Will We Recognize And Apply The Characteristics Of Christ In Our Daily Living?
Good Morning Friends,
Today’s scripture reference of Saul marks the to be Apostle Paul’s entry into the storyline. He is identified by his Hebrew name of Saul and not his given Roman name of Paul. But it is the same creature destined to become a different person. So, this is the before shot, in stark contrast to transformed after shot, once Paul submits to Jesus. His role in today’s text is of the silent witness and as a consenting supporter of the stoning of Stephen. And this event marks the beginning of the reality that Christianity would not bloom as a sect or branch of Judaism, but as something new. Christians were being kicked out of Jerusalem and dispersed like a seed pod freed by fire to propagate the world. We see this beginning in the work of Philip and as the beginning of a seed planted in Paul, who would find himself on the other side of the equation, in jail and stoned as a tool of the movement of God. And it reminds me that we really want to see the face of Jesus even if it is in places we might not initially think would or could be enjoyable. Will We Recognize And Apply The Characteristics Of Christ In Our Daily Living?
Scripture: And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.
Acts 8:1b-8 (NRSV)
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”
John 6:35-40 (NRSV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:19 (NRSV)
Message: In previous devotionals we have asked what work God requires of those called into service. The context in the liturgical year is of the journey to Pentecost and it is seen against our mindset and comparing it to the mind of God. It is about the mystery of believing in Jesus and abiding in the Spirit.
And the thing is that we cannot have selective participation here.
We must be intent on what is happening.
In the sixth chapter of John Jesus is interacting with his disciples who have been raised with an external, works-centered holiness. Jesus boils down an answer to one simple action of being and believing. And it is an action which is not possible without the work of God Himself. There is no sanctification of humans without God. There are no miracles without God. So, in today’s storyline we see something amazing. We see belief in the face of adversity. We see joy in the work of making disciples in the life of Philip. Friends, here we see joy in the face of adversity…. joy in the face of a Civil War we each battle inside. Here we must get out of our comfort zone and embrace the Spirit of change. Friends, Christ brings Good News to all who would accept it. But God takes the first step by choosing us to believe. But the marks of a true disciple of Christ goes beyond believing and to actively engaging in the Lord’s chosen method of spreading the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.
And So, only Jesus’ love satisfies, and that is how we are to recognize him in this satisfying love and how we are to recognize each other. But the way to experience this life of love requires that we must believe and put our faith in Jesus Christ realizing that nothing transformative happens without this power and gift of the Holy Spirit Christ given us. Logic nor experience alone bring this faith, but they can clear away the obstacles. Yes, faith in Jesus is rational but also supernatural in the way it gives us peace and rest. But applying this for our bodies and life in the spirit and peace in our souls is not so ease if we do not trust enough to love.Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Pray we are claimed by God to receive the power and the promise of the Holy Spirit in our daily living. Pray we realize that it is the unsought grace of God that found us and transforms us into servants with a Kingdom purpose.
Pray therefore
we do not put the natural above the divine. Pray we not have selective listening to the Spirit. Pray we make ourselves available. Pray we realize that nothing is too small for something God is intent on making great. Pray we listen to God’s bidding. Pray we listen knowing that we can do nothing unless led by God. Pray we are ready to share the message of Christ and point to the gift of Christ. Pray we keep the focus on people. Pray that we realize that we cannot give what we do not possess. Pray we realize that our individual work relates to believing and our collective work relates to making disciples. Pray we trust and love in the Spirit of Jesus. Pray we believe and apply the characteristic of Jesus to our work of making disciples.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 