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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING Thought for the Day: In Sunday’s sermon we heard the words from Romans 12, including Paul speaking of discerning the will of God. Later on Sunday, our Vice Chair of the Board, Pat Cooksey, offered a prayer during our Board Meeting where she spoke of following God’s will instead of our own will. It was interesting, for though we pray every Sunday in the Lord’s Prayer, “…Thy will be done…,” Pat’s words struck me with the power of what was being suggested. Though the language of ‘God’s will’ is spoken often, and people frequently ask for God’s plan for their lives, I do not think very many of us are ready for God’s will to really be done. Especially if that will is what we find in the Sermon on the Mount, found in Jesus’ words on reconciliation and forgiveness, or shown in God’s redemptive power for the despised and despicable in the world. Yet even those praying the ancient Psalms were asking to not only know the ways of God, but for God to teach them and lead them down the path of divine will. Are you ready? Prayer: With a deep breath, O Lord, I am ready to take another step onto the path of your will. I can’t say for sure whether I’m ready for everything this means, but I trust for you to walk with me each step of the way. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/3n3LQ10
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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING via WordPress https://ift.tt/3ssIeGR ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING Thought for the Day: Whenever the scriptures use words like ‘every,’ I find myself getting nervous. I wish it read: often, frequent or pretty consistent. Yet in this passage we read the high calling of being holy in every aspect of life. That’s more than challenging. Yet there is another word that will be important in this morning’s sermon. It is the word, ‘conform,’ which basically means: to fashion or form alongside something. We take on the shape of something, and in this case, it is our former desires that shaped us when we were ignorant. Some more harsh language from 1st Peter. We so often become conformed to something that does not represent what we see in Jesus, and we find it challenging to break from it as if somehow we not only conformed to it but allowed ourselves to solidify in that shape. If as followers of Jesus we are to look like Jesus, we probably should be working to conform ourselves to Jesus. Let us stretch ourselves in this work. Prayer: This is tough, Lord God, yet you call us to the tough stuff of faith. In your grace, let us continue to push and stretch ourselves toward the holy calling being put before us. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/3eapNl7 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING via WordPress https://ift.tt/3su7psy ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING Thought for the Day: This is one of those challenging passages for good Trinitarians. If you believe Jesus was God enfleshed, then shouldn’t Jesus be good as well? I have six or eight different answers to that one question, but that’s not necessarily what is relevant. First, Jesus did not initially answer the question, but challenged a presumption found in the question. He declared God alone as good. Yet as the story moves on, Jesus gave the ruler some suggestions for how he might stretch himself toward God, toward the goodness of God. Yet if God alone is good, then even Jesus must have been stretching himself toward the good that is God. If you think of it in those terms, then the life of Jesus becomes for us a model for how we are to stretch ourselves. Many of the suggestions Jesus made to the ruler were challenging and disruptive to life as usual. In the end, the ruler recognized that and was not willing to make the change. It is interesting how God is always willing to give us a choice. Prayer: I may not be good as you are good, Lord God, but I seek to have your goodness seen within me more and more each day. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/32gEnlI ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING Thought for the Day: What is it that keeps you from living more fully in a life-giving relationship with God? For Paul, it was a thing called “the law,” yet sadly many have narrowly used the idea and missed the point. In his moment of time, Paul was greatly concerned about how religious rules and restrictive interpretations could squeeze out any sense of grace and mercy. Ultimately, he was worried about people missing a life-giving relationship with God. There are times when people become so hyper-focused on the historic context of scripture (which is important) so as to never ask the next question, “So how does that relate to our current context?” And today, there are many examples of faith traditions squeezing out grace and mercy because of religious rules and restrictive interpretation. At the same time, there are many other ways in which people find themselves unable to access the life-giving love made real in Jesus. So I return to my initial question: What is it that keeps you from living more fully in a life-giving relationship with God? What needs to change? What needs to be transformed? Prayer: Like any relationship, my relationship with you, Loving God, needs constant work. There are many things, both within me and from outside of me, that seek to interfere with the relationship I desire. Help me to be mindful and confessional, and where possible, seek lasting transformation. Amen. SIGN-UP via WordPress https://ift.tt/32gnMyj ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING CLICK HERE via WordPress https://ift.tt/3g9Wy4w ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING Thought for the Day: On Sunday I shared the importance of having a clear response to the question: What are you doing here? Though the question can be heard in many different ways, I ask it in the big and broader sense. The question is asking about a personal mission statement, a clear sense of who you are in the universe. There are a lot of scriptures one could draw from, but these words from Micah would be an important scripture to consider. To ask the question, “What is good?” is to be reminded that only God is good, yet we are to endeavor to reflect God and the goodness of God. If that is our goal, then there are certain things required, including: to do justice, embrace faithful love and to walk humbly with God. I’m not suggesting you choose these words for yourself, but maybe wrestle with them for the day. What would it look like to make these words your mantra, and then to elevate them to your purpose statement for life? Prayer: Continue to encourage me, O Lord, and in your encouragement provide me some courage. It might appear to be easier to wonder through life somewhat aimlessly, but if I desire to be faithful to you, then I need to know who I am and what I am doing here. Help me in my search. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/327u6bd ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING via WordPress https://ift.tt/2QhFpee ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING via WordPress https://ift.tt/2QhFpee |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
April 2021
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