God's Way

Debbie:

Today’s passages seem to have a theme of praising God and following God’s way running throughout them.

Psalm 98 1-9

This psalm calls on people and creation alike to praise God. It reminds us of the marvelous things God has done. In this Easter season it is good to wake each day and be reminded of God’s grace in Christ’s resurrection. For each night we go to sleep and each day we rise anew: “O sing to the Lord a new song, for God has done marvelous things!” One of the great things about this psalm is that humanity is not left to praise God alone, but is joined in the chorus with all of creation: the sea roars, the floods clap, the hills sing . . . and why? Why does creation join in the chorus, because, God is coming. I read this psalm and am reminded that each day is another opportunity to live in praise and service to God.

Isaiah 30:18-26

When we are children we don’t always like the tough lessons our parents teach us; we really don’t like those difficult lessons with which teachers instruct us, where we learn discipline. But when we become adults we realize the lessons we were taught were and are invaluable. We may use different methods and different ways but we still try to teach our children or the children put in our care discipline. And we do this because we love our children and the children who are put in our care. The interesting thing is we often have a difficult time hearing this same sort of thing about God. God loves a people. God shepherds that people. God is their parent, their guardian, and wants the very best. But those children sometimes run out in the street, get a hold of dangerous things and wander away from home. But the prophet says, “God will surely be gracious to you, you shall weep no more . . . but your eyes shall see the Teacher” and wherever they turned they would hear, wherever we turn we will hear, “This is the way, walk in it.” It is a message of grace if we will hear it.

Acts 2:36-41(42-47)

After Peter finishes preaching the crowd is converted and baptized. And following their baptism comes a beautiful description of the church: they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers . . . and they gave to those who had need and they did it all with glad and generous hearts. Here at the end of Peter’s fiery Pentecostal sermon there is a marvelous description of who we are supposed to be as the church. We center ourselves in God’s word, we are nurtured by fellowship, upheld by the sacraments and prayer and we give ourselves to others.

John 14:15-31

I have already mentioned that sometimes I struggle with John. The easiest thing for me to do this morning would be to just skip this scripture and post the other three. But I am challenged by the words, “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me;” These words follow Jesus’ new commandment “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples., if you have love for one another.” These are beautiful words, but I think they are words with which both the church and the world struggle. There are people outside the church who look at us and see that we can’t “love” one another. And we, in the church, struggle because we have a mission to share the good news. But part of that good news, a big part, a commandment from Jesus is that we love one another. There are six weeks in Easter, I wonder if the church were to take those six weeks and challenge her members to pray for and love one another each day how our life and ministry would grow? It might be something worth trying. After all it’s not really a suggestion, but a commandment from our Lord and Savior.