Redeemer Devotions for January 25, 2013

As this is the week we remember the life of the follower of Jesus who is known to

us as Martin Luther King, Jr., I have been thinking about God as justice rolling.



Is there room within a creation that is shaped by God as justice for me to sit back

and go along for the ride? When the Spirit of God pulls at us to move us into the

fullness of our humanity, is it possible to stay put - to be only as I want to be

and do only what I want to do?



Not if the fullness of that humanity is the image of our God. This God of ours pulls

at us - endlessly. Pulling at us to come together with the rest of humanity as a

witness to a power that is greater than all other powers - love. The love of God

- the love that pulls at us - is eternally active - moving - seeking to bring to

an end the powers that work to divide and conquer. In the midst of that loving

power we become engaged with others - that's life caught up in the Spirit of God.

When we are engaged - when we enter into dialogue - when we step from our boxes

and face our neighbor (friend or enemy), I think there is that great 'now what?'

Now what do we do? Now who are we to be? Now what happens when gather together?



This is where God as Justice shapes us again. This is where we learn to seek the

welfare of the other and maintain our own voice in the middle of all the conversations.

This is where the infant Church needed to have people pulled by the Spirit of God

so that each turned-in-on-self would become an open life willing to step forward

as me-with-you and then we-with-them. The cost of that move can be great. It can

me death. It also always means life. No one can predict what will come from living

within the realm of God as Justice. It will be a ride - always a ride we have yet

to take. And yet, in the midst of the acts of justice among God's people there is

promise - there is hope - there is the amazing adventure for life.



O God of love and new life, it is too easy to stay shut up and armed against what

might be. And then there is our Lord, Jesus, the Christ, hanging on the cross -

arms wide open - eternally. Free us to open our lives as we follow this one we boldly

call Lord - the Lord of all - of all - of all. Amen.