| | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as sinking down. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as sinking down is also the presence of the God who lifts up. And yet, this lifting up takes place - not by a distant liberator - but rather by one who is in the mud with us - in the raging sea with us - in the rubble of warfare. The Reign of God as sinking down shows that God is in the trenches - but not just our trench or hole. In the middle of my fears and my sorrows and my pains and my discouragements and my suffering the Reign of God is available and also with you. That is why it is so good to tell folks "The Lord be with you." They may respond with "And also with you" but that is not necessary. We say it so that they will be assured of God's presence with them but also - that we see God in their lives. All of the sudden, what does that do to those we have made our enemies? The Reign of God as sinking down is a domain that sinks down to be with 'them' - yes, them. This is a story of a God who leaves no one behind. So down goes this God - down to all and for all no matter how we view things. The Reign of God as sinking down goes down to raise all up to new life - no exceptions. O God of love and new life, help us see with the eyes of your gracious Reign so that our lives will be transformed more fully into your image. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as sinking down. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as sinking down makes a bit of sense if you think of the hymn with this line: When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down. We then hear of God's action for us and with us. There in the middle of life that is about to go under - for any number of reasons - there is the fullness of the Reign of God available for new life to begin. The Reign of God as sinking down also means that the images of a God far off - or a God towards whom we must move - or a God who holds out a reward if we only act in a way we have agreed is right, good and holy, are all made up and untrue to the story telling of Scripture. The Reign of God as sinking down comes to embrace us. In that embrace that comes as all seems lost, we come to see that this God of ours finds us and promises to bring us life even as we see ourselves as the lost, the left out, the least, the lousy ones. The Reign of God as sinking down is the end of 'here and there'. It is the reality of the one presence of God in which God's Reign is both here and there. We will be greeted here and held here even when - in our perception - we are sinking down and lost. O God of love and new life, you are with us and holding us and then molding us into people who are able to see your Reign unfolding in many and various ways within the worst of times and the best of times. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as obvious. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as obvious is as obvious as the fact that I forgot to send out a devotion yesterday. :) The Reign of God as obvious invades our every moment. At this moment there is the Reign of God - at hand - or in our hands - or being handed to us. Too often we do not want to hear about that at-hand-ness of God's Reign or cannot hear it or resist hearing it. And yet, the wonder-filled vision of the Reign of God that we hear throughout Scripture is attempting to become our vision. Yes, the life that wages peace and feeds the hungry and forgives and sacrifices for the well-being of others is not far off or waiting for another time. The Reign of God is at hand in how we move through the next moments. Our task is to prayerfully make that Reign come alive within the realm of our individual lives and even the life of the corporate body we call a congregation. When the Reign of God is obviously a part of our lives, people will notice - heads will turn - others will be caught up in that life. Some may call that evangelism. I like to say it is the Reign of God as obvious. O God of love and new life, make this life you offer to us an obvious part of how today will unfold. Encourage us to enter lives that translate the vision into a reality that is a part of today - and we will be that part. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as obvious. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as obvious draws us into the love-making of God's presence. That is, making for a space and time in which God's love will be present as we are available to the world around us. Such love has always been obvious. At the same time, the lack of such love is also obvious. So when we are the people of God's Reign, God's loving presence will be at hand for the world to experience through us. The Reign of God as obvious is a power that draws people into its presence and makes people wonder how it can be real - how it can be practical - how it is able to last. Even though it is obvious, it is still that which befuddles folks because usually such love does not show itself out and about in the everyday world. The Reign of God as obvious therefore looks strange - alien - foolish. Yet, it is obviously in place and real. Usually we have to turn to examples of real people - often the sainted ones from the past or those among us - to see how obvious is this love of God's Reign is when it is embodied. O God of love and new life, make this love of your blessed Reign the essence of our presence within this day. Grant us the courage to risk having such love lead us. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as obvious. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as obvious means that it shows itself all the time. The way of God's Reign - the life into which we are invited to live our lives - is not the same as the way of our country or any country. It is not the way of our club - our congregation - our anything. The Reign of God as obvious always embraces the all even when the all is not a part of what we would call ours. As soon as it becomes ours or as soon as that-over-there is something we want to make ours, we have created a life that is not within the character of God's Reign. Yesterday I mentioned the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. If you happen to be on Facebook, there is a cartoon on display in which societies from the beginning of time are singing "This Land is mine God gave this land to me." Each time it is sung out: by a Hebrew, an Egyptian, a Persian, a Babylonian, a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, the next 'power' kills the previous one because 'God gave this land to me'. The Reign of God as obvious sheds no one's blood in order to gain life at the expense of others. The Reign of God as obvious is the work of self-giving love that is meant to re-unite those who are separated - those who are so into ours we cannot share or honor the other or hear how we could be the cause of the brokenness of the world. The Reign of God as obvious is heard in the words 'blessed are the peacemakers' for in their life (the life of the Reign of God - I would submit) there is always the power of reconciliation, forgiveness, loving kindness, no matter what others may be doing. O God of love and new life, take us into the domain of your love and teach us how it is the way of life you have intended for us since the beginning of our humanity. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as obvious. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as obvious may strike some folks as odd. I want to press a bit on this because I think it may be troublesome for all of us. Often, folks will say that there are many times when the life of the Reign of God is obvious. Then again, there are many times when a situation arises in which we wonder about how we are to live within the Reign of God. We can see many ways to love our neighbor. But what if you are a Palestinian living in the occupied territory of the West Bank, how do you love the people who keep plowing under your vineyards and homes and building walls so that it is next to impossible to go from point A to point B without spending hours in lines or walking/driving great distances? Previously, the trip would have taken minutes. Or what if you are an Israeli who has been taught that Palestinians want you dead or gone no matter what the cost? We might say there is no way for the Reign of God to erupt into that scenario. Really? Can both sides take that leap in which death is not allowed to rule? The Reign of God as obvious invites that leap - even in the face of death - even when the world as we have it and want it may end. Most often, don't have the courage to enter into the obviousness of the Reign of God. Too often, I walk another way - I let death and all of its cohorts steer me and guide me into something less than the Reign of God. And yet, the Reign of God as obvious is out in front of me with an invitation to come and live. O God of love and new life, though your Reign is forever before us and is always the way of peace and justice and filled with hope for a new day, we hold back and hesitate and find other ways to walk. Rescue us today. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions |
| | | | | The Reign of God as beginning here. If you have any comments - adebelak@redeemerluth.com . The Reign of God as beginning here longs for an old, old story to come to life in the moments we are entering. For us, this is not a mere act that we do that looks good or makes people feel warm and fuzzy inside or rings with the sound of justice or is full of forgiveness and hope. It may be all of those, but it is also grounded in a story. Some would say it is a story that comes up out of the ground - a story with history - a story that has been buzzing in the ears of people for a very long time - a story of character that is so deep and wide and full of a love that holds all things like a mother with a new born, that we cannot let it just be something in the air. So we call this character God. Others will have other names - even if it is the one we cannot name. The story is of the Reign or the Life that is made available as we walk along its paths The Reign of God as beginning here is the next chapter in a story so old we can only speculate on how it came to be but we can experience what it is always becoming. We are invited to be a part of that becoming. We are nurtured to become another character within God's Reigning presence. O God of love and new life, keep telling us the story so we will remember it all the days of our lives and make it a piece of ourselves. Amen. |
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