The Day Of Pentecost
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
... no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.
-- 1 Corinthians 12:3b
What does it mean to say, "Jesus is Lord"? It is more than allowing the words to come pouring out of one's mouth. It is a commitment that transcends all others. It means when you have to determine whether to skip worship to catch up on office work or to get a little extra sleep, the decision is clear. It means when reasoning whether you can afford to give 10% of your income to God or hedge your gifts to determine first what is needed for life's necessities, the decision is clear. It means when you are frustrated with your marriage, angry with your parents, tempted to cheat to get ahead, the decision is clear. It means when important social friends you have worked hard to acquire make disparaging remarks about the poor and you are tempted to agree in order to continue the relationships, the decision is clear.
Can we live such a life? We can only if Jesus is experienced as our Lord deep within our hearts, because to do so we have to confront powerful fears that dwell within each of us. Can churches say, "Jesus is Lord"? If all of our churches demonstrated obedience to a common Lord, would it not enable them to resist envy and competition and to acknowledge the strength of our variety? Imagine the witness that would be made if all the churches in one city could clearly agree that "we were made to drink of one Spirit." It would be an interesting spiritual discipline for all the members of a church to agree that, for one month, each member would take a few moments three times a day to reflect on what it means for us to say "Jesus is Lord." By the power of the Holy Spirit, it might change our experience of the faith of in our community.
-- 1 Corinthians 12:3b
What does it mean to say, "Jesus is Lord"? It is more than allowing the words to come pouring out of one's mouth. It is a commitment that transcends all others. It means when you have to determine whether to skip worship to catch up on office work or to get a little extra sleep, the decision is clear. It means when reasoning whether you can afford to give 10% of your income to God or hedge your gifts to determine first what is needed for life's necessities, the decision is clear. It means when you are frustrated with your marriage, angry with your parents, tempted to cheat to get ahead, the decision is clear. It means when important social friends you have worked hard to acquire make disparaging remarks about the poor and you are tempted to agree in order to continue the relationships, the decision is clear.
Can we live such a life? We can only if Jesus is experienced as our Lord deep within our hearts, because to do so we have to confront powerful fears that dwell within each of us. Can churches say, "Jesus is Lord"? If all of our churches demonstrated obedience to a common Lord, would it not enable them to resist envy and competition and to acknowledge the strength of our variety? Imagine the witness that would be made if all the churches in one city could clearly agree that "we were made to drink of one Spirit." It would be an interesting spiritual discipline for all the members of a church to agree that, for one month, each member would take a few moments three times a day to reflect on what it means for us to say "Jesus is Lord." By the power of the Holy Spirit, it might change our experience of the faith of in our community.
