Christmas 1
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
-- Colossians 3:17
In almost all of Paul's letters, he was clear that the evidence of the spiritual life of a congregation must be seen in the fruits of the Spirit. "As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." The very fact that he had to mention this suggests that such fruits were in tension with a natural inclination of people within a human community. To live in a Christian community does not mean that we are liberated from all of the selfish ego needs of other human groups. Rather, while it is normal for churches to contend with such realities, we also have access to a power from beyond ourselves that can make our less-than-perfect response a redemptive possibility.
When we have a complaint against another member of the church, which we will have, we are to "forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." In most of the world, people's failures to live together in harmony results in the weakening of human community. However, because of the power of Christ working in us, our very failures present us with redemptive possibilities. If a person fails to relate to you properly, it provides you an opportunity to express the same type of love that Christ offers you. "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
The very failure of our relationships presents us the opportunity to "let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts to which we were called in the one body." What enables this to be possible is our continual experience of worship. It is as we worship, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God, that we are infused with the word of Christ that dwells within us. Then out of gratitude to Christ, we act to please God in a way that heals the strains between us. We act in this way because we are acting "in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." As we celebrate the gift of God to us in Christ, we are enabled to give a gift in return.
-- Colossians 3:17
In almost all of Paul's letters, he was clear that the evidence of the spiritual life of a congregation must be seen in the fruits of the Spirit. "As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." The very fact that he had to mention this suggests that such fruits were in tension with a natural inclination of people within a human community. To live in a Christian community does not mean that we are liberated from all of the selfish ego needs of other human groups. Rather, while it is normal for churches to contend with such realities, we also have access to a power from beyond ourselves that can make our less-than-perfect response a redemptive possibility.
When we have a complaint against another member of the church, which we will have, we are to "forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." In most of the world, people's failures to live together in harmony results in the weakening of human community. However, because of the power of Christ working in us, our very failures present us with redemptive possibilities. If a person fails to relate to you properly, it provides you an opportunity to express the same type of love that Christ offers you. "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
The very failure of our relationships presents us the opportunity to "let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts to which we were called in the one body." What enables this to be possible is our continual experience of worship. It is as we worship, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God, that we are infused with the word of Christ that dwells within us. Then out of gratitude to Christ, we act to please God in a way that heals the strains between us. We act in this way because we are acting "in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." As we celebrate the gift of God to us in Christ, we are enabled to give a gift in return.
