DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Let Us Walk This Way
by Dan Kidd
From the very beginning, the Church has been a community movement, with a distinct relationship with one another. Distinct in their equality, in their generosity and mutual sharing, and in their self-sacrificial love for one another. We see the nature of this Christ-led, cross-shaped community described in this portion of Paul's letter to the Ephesian church. Paul is describing for them the type of community they were created and Spirit-empowered to be. And as we continue reflecting on how Jesus is at work in us, within and among UALC, let it be that by God's grace we might be so caught up in the Kingdom work of the Lord that others would marvel at how we love one another--like Paul imagines here.
What I deeply appreciate about this passage is how thoughtfully Paul speaks to the temptations and rifts that are unavoidable in a community living their lives alongside one another. When we live with the vulnerability of loving one another, we will run into instances where we're tempted to not be honest. Especially when we're called to honesty and kindness. In times of desperation or entitlement we may give into the temptations of taking what isn't ours to have. In our moments of hurt or real dissatisfaction, we can be prone to speaking cruelly or vulgarly; to self-soothe with gossip. When we, who live life together, inevitably hurt one another, the enemy would have us smolder in resentment or ignite in wrath. How profoundly fortunate we are that the Lord has saved us into something much better than all of that.
In our sermon passage this week, we heard the Lord's words over Joshua. "Be strong and very courageous," and carefully obedient to God's direction. Let it be that this would the word over us as well. That we, who have been delivered and richly blessed by the Lord, would be strong in the love and giftedness of our God. That he would empty us our bitterness or our rage. That he would lead us away from our malice, slander, or violence. Instead, let it be that Christ would clothe us in his righteousness--in kindness and compassion for one another. That we would abandon laziness so that we might work in order that we can generously give away to others. Let us, this year, and every year after, be people who are so shaped by Christ crucified that we would be remarkable for our forgiveness of one another. Just as he, who was executed on the cross forgave his executioners, his enemies, even as he hung there, we would be filled with that very same Spirit.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we pray that you would continue the work. You've been so faithful to do in us that we would be your Kingdom family; the living evidence of your love for the world. We pray that we would be known for how we love one another distinctly. As we fall short of this vision, convict us, forgive us, and set us aright again in your mercy. Continue, Lord, this year, to set us free into the community you've intended us to be. Amen
Thank you Dan. Verses 29 and 32 struck me today as words I need to live by. Build others up, and Be kind and compassionate. One cannot go wrong following these words. Best to you.