ve given him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, to work with him. And to all who have an aptitude for crafts I’ve given the skills to make all the things I’ve commanded you: the Tent of Meeting, the Chest of The Testimony and its Atonement-Cover, all the implements for the Tent, the Table and its implements, the pure Lampstand and all its implements, the Altar of Incense, the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering and all its implements, the Washbasin and its base, the official vestments, the holy vestments for Aaron the priest and his sons in their priestly duties, the anointing oil, and the aromatic incense for the Holy Place—they’ll make everything just the way I’ve commanded you.”

 

For Reflection 

God has prepared you from be fore the beginning of your earthly life.  God has endowed you with skill, know-how, expertise, and a capacity for creation.  Not all have the same talents.  Not all play the same role.  But, all have a place equal to all others in God's plan.  Listen for the Spirit dancing in the meadows of your mind and follow.  Be grateful, your role is paramount in God's plan.Live a creative life in service to God.

Pray

that you will see the value of your own talents in creating the Kingdom of god on earth. Pray and listen to God and understand the wisdom of your presence, here and now.

The Spirit and Joseph

The Spirit Comes
The Pledge of God's Presence

The Lamb of God

Genesis 41:38-43  The Message

³⁸ Then Pharaoh said to his officials, “Isn’t this the man we need? Are we going to find anyone else who has God’s spirit in him like this?”
^39-40 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “You’re the man for us. God has given you the inside story—no one is as qualified as you in experience and wisdom. From now on, you’re in charge of my affairs; all my people will report to you. Only as king will I be over you.”
^41-43 So Pharaoh commissioned Joseph: “I’m putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and slipped it on Joseph’s hand. He outfitted him in robes of the best linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He put the second-in-command chariot at his disposal, and as he rode people shouted “Bravo!”
Joseph was in charge of the entire country of Egypt.

 

For Reflection 

I've got the Spirit in me.  How about you?  The spirit of God abides in each of us.  Some times we bury it so deeply that it is hidden even from the one who buries it.  Open your senses to reveal the Spirit.  Listen to it whisper to you.  Look for it in the eyes of others.  Find it and help others explore the possibilities of letting the Spirit surface.

Pray

for thankfulness and praise for the God whose Spirit abides in us.  Pray for all those who bury the Spirit.  Pray that they will find the truth of their existence in the living God.

The Dress of God's Chosen One

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Clothed and Ready 

Colossians 3:12-17  The Message

^12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
^15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

For Reflection
What does the wardrobe of God look like?  It is the robe of kindness, humility, quiet strength, and discipline.  It is the robe of forgiveness.  It is the robe of justice.  It is the robe of peace.
Pray

that you will seek to wear the robe of God.  Pray that you will let your life infuse and become infused into the warp and woof of the robe of God.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Clothed and Ready

Romans 13:8-14 The Message

^8-10 Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don’t sleep with another person’s spouse, don’t take someone’s life, don’t take what isn’t yours, don’t always be wanting what you don’t have, and any other “don’t” you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.

^11-14 But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

For Reflection 

Debt plagues us. Debt turns us.  Debt infiltrates our souls.  We loose ourselves in the daily grind of life.

If we are indebted to God we enjoy that same engrossment.  But' unlike debt of everyday lives, the debt we owe to God is one of love and spiritual fulfillment.  It is a lifelong debt,  freely accepted and freely satisfied in love and service to God and to each other.  Participating in the resolution of our debt to  God frees us from worldly matters and results in a more fulfilling life.

Pray

that you will not let worldly indebtedness hamper your active involvement in spiritual debt to God.  Pray for a fulfilling life in service to God.

The Battle Is the Lord's

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Clothed and Ready

1 Samuel 17:40-50  The Message

⁴⁰ Then David took his shepherd’s staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath.
^41-42 As the Philistine paced back and forth, his shield bearer in front of him, he noticed David. He took one look down on him and sneered—a mere youngster, apple-cheeked and peach-fuzzed.
⁴³ The Philistine ridiculed David. “Am I a dog that you come after me with a stick?” And he cursed him by his gods.
⁴⁴ “Come on,” said the Philistine. “I’ll make roadkill of you for the buzzards. I’ll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice.”
^45-47 David answered, “You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn’t save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he’s handing you to us on a platter!”
^48-49 That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt.
⁵⁰ That’s how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David!

For Reflection
The sling is a formidable weapon, certainly not a toy.  Those who were proficient at using a sling were the second line of defense (or offense)  positioned behind the archers, the first line of defense.  David, was proficient.  Unassuming David knew the power of a stone hurled from his sling. God had prepared David well. David, considered weak and foolish and too rash to be fit for battle, was confident. How confident are you in Gods preparation of you to fit your call?

Pray

for the confidence in God's plan and preparation so that you will be able to fulfill God's call.to you.

The Battle Lines Are Drawn

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Clothed and Ready

1 Samuel 17:19-30  The Message

^17-19 One day, Jesse told David his son, “Take this sack of cracked wheat and these ten loaves of bread and run them down to your brothers in the camp. And take these ten wedges of cheese to the captain of their division. Check in on your brothers to see whether they are getting along all right, and let me know how they’re doing—Saul and your brothers, and all the Israelites in their war with the Philistines in the Oak Valley.”
^20-23 David was up at the crack of dawn and, having arranged for someone to tend his flock, took the food and was on his way just as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the army was moving into battle formation, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines moved into position, facing each other, battle-ready. David left his bundles of food in the care of a sentry, ran to the troops who were deployed, and greeted his brothers. While they were talking together, the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, stepped out from the front lines of the Philistines, and gave his usual challenge. David heard him.
^24-25 The Israelites, to a man, fell back the moment they saw the giant—totally frightened. The talk among the troops was, “Have you ever seen anything like this, this man openly and defiantly challenging Israel? The man who kills the giant will have it made. The king will give him a huge reward, offer his daughter as a bride, and give his entire family a free ride.”

²⁶ David, who was talking to the men standing around him, asked, “What’s in it for the man who kills that Philistine and gets rid of this ugly blot on Israel’s honor? Who does he think he is, anyway, this uncircumcised Philistine, taunting the armies of God-Alive?”

²⁷ They told him what everyone was saying about what the king would do for the man who killed the Philistine.
²⁸ Eliab, his older brother, heard David fraternizing with the men and lost his temper: “What are you doing here! Why aren’t you minding your own business, tending that scrawny flock of sheep? I know what you’re up to. You’ve come down here to see the sights, hoping for a ringside seat at a bloody battle!”
^29-30 “What is it with you?” replied David. “All I did was ask a question.” Ignoring his brother, he turned to someone else, asked the same question, and got the same answer as before.

 

For Reflection
Machismo, even in David's time, indicated how preconceptions corrupt our ability to react to the unique characteristics of each circumstance with which we are confronted.  The group of "FIGHTING, MEN" could not respect David, one whom they considered unequal to their ability and stature.  Even David's brothers ridiculed him to elevated their status with the group at David's expense.

God placed David in their midst and they could not get past their self-perceptions to consider David's value to the battle. How have you blocked a valued outcome by following your preconceptions rather than seeing each event, each interaction, as uniquely different?  God places you in circumstances and in the presence of others for a reason.  Look past your preconceptions to the value of God's gifts.

Pray

that you will look for God's gifts which are presented clothed in everyday commonplace events and played out by God's people; chosen to do God's will.

Ready with the Word

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Clothed and Ready

Luke 4:1-12  The Message

Tested by the Devil

4 ^1-2 Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry.

³ The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: “Since you’re God’s Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread.”
⁴ Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to really live.”
^5-7 For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, “They’re yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I’m in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they’re yours, the whole works.”
⁸ Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”
^9-11 For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, “If you are God’s Son, jump. It’s written, isn’t it, that ‘he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone’?”
¹² “Yes,” said Jesus, “and it’s also written, ‘Don’t you dare tempt the Lord your God.’”

For Reflection 

Christians are constantly tested.  Call it the Devil if you wish, but, "The Devil made me do it!" will never be a compelling responsibility ducking argument.  We are often confronted by a choice to do something that will erode our commitment to God, something that, if we chose it, will lead to doubt and separation from God. 

Pray

Pray:  Lead me not into temptation.  If I fail, comfort me and embrace me.  Forgive me Lord. I am a sinner.

Do not Forget the Oppressed

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving the Least

Psalm 10:12-18  The Message

^12-13 Time to get up, God—get moving.
    The luckless think they’re Godforsaken.
They wonder why the wicked scorn God
    and get away with it,
Why the wicked are so cocksure
    they’ll never come up for audit.

¹⁴ But you know all about it—
    the contempt, the abuse.
I dare to believe that the luckless
    will get lucky someday in you.
You won’t let them down:
    orphans won’t be orphans forever.

^15-16 Break the wicked right arms,
    break all the evil left arms.
Search and destroy
    every sign of crime.
God’s grace and order wins;
    godlessness loses.

^17-18 The victim’s faint pulse picks up;
    the hearts of the hopeless pump red blood
    as you put your ear to their lips.
Orphans get parents,
    the homeless get homes.
The reign of terror is over,
    the rule of the gang lords is ended.

For Reflection 

"The luckless think they are God-forsaken."  Hopelessness and despair in impoverishment should be cause enough for service to the poor.  But, perhaps the most compelling Christian reason for such service is that the "luckless" will come to know the strength to fight hopelessness that comes from a loving, forgiving compassionate God who works through righteous people of good will.  Working to resolve issues of poverty will break the wicked arms of evil and the terror a life of impoverishment produces.

Pray

for those who fight for the impoverished.  Pray for those whose call to work to help impoverished communities is often unrewarding and under valued.  Pray for God to open opportunities for you to join God's Angle Army in the defeat of hopelessness and despair.

Celebrate with Presents for the Poor

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving the Least

Esther 9:19-23  The Message

^16-19 Meanwhile in the rest of the king’s provinces, the Jews had organized and defended themselves, freeing themselves from oppression. On the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, they killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them but did not take any plunder. The next day, the fourteenth, they took it easy and celebrated with much food and laughter. But in Susa, since the Jews had banded together on both the thirteenth and fourteenth days, they made the fifteenth their holiday for laughing and feasting. (This accounts for why Jews living out in the country in the rural villages remember the fourteenth day of Adar for celebration, their day for parties and the exchange of gifts.)

^20-22 Mordecai wrote all this down and sent copies to all the Jews in all King Xerxes’ provinces, regardless of distance, calling for an annual celebration on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar as the occasion when Jews got relief from their enemies, the month in which their sorrow turned to joy, mourning somersaulted into a holiday for parties and fun and laughter, the sending and receiving of presents and of giving gifts to the poor.

²³ And they did it. What started then became a tradition, continuing the practice of what Mordecai had written to them.

For Reflection 

What are your traditions for the poor?  Do you prepare Christmas gifts for a needy family?  Do you contribute to the food bank, Goodwill, or any other human service organizations?  Do you volunteer your time?

The Jews engaged an aggressor and won.  They were merciful in battle, killing only those who took up arms, sparing women and children.  They celebrated their victories not by retributive acts, but rather, by acts of kindness, forgiveness and compassion.   Compassion became a tradition.

Pray

prayers of forgiveness for the times when evil leaves little choice but defense.  Pray for the grace of God do descend upon you and show you paths to compassion.  Pray so that the corruption of life does not erode your faith and commitment to God.

Open Your Hand to the Poor

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving the Least

Deuteronomy 15:7-11  The Message

^7-9 When you happen on someone who’s in trouble or needs help among your people with whom you live in this land that God, your God, is giving you, don’t look the other way pretending you don’t see him. Don’t keep a tight grip on your purse. No. Look at him, open your purse, lend whatever and as much as he needs. Don’t count the cost. Don’t listen to that selfish voice saying, “It’s almost the seventh year, the year of All-Debts-Are-Canceled,” and turn aside and leave your needy neighbor in the lurch, refusing to help him. He’ll call God’s attention to you and your blatant sin.
^10-11 Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors.

For Reflection 

There will always be poor among us.  For some, it will be a temporary condition.  For others, the circumstances will result in chronic long term poverty, extending even into the children and the children's children.   

For those who suffer poverty, there is no difference.  The pain is the same, except for some the pain and imprisonment of poverty lasts longer. 

It is easy to think that poverty affects only those who are impoverished.  But the impact of long term poverty cripples the whole society.  Poverty breeds rebellion and just as the good life corrupts, poverty is a petri dish for evil.

Pray

Pray for those who find themselves impoverished for the first time.  Pray for those whose chronic poverty inhibits a hopeful life.  Pray for all those suffering from all types of impoverishment.  Pray that they will find social, physical, emotional, economic and spiritual recovery and the endurance to live hopeful lives.

Compassion and Justice for the Poor

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving the Least

Leviticus 19:9-15The Message

^9-10 “When you harvest your land, don’t harvest right up to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings from the harvest. Don’t strip your vineyard bare or go back and pick up the fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am God, your God.
¹¹ “Don’t steal.
“Don’t lie.
“Don’t deceive anyone.
¹² “Don’t swear falsely using my name, violating the name of your God. I am God.
¹³ “Don’t exploit your friend or rob him.
“Don’t hold back the wages of a hired hand overnight.
¹⁴ “Don’t curse the deaf; don’t put a stumbling block in front of the blind; fear your God. I am God.
¹⁵ “Don’t pervert justice. Don’t show favoritism to either the poor or the great. Judge on the basis of what is right.

For Reflection 

God intends us to be stewards of each other.  Call it an obligation, a duty, a response to the love of God for you and all humankind.  With perversion of justice, deception in most important issues, exploitation, and inequities of all types rampant in today's world, how is a Christian to respond?
How have you responded?  Have you contributed to the chaos by doing nothing but shake your head?  Or have you participated in the healing power of God by showing compassion, forgiveness and sharing your talents for the salvation of others?

Pray

that you will not be swept up in the commonplace material world answers to human suffering. Pray that you will act in ways that are consistent with God's intention that you become a wise steward of His Kingdom.

You Must Be Ready

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving the Least

Matthew 24:37-44  The Message

^37-39 “The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah’s. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away.
^39-44 “The Son of Man’s Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.

 

For Reflection 

When did the Son of Man arrive in your life? 

Yes, this passage refers to the end times.  However, time, as we experience it, it is not time as God experiences it.  So, it makes sense that the arrival of the Son of Man could take place not just at the end of time but, rather, any time and many times.  Are you ready?  Be vigilant, listen to the God whispers and be obedient.

Pray

prayers of thanksgiving and praise for the God who places in your path opportunity to practice righteousness.  Pray that you will always be aware of your role in God's plan for humanity.  Pray, so that you will be ready.

Live by the Spirit

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving Neighbors,
Serving God

Galatians 5:10-18  The Message

^7-10 You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don’t toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment.
^11-12 As for the rumor that I continue to preach the ways of circumcision (as I did in those pre-Damascus Road days), that is absurd. Why would I still be persecuted, then? If I were preaching that old message, no one would be offended if I mentioned the Cross now and then—it would be so watered-down it wouldn’t matter one way or the other. Why don’t these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves!
^13-15 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
^16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

For Reflection
So many Christian voices and so many secular voices, whom do you follow?  God has called us to a free life.  We are free to choose to be led by the Spirit.

Pray

for the capacity for compassion.  Pray for the capacity for forgiveness.  Pray for the capacity to become selfless.

The First and Greatest Commandment

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving Neighbors,
Serving God

Matthew 22:34-40 The Message

The Most Important Command

^34-36 When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”

^37-40 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

For Reflection
Love God and you will abide in God.  Love yourself, a child of God, and you will love others.  All other commandments are to be tempered by this love.

Pray
Pray and you will find the love of God.  Pray and you will find yourself in the love of God.  Pray and your actions will show your love of God.

Look to the Interests of Others

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving Neighbors,
Serving God

Philippians 2:1-8  The Message

He Took on the Status of a Slave

2 ^1-4 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

^5-8 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

For Reflection
Attitudes of selflessness, humility, and servitude lead us to positions of subordinance.  Some folks would agree that a subordinate position is a position of powerlessness.  But, they confuse dominance and subordination with positions of power.  Power and dominance are not synonymous.  "Ask and you shall receive" illustrates a submissive position but it is non-the-less a position of power.

Fighting dominance with dominance is always a losing proposition.  The dominant person can exercise control only insofar as the other person is willing to give him or her the power to do so. Find creative ways to avoid domination by substituting defensiveness with supportivness.  Power is held by those who are led.

Pray
to discover ways to achieve mutually satisfactory ends as an alternative to aggressive defensiveness.  Pray for creativity in the face of untoward action.

Mercy Triumphs over Judgemen

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving Neighbors,
Serving God

James 2:8-13  The Message

^8-11 You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: “Love others as you love yourself.” But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can’t pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God’s law and ignoring others. The same God who said, “Don’t commit adultery,” also said, “Don’t murder.” If you don’t commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you’re a murderer, period.
^12-13 Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

For Reflection
Perhaps the most difficult practice for Christians is to go against the common wisdom of our cultures.  The "Golden Rule," as it is sometimes called, ask us to apply that test to our own behavior.  This rule is intended to moderate our judgment with mercy.  Such a rule encourages us to be free from the bonds of conventional culturally embedded rewards and punishments.  Act kindly and you will be treated kindly.  Act justly and you will be treated justly.  Act compassionately and you will be treated compassionately.

Pray
that you will free yourself from acting in retribution.  Pray that you will discover creative ways to avoid untoward judgment and remain engaged in ways that are consistent with your faith.

If You Wish to Be Perfect

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving Neighbors,
Serving God

Matthew 19:16-22 The Message

¹⁶ Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
¹⁷ Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.”
^18-19 The man asked, “What in particular?”
Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”
²⁰ The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”
²¹ “If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”
²² That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.

 
For Reflection
What do you possess that might be a deal breaker if Christ had asked you the same question?  If that one possession is holding you back from full commitment to the living God -- full participation in God's plan for the realization of the Kingdom -- could you give it up?  Nothing in life should exceed the value of your commitment to God.

Pray

that you will remain fully engaged in God.  Pray that you will let nothing come between you and serving the Lord.