Do You Know How to Nurture Peace and Unity?
Good Morning Friends,
In Western philosophy, traces of the idea that came to be called the tabula rasa appear as early as the writing of Aristotle. Islamic philosophers discussed it in relation to those who are isolated from society. St. Thomas Aquinas promoted the idea as part of Christian thought. John Locke made it more popular through An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. It favors the nurture side of the “nature versus nurture” debate. But both factors are so interactive, one philosopher answered the question of which contributes more by asking the question which contributes more to a triangle, its length or its width? Yesterday the devotional topic was about nurturing a seed of faith. Today we continue this theme on the importance of nurturing while realizing that many but not all have a problem with peace because of a selfish nature. Do You Know How to Nurture Peace and Unity?
Scripture: making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 (NRSV)
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NRSV)
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.
Mark 9:9-10 (NRSV)
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:17-23 (NRSV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
John 14:27 (NRSV)
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
John 20:21 (NRSV)
For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.
Isaiah 65:17 (NRSV)
Message: This morning I am finding a peace in the word unity and perhaps an understanding of its fuller meaning in the words opportunity and community. But this journey has not always been peaceful. And this is self-evident during this political season in America. What has been done in the name of Christianity and unification has sometimes been quite evil and the opposite of peace. Like Paul’s comments we tend to do the things we hate to do and fail to do those things we hope to do. But today’s message is not so much about those failures but about those times when we have a peaceful walk of faith in unity, purity, harmony and victory of a fellowship with God that honors God. When we do we might just see in our own lives as it played out for Jesus’ in his walk from Mt. Hermon to the gates of Jerusalem. And the transformation that occurs in Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration is nothing less than the hope of the prayer for unity offered in John 17J. So on this Sunday let’s remember that it is Jesus that brings peace to the diversity in the church and our families and friends in community as well. It cannot be forced. It must be experienced gently as Jesus helps us realize that family like the church reaches out and cares for its very diverse members. Here we might also discover that family, like the church, is designed to be unified in adversity. A family like the church is designed to be unified so it might facilitate the spiritual transformation of its members. Friends, the church calls us to pass on the peace we have received as best we can. To do that we need to live in the power of the Spirit here on earth until we get to our heavenly home. We need to rejoice because Jesus has interceded for us to protect, sanctify and bring unity to us all through love for His church. But let us be wise with a proper attitude. Friends, if different species can be used by God in partnership to do something good, the possibilities of His Church in unity seems vast. Hopefully we are worthy of such power for if we are not the results could very well be disastrous.
Pray we do what God would have us to do. Pray
that we nurture our relationship with Jesus in confession of our sins but also ask Him to ripen the fruit of joy in our lives. Pray we reject envy, jealousy and conflicts. Pray that we would live worthy of our calling… to one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God who is over all, through all in and in all. Pray on the journey that Jesus teach us to be humble, gentle, generous and patient in fellowship. Pray we learn through the seasons of life new ways of service and love in our family and church and community that transforms us so we might be one in an ever widening circle of love. Pray we realize that when it comes to having a passion for Christian community in the world, we not only need to nurture children but leaders as well. Pray
that we each nurture the seeds of love and goodness planted in our lives. Pray we speak gently and give mutual support. Pray God grant us the wisdom to know when and how to act in unity with the bond of peace. Pray in the mystery of the Trinity that we realize that the answer to our plight lies beyond both nature and nurture in something completely new.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 