04-16-20

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 16, 2020
Scripture: Matthew 12:44
Then the unclean spirit says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

Thought for the Day: Yesterday in my Wednesday Study and Prayer Times, I referenced this story from Matthew’s Gospel. The unclean spirit has left the person, but then upon finding no other place to rest, it decided to return to “my” house… the person from whom the unclean spirit originally had come. The possessive pronoun is interesting and it makes me wonder what kind of stuff have I unknowingly given permission to feel ownership in my life? And I’m not talking good stuff. Where have we consented to things (or people) who do not have our best interest in mind, yet we have allowed them to take up residence within us? Maybe it is driven more by guilt or shame, allowing something from the past to stay rent-free within our heads or hearts. We are intended to be a dwelling place for love, and all the other stuff claiming ownership has not been given any authority from God who is the true guardian of our being. Many will line up and claim us as their dwelling, but we must make it clear that our lives are a sanctuary for divine love.

Prayer: There is no question that I need you to dwell more fully within my life, O God of Grace, yet there are things that are taking up space that should not be provided one more minute in my life. Through the Spiritual Disciplines, give me the tools to relinquish what isn’t of you so that I can know more of your love that is the source of all transformation. Amen.

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TONIGHT
The Upper Zoom

A Fellowship Time
6:00-7:30pm

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