WEDNESDAY IN THE WORD    February 15, 2023

Heirs of God Joined with Christ

Romans 8:14-15 NRSV

As committed believers in Jesus Christ, our actions are seen through his teachings. His teachings reach across boundaries of diversity in such a different time as this. Why is this time different from all other years? The forces of divisions in our world, in our nation, and in our communities push us to look at our actions through different lenses perhaps we might not had to before, but assuredly challenges are increasing. And what do people do? People get uncomfortable. People get agitated. People get angry. People hurt people. And when people see oppression, hear the cry, they ask what can I do? Then how do we respond?      

When we see each other through the lens of Jesus, we see each other in new ways. We see each other another away from our self “wants”. We see each other as important, as loved. Because we believe Jesus understands all our problems, and we increase our understanding of one another. Because we believe Jesus understands everything, we increase our empathy and compassion for each other while Jesus feels our problems and our pain. Because we believe Jesus loves us, we embrace his love without boundaries, without judgement, we want to take part in the journey that moves us closer in relationship with his love. His love is accessible by all, available to us in every challenge, in every difficult moment. Jesus’ love extends beyond anyone’s position in life. Thus, we come humbly bowing down at his feet, confessing and asking for forgiveness, and we respond in our faith walk.

In our faith walk, the Holy Spirit transforms our human spirit because we are children of God. When our own spirit finds peace with God and testifies to the fact that we are his children, the voice that speaks to us in our prayers is the Spirit of God. Oh, yes, we give witness to our being a child of God! We’re not first or best; last nor least—we belong to God. We belong within his nature—belonging to one another. When our actions are seen through Jesus’ teachings—we reach across boundaries of diversity in such a time as this. Although we are diverse, we are blessed as representatives in the family of God and we are committed as spiritual people with responsibilities of belonging, continually growing to ultimate full maturity. And because we are joined with Christ, God expects us to behave accordingly to his will. It is not an option. There is no other way because we are Heirs of God Joined with Christ.

In the meantime, we have only a foretaste of what it will be like when Christ returns in his glory. God doesn’t just save us and turn us loose on the world. God’s grace dwells in us because we are redeemed through the blood of Christ, enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit so we can be known upon the earth among all nations joined as heirs in God’s mercy, blessed by his will. AMEN!

Holy, Holy Holy, God Almighty, God of Mercy, God of Love, Blessed Trinity!

Rev. Carole