Eyes of Love Guided by the Spirit
Good Morning Friends,
Today’s devotional asks us to walk and talk and see and hear and feel with the Spirit of Jesus… to know a Spirit of truth that abides with us, that saves us and sanctifies us and sends us out to a world in pain. Today we submit to the Holy Spirit’s call for us to risk with abandon in our relationships and be amazed when confronted with people’s lack of faith, while still laying on one’s healing hand, still receiving in our relationship with Jesus something better than faith, something better than hope. Perhaps it is such with the Prayers of Israel President Perez and Palestinian Leader Abbas mingled with the prayers of Pope Francis yesterday. Perhaps we are witness to a call to experience and share what Henry Drummond calls, The Greatest Thing in the World. Jesus’ whole ministry, calls us to live a life victorious, to experience with optimism and share the more excellent way, to bear the fruits of the Spirit, to be filled with the fullness of God through the Eyes of Love Guided by the Spirit.
Scripture: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits— who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:1-12
(NRSV)
He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.
Mark 6: 1-6 (NRSV)
And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NRSV)
Message: The reason why the people of Nazareth reject Jesus in Mark 6:1-6 has never been entirely clear to me. I am more familiar with instances where a small town celebrates, even exaggerates, the success stories of locals who have made it big. Still he did heal some. Maybe they thought him crazy smart or just crazy. Maybe they decided his authority was demonic. Maybe they had fixed his status and questioned the legitimacy of his father and the limits of his lowly status as a laborer. Maybe they had too much baggage. But what I think is happening is the formation of new allegiances that supersede traditional country and family values. Friends, that Perez, the Pope and Abbas met is a witness that leads us into a confession of faith. Believe in the possibility of a faith that leads to hope and abides in love. Ultimately, we will interpret what happens in retrospect. A miracle is not just an event but it is an interpreted event. If Jesus is not regarded to be capable of healing, any healing that does happen won’t be attributed to him. Perhaps there is nothing here to see. But hold on, if we do attribute the possibility of peace to God then rejoice in praise. The one who changes everything is at work in our midst.
Pray that the God who has begun a work
in us brings it to fulfilment. Pray we not just do a good work for God but become a good work with God. Pray our work becomes our prayer. Pray we listen with the ear of our hearts loving peace more than war. Pray we lift our hearts to God in love. Pray we allow the Holy Spirit to intercede and shape our prayers. Prayer we be guided by the Holy Spirit. Pray we see the work of the Holy Spirit when we give up control. Pray we be surprised by what we pray as the Spirit works in and through our prayers. Pray we realize that not one of us knows how to pray without the help of the Holy Spirit. Pray the Invocation of Peace be a prelude to a Peace sustained beyond our understanding. Pray we receive this love and give this love, not because we deserve it, but because we do not deserve it. Pray for Good Tidings unto the meek, comfort for the broken-hearted, liberty for those bound. Pray we proclaim what is acceptable to the Lord even as we comfort those who morn. Pray we give Beauty for Ashes and The oil of Joy for Mourning and Put on Praise in the hopes of Peace.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 