On the Way to Wonder

         My fourth pregnancy was fraternal twin boys.  That was fun!  I still remember mediating arguments when then they were about two-ish.  One would insist the toy was his to play with.  The other would rebuttal that he had it first.  The first would argue that his older brother had given it to him.  And so we went in circles.  I understood the prayer for the Wisdom of Solomon in a new way.  Two women came to Solomon claiming a baby was “mine” as the other had rolled on top of her baby and it died in the night.  Solomon called for a sword.  “Cut the baby in half and give half to each lady.”  One woman cried out, “NO, let her have it.  Don’t kill it.”  The other agreed to the death.  Solomon gave the baby to the woman of compassion.

         Paul is pointing out in Romans 14 that no matter what church you are in there are people are going to disagree about some issue.  For sure you are on the side of the “strong” and the one’s you disagree with are “weak.”  Back then it may have been about observing Jewish dietary laws but we have our issues today that we split over.  Paul invokes the law of love.  Perhaps another way of saying this is to ask ourselves if we are disagreeing about trivia and personal taste or is there a real issue about the identity of God and his role in my life.

         As a young adult “the law of love” I found could be used to justify “missionary dating”, drinking too much with the teachers for TGIF, and of course going places like movies that I might not have chosen to see.  I came to believe the law of love encouraged respect for the other but does not require disingenuous behavior that violates my integrity.

14 Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions. (Romans 14:1)

         Blessings as you seek the Wisdom of Solomon in the issues challenging you right now!

“Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; (Romans 13:12b)”

         Paul finishes chapter 13 of Romans by reminding us that he believes Christ will return soon and so it behooves us to live good lives.  I was struck by the phrase, “armour of light.”  My husband and I tested positive for Covid this weekend so we are quarantined, him at Assisted Living and me at home.  Besides feeling achy, I feel vulnerable, weak and dangerous to those I love.  The germs are attacking within and a hurricane is threatening to hit without on Wednesday.

         It is not a far stretch of the imagination to reflect on the “armor of God” found in Ephesians 6:13-17.

^“13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. ¹⁵ As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Paul mentions the belt for the waist, the breastplate for the chest, the shoes, the shield and the helmet.  Flu seems to attack our stomach (waist), our breathing (chest), shoes to go see a doctor, meds to be our shield and our headaches.  As we pray for people struggling with illness we might use these practical clues to guide our prayers.  Blessings.

         Yesterday Paul in Romans 13 challenged us by saying that living a life of love fulfills the law of God.  We reflected that the question we need to ask is whether our actions are for our benefit or for the neighbor.  As I pondered, I thought it would be good to read 1 Corinthians 13, known as “The Love Chapter.”  I could not find the song I remember from the 60s-70s so decided just to post the chapter for us to reflect on.  The first paragraph points to the futility of using our gifts with the wrong motives.  The second paragraph gives us a list of characteristics of love.  The last paragraph points to the eternal significance of love.  Pick one paragraph and marinate your heart in it today.  Blessings.

The Gift of Love

13 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷ It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. ⁹ For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; ¹⁰ but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. ¹³ And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

¹⁰ Love does no wrong to a neighbour;

therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:10

         Paul now talks about a word that the “Flower Children” of my generation, stretched and reshaped until it seemed to appear to be more self focused than other focused.  Paul, in verse 9, points to the Ten Commandments – no adultery, no murder, no stealing, and no coveting.  It is a stretch to put free sex, drugs, or mind-expanding experiences in the commandments as God’s will.   Paul does not mention the positive commandments of loving God, guarding our mouths and not using God’s name in vain, remembering the Sabbath, and honoring family but he certainly could have.  Perhaps one of the core questions we can ask of ourselves as we interact with others is, “Who profits from this interaction?”  Swearing at the guy going too slow ahead of us or at the person talking on their cell phone at the signal may let off frustration but often the words pollute the air and little ears hear.  Nothing is resolved.

         When we come to those frustrating moments today when the “other” is more of an irritant than a blessing, may we slow our roll and reflect on what the other might be going through. Let us meditate on Proverbs 15:1-3.

A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
³ The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.

⁷ Pay to all what is due to them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honour to whom honour is due.

Romans 13:7

         Paul opens chapter 13 of Romans talking about a Christian’s relationship to authorities.  Our culture today is certainly prone to question authority.  We demonstrate against causes we feel are unjust.  We probably try to get the best possible return from our income tax returns.  Our news broadcasts are filled with experts sharing opinion on any topic.  Tithing to God or the church is not automatic for most.  Paul is writing to Christians who were subjects of the Roman Empire that did not even consider them citizens, perhaps inferior humans.  For Paul to say that government is a tool of God and that Christians should respect those governing them is an amazing, conversation stopper, then and now.

         Respecting a government that we really can’t see is part of what keeps order in society.  We obey the traffic signals not because we particularly like the political party in power nor because we believe the speed limit should be 30 mph.  In fact we would probably prefer it be 35 mph.  Respecting the government is not so different from respecting God.  We cannot see him and we sometimes do not agree with his rules.  Forgiveness is not automatic or sharing our wealth is not easy.  We might give from our surplus but giving when it hurts is something else.  Respecting our authorities in the kingdom of this world may lay a foundation for respecting the authorities in the kingdom of heaven.

         As you come to a “stop” sign today, ask yourself what God might be asking you to stop.  Stop grumbling!  Stop over eating!  Stop being critical!  Stop withholding love from someone just because your feelings got hurt!  Stop making excuses for skipping prayer or reading the word!  Try it for a day and see if it is not a blessing.  Give honor to those to whom honor is due!  Blessings.

If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat;
    and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink;
²² for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,
    and the Lord will reward you.

Proverbs 25:21-22; Romans 12:20

         In chapter 12 Paul gives a long list of ways to live your faith – with enthusiasm.  We are encouraged to embrace our gifting, embrace a loving attitude, and embrace kindness towards our enemies.  A sermon could be preached about each phrase!  Paul ends by quoting Proverbs 25.  We had to memorize these two verses in confirmation.  Can you hear Jesus and probably Paul admonishing us that if we are kind to our friends, we only do what everyone does?  When we’re kind knowing we can profit from the kindness that is not surprising.  It is when we do the unexpected to the enemy, return good in the face of evil, that people take notice.  Their curiosity is aroused.  Many burdens are hard to carry alone.  Grief over death is a burden.  Disappointment and betrayal are burdens.  But I suspect bitterness and unforgiveness eat away at our souls.  Kindness to enemies is not only unexpected, it is embarrassing.  God rewards us.  That is worth considering.

         Ask the Holy Spirit to shine his flashlight on your soul and see if there are any old grievances that you do not need to carry any more.  Leave them in God’s hands.  I’m sure he can deal out justice better than we can.  Blessings as you clean house today.

^“4-6 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? (Romans 12:4-5, The Message)

Paul reminds us that as Christians, we are not just part of an organization or political party or maybe even ethnicity, we are part of a sacramental union of believers.  We do not raise our hand at baptism and swear an oath of allegiance as we do for citizenship in a country.  We become part of a living organism made up of people around the world who play different parts and we all work together for a single purpose – the health of the whole body.  The body is complex.  And so sometimes we feel like the church might have the flu when we are arguing and struggling with different ideas.  But we may also find health through forgiveness, love, and encouragement when the church works well.

      Let’s take a moment and ponder our role in the body, the church universal.  How do you see yourself?  How do you contribute?  How does the body help you?  Perhaps dividing a paper in half and label one side “Organization” and the other side “Body” and then write down similarities and differences.  Let’s thank God for the body of Christ!

         When we think of renewal, we might think of renewing our driver’s license.  We might think of getting back to something after an interruption.  But the definition I like is “the replacing or repair of something that is worn out, run-down, or broken.”  It seems to me to speak to the dilemma of burnout that is talked about by many who work themselves to a frazzle.  By the time we care for family, homes, work and friends, we often have little energy for one more meeting – at church or with God.  Fitting in that “quiet time” is often a real challenge.

         Paul encourages us to spend the time we need with God and not short cut renewing our minds.  Spending time with God helps us keep our priorities straight and has a trickle-down affect on the rest of our day.  It is kind of like “paying-it-forward.”  When the person ahead of you at McDonalds pays your bill so that when you come to the window, you have a pleasant surprise, spending a brief time in prayer and the Word may give you just that insight you need to organize your day.  You may hear the words of forgiveness for the mistakes of yesterday.  Sometimes just the right verse jumps off the page to put events in perspective.  Paul encourages us that renewing our mind with God is transformational.

         I have quoted a standard translation first of Romans 12:2 and then the chit chatty Message version.  Enjoy.  Blessings.

^“2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NIV)”

“12 ^1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.  (Romans 12:1-2, The Message)”

“The Nations Called to Praise God:  To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

¹ May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face to shine upon us,Selah
² that your way may be known upon earth,
    your saving power among all nations.

³ Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you.

⁴ Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you judge the peoples with equity
     and guide the nations upon earth.Selah
⁵ Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you.

⁶ The earth has yielded its increase;
    God, our God, has blessed us.
⁷ May God continue to bless us;
    let all the ends of the earth revere him.”

         Our psalm for tomorrow is Psalm 67.  It calls upon the people to praise God.  The psalmist opens with words that echo the Aaronic blessing given to Moses in Numbers 6.

^‘24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.’

         Let’s prepare our hearts for tomorrow by thinking of reasons we would praise God right now.  List three things you thank God for and see if you could write a short poem of thanksgiving.   Blessings.

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)

     Did you notice the shift in tone?  Paul opens Chapter 12 of Romans, not addressing the people of Rome but addresses “brothers and sisters.”  He has shifted to family language.  He also has shifted from the old burnt offering language to speaking about us being “living sacrifices.”  That is huge.  Worship is no longer something we do when we go to the Temple but it is something we live daily in our ordinary lives.  “Holy” implies that are lives are now being lived for God and his sacred purpose.  “Acceptable to God” identifies our audience we live for.  Paul is going from theology, big words like justification, faith, or adoption and grafting to how we live our lives.

     How would you differentiate between a dead sacrifices talked about in the Old Testament and being a “living” sacrifice?  When I think of something alive, I think of something animated, moving and growing.  Life implies warmth and not coldness.  Life implies interaction with what is going on around the living sacrifice, communication and involvement.  What does being alive imply to you and how do you see life being lived out in your faith journey?

     Sacrifice implies to me that my faith journey is not about my own happiness and about my will for my life but living to make God happy.  Somehow selfishness is put aside and the will of the “other” becomes more important than my own agenda.  Humbleness and submission might be operative words.

     Paul is tying together the faith theology of chapters 1 – 11 now down to a personal level.  What does being a living sacrifice mean to you?  Fellow believers are now family regardless of political differences or ethnic differences or theological differences.  Now that is a challenge worth praying about!  Blessings.