Is Everything Connected And If So How?
Good Morning Friends,
Paul writes about the unity of the Body of Christ in his letter to the Ephesians and Romans. But behind it is something more important than an organization of like-minded people.
Paul is writing about a reality that is bonded together at a much deeper level than an organization. Paul writes about something built up in love. It brings us to ask a fundamental question that has had people engaged is seeking an answer for thousands of years. Is Everything Connected And If So How?
Scripture: so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
Romans 12:5 (NRSV)
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, ‘When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.’ (When it says, ‘He ascended’, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:1-16 (NRSV)
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 (NRSV)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’
John 8:12 (NRSV)
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35 (NRSV)
Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:17 (NRSV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:15-17 (NRSV)
Message: It is more than interesting that Astronomy, Biology and Quantum Mechanics would illustrate one of the deepest spiritual truths of existence. It is an idea that is totally mind-bending and completely intuitive. It is found everywhere from the most ancient Buddhist and Biblical scripts to the most cutting-edge research in a variety of sciences. Physics tell us that every electron around every atom is connected instantly and imperceptibly as the energy of even one electron changes. And these electrons that have the power to stop the collapse of a star are changed by light reflected as a color. Biology and Astronomy and even the social science also tell the story of how we are connected. That Black Holes at the center of the galaxy form the image of a cross should give us a hint of how this all is to work. And just as there is gravity as glue that holds the physical world together, so God’s love is the force that binds the spiritual world. That laminin the glycoprotein that holds our bodies together is in the shape of a cross also leads us to the conclusion that it all was created by Jesus who holds everything together. So this is how everything is connected to everything else. Even the spiritual to the physical. The small and the large seeking to be unified in love. And we are too. So ever wonder why some colors warm you and others cool you? Have you ever wondered the color of love? Friends, love is a concept promoted by Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Muslims. It is a thing acknowledged by atheists and agnostics. But it was created by God. And love is something every man, woman, and child strives to obtain every day. Love is something we all know about and all desire. But for the most important thing we will ever do it seems odd that it is often the most difficult thing for us to practice. We have prayed about it for years and it is our hope to be connected in a way that reflects Christ in our life but we so desire to do it on our own. Then if blessed we learn that the light of life…the light of love is Christ. And once we get that we as Christians can connect to something larger. In fact this love connects us to everything in the universe through Christ. And that makes it harder and more beautiful at the same time. And here we might just realize that we are special in this immense universe not so much because we can contemplate our own existence, but because we can love. That is why we were made. Friends, the ancient notions are more relevant than we know. We are here for a purpose. Life gives meaning to itself beyond random mathematical calculations. We have a calling to peace, unity and diversity. We have a calling to love. The universe is calling out to us to fill all the empty space with love so that we do not fall right though the floor. Someday everyone will realize that the love of Christ is holding not only you and me together but the entire universe together too. That is what connects us. And that is what keeps us from falling right through the floor into oblivion.
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 and in all. Pray that on the journey God would teach us not just to pray but to love. Pray we learn to be humble, gentle and patient in fellowship, and through the seasons of life learn new ways of service and love in our family and church and communities. Pray we are being transformed in fellowship with Christ so we might be one. Pray we share the light of love in our life. Pray we are not only changed but that the love of God in us change the universe as well. Pray we learn the true meaning of communion.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 