For the next few days, we will be using devotions from the Summmer of 2000 archives.
Text: Galatians 1:3-5
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
The present evil age. And interesting note. This could be written to us today. This is especially true in the middle of the election races heading into the final stage of development. I have heard enough and maybe too much about the present evil age and all of its many faces. I'm not going to deny many of those faces but I am not going to say they set the way or that they are the only word of truth out there. I look at it this way. In Paul's day, in the middle of that "evil age" there was the church...a light in the world. Sure there is the brokeness of the world but the church is the light. They and we are "set free from the present evil age" for the church is a people who risk another life given and shed for all. As the light we do not get rid of the evil - it will pursist. Rather, we take part in lives that are as sacrificial as the one "who gave himself for our sins." We live alternative lives. Everyone doesn't have to follow that way. It is an invitation not a mandate. Religious powers trying to tie their concept fo Christianity to the way the country needs to be run are, in my consideration just as much as the "present evil age" as all the usual stuff associated with "evil in the world." They become just another power...looking for power. Where is the way of the cross? Where is the freedom to live gracefully and with peace in a community that is an alternative life for all...all? Our exclusive "christian" communities often give off a witness to the powers that separate rather than to the power that brings life together. According to the will of our God, we are free from being like the power of the world...and we can walk into our day truly free to be God's beloved.
Connection: When you hear back biting exchanges...when the pundits are pounding this side and that side...when we have given up our ability to think and have taken on the easy words and directives of entertaining talk shows....just say quietly to yourself, "you must be kidding!" Then, let your self hear the resounding voice of God claiming you and inviting you to follow the Jesus of the scriptures and not of the far right or the far left.
God of grace and peace, you give us the power to stand in our world and walk in the way of your Beloved. Amid the voices and powers of our day make us wise so that we will walk according to your will. Amen
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