This week: God as welcome. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com [mailto:adebelak@redeemerluth.com]God as welcome means there will be risk if we follow in God's way. To welcome -
make someone a part of our lives - invite them into our community - treat them as
though they are one of us, is risky. When we follow the way of our God as welcome,
it means we will need to step out of our comfort zone. That's a risk because we
all tend to built a world that we like to keep 'just as it is.' It is also a risk
because we cannot control the world when the door is open and we say 'welcome y'all'.
God as welcome demands that we take time in the midst of everyday to remember our
baptism - or to simply remind ourselves of God's love that knows no end. This may
be a small prayerful moment. At the same time, in that prayerfulness, we are promised
that the Spirit of God is already pulling us into the realm of God as welcome. Before
we hold out our lives as a living welcome, the ground for that welcome must be at
hand. That simply means we are already welcomed into God's Reigning embrace and
now we extend that welcome to others. Yes, it may begin with a few words, but in
time a welcome grows into relationships and relationships are where the world is
transformed. Transformation is always a risk.
O God of love and new life, lead us into the risky business of your Reign. Yes,
we may hesitate - but we expect your Spirit to move us along your way. Amen.
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