Hebrews 4: 14-16
Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Devotion
In the beginning the world was created, then humans created for companionship with God. All that is asked of us is one day a week. Any day of the week and it’s the call of the Almighty how that goes. Putting work aside, we are to show up silent and empty without agenda, ready for miracles. Jeremiah the prophet reminds us that that is so. It is a life or death matter of importance. (Jer.17: 27. If you won’t listen, won’t put your work aside, I’ll burn the city down.)
Just last year the Presbyterian women’s yearly study was on keeping the Sabbath, bringing home its urgency.
What does it take for us to show up for God?
Jesus knew in the feeding of the multitude. The people came and stayed while a miracle took place. To give his message on the kingdom of God he fed them. We say to each other as we nod in affirmation. Yes, feed them and they will come. And because they were fed they wanted to make him king. He fled and they came after him. He rebukes them for seeing only the physical reality of bread and fish not that it came from a generous compassionate God. (John 6)
Food gifts are one way for us to be God’s hands as he moves our hearts to be generous. Such an example was the one-night practice and performance organized by Lionel Ritchie, inspired by Harry Belafonte, with a song coauthored by Michael Jackson, to raise money to feed the dying children of Africa. “We are the World” ignited a world of generous giving. In today’s money, $214 million was raised in this one night gift of love. Forty or so entertainers came. Those who came had every reason not to. They gave their time and gifts to be a part of something that was to be bigger than anything they had done previously. Some had gathered for a night of awards in L.A. It had to be secret to protect the singers who would bail if there were mobs present. Some came straight from world tours, financing their own involvement in a project that had not been completely defined. Diana Ross did not want the night to end. What does love like that say about the creator God and his creatures?
What does it take to show up?
Every Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection. What could be more holy to Christian believers? Christmas and Easter claim our attention but what about the other 50 weeks of the year? How do we express our love to the world? They will know we are Christian by our love, says the hymn. During this Lenten season let us cross the threshold to show our love of God and be generous by giving to the World Kitchen or other agencies that feed a starving world. The need is great.
Prayer
“A Blessing for Who You Might Become,” by Kate Bowler
…God what can we do
with what we have now?
And who we are?
And who might we become?
Blessed are we in the place
where desire and will
are beginning a conversation
about what this day,
this moment is for,
And for whose glory.
Blessed are we who suddenly find
That while we weren’t looking
The Lord appeared saying
“Peace, be still.”
This is the clearing
where the light shines through,
where the new can begin.
Never doubt it.
God is writing you into the story
of the world’s healing,
And your own.
Amen
Sarah Larson