Devotional Blog

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Are We Human?

I'm stealing again, but only because it's something that's been close to my heart for quite some time. Below you’ll find a devotion from Dr. Harper that comes from Fr. Rohr. So it looks like this: Rev. Martin commented on Rev. Dr. Harper’s post quoting Fr. Rohr’s meditation. Silly, I know. I have my own spin on the devotions below. So bear with me as I make my own personal point and then I hope you can still enjoy the wisdom of both Steve Harper and Richard Rohr.

One of my favorite quotes in literature, media, and even real life has been the response to failure, “Hey, lay off! I’m only human!” Popular culture has always seen humanity as something less than perfect, less the ‘good enough’, and always falling short. I have a problem with this as a Christian. So,over time, my response has become, “But wait. Are you? Are you human?”

If we want to know what it means to be truly “human” then we must look at the first humans, Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were beautiful creatures who enjoyed the presence and relationship of their God. But when the creature turned away from the Creator and began to serve the creaturely things (be it the serpent or their own desires), they “fell from grace.” So to be truly human, then, would mean to walk with God; to be in a state where God is the apple of our eye and the focus of our heart always. Anything less would be sub-human. Fallen humanity suffers from sub-human lifestyles and choices everyday. Romans 1 and 2 can answer to that alone.

But then to be truly human, unwaveringly human, would be . . . well, like Jesus, and that is what God is calling us to be. St. Paul went to great lengths to see Jesus as the “new Adam,” the one who would not choose the creatures or creature-comforts over the Creator or his comfort from above. Jesus is human—we (theologically) are not. God’s actions in Christ are meant to restore us to the state of Adam and Eve and then exalt us through holiness. We are being set aside to be the people of God, empowered by His Spirit within us to be something so much more than we know now.

Read on below, knowing that being ‘human’ is important as we grow in Christ, seeing God at all times and in all place. But then understand that God is calling us upward to embrace the super-human (supernatural, in other words). We were created for more than this world alone, for more than the baser things. Be human, then let Christ make you so much more!

(Click here if the text doesn't appear below)

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Rev. Whit R. Martin
Pastor, New Liberty United Methodist Church
www.newlibertyumc.org

www.facebook.com/newlibertyumc

Devotional Blog – devoblog.posterous.com

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Ways of Worship: Scripture & Study

For the next three Sundays we’ll be talking about “Ways of Worship.” There are several disciplines that Christianity has the privilege of enjoying for both our devotion and our growth. These disciplines or “ways” are expressions of worship that nurture our faith and connect us to God. They give us life and teach us how to live. They are means of grace, tools that reveal the love and forgiveness of God. Today we look at the importance of scripture and study.

SCRIPTURE

Above all things, we have the Word of God, Jesus who became flesh to witness to God and to be our redemption through his life, death, and resurrection. Colossians 1.15–16 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.” Jesus’ is important for more reasons than we have time for today, but for our purposes this morning, it is crucial to emphasize that Jesus is scripture-lived-out. If you want to know what it means to understand and practice the lifestyle of the scriptures, you must look to Jesus. In him is the creation story, the call of Abraham, the Exodus of God’s people from slavery, the revelation of the law and the message of the prophets; all of the Bible is wrapped up in the life and times of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, to have the scriptures written down means that we can follow Jesus in his footsteps, keeping the holy book close to our hearts as we read it’s life-giving words and take within us the necessary knowledge for salvation. The Bible is the story of God; how he designed, created, disciplined, sustained, warned, forgave, and redeemed his people. And this story becomes our story through God’s loving decision to create and offer relationship to the lost children of the world. Scripture is in fact a long invitation sent by God through Jesus. Through that invitation in Jesus, we are invited into a way of living that forms our hearts and minds into what it means to truly live as God intended.

The apostle Paul wrote often of the importance of scripture. His letters to young Timothy seem to be especially powerful as he encouraged him to set an example for the churches in his care. Let’s let Paul teach us best with two particular passages. The first from 1 Timothy 4.6-16, “If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, 8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. These are the things you must insist on and teach. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. 15 Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

And now the second passage from 2 Timothy 3.14-17, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”

There is no way I can top that or say it any better. Let these words to Timothy set the tone for the scriptures role in the success or failure of our Christian obedience.

STUDY

Now for study. Study is key to everything we do because through study comes learning. If we are to learn what it means to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, then we must study his life and the lives of those who walked after him. The lives of countless saints of God point to what life in the kingdom of God looks like. Therefore, Scripture encourages our study of beautiful things as Paul says in Philippians 4.8–9, “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

On this verse, Christian writer Richard Foster comments, “What we study determines the kind of habits that are formed, which is why Paul urges us to focus on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious” (Celebration of Discipline, ‘Study’, pg. 64). The forming of Christian habits is what leads to a sacred rhythm, a way of living that sets you apart from the world as you live along side it. Study provides us with confidence and comfort as we give ourselves to it. It gives us strength and invites understanding. Christian habits are like workout routines—the things we do that train our bodies and build-up the muscles that we are trying to strengthen.

After the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples in the upper room, those who heard Peter’s preaching devoted their lives to Christ. Acts 2.42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Life became all about proving to themselves and the world that God’s word transforms through living it out. Most people miss the point of Christianity or fall away from the faith because they fail prepare through study and live it out through faith. The success of the Christian experience rests up on our fellowship with the word of God, both Christ the Word and the word we call the scriptures. Just as in fellowship we surround ourselves with people for support and encouragement, so in the same way, scripture and study is surrounding ourselves with the encouragement and support of God and his word.

So, as I encourage you in Christian study I want to ask you, what is the subject of your life? What are you studying? What do you study most often? What are you becoming? What do you live for? Who do you live for? To what end are you living? Do you have a direction? Paul, again, reminds us that we have an ‘upward call’, that our lives are to be focused on higher pursuits; that we rise above the baser things and that we look to God who calls us upward, away from the worldly things that trap, tie, bind, and shackle. Philippians 3.14 says, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Pressing on, as Paul says, means that we must be diligent in our attempts to grow and be grown by God. Our attention to our studies is crucial to our understanding, therefore it is important that you are involved in Bible Study. We have 4 studies to be involved in and we're about to add Sunday school in June. Do you need to study? Then come. Do you desire to teach or lead? Then talk with me. Study the scriptures and engage in this way of worship. Amen.

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Rev. Whit R. Martin
Pastor, New Liberty United Methodist Church
www.newlibertyumc.org

www.facebook.com/newlibertyumc

Devotional Blog – devoblog.posterous.com

Rev. Whit R. Martin
Pastor, New Liberty United Methodist Church
www.newlibertyumc.org

www.facebook.com/newlibertyumc

Devotional Blog – devoblog.posterous.com

Posted

The Family of God

1 John 5.1-6

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. ²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. ³For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, ⁴for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. ⁵Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

⁶This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

Let’s travel through this group of verses this morning. There’s a lot here and I want us to be able to put it together and make good sense out of what John wants to tell us. The last couple of weeks, we’ve talked about loving others. We know that our witness is strengthened and believed by others when they see the love Christians have for one another. When they know that we take care of our own and look after one another, they have every reason to believe our testimony, especially when it spills out into the lives of others. Our best evangelism is our witness of love.

But John gets personal with this passage, speaking primarily about the faith of believers and how we can know for OURSELVES that we are living as children of God. See, our faith is important not because life is complete once we believe, but because life begins once we believe. That beginning is what John is talking about here when he refers to being born of God.

When we come to understand through faith that Jesus is the Son of God, we have new life. Our faith grants us this new life because faith causes God’s love to be born in our hearts—a love that transforms us. This is why only faith in Jesus can give birth to a true understanding of God. Receiving this truth—that Jesus is the Son of God—grants us a spiritual birth, granting us the status of ‘children’ in the kingdom of God.

But be warned that knowing who Jesus is is very different than having a relationship with him. Faith is not cold and objective, like knowing the capitals of each state or how to fix a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Having faith in God results in loving him. To truly understand who Jesus is and what he has done for us means that we understand the love he has for us. When you actually take into your mind and heart the understanding and the magnitude of what God has done for you, there is a response of love and gratitude. Therefore, those who treasure the gift of God — which is sacrifice and salvation through Jesus Christ — are those who are born of God; given new life that begins here and now.

Now that we have spoken of accepting the love of God through faith, we must speak about how it relates to the children of God. To love God means that we love his children, as v.1 tells us. If you love a parent, you love their children. But what if you don’t love their children? Let’s say you have a friend and that person is the one you call when you want to have a good time. Maybe they’re your movie-date, Friday night dinner friend, or even your huntin’ buddy. This is the person you tell ‘stuff’ to and even confess a little when things just haven’t been going your way. But then there is their family. You love your friend, but their kids or their spouse drive you crazy. The spouse talks non-stop and is so loud. The kids are a mess and honestly you can’t go anywhere with them. Now, step back. What does this say about the depth of love you have for your friend? You see, this friend loves their family. They’ve chosen in their marriage vows to forsake all others and commit themselves to this person in love. Their children are their offspring, the fruit of the their love with one another. They are committed and this small community of spouse and children is their ultimate love.

Now see the ‘friend’ as God. He is the one that you come to, the one that is able to bring joy to your life, the one you tell things to and confess to when things just aren’t going the right way. God loves you. But God loves his family, too. The Church is his bride, the one he has laid his life down for through Jesus. His children are everything to him, the ones who bring joy to his heart and who have received life in Jesus through his Church. God has in fact created a community, one that he has chosen to save and redeem in the midst of their sin. And the beauty is that God has invited the world into his family, into his community, to receive life, purpose, and meaning through his shelter, the Church.

Know that God’s family comes first. He has poured out himself for those that will receive his gracious gift. God does not serve the selfish desires and ambitions of those who only wish to serve themselves. God has proven through Christ that he is about the business of shaping and forming a community, a family, that will love each other and welcome those outside in. God has set the example for what it means to love by committing himself to the world, creating and sustaining it with love and discipline.

Lastly. There is nothing more terrible than the things that seek to break-up a family. For the family of God, it is the devil and sin that seek nothing more than for us to serve ourselves rather than to contribute to the family of God. The second half of our scripture this morning reminds us that obeying God and his commandments prove that we are putting God first and care about what he says. If God is just and good, then the direction that he has set for us as the Father of our family is one that we can trust and even contribute to. We have been called to support him and his cause, to follow after him in mercy and in love. Therefore, those that love God obey God’s commandments.

God’s commandments shouldn’t be a burden to anyone. His commands are what contribute to the vision he has set-up for the redemption and transformation of the world. The life and ministry of Jesus give proof to God’s goal: to be a father to the fatherless and to set the captive free.

But when forces of wickedness seek to take us away from our family goals and direction, so we must be on guard. And this is where our faith becomes so important. Because our faith is what causes God’s love to be born and sustained in our hearts, we must do what is necessary to overcome the world and its distracting ways. And this can only be done through faith in Jesus. So we must believe and follow the words of the song, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey."

V.6 reminds us of our place in God’s family; that through blood we are forgiven and through water we are made clean. We have been adopted, grafted in, welcomed into the body of Christ and our faith will carry us through the trials of the world.

Therefore, children of God, look not to the world for definition, for purpose, or for a home. Look to God, the Creator of us all and the Father of those who would believe. Trust in Jesus and let not the world take you captive through its skewed and misunderstood ideas. But rather as the song says, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace." Amen.

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Rev. Whit R. Martin

Pastor, New Liberty United Methodist Church

www.newlibertyumc.org

Devotional Blog – devoblog.posterous.com/

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With Divine Love

**The audio recorded in Mono instead of Stereo. We'll get it fixed. Apologies... —WRM

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1 John 4.7-21

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

This entire text is filled with love: God’s love for us, our love for one another, abiding in his love, etc etc. But for me, v.12 just sticks out like a sore thumb. The beauty of this verse is that it basically sums up all that comes before it and most of what comes after it. Take comfort in the fact that it does get a little confusing sometimes, so this verse may be our calm in the midst of rough waters as we try to make heads or tails of the text. So here’s three things for us look at.

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I. Seeing God

Seeing God proves difficult for those seeking proof or evidence of his existence. Many of us have heard others say, “You know, I just find it hard to believe in a God I can’t see. If there were a clearer picture of God or if they Bible did a better job of explaining God to me, I might get it.” So, the one thing we need to understand to help them and even us sometimes is understanding how God has chosen to present himself to the world.

Much of God’s witness to himself today comes through what we talked about last week, that the proof and evidence of God’s existence and his activity in the world comes through the life and vitality of the Church. If we, as God’s chosen vehicle for ministry and love, will place him at the center of our lives and do all things from that place, then we will give the world all the evidence that it needs to see God alive and well in the world.

But there is an important challenge for us here. This idea puts a lot of responsibility of God’s success in the world on us. Well, yeah, because God has chosen to use the Church as his representative in the world. The Church is meant to be the Body of Christ, meant to both harbor and distribute God’s presence through it’s love and ministry to the world. Does the Church misrepresent God sometimes? Of course it does. We as fallen people, though Christ has redeemed us, still fall back into our worldly ways and choose to place things above God. The great human struggle from the very beginning has been the problem of idols. At times we hold issues, politics, and even religiosity above our Creator. Eve chose the forbidden fruit over God’s protection. Abraham had Ishmael instead of waiting on the promise of Isaac. God told Moses to command the rock in the wilderness to pour forth water for the people, but Moses struck it in his own power and God kept him from the Promised Land because of his actions. We all have things that we do in the midst of our service to God. Thanks be to Him for his love and forgiveness. And so as we show this same forgiveness, the world can see God’s love in the midst of God’s activity through his Church.

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II. Loving One Another

Loving one another is difficult, I know, but most of the time, that difficulty comes through our pulling out love for one another from the wrong place. Often times we try and love other people with our love, a fallen and pitiful excuse for ‘love.’ But if we dare place God at the center of our lives and love with the divine love, then the world will see Jesus alive and well, changing hearts daily. But, not only will the world see but they will know because we have love for one another that spills out from among our own community and into the lives of those around us. Part of my selfish goal for this church is that each of us will begin to see one another in ways we never did before; that we’ll get to know each other in deeper ways through the experiences that are created through ministry. But in order for us to do that, we first have to have a community. The foundation that exists at New Liberty already is amazing. The people of this church are beyond kind and warm, always providing when there is need. But the catch for us in making a real and significant difference in this community will be in how we come together to make lasting changes. We must move from loving with a local love, a love that comes from us, and beginning to do so with an out-of-town love, a love from above. God’s love comes from a place that is deeper and stronger than any of us could ever hope to have or try and create. Taping into that love, though, is much simpler than we realize. In Jesus, we have a direct connection; a lifeline that reaches from the depths of our sinful valleys and extends to the highest and holiest places of heaven. Christ is the bridge that carries the love of God to each of us, and that love is his presence that has been given to us, the Holy Spirit.

And so if we will begin to love one another through the Holy Spirit—the unconditional and grace-filled companion from God—we can then allow the love-from-above to grab the hearts of those seeking evidence of God through our fellowship with one another. But you know that means we have to get OUR hearts right. Love for the world begins with love for each other. St. Augustine likened God’s love in his people as a fire that starts in a single place and then spreads outward and beyond to consume a great area. I’d say he’s right and we’d be wise to understand that God’s love begins within us through the Holy Spirit.

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III. His Love is Perfected in Us

The last thing for us to take way from this verse may be the most important lesson. We read, “and his love is perfected in us.” Some of your translations will say ‘completed’ or ‘made complete’ and I think that is a good rendering of the text because what you need to know about this is that when God starts his work of love within you and you abide and remain in him, God is faithful to see that work to completion. Paul wrote to his beloved Philippians in 1.6, “And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” We can have faith that the One who sustains the burning sun and the spinning galaxies will also hold us close to his heart and work us into the people that he intended from our mother’s womb. God is sanctifying us, setting us aside from the world, taking our redeemed hearts and letting his divine love work us into shape, a godly shape, one that is evidence of his presence and activity in the world. But that molding and shaping comes, not with a casual agreement, but through surrender.

None of us wants to give up what we think is important, be it goods, politics, ways of living, but if we are to have the love of God at the center of our hearts then there is no room for these other roommates. God does not share our hearts with other tenants, paying rent that serves our selfish needs. But rather it is us who serve him, laying down our supposed rights and privileges and allowing God to redefine what our rights and privileges are. We have a new identity in Christ, one that differs from the world in most ways. There should be very little resemblance between the life of a citizen of the world and the life of a citizen of the Kingdom of God. You are other-worldly, giving of yourself and your heart so that God may be known and others be blessed by the love of God in you. And so as Paul says in Philippians 2, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Know that God has not done all that he has, especially in Jesus, to only bring you a little ways. God has created, walked with, and committed to...restoring his people and filling them with his presence so that we may be one with our Creator. Jesus came to die for our sins AND to give us hope through his resurrection, pointing us toward our own defeat of sin and resurrection in Jesus. Without the resurrection there is no hope of death being defeated for us. But praise be to God for his overcoming death in Jesus Christ.

So folks, let me leave you with this: why do we come here Sunday after Sunday? If for no other reason than for this: to be reminded of who created you, to be urged to turn to him, and to be challenged to live a life beyond the bonds of this world. Go and live today, showing the world the love of our awesome and wonderful God. Amen.

Posted

Be Authentic

1 John 3.11-24

¹¹For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. ¹²We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. ¹³Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you.

¹⁴We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. ¹⁵All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.¹⁶We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. ¹⁷How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? ¹⁸Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.¹⁹And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him

²⁰whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.²¹Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; ²²and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

²³And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. ²⁴All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

The entire success of the gospel — in regards to the Church’s responsibility — hinges upon our success of loving one another. That love that we are to have between each other as a community of believers is the evidence of Christ’s presence with us; evidence of transformation, of living faith. The world at the time of John’s writing did not think that Christianity would survive. But through the lives of the faithful, through the living out of genuine faith and love, the world saw Jesus truly resurrected in the lives of those who had been truly changed by God.

The example of the Church to meet the needs of others was their witness. It was their introduction to the rest of the world, a metaphorical handshake that left a positive impression in the world’s eyes. It didn’t always make sense from the outside, but within the fellowship of the Church providing for one another and laying one’s life down for another lined up perfectly with Christ, because it was explicitly what Christ had commanded. At the last supper in John 13, Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another. This was the one thing that needed to be done and could actually be done through the Holy Spirit. Fourteen times we are commanded to do this, by both St. John and St. Paul.

But what does it mean to love one another? v. 16, “We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.” Just as Christ put our need to be forgiven above his needs, we too ought to put others before ourselves, as Paul says in Philippians 2, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others” (vs.3–4). Laying down our lives for others is not limited to a literal interpretation, but rather it is a call to find numerous ways to put others’ needs first. Many of us have the health and strength to use our bodies in physical service to those who can’t get around or accomplish certain tasks. Many of us have the experience and wisdom to guide others in their frustration and their confusion. Others of us have resources to make projects happen and create ministry opportunities that otherwise would never be possible.

Your first challenge this morning is this: What are the needs of this community and what can we do to relieve them? How can we as a church begin to chip away at the suffering that others are enduring around us?

To live our lives for the betterment of others' lives is exactly what it means to love one another and to witness to the kind of love that Christ has commanded us to have.

Your second challenge is this: Will you live out a testimony of love for one another that will lead others to genuine, transforming faith? Let’s talk about this one for a second.

Our witness to the love of Christ among us is what the world actually wants to see. Forget the arguments about contemporary and traditional worship, about whether or not we should wear khakis or jeans to Church. Who cares if we meet in strip mall, a coffee shop, a gymnasium, or a cathedral? Folks, deep down other people don’t care whether we’re edgy or boring, because at the end of the day, all anyone wants to know is if this is real or not! Do Christians really have what they say they have?! Do they have eternal life?! Are they freed from their sins or do they travel back and forth between saint and sinner like a sad game of Red Rover? Do you want to know two truths? 1.) God wants us to be authentic! 2.) The world wants us to be authentic! Though their intentions are different, the conclusion of the two is the same: we are being called to be genuine representations of everything this book claims, of everything the lives of the saints have taught us, of everything the Church has fought for. We are CALLED to be the genuine article, the real deal, the BODY of Jesus Christ, alive and well in the world.

The world is DARING YOU to live out your faith, every day, waiting for Jesus to show up! And I believe that it is high time that we show them Jesus. The world is waiting for us to put up or shut up and I must tell you today, Church, I agree. We’ve piddled around long enough, spending the riches of God in vain pursuits and enjoying selective company and inner circles. It’s time for us to begin to resemble the Church that we read about in Scripture, the Church that has all things in common, both in mind and in heart, the Church that lays down her life for others the way Christ laid down his life for the world.

So listen to this. Christian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev said, "The question of bread for myself is a material question: but the question of bread for my neighbor, for everybody, is a spiritual and religious one." This quote is important because in meeting the needs of others we are reaching beyond the normal and we are stretching out our souls to do something that a broken body and selfish mind sees as completely UN–natural. To put others before ourselves is a quality that comes from Heaven, not Earth. And so by entering into the lives of others through Godly love, we are tapping into the supernatural power of God that is able to overcome our natural selfishness.

Love brings to life the divine gift of giving, of providing for others in ways that are selfless, expecting nothing in return. When we give without the expectation of receiving anything back, we have learned what it truly means to put others before ourselves and to sacrifice. Once again, look to the example of Christ, the One who died for all, knowing that not all would reciprocate that gift of love. Can there be a greater expression of love than to give with the knowledge that the outcome could be less than perfect? Or . . . may be such a gift is so powerful that it redefines what we understand as ‘perfect’ and challenges us to take on this new definition of giving and loving.

Each of us can think of someone we know who is in need of something. And each of us knows that we can provide for some need. The level of need is not for us to judge or criticize, but it is an opportunity for each of us to let go of something standing between us and faithful discipleship. Remember that loving one another isn’t just about the other person but is also formative for you spiritually. You cannot be taught how to love or learn to love without loving. You must experience the sacrifice of letting go of yourself, of your things, of your gifts in order to be truly given to. Each of us was created with the capacity, not just to give, but also to receive. For every time you give of your self, in what ever way, you create space to be given to. Who of us is perfect and without need? So because no one is without need, each of us should receive from another because each of us is giving to another.

Love one another. Be authentic. Shut the mouths of an unbelieving world with a love that will GRIP THEIR HEARTS! Father, let it be so. Amen.

•—•—•

Rev. Whit R. Martin

Pastor, New Liberty United Methodist Church

www.newlibertyumc.org

Devotional Blog – devoblog.posterous.com/

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