"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." - I Corinthians 13:1
I read a lot today about 'discovering your spiritual gifts.' And I think it's a good concept - to know your strengths and how to use them well. But McKnight puts forth a good reminder in this day's reading...
We may “have” all these things and still, to quote Gordon Fee, our life “before God adds up to zero” if our gifts are not swept into love for others. If our spiritual gifts are not animated by love, they are little more than business transactions.
The key is to remember that gifts are given to us, they are not something we created for ourselves.
Let us stretch out our arms with thanks to God, for God gave these gifts to us. They are not ours; they are God’s gifts to us. We give thanks to God and his gracious love for what we have received.
If we maintain a thankful, grateful, and humble attitude towards the gifts God has given us, then perhaps we will be able to see this next point that McKnight makes...
"Paul wants us to see that we are distributors of grace. God has given us something, not so we can bundle it all up into safe storage for ourselves... but so that we can give it as a gift to others."
I was struck by the thought that the gifts I have been given can become conduits of God's grace and love to others. Not that it's a totally new idea, but I just want to keep it clearly in my mind that what God has given to me, He wants me to use to give love and grace to others. It's not for me to be selfish with, or to ignore, but to give.
And then finally, McKnight reminds me that I'm not the only one given gifts - God gives others gifts, too. And then he says this, "Only when we see that our gift is part of the team called the body of Christ do we convert our gifts into the service of love for others."
Now this may seem silly, because of course God gives everyone gifts, but here is how this lesson is hitting home for me. I would say that I have been given the 'gift' of leadership. (with the disclaimer that I don't think I always do it very well, but I most always feel compelled or called to lead) !! Anyways, in the bible study group that I am currently involved in, I find myself now in a leadership position but the grace that I am experiencing in this group is that my eyes have been opened to the gifts that everyone in the group has to offer and the burden of responsibility that I once would have felt should fall completely on me is no longer there.... it has been graciously distributed among all of us as I realize we are all part of the 'team' and we are learning together how to use our gifts in love and service to each other. It's great! :)
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Day 28 - Boundary-Breaking Love
I love the title of this day's reading. I've spent a lot of time this last year thinking and re-thinking my ideas about who God loves and who God accepts. And I certainly don't have all the answers on that (though at one time I might have thought I did and that is what I am changing these days). But anyways, today's thoughts from McKnight shed some more light on the subject.
He recounts the visions and the meeting that happened between Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. And I love this story! It is surely a boundary-breaking kind of tale. It is that moment when Jesus' message that he came to seek and save ALL who are lost becomes most real. Peter, a Jew, is specifically sent to share the good news of Jesus to Cornelius, a gentile. In his day, Peter would never have associated with such a man, but God tells him in a vision to go and not to consider the religious 'boundary' of the day (Jew vs. Gentile) that would have kept them apart otherwise.
McKnight goes on from here to share four principles from this story for learning how to cross boundaries and share God's love:
#1 Other People Are Listening for God (I think this was my favorite)
Jesus Creed love breaks down boundaries, but it can do so only when it recognizes that the God who loves us also loves everyone else. It is easy for us to be tempted to think that we alone are the right group, that we alone are the most faithful, and that others are less loved by God because we in fact love them less. But this gets things backward: we may love others less, but God loves them the same. Humans throughout the world and across the street listen for God because they, too, are eikons of God, humans made in God’s image. Here is where we need to begin: with the recognition that everyone can be a seeker for God just as we are.
#2 Resistance to Boundary-Breaking is Normal
Perhaps you are like Peter. Perhaps you need to hear from God that the boundaries of your traditional faith need to be crossed because God is at work outside your boundaries. To practice the Jesus Creed means to muster the courage to break through boundaries.
#3 God is Impartial
Then Peter uttered words that might reshape our lives today: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (10:34–35).
#4 God Dwells with All Who Face God
Holy Spirit down-comings and outpourings and fillingups happen when boundaries are crossed and when we knock down the walls of privilege to form the flat plain of community. God loves you; God loves me; God loves everyone. We extend the grace of the Jesus Creed when we listen to the good news that God is not a boundary-maker but a boundary-breaker.
I think I have most often in my life looked at God and the bible as full of boundaries... full of lots of rules, reasons, commands, traditions, etc. that restricted my life in many ways. In what I do, in how I worship, in who I'm friends with, in where I go to church and on and on. All of that has begun to change in me as I begin to open my eyes to just this sort of thing that McKnight is talking about here... that in reality, God broke down the barriers that keep us from loving people as He has loved, and wants us to break down whatever those barriers look like in our own lives.
He recounts the visions and the meeting that happened between Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. And I love this story! It is surely a boundary-breaking kind of tale. It is that moment when Jesus' message that he came to seek and save ALL who are lost becomes most real. Peter, a Jew, is specifically sent to share the good news of Jesus to Cornelius, a gentile. In his day, Peter would never have associated with such a man, but God tells him in a vision to go and not to consider the religious 'boundary' of the day (Jew vs. Gentile) that would have kept them apart otherwise.
McKnight goes on from here to share four principles from this story for learning how to cross boundaries and share God's love:
#1 Other People Are Listening for God (I think this was my favorite)
Jesus Creed love breaks down boundaries, but it can do so only when it recognizes that the God who loves us also loves everyone else. It is easy for us to be tempted to think that we alone are the right group, that we alone are the most faithful, and that others are less loved by God because we in fact love them less. But this gets things backward: we may love others less, but God loves them the same. Humans throughout the world and across the street listen for God because they, too, are eikons of God, humans made in God’s image. Here is where we need to begin: with the recognition that everyone can be a seeker for God just as we are.
#2 Resistance to Boundary-Breaking is Normal
Perhaps you are like Peter. Perhaps you need to hear from God that the boundaries of your traditional faith need to be crossed because God is at work outside your boundaries. To practice the Jesus Creed means to muster the courage to break through boundaries.
#3 God is Impartial
Then Peter uttered words that might reshape our lives today: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (10:34–35).
#4 God Dwells with All Who Face God
Holy Spirit down-comings and outpourings and fillingups happen when boundaries are crossed and when we knock down the walls of privilege to form the flat plain of community. God loves you; God loves me; God loves everyone. We extend the grace of the Jesus Creed when we listen to the good news that God is not a boundary-maker but a boundary-breaker.
I think I have most often in my life looked at God and the bible as full of boundaries... full of lots of rules, reasons, commands, traditions, etc. that restricted my life in many ways. In what I do, in how I worship, in who I'm friends with, in where I go to church and on and on. All of that has begun to change in me as I begin to open my eyes to just this sort of thing that McKnight is talking about here... that in reality, God broke down the barriers that keep us from loving people as He has loved, and wants us to break down whatever those barriers look like in our own lives.
Day 27 - Resourceful Love
I want to post just a quick excerpt from yesterday's reading because it referenced probably my most favorite verse in scripture -- I Peter 4:8
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
That's how I have it memorized.
I like the version that Scott McKnight referenced as well:
“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
He talked a lot about how love is resourceful in the sense that love always finds a way past the wrongs and difficulties we encounter in relationships. He ends this chapter with this quote:
Love stretches us, but it also stretches itself over the wrongs and faults of others. Instead of accusing, resourceful love sees and understands, sees and forgives, sees and stays with, and because it does all these things, it gets beyond the wrongs to a life that engulfs our faults in a forgiving, healing, embracing grace.
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
That's how I have it memorized.
I like the version that Scott McKnight referenced as well:
“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
He talked a lot about how love is resourceful in the sense that love always finds a way past the wrongs and difficulties we encounter in relationships. He ends this chapter with this quote:
Love stretches us, but it also stretches itself over the wrongs and faults of others. Instead of accusing, resourceful love sees and understands, sees and forgives, sees and stays with, and because it does all these things, it gets beyond the wrongs to a life that engulfs our faults in a forgiving, healing, embracing grace.
OK, a lot of interesting pictures come up when you google 'embrace.' :) I was looking to find something that illustrated this 'embracing grace' idea -- I just love that concept. I don't know that the kitty picture quite gets it, but I thought it was sweet. :)
Friday, March 1, 2013
A Man Named Charlie
I had an interesting encounter yesterday. Let me preface it with this:
In the weekly bible study group that I am a part of, we've been talking for the last few weeks about God's will for our lives. Is it a specific thing? How do we know what it is? How do we hear from God? And we got into a bit of a debate at one point about how God 'speaks' to us... we had a book that took the very strong position that God only speaks to us and directs us through His word. Well, this didn't sit too well with many of us who believe and have experienced God 'speaking' to us through his Spirit in many ways and in many kinds of experiences - through prayer, through advice from others, through (gasp!) feelings, etc. So this whole discussion has been on my mind...
Then, I had my blog post from yesterday on my mind as well, where I had mentioned all the ways that I have seen friends involved in loving others in the name of Jesus.
And... since I've been doing this devotional series, I've been reciting the Shema throughout the day and trying to keep in mind the idea of loving God and loving others above all things.
OK, with that in mind, back to yesterday.
I had just left a very nice time at lunch with my friend Misty where we had spent most of our time talking about the pros and cons and costs of sending your kids to a rather expensive private college. As I left there, Anna texted me (she was home from school that day with a friend working on a project for school...long story) and asked if I would bring lunch home for them... from Nothing But Noodles. I was nearby so I said OK and headed over to get them lunch, all the while thinking that I sure do spend a lot of money on my kids. As I turned into the parking lot of Whitesburg Shopping Center, I noticed a man sitting on the curb with a sign in his hands and a small suitcase sitting next to him. And it was windy and freezing outside. :( I drove past him and my heart went out to him, but in that same instant fear and doubt began speaking to me. "You don't know him. You're alone - you shouldn't approach him. You shouldn't give him money because you don't know what he will do with it. And on and on...." But as I parked, went in the restaurant and ordered food for the girls, my spirit wouldn't let up... it urged me, then compelled me, to do something. (How could I so easily spend money the way that I do and not at the very least get him something to eat?) So I'm standing at the take-out area and then it hit me that I just had to go back thru the line and order this man something to eat. I did that, feeling a little silly since I had just gone thru the line, and then waited a couple of minutes for the food to get ready.
As I headed back to my car, I whispered a prayer of hope that what I was about to do was going to be helpful to the man and give glory to God... then pulled out and headed back towards the man. I pulled over, got out of my car and walked over, and said hello. The man smiled up at me and said hi and said he was looking for work to do. I told him I didn't have any work, but that I had brought him some lunch and I hoped that would help. He was so happy to take the food - he introduced himself as Charlie and again, feeling compelled, I reached out and shook his hand. He had such kind eyes. :) He said to me, "God bless you. You are so sweet - you will be in my prayers." It melted my heart to see this man, who has almost nothing (in the eyes of the world), bless me (who seemingly has so much) with his words.
And as a little bonus, as I was talking to him, another woman came up alongside me and offered some more food to him. We found out he is new in town and from Albertville and we told him about Manna House near The Rock. He thanked us for the information and we went on our way.
I got back in my car, and cried, and prayed all the way home that he would find his way to people who could help him and thanked God for giving me the courage to listen and do something with the voice (God's Spirit) that was speaking to my spirit and telling me to do something for that man.
So yes, I do believe that God speaks to us and directs us through his Spirit in so many ways... and I was so very blessed yesterday by taking hold of the chance to love someone, at least in some small way, the way that Jesus would have loved.
In the weekly bible study group that I am a part of, we've been talking for the last few weeks about God's will for our lives. Is it a specific thing? How do we know what it is? How do we hear from God? And we got into a bit of a debate at one point about how God 'speaks' to us... we had a book that took the very strong position that God only speaks to us and directs us through His word. Well, this didn't sit too well with many of us who believe and have experienced God 'speaking' to us through his Spirit in many ways and in many kinds of experiences - through prayer, through advice from others, through (gasp!) feelings, etc. So this whole discussion has been on my mind...
Then, I had my blog post from yesterday on my mind as well, where I had mentioned all the ways that I have seen friends involved in loving others in the name of Jesus.
And... since I've been doing this devotional series, I've been reciting the Shema throughout the day and trying to keep in mind the idea of loving God and loving others above all things.
OK, with that in mind, back to yesterday.
I had just left a very nice time at lunch with my friend Misty where we had spent most of our time talking about the pros and cons and costs of sending your kids to a rather expensive private college. As I left there, Anna texted me (she was home from school that day with a friend working on a project for school...long story) and asked if I would bring lunch home for them... from Nothing But Noodles. I was nearby so I said OK and headed over to get them lunch, all the while thinking that I sure do spend a lot of money on my kids. As I turned into the parking lot of Whitesburg Shopping Center, I noticed a man sitting on the curb with a sign in his hands and a small suitcase sitting next to him. And it was windy and freezing outside. :( I drove past him and my heart went out to him, but in that same instant fear and doubt began speaking to me. "You don't know him. You're alone - you shouldn't approach him. You shouldn't give him money because you don't know what he will do with it. And on and on...." But as I parked, went in the restaurant and ordered food for the girls, my spirit wouldn't let up... it urged me, then compelled me, to do something. (How could I so easily spend money the way that I do and not at the very least get him something to eat?) So I'm standing at the take-out area and then it hit me that I just had to go back thru the line and order this man something to eat. I did that, feeling a little silly since I had just gone thru the line, and then waited a couple of minutes for the food to get ready.
As I headed back to my car, I whispered a prayer of hope that what I was about to do was going to be helpful to the man and give glory to God... then pulled out and headed back towards the man. I pulled over, got out of my car and walked over, and said hello. The man smiled up at me and said hi and said he was looking for work to do. I told him I didn't have any work, but that I had brought him some lunch and I hoped that would help. He was so happy to take the food - he introduced himself as Charlie and again, feeling compelled, I reached out and shook his hand. He had such kind eyes. :) He said to me, "God bless you. You are so sweet - you will be in my prayers." It melted my heart to see this man, who has almost nothing (in the eyes of the world), bless me (who seemingly has so much) with his words.
And as a little bonus, as I was talking to him, another woman came up alongside me and offered some more food to him. We found out he is new in town and from Albertville and we told him about Manna House near The Rock. He thanked us for the information and we went on our way.
I got back in my car, and cried, and prayed all the way home that he would find his way to people who could help him and thanked God for giving me the courage to listen and do something with the voice (God's Spirit) that was speaking to my spirit and telling me to do something for that man.
So yes, I do believe that God speaks to us and directs us through his Spirit in so many ways... and I was so very blessed yesterday by taking hold of the chance to love someone, at least in some small way, the way that Jesus would have loved.
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