Friday, 15 October, 2004

This week's devotions are written by Vicar Steve Bond.



More from Marva Dawn's Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God…



True weakness - that is a genuine fulfillment of the church's true vocation as a power-if found, for example, in vulnerability to our brothers' and sisters' needs (Rom. 12), openness to each other's rebukes (1 Thess. 5:12, 14), genuine hospitality to the needy (Matt. 25) and to other saints (2 and 3 John). This fellowship is violated by such powers as business policies, mammon, technologies, and even democracy, when these are stretched beyond their proper vocation.



If often hear it said that there is strength in numbers. In some ways, it is true for our life as Christians - together, we can weather the distresses of life, we pool and share our resources to do more work, and we build each other up. To be sure, there is strength in numbers. But at the same time, I think one of the most precious gifts of Christian community is that there is weakness in numbers. As a community, we are freed to be vulnerable, to lay ourselves open to each other, because we are first and foremost defined as the beloved of God. We are compelled to bear with-and to forgive - each other, and that requires admitting our weaknesses and failings.



In a culture that so greatly values strength (and in which both presidential candidates are promising to make our country stronger), that might not sound like a good thing. But it is precisely as we forgive one another and share ourselves honestly - as we are seemingly weak for each other - that we are most faithfully the people of God. It is when we are open and willing to risk ourselves before each other that God's love and acceptance of me are embodied and made real for me. It is as we challenge and lift each other up in humility that God is able to shape, change, and direct me. It is as we are weak for each other that God's dwelling among us takes on flesh and bone.



Connection: Today, someone will embody the grace of God for you, and today you will be the hands and feet of Jesus for someone, too.



Gracious God, you have come to us in the human face of Jesus. Come to us in the midst of our humanity today.