Do We Have A Failure To Communicate Our Part In The Kingdom Of God?
Good Morning Friends,
Soon in the liturgical year we will begin the journey from the Transfiguration to the Cross. But today we frame this with other images of our spiritual history. So today we remember the connection between Babel and Pentecost. Today we remember that the Bible begins in a garden and ends in a city but that many cities have been laid to waste on the journey. Then we seek to have a voice that uses our gifts for God and we wonder why things go wrong. Do We Have A Failure To Communicate Our Part In The Kingdom Of God?
Scripture: Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. And the Lord said, “Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
Genesis 11:1-9 (NRSV)
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
Mark 8:34-9:1 (NRSV)
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
Mark 9:2-8 (NRSV)
But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 (NRSV)
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (NRSV)
Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, . . . and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (NIV)
Message: We have all seen before and after pictures used in advertising. Most of them relate to weigh loss, hair loss and skin care. Most seem fake or false. But some of the products actually work, though results vary because the person using the product or program doesn’t always follow through with it. The same is true for the Christian life and the effect of God’s power and work in our lives in what we call Church. It is not the words but the inflection that carries the meaning in sermons. Indeed an ordinary word can become extraordinary with the right emotion of the Holy Spirit. It is in such a way that everyday people in their brokenness and rubble find extraordinary love and grace when joined to form a body of believers. It is through a relationship with Christ that communicates this time and time again. When Christ’s light shines through us an amazing transformation happens… but also communication. When God’s light shines through us we come alive in a new way. Our broken strands of spiritual DNA are joined with others brokenness and something is created and communicated to our very soul. Until then we are never really communicating our part that Jesus has gifted to us to share. Friends, if we are waiting to find a purpose, we need to be ready for God to act in and through us. So bring your relationships and resources to bear on the gift you have been given and explore how your gift can help others. But do this in Christ and for Christ. This is the way to joy. This is how our broken rubble builds a church. This is how our babble of words form a message. This is how with Christ as the cornerstone we build a life of abundance in the Kingdom of God.
Pray we pray and preach for God’s Kingdom to come. Pray we make an assessment of our spiritual growth and pray for illumination from the Holy Spirit. Pray we give attention to activities that will lead to transformation. Pray we let God’s light shine through us. Pray we become all that God wants us to be. Pray the light of truth and love shine in and through us to the glory of God for His purpose in us. Pray we break the cycle of anxiety related to bad news because we are always sharing the good news. Pray our very soul sings the part we have been gifted to share. Pray its message is one of love that brings a little of heaven to earth. Pray we learn through charity and love how to communicate our faith to others. Pray we communicate a message of hope and trust that is both humble and powerful. Pray the Kingdom of God is reflected in the inflection of our voice. Pray that we not end up merely helping people to survive in the current social order, but be reformed and transformed. Pray we begin to embody the kingdom of God as an alternative to the world, for the sake of the world. Pray we are part of a Church for the Kingdom of God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 