Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23
What kind of faith would it take for a saint to thank God for you? Have you ever wondered about that. Seriously, think about your favorite ministry in the world: Focus on the Family, Let my People Think, The Bible Answer Man, or about a million others. Now what would be going on in your life for that main spokesman to say I thank God for you?
Now I do not think we should be doing things to get recognition, but it is perfectly fine to be recognized. Paul was probably the most energetic missionary in the early Church, he went all over the know world to spread the Gospel so pretty much every area knew who he was. To be noticed by someone you think is great is some of the greatest encouragement to receive. I know this in my own life. I was recently nominated to be the Elder for our area in our Yearly Meeting, for mosto you that know very little of Friends traditions the Yearly Meeting is like the head of the denomination. There are several Yearly Meetings in the United States, each functions independently of the others, but there is usually some partnerships. The Yearly Meeting is all of the Monthly Meetings meeting together once a year to do cooperative ministry. Ok enough of the lession if you want to know more feel free to ask, but what I am getting at is I was nominated by someone I have the greatest resect for. A pastor who I see as being the ideal pastor. To be nominated as one of elder of an area in which this person was a part of was like being told by Paul that He thanks God for my faith.
How do we get recognized by these saints? The way is to incorporate the mind, body, and spirit in such a way in your daily life that the love of God pours off and out of you. That is why it is important to have a life of prayer. Not because it is a good deed to put on a chart, but it is the way you connect to the mind of Christ. The more connected to Christ the more we reflect His life. Prayer is the beginning of the devoted life, you will burn out in ministry if your prayer life is not developed.
I encourage you all to deepen your prayer life, and consider what type of life would get the saints talking. After that I encourage you to engage in life you are called to.
Scripture: Acts 1:1-11
There are several moments written in scripture that I would have loved to seen in person. Several of these events have been made into videos but most leave us wishing for more. This opening of Acts is one such time. Can you imagine what you would have felt seeing Jesus lifted up into the air and then disappearing before your eyes. It is the stuff we pay to watch at nearly every magic show, and I have spent enough money to know tat the disappearing acts are really what we want.
But that is not what gets me thinking. Jesus told these guys that they would have power soon. Most of us tend to think this means things like the spiritual gifts. You know the gift of healing, tongues, prophecy, and such. The thing is they already had most of these gifts, Jesus sent them out in groups and they cast out demons already. Over seventy people were doing this prior to Jesus’ death. Which makes me think, what power is he talking about?
I do not claim to know the original language, but I think the are refering more to influence than anything else. We will see the influence of Christ grow in greater ways after the Spirit comes than when Jesus actually walked the Earth. If you take a moment to consider thi it is the truth, the Spirit was able to influence people around the world at the same time, where Jesus could only be physically in one area.
At times I wonder why I do not see the power of God working around me. The angels caught the disciples looking up in the sky just standing there. They asked why are you standing. Odd question but Jesus did just send them on a quest. They were to go make disciples in their home town, their nation, and around the world. We will never see the power of God if all we do is stand, we must do something. We must pray, and then move when called. We also need to be open and honest, if we are not living in truth, we wil not be able to see the power of truth working around us.
The influence and power of God is far greater today than it has ever been, I am excited to see what he will do in the future, when I like all of you decide to stop standing around.
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?