02-21-20

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
February 21, 2020
Scripture: Leviticus 19:34
Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself, because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.

Thought for the Day: This was some pretty radical stuff. Imagine that you are relatively new to this “People” thing. You are out of Egypt, but still trying to determine what non-enslaved means corporately, while also trying to listen for the voice of God. This Blessed Nation (those in Covenant with God) are incredibly vulnerable, ripe for ruin if the community does not pay attention. At the same time, there is a very clear ethic put forth about an openness to the immigrant/foreigner. Shouldn’t the community be protecting itself from outside influences? I read this as an amazing declaration that the Community’s Values and Purpose are even more important than its existence. That is so counter intuitive… some might say outright crazy! Yet how many communities or organizations have jeopardized everything they understood as essential only to maintain their own existence? What is existence without one’s values and purpose?

Prayer: Provide me a reminder of your values, Creator of All, starting with the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Allow for these expressions of your will to take root within me and within the church. And may I never risk at handful of the fruit simply to save myself or an institution. Amen.

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