Healing Rays of Righteousness

God Works Through Us

I am hearing many people saying that our nation of democracy is being torn apart and in danger of being destroyed by divisive partisan and racist behaviors.  And many of them are asking “Where is God?  Why doesn’t he intervene and do something to elevate truth above the lies and right the wrongs that are being said and done?”

These are questions that should cause us to search the scriptures and be reminded that God is  the sovereign ruler of the world, and that he is at work in every place that individuals commit themselves to doing God’s work of reconciliation and peace between persons, races, creed, and nations.  This is God’s work and our purpose in the world.  But it can only be accomplished as we individually open ourselves to his Spirit enabling us to do the work.

In Nehemiah 3 we hear Nehemiah making it clear that rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem was God’s work.  It was God who stirred up Nehemiah in chapter 1 and enabled him to be sent to Jerusalem in chapter 2.

Nehemiah yielded to the Spirit of God and was enabled to accomplish the legal necessities, gather the needed building materials, effectively motivate the people, and organize all the people in rebuilding the city wall. 

It may seem boring, but there are good insights embedded in the listing of builders and their assignments.  The list is very inclusive.  The builders came from diverse regions of Judah, and from diverse professions “goldsmith, perfume makers, and merchants.”

Both sexes worked on the wall “Shallum and his daughters,” (v.12).  Even the leaders from Judah got their hands dirty, including “the high priest and his fellow priests” (v.1), “the Levites”(v.17), and many district leaders and rulers.

In fact, “The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah, the ruler of the district of Beth-Hakkerem.” (v.14)   This certainly was not prime territory to work in, being downwind from the city dump.  But someone of authority, who might have used his influence to gain a better assignment, was willing to complete this necessary but undesirable and stinky task.

When the wall was completed, Nehemiah recorded that “When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God” (6:16).

This story and many other biblical stories, as well as non-biblical stories in human history, clearly illustrate that God does accomplish his greater work of establishing peace and goodwill in the world, among every tribe, race, and nation through us, his Spirit-led and Spirit-enabled followers.

You may be agreeing with what I just said, but remain confused about what specifically is God’s business?  Amid such social conflict and upheaval, what is God’s work and our assignment?

To answer that question, I turn to Luke 4:18-19 where we read that Jesus, the hometown boy, went to the synagogue on the Sabbath.  With family and friends, he stood and read from Isaiah regarding the credentials and mission of the coming Messiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

He then sat down and with everyone eyes intently fixed on him, he claimed this mission as his own, saying “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  (v.21).

These were the same credentials he gave to the disciples of John the Baptist when they asked, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”  And I believe these same credentials continue to be the authentic identification of God’s people. 

Most significantly, these credentials are about issues of social need and concern.  God wants us to understand that our attitudes and behaviors toward others is his business and our priority work in the world.

The Scriptures clearly indicate that God’s Spirit is at work when and where social concerns are demonstrated in response to the need of others.  To be God’s people means we must be always caring about the physical, social, and temporal needs of our neighbors in our community, nation, and world.

In our contemporary environment it is so easy for us to become focused on the wrong kinds of priorities.  There is certainly nothing wrong with interest and concern for the cultivation of mind, body, and soul through biblical study, meditation, and praise.  But if that becomes our primary end goal, there is something very wrong about our understanding of doing God’s business in the world.

God’s business is about loving and caring for the world through us.  God’s business is about bringing peace to our churches, our town, our nation, and all the world through us, his people who live “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – October 21, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Be Holy – Be Perfect

The listing of various laws in Leviticus 19 begins with God telling Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.’”  

This command is followed by a lengthy, detailed listing of specific instructions regarding living together in community.  There’s instruction about harvesting, where the landowner is told not to glean the fields and vineyard bare, but to leave the gleanings for the poor.  Another instruction forbids stealing and lying.  Yet another warns against taking advantage of people who are deaf or blind.  Also, justice is to be administered impartially.  People should not slander one another, nor seek vengeance against one another. 

God sums up these instructions with the command “but love your neighbor as yourself” followed by “I am the LORD.”  (v.18).  I think this means that the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself is not given just because loving one’s neighbor is a good idea or because it makes the community run better.  Rather the command is to be observed because loving one’s neighbor is the essence of holiness. 

This immediately undermines the notion that to “be holy” means separating myself from others and living isolated as a hermit or monk.  Instead, being holy has everything to do with my behavior in community, that is, about how I relate and act toward others in my world.  God commands us to be holy because he wants us to stamp upon our society and community the God-like imprint of living together in community with sharing, caring love.

I understand Leviticus 19 to be about compassion for our neighbors, the poor, the travelers, and yes, immigrants.  We later hear Jesus summarizing these same teachings in his so-called “Golden Rule” recorded in Luke 6:31, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

When Jesus was asked by a Pharisee lawyer about which commandment was the greatest, Jesus answered by quoting two: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind,” and, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  The latter is a direct quote from Leviticus 19:18. Jesus said that upon these two commandments hang all the Hebrew Scriptures (Matt. 22:40).

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus extends or broadens this command of loving one’s neighbor to also include the enemy.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (5:43-47).  

He then concludes that section by saying, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48).  I believe the word “perfect” which Jesus used, carries the same meaning and weight as the word “holy” used in Leviticus 19.  Both words, “holy” and “perfect” beg the question, what does being “holy” or “perfect” look like? 

If we listen carefully to God’s commands in Leviticus and the teachings of Jesus in Matthew, we discover that the words “holy” and “perfect” have much more to do with how we act rather than how we look.  In other words, our behavior toward one another is of much greater concern to God than our visible outward appearance.

The Scriptures consistently declare that to “be holy” or “perfect” cannot be reduced to a way of dressing or expressed by lugging a Bible with you everywhere you go.  Neither does regular church attendance or other religious activities make you a holy/perfect person. 

Rather, the imprint of “God-likeness” that God wants us to make on our society happens in our daily acts of loving and providing for others with kindness, justice, mercy, generosity.  These are things that we seldom think of as being expressions of holiness.  But from God’s perspective, this is the essence of being “holy” and “perfect.”

Today we live in a world divided by religious, political, economic, and racial biases.  It is easy for us to embrace Jesus command to “love your neighbor as yourself” in our faith statements but find it difficult when it comes to actual practice.  It is more difficult when that “neighbor” represents a social, cultural, or political bias that offends us.  And even more difficult when they become the “enemy.”

Nevertheless, God says to us today the same as he said to his people in Moses’ day, “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy” or as Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” 

As his people, his followers, we should not settle for anything less than this in our life ambitions, attitudes, and everyday community behaviors.  Furthermore, I believe we should hold all our church and government leaders, who claim to be God-followers, to this high bar of unbiased, non-racist behaviors, and choose them accordingly.  Can you say “Amen”? 

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – October 14, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

COMMUNITY Lessons from Geese

The pleasant cooler weather of autumn has arrived, reminding us that much colder weather of winter is soon to follow.  The geese know this cycle very well and begin making their journey south to a warmer climate.  I always enjoy watching them in flight overhead and listening in on their honking conversation as they travel together.

In reflecting on the importance of community for the past several weeks, my attention was drawn to Milton Olson’s Lessons From Geese.  He has studied Canada geese for many years and has compiled the following five lessons that geese teach us humans about living together in community and the importance of “interdependence.”

1. Geese fly in a V formation for greater range of the entire flock. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the bird following.  By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if the bird flew alone.     Lesson:  People who share a sense of common direction and sense of community canget where they are going quicker and easier.

2. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the “lifting power” of the bird immediately in front. Lesson:  If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go (and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to the others).

3. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies at the point position.  Lesson:  It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership – with people as with geese, we are interdependent on each other.

5. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.  Lesson:  We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging – and not something else.
6. When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies.  Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or to catch up with the flock.     Lesson:  If we have as much sense as geese, we too will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

According to Milton Olsen, that is “interdependence.”  And I add, this is community at its best.  The sense and belief in “interdependence” gives energy and strength to being community. 

You may ask, does God speak to us through the behavior of geese?  And my answer is “Yes, he can and does.”  As much as we may dislike the geese dirtying our ponds and campuses, we can and should learn from their behaviors truths that enrich and strengthen community.

It is important to remember that it was God who taught the geese their behavior, and why would he teach them this behavior of interdependence, if not to give us a good model to follow in our efforts to be a Christ-like community of Jesus followers.

I invite you to imagine how much stronger our church communities would be if we routinely practiced these lessons in our living, working, and worshiping together.  Imagine how many neighbors, co-workers, and friends may be watching, listening, and wishing to join such a community of interdependent, geese-like human beings.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows, and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”  (Ephesians 4:14-16).

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“Healings Rays of Righteousness” – September 30, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Church as Community Praying

In her book, Bring Us Together, Marjorie Holmes prays, “Oh, God, we go through life so lonely, needing what other people can give us, yet ashamed to show that need.  And other people go through life so lonely, hungering for what it would be such a joy for us to give.  Dear God, please bring us together, the people who need each other, who can help each other, and would so enjoy each other.”

The desire for community has always been the deep longing of the human heart.  I believe God created every human heart with the need to belong, to be accepted, included, and cared for in a community of other human beings.  I also believe that the community of believers that prays together stays together and is strengthened with respect and caring love for one another.

Did you know that most of what the Bible says about prayer is addressed to groups gathering to worship and pray together?  The book of Psalms, a great and much-used resource for individual praying, was written mainly for use in Israel’s worship as a gathered community.

This does not diminish the encouragement to pray as an individual, but it does give emphasis to the importance and value of groups meeting together for the purpose of praying.  Jesus himself promised, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Mt. 18:19-20).

One of the most troubling attitudes in our Western society is its focus on individualism.  This emphasis has greatly diminished our sense of community, and severely numbed any felt need for it.  Individualism leads us away from God and his created intention for every human being to be in community with others.

I think this selfish spirit of individualism is a social cancer that is destroying God’s created intention for every human being to enjoy spiritual wholeness and well-being in a caring community that worships and prays together.

The early Christians caught this vision for community and determined to become a fellowship of sacrificial love, sharing life at all levels of spiritual, social, and economic relationships, such as shelter, clothing, food, and wealth.  This is recorded in Acts 2:44-47, “All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

This God-designed purpose for community is what biblical scholars have named “the ministry of shared pilgrimage.”  This is understood as a priestly role for all the people of God and fits well into the Anabaptist theology regarding “the priesthood of all believers.”  The effort to live and pray together in community was understood as an essential core value by the Anabaptists.

When Jesus was asked by his disciples to teach them to pray, he began with the instruction to address God as “Our Father” thus making it a community prayer.  With this instruction, Jesus is stating the importance of first acknowledging and affirming that we are children of God’s family, worshiping and praying together, as Christian brothers and sisters around the world.

It also implies that we acknowledge that we are not God’s equal peers, but rather we are homeless children that are loved and adopted into God’s family.  These are biblical teachings that I fear we sometimes too easily forget, ignore, or simply take for granted.

I believe that whenever a community of believers gather to worship and pray together, good, and significant things do happen.  When we acknowledge and give God his rightful authority in our lives, then praying becomes his primary way and means of giving direction so that his will and purposes can be accomplished through us as his children, his community of believers, named “Church.”

I propose that we best nurture community spirit and concern for one another whenever we gather as community to worship and pray together as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

May it be so, always!

 

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 23, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

For You I Am Praying

Probably many of you remember the chorus of the old invitation hymn that says, “For you I am praying, For you I am praying, For you I am praying, I’m praying for you.”

In Ephesians 3:14-21 we hear the apostle Paul praying for his Christian friends in Ephesus.  Even though Paul was at that time sitting in a prison and deprived of many privileges, he yet has a deep concern for his fellow-believers and fervently prays for their spiritual welfare.

In his prayer Paul names four concerns that he has for these Christian friends, and I wish to expand on each of them to better grasp the full impact of his concern and desire for them.

He first prays that they would be strengthened with Holy Spirit power in their Inner being.  “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”

This is an essential priority for Paul.  I confessed of often being more inclined to pray for the power of physical, financial, or mental health strength.  But this prayer asks for a power where it really counts, deep within our inner spiritual being.

As much as we might be inclined to ask for the outward kinds of power, this prayer bypasses those desires for an inner power that steadies and strengthens every other aspect of our life.  Paul knew and so should we know that if we are not strong inwardly, the temptations and pressures of life will cause our life to collapse.

Paul then prays “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”  This is the “north star” of Paul’s theology.  He is convinced by his own experience that a person may live in Christ and enjoy the spiritual power of the living Lord who dwells within the inner being.

Remember, these were Christians for whom Paul was praying.  The word “dwell” means “to be at home” or “to have undisputed ownership.”  Paul prayed that Jesus would be given first place in their lives as Lover and Lord.

Paul had learned that when Christ dwells in our heart we are given a new orientation for life and set in a new direction of decision-making and behaviors.  We must remember that Christ is always intent in leading us home, to the Father’s house, and on the way he is remaking us after his image so that we may be happy children with him in our eternal home.

Paul continues his prayer with “that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”

Paul has experienced the transforming power of God’s forgiving love and desires the same experience for his fellow believers.  He prays that they would be enabled to fully understand the all-encompassing greatness of Christ’s love.  His prayer is in response to his belief that Christ’s love goes beyond the most extreme limits of our ability to understand until it is personally experienced.

The true reality is that all knowledge of God is grounded in experiential love, for God is love.  And so, to fully know Christ’s love we must first open ourselves to experiencing it in practical everyday living.

Paul concludes with a grand summary concern “that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  This is the ultimate reality and experience that Paul desires for the Ephesian Christians.  He desires that they live each day being brim full of God.

Imagine being filled with all the fullness of God.  It is unbelievable to our natural minds but believe it we must!  Of course, we cannot contain all of God’s fullness.  Our Creator remains Lord, and the line between creature and Creator are never completely blotted out.  However, we can receive God’s fullness to the full measure of our capacity and to the degree of our being willingly yielded to him.

This is what it means to be Spirit-filled, to have a relationship with God that is so yielded to him that he comes to us and dwells with us in intimacy and power, so that we can experience in life the abundance Jesus promised.  Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” 

This prayer is comprehensive in its scope and transforming in its potential.  Imagine what could happen in a church where each member of the congregation committed themselves to pray this prayer for themselves and for each other as they gather each Sunday to worship the God and Father of us all.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 16, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Ambition Alert

Labor Day is a good reminder to review the “why” we labor week after week.  Ambition alert! What is our ambition in life?  Our answer is important because it is ambition that fuels our behavior and decision-making.

Ambition should be a healthy motivator of good behavior and good activities, but it also has a more demonic side.  Many of us have seen or been victimized in the human wreckage caused by people who have abandoned, manipulated, or abused their families and friends in seeking their own selfish ambitions.  People who are driven by the ambition to gain worldly power and prestige will stop at nothing to achieve their goal.

The book of James is an excellent study on practical Christianity.  In 3:14-15, the writer says “if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.” James goes on to write in verse 16, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

That sounds very contemporary.  The current behaviors seen in many of our local, state, and national leaders is a sad portrait regarding the power of unbridled, selfish ambition.  Even more sad is its presence in the leadership of some churches.

In Mark 9:33-37, we hear Jesus speaking more gently to this subject of selfish ambition, yet with just as strong and powerful words.  Earlier in this chapter, Jesus had chosen Peter, James, and John to climb a high mountain with him, where they were all alone.  While there they witnessed the glorious transfiguration of Jesus with Elijah and Moses talking with him.  It was such a wonderful experience that Peter wanted to stay there.

A few days later on their journey, the disciples are arguing among themselves about who is the greatest among them.  How quickly the cloud of selfish ambition overshadows the glorious transfiguration of Jesus that they had just witnessed a few days earlier.

When they arrive in Capernaum and go into the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road.”  But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Then Jesus sits down and explains God’s definition of greatness as the willingness to go to the back of the line rather than pushing to be in the front.  Jesus clearly teaches that God’s measure of greatness is in being a servant to others and says, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Jesus said a similar thing on another occasion in Matthew 20:25-28, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Again, Jesus clearly states that greatness is measured by an ambition to serve others.  He redefines greatness as not being about satisfying self, but about compassion and service to others.  In other words, any personal gain in influence, ability, or opportunity increases one’s responsibility to invest it on behalf of those who lack influence, ability, and opportunity.

When Jesus spoke of achieving greatness and the value of the person whose ambition was to be a servant, he laid down one of the greatest practical truths of all time and eternity – “Anyone who wants to be first (number one, the greatest) must be the very last (in position and power), and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35).

Yes, this teaching runs counter to our selfish ambitions, and yet I think we need to admit that Jesus and James are correct?  Think of this.  Would not every economic problem be solved if we all lived for what we could do for others and not just for what we can enjoy for ourselves?  And, would not every political problem be solved if the ambition of all politicians were to serve the commonwealth and not their own comfort and prestige?

What is my ambition?  For what do I labor?  The question may be ancient, but it continues to be truly relevant as a measure of my relationship to Jesus.  Do you agree?

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 9, 2020

www.geigler13@wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

People of Wisdom

My dictionary defines “wisdom” as “Understanding of what is true, right, or lasting.”  And both the biblical Hebrew and Greek words translated as “wisdom” affirm this emphasis on “understanding.”  Wisdom is about more than factual knowledge.  It is about wisely interpreting and responding to that knowledge.

In Proverbs 3:13-15, King Solomon declares wisdom to be the most precious of all possessions, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire can compare with her.”  And later in 16:16, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!” (Pr. 16:16).  

The past two weeks I have shared two biblical descriptions that identify those who are authentic followers of Jesus as “people of light” and “people of compassion”.  “People of wisdom” is a third identification marker.

I again say that I believe our “being” cannot be separated from our “doing.”  And so, I believe that being people of light, compassion, and wisdom means these Godly virtues are a visible witness to the presence of God’s Kingdom and the rule of Christ in our world of darkness, uncaring, and foolishness.  As James would say “faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26).

James asks in 3:13, “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  This is how you can recognize a “wise person.”  This is confirmed by Jesus in his response to those critical of him in Matthew 11:19, “But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” 

In verses 14-18, James clearly describes two different kinds of wisdom that will be on display in the world.  “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Please note that where there is a lack of heavenly wisdom there are behaviors of “disorder and every evil practice.”  Now contrast that with what behaviors the apostle Paul says heavenly wisdom will produce; “pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” 

With our nation suffering the twin pandemics of covid-19 and political darkness, I prayerfully suggest this be our wisdom meter for national leadership as we consider and compare those soliciting our vote on November 3.

The apostle Paul cautioned the Ephesian Christians to “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  (5:15-17).  According to Paul, the followers of Jesus are obligated to live “not as unwise but as wise” and to “understand what the Lord’s will is.”

In the preceding verses, beginning in 4:32, Paul makes it clear what kind of wisdom and behaviors God expects from people who claim to be “children of light.”  To be “people of wisdom” is to seek knowledge about what gives God pleasure, and publicly displaying behaviors that imitate God and Christ.  (5:8-11).

Like James, Paul is making a case for a kind of practical wisdom that makes conduct consistent with faith.  A wisdom that “walks the talk” and makes “the most of every opportunity.”

This wisdom comes from God as we make right decisions and apply scriptural principles to our daily circumstances.  This wisdom comes from living a disciplined life. This wisdom comes from keeping your eyes focused on God and his Word and you ear listening to his Holy Spirit.  This wisdom comes when we commit to a love relationship with Jesus Christ.  Amen!

 

The Prayer of Serenity

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 2, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

People of Wisdom

My dictionary defines “wisdom” as “Understanding of what is true, right, or lasting.”  And both the biblical Hebrew and Greek words translated as “wisdom” affirm this emphasis on “understanding.”  Wisdom is about more than factual knowledge.  It is about wisely interpreting and responding to that knowledge.

In Proverbs 3:13-15, King Solomon declares wisdom to be the most precious of all possessions, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire can compare with her.”  And later in 16:16, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!” (Pr. 16:16).  

The past two weeks I have shared two biblical descriptions that identify those who are authentic followers of Jesus as “people of light” and “people of compassion”.  “People of wisdom” is a third identification marker.

I again say that I believe our “being” cannot be separated from our “doing.”  And so, I believe that being people of light, compassion, and wisdom means these Godly virtues are a visible witness to the presence of God’s Kingdom and the rule of Christ in our world of darkness, uncaring, and foolishness.  As James would say “faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26).

James asks in 3:13, “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  This is how you can recognize a “wise person.”  This is confirmed by Jesus in his response to those critical of him in Matthew 11:19, “But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” 

In verses 14-18, James clearly describes two different kinds of wisdom that will be on display in the world.  “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Please note that where there is a lack of heavenly wisdom there are behaviors of “disorder and every evil practice.”  Now contrast that with what behaviors the apostle Paul says heavenly wisdom will produce; “pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” 

With our nation suffering the twin pandemics of covid-19 and political darkness, I prayerfully suggest this be our wisdom meter for national leadership as we consider and compare those soliciting our vote on November 3.

The apostle Paul cautioned the Ephesian Christians to “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  (5:15-17).  According to Paul, the followers of Jesus are obligated to live “not as unwise but as wise” and to “understand what the Lord’s will is.”

In the preceding verses, beginning in 4:32, Paul makes it clear what kind of wisdom and behaviors God expects from people who claim to be “children of light.”  To be “people of wisdom” is to seek knowledge about what gives God pleasure, and publicly displaying behaviors that imitate God and Christ.  (5:8-11).

Like James, Paul is making a case for a kind of practical wisdom that makes conduct consistent with faith.  A wisdom that “walks the talk” and makes “the most of every opportunity.”

This wisdom comes from God as we make right decisions and apply scriptural principles to our daily circumstances.  This wisdom comes from living a disciplined life. This wisdom comes from keeping your eyes focused on God and his Word and you ear listening to his Holy Spirit.  This wisdom comes when we commit to a love relationship with Jesus Christ.  Amen!

 

The Prayer of Serenity

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 2, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

People of Compassion

In 1 Peter 2:10 are past and present identities are described, “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

In Colossians 3:12-14, Paul addresses the Christians at Colossae “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.”  Wow, what a privilege is ours!  We are God’s people; once without mercy, but now the recipients of his unlimited mercy and grace, being chosen, holy, and dearly loved.

As followers of Jesus our identity is certain and awesome.  And to know and accept our identity is of importance because we know that what we do flows out from the identity we can claim for ourselves.  Doing and being cannot be separated.  And so, to believe that we are chosen, holy, and dearly loved is to energize our behavior accordingly.

“Holy” has to do with our character, with how we act, with what attitudes direct our lives.  “Holy” has also to do with being chosen, set apart, and dedicated.  God lays his claims upon us, calls us and we respond in dedication.  We are then given a vocation, which is to be holy.  This defines our ID as people of God.

But there is more.  We are “dearly loved.”  Is there anything more important than to know that I am loved?  The witness of Scripture is that God’s love is unconditional and not dependent upon our merit.  His love is a constant kiss of grace upon us, no matter what may happen.

This awesome description of our identity as people of God, is the wondrous thought that empowers Paul’s “Therefore” at the beginning of this verse.  “Therefore, … clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  In other words, “Dress yourselves appropriately with the beautiful and lovely garments of Christ-like virtues.”

I think we can rightfully imagine that God has chosen us to be his Kingdom ambassadors in the world, and in doing so, requests that we be appropriately dressed with the lovely garments from his own wardrobe of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  These garments will clearly set us apart and identify us as the people of God in the world.

The first noticeable virtue that Paul lists is “compassion.”  To be clothed with “compassion” is to have “a tender heart.”  This will be seen in my deep caring about the world around me and wanting to do my best to bring it help.  It will also be seen in my being emotionally moved by your pain and seeking to act in your behalf with consoling presence and empathy.

The Gospel writers repeatedly used this word to describe Jesus’ response to others.  Matthew 9:36, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”  Again in 14:14, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”  And in response to the request from two blind men for healing in 20:34, “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes.  Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”

James 5:11 tells us that “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”  This echoes the psalmist in Psalm 145:8-9, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

I further believe that the other virtues mentioned in Paul’s listing, are interwoven into this garment of compassion.  To be clothed with compassion is to display “kindness” with “tender goodness” in doing useful things to improve your well-being.

To display “humility” with “a confident mind” in remembering who I am in relation to God and other persons.  To display “gentleness” in exercising self-control by being God-controlled.  And to display “patience” by adjusting to endure unpleasant situations, unexpected hurts, and unwanted problems.

Then in verse 14, Paul describes the outer garment as love.  “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”  According to Paul, “love” is the visible outer garment that completes and ties all the parts of our character into a single whole.

In the preface of his book, When a Congregation Cares, Abraham Schmitt writes, “It is not possible to care unless one is willing to enter into another’s pain.”

That is certainly a needed word for us to hear today in countering the voice of our society telling us that to enter into another’s pain is too emotionally costly, too physically exhausting, too time-consuming, and the risks are too great.

Yes, it is all the above.  But the challenge to compassionately feel our neighbor’s pain and respond with unselfish acts of caring love, is God’s command and example to his people.

 

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – August 26, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

People of Light

John 8:12 records Jesus saying, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”  And then in Matthew 5:14, we hear Jesus saying to his disciples, “You are the light of the world.”

What does this imagery of being “light” mean to you?  Why would Jesus say that both himself and we are the light of the world?  I believe light does things that aptly illustrate the purpose and behavior that Jesus expects from his followers.  Let us consider several of those things.

1. Light reveals. It penetrates darkness. It makes known what lies hidden in darkness, what contents are in the room.  Light shows the path or road, giving both direction and the condition of the way ahead.  It warns of obstacles and danger.  Light reveals both the good and the bad, truth and lie, beauty and ugly.  As followers of Jesus, being light means we penetrate the world’s darkness and make known God’s presence, God’s truth, God’s will.  Being light means we bring certainty, direction, purpose, and meaning into our community of confused and hopeless neighbors.   

2. Light warms. It penetrates coldness. Like the sun warmth, light radiates an invitation to enjoy beauty and warm comfort.  As followers of Jesus, being light means we are a warm, comforting presence, radiating God’s love in a world of lonely coldness.  Being light means we are Christ’s presence in the school, business, shop, and marketplace, revealing to all that there is more to life than selfish greed and rampant materialism.

 

3. Light awakens. It penetrates sleep. Every morning we are awakened to a new day and new life with new possibilities.  As followers of Jesus, being light means we awaken men and women to the present reality of God’s Kingdom, his presence, sovereignty and the only source of ultimate truth, power, and hope for all.

 

4. Light energizes. It penetrates depression and decay. We cannot physically live without light.  Light stimulates and encourages growth and healing.  As followers of Jesus, being light means we infuse aliveness and growth, stimulating healing and hope in communities plagued by dark depression and hopelessness.

Jesus continues in verses 14-15, telling us that the purpose of light is both to be seen and to be of service to others.  This visibility and service is expressed by Jesus with two illustrations, “A town … on a hill” and “a lamp … on its stand.”

“A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

There can be nothing secretive about the Christian’s commitment to the Jesus way of life.  The disciple of Jesus does not hide in fear or to protect self but lives and works in places where their influence can be both seen and felt.

As followers of Jesus, we do not call attention to ourselves, but remain focused on illuminating the way of God for others.  Being light means we are a visible witness to the presence of the Kingdom of God and the rule of Christ in our world of darkness.

Jesus concludes with this directive in verse 16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Robert Louis Stevenson looked out his window one evening many years ago, before there were electric lights.  As he looked out, he saw the town lamplighter coming down the street, lighting the streetlamps in succession.  Stevenson was impressed by the sight and wrote about the lamplighter who went along “punching holes in the darkness.”

Being “the light of the world” it is our privilege and duty to live each day “punching holes in the darkness” so that others may see God and find their way home to him.

I am reminded of the sign that is said to have been on a lamp outside Albert Schweitzer’s jungle hospital in Africa.  The sign said, “Here in whatever hour you come, you will find light and help and human kindness.” 

May this same invitation radiate from every church and every one of us who claim to be a follower of Jesus.  In being “the light of the world” let us be about “punching holes in the darkness” around us.

 

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – August 19, 2020

www.geigle13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley