Friday 9 February 2007

The week ends with another piece from Colossians.

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, (3:12) Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive. (3:13) Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (3:14) And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. (3:15) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Well, the Christ is the reality into which we have been placed as the baptized. Therefore, let that One who rescues and delivers and bring life out of death live within us as though we are a part of his glory. The way to do that is as a community. One to the other...we take care to bring each of us into the fullness of the promise of God. When I have the opportunity to look out over the congregation as we sing in worship, I find myself encouraged as I view others singing. It is as though through the words of those hymns, the melodies, the harmonies, and the hearts of those who are singing or listening, we "admonish one another in all wisdom." When we use the word admonish it often is in the spirit of correcting in a harsh way. But I find that in our singing we give each other vision and encouragement and hope as we each become mindful of the Christ who dwells in us. I've seen people cry...sing with broad smiles...belt it out as though they want all creation to hear the news...and some who simply listen to the whole witness of those hymns. We encourage one another and that is so very important.

Connection: We have with us one who will not forsake us and one who will continue to bring us more fully into the Reign of our God. Today watch to see who will be a part of that Spirit of life for you.

Blessed Lord, how wonderful it is that you bring us others to bear witness to your presence. How wonderful it is that in such simple actions as our singing your Reign pours down around us and on us to carry us into a new dimension of your beloved community. Amen.