Scripture: John 15:9-17
Today we are placed in a precarious situation. Every four years our nation is purposely divided and set on the course of a total all out revolution. Yes i am being dramatic, but it is the truth. Our society is built on this battling of idea, because it is supposed to keep violent warfare out. There is a problem, we have friends from all sides. I know it is surprising because we assume that everyone thinks like we do. If that were the case then all of you would think like me, which would a little scary. We have people here that love art and some that think that art is a nice hobby but not a real career. We have people who embrace technology and others that barely know what the term texting is.
Do these things really mater? In the larger picture of our society we need all kinds of people. Think about the little things that we enjoy? Many of us just prior to falling asleep probably watched a program on the television, but how many of us have thought about the personalities that have gone into making that box a success? There were scientists that first had a dream of transmitting a signal from one area to another. Their ideas had to be sold to a businessman to market, so a creative mind joined the mix to perform some sort of entertaining show to attract investors. The scientist, the businessman, and the artist merge together, without one we would not have a single television in our homes. Which of the these are the most important? Depending on our personality we debate this idea, we would have valid arguments supporting each side of the issue.
In many inner cities across the nation after years of neglect and abuse, communities are being revived. Not because there is a profitable industry coming in, but groups of artists are taking over warehouses and converting them into studios to live and create. Even in our own downtown areas every first Friday of the month there are galleries opened to the public where people flock to these areas once decayed but now filled with color and life. What determines the value of a person? Is it only the amount of money their work can be traded for?
In this passage, often refered to by scholars as the last discourse, Jesus gives the last major block of teaching to His followers. The final words of wisdom passed on from the rabbi to his disciples. Within this block of teaching Jesus teaches us the true value of a person?
As the Father has love me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. Abide. To abide is an alien concept to many of us. To abide is to slow down, absorb, to bond, and to take root. Abide in my love. For many of us we cannot abide because we are too busy running from one thing to the next. Many of these things are good, even important things to invest our time in. But do we spread ourselves to far to truly abide, are we moving to quickly to take root?
We abide in the love of Christ by keeping His commands. He goes on to say that His joy and ours are made complete if we keep His commands and abide in His love. This concept is not difficult to grasp. If we take a moment to consider the things that bring us the greatest joy, you would find that it is those areas that we abide in. A musician is filled with joy when they are able to spend time just playing their instrument, they can get lost in the music. If you really want to see them beaming with joy allow them to share their passion in by listening to them and letting them teach you about music.
The command of God is to love one another as God has loved each of us. The extent of His love is beyond our understanding. We do not earn his love, our performance has absolutely no bearing on it. Paul goes as far as saying we were enemies of God, yet He still loves us. His command is to love as He loves. Imagine what that may look like in the midst of our political war. At times things become cloudy, we forget that at the opposing end is a person. A person loved enough by God that Jesus left His heavenly throne to live, teach, and die for. A person for whom Jesus rose from the grave to glorify and bring hope to.
We are called to love. When we live in love we go beyond being servants of God but become Friends of God. Anyone can be a servant. God made a servant out of the King of Babylon to bring about His plans. God used the hateful rulers of Rome as servants to pump the gospel throughout the world. Servants are willing or unwilling, they are there to do a job. I really do not see why anyone would be excited to ay they are the servant of God, because God can use anything. Friends are different. Friends are not always around for the benefit or service they provide, instead they are there for the companionship. People have friends not because they are profitable, but they enjoy being around them. There are benefits from friendships. Mutual benefits, both parties have costs and rewards.
Several people throughout history have been known as friends of God. These men and women had great blessing but they also risked everything. Abraham was called a friend of God, the cost was that he had to leave his home and go to the place God lead him. He gave up everything, what did he gain? The disciples were called to follow Jesus, most of them paid with their live, yet each would say it was worth it. If you were to look throughout history you would find countless people who gave it all. They were missionaries, pastors, nuns, and monk. They were sinners and saints. Our own religious history embraces this theme. Our name, the Religious Society of Friends, comes from this concept.
The reason we used this name is because we believe that we can hear the voice of God and follow His callings. They were called and worked in areas of prison reform, slavery, education, women’s right, and civil rights. They were known as people of peace, honesty, and love. When Ben Franklin left New York for Philadelphia he knew he could go to the Friends meeting to find assistance in finding a place to start. When troubles emerged between the native nations and the United States, Friends were often called in to mediate the treaties. A Friend named Rufus Jones and other traveled to Nazi Germany to negotiate a treaty to allow them to bring Jewish people to the United States, they were granted permission. These men and women realized that God valued all people equally and worked to show love and respect to all people. They got into God, they embraced the leading of the Spirit, and they lived the love of Christ among others. The greater the cost the greater the reward.
Today we live in a world of comfort. Many people would choose comfort instead of risking themselves in loving. It turns heads when groups strive to build relationships with people others find unworthy. It peaks the interest because there is not the profitability factor. I challenge us all to consider what we are willing to invest, how much of ourselves are we willing to put on the line for God? Are we willing to listen and love, are we willing to be true to our name and become Friends Of God? Let us now take some time to abide. Let us listen and expect God to draw us into something amazing.
Scripture: 1 John 5:1-6
Those that love the parent loves the child. This verse struck me today as I reflected on it. I considered the relationships that I have with various families. Those that attend our Meeting as well as those I know from other places. I observed that I am much more patient with the kids from our Meeting than the ones that run around the store. They act the same, mainly because they are kids, but I am friends with the parents of the ones I worship with, the others are just… annoying.
This got me to thinking. Why am I getting annoyed with kids? Now don’t get me wrong I love kids, I just observed a small difference. After reading this passage I know why that is. Then I got to thinking about the parents, what causes me to reguard people differently. I found that I do not always treat people equaly, I have a tendency to gravitate toward people that share similarities with me.
Equality is a tenet of sorts in the Friends Church. Through our history we have been in the front of equal rights. We have always recorded female ministers, we were greatly involved in ending the slave trade, and we spoke up for equal rights for all people. If this aspect of faith is important to my expression of worship I have to ask why I reguard people differently? It bothers me to think that I live my life with a form of prejudice. I wrestled with this for a while, I even caught myself trying to justify my actions saying, “Its ok I don’t know them and if I did I would treat them the same.” But when will I get to know them if I am treating someone with a prejudice?
Before you get the wrong idea I must say that I am not speaking of a prejudice against race, gender, or something like that, but of something that is at the root of all prejudice. The unwillingness to reach out to others in friendship. If I fail to attempt to build a friendship with someone, it can quickly morph into something deeper and more sinister. I can begin to develope stereotypes or biases based not on truth but on shallow observations.
We are called to love, because God is love. We are called to love the children of God. The children of God are the ones for whom Christ died for as an attoning sacrifice. It does not matter where your theological stance, this literally means to love all people. Love them if they are like you, or different in some way. Love them if you agree with them or disagree. Love them if they love God right now or if they are turnin their back on Him. John says it is an easy command, what do you think. It is often hard to love people who are judgmental, prideful, filled with self pity, or who lie. (The list is longer but I think we have the picture) But Jesus did. He loved the unlovable when he reached out His hand to touch and heal those with lepresy. He loved the woman caught in adultery. He was friends with cheaters, haters, and violent zealots. He did not really care who you were He treated everyone with an equal amount of respect. Why then am I so hesitant to share a gift of friendship with others?
I am challenged today to be more open with others, since by nature I am fairly shy, this will be challenging to me. But I’m not challenged to try to convert others, but to become friends, to respect others as the people they were created to be. What challenge is God giving you as you consider and pray with this passage?
Scripture: Acts 10:44-48
How do you experience God? Where best do you relate to Him? It is funny how often we tend to judge when, how, and in what clothes we can meet with God. In this passage Peter and several Jewish believers witnessed something they could not explain. They say people unlike themselves receive the same blessing that they had.
Prior to this time the only way people could come to God was through the temple in the Holy City…or was it? I have often wondered about this. What did God do with people in Ireland, Rome, China, and every other nation prior to Christ? I think it will be a constant debate because we can never really know the truth on this side of the veil. But it still makes me wonder. Which also makes me ask where did all the “pagan” gods come from that these places worshiped? I try to look through the legendary writtings and am left with the thought that someone experienced something and had to give it a name. I have even read through scripture and found references to Michael being the leader of God’s army and the protector of Israel, what if there were other angels given tasks over other people groups? Were some of these angels involved in the angelic rebelion and if so what hapened to the people groups that they were sent to protect?
Lots of questions, but there is really only one answer. We all experience God in different ways. God speaks to some of us through participating with Him in creating through art and music. Others of us enjoy having a healthy intellectual debate and reason with Him. Some of us hear His voice most clearly while being out in nature, or working with our hands. We build religious groups around these expressions but the fact remains that God meets people there.
Theologically we can debate if expressions are benificial or not, but God is beyond our words and knowledge. Peter and the Hebrew believers had a theological stance, but God blessed Gentiles with the Spirit in the same way. Which leads me to ask was God already there? When I think back on my life I can see that God has been there all along, even in the areas I felt He was absent. The most stiking thing is that those areas I felt God was farthest away He was actually closest to me helping me find my way through the darkness.
I recently went on a tour through a cave and just like every cave tour they shut off the lights. In the darkness our guide asked us to find the way out, of course no one moved. God gives us some light, He did not leave us in total darkness. He then judges us according to the light we have received, and also draws us to even greater light which is found in Jesus. Jesus experienced life just as we experience life, sure there were some differences but for the most part the basics of life are the same. (If you visit another country you would observe this as well). Jesus vicariously lived out the darkness for us leaving in our paths enlighted trails to follow.
God did not withold his blessing from anyone, but freely gave it to anyone who opened their lives to Him. I encourage you to follow the Light before you and enjoy His pressence where you feel closest to Him.