Our Way of Life
A reading for Friday, May 30, 2014: Matthew 7:22-27.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."
The church is not a building, or a place, or even a congregation. The church is a way of life, prepared by God beforehand. We are the church. Created in Christ Jesus for good works. This is what we are made for, to be the church. It's a gift of grace for the whole world given from God through Christ.
Those who come to Jesus declaring their own righteousness in today's lesson from Matthew have not understood how to be the church. They see the church as power. They declare their own power and righteousness, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?" Jesus calls them evildoers, as opposed to those who hear the call to be the church and answer it faithfully and humbly. The church is a gift for the world.
This way of life called the church is foundational, says Jesus. Because it comes from God it is worth building a life upon. But building on our own sense of power and righteousness, even as we try to be the church, is shifting sand. It will not stand. We have no power on our own, only what God has prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
God of grace, let our concern for others reflect Christ's self-giving love, not only in our prayers, but also in our practice. For this is indeed our way of life...
The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."
The church is not a building, or a place, or even a congregation. The church is a way of life, prepared by God beforehand. We are the church. Created in Christ Jesus for good works. This is what we are made for, to be the church. It's a gift of grace for the whole world given from God through Christ.
Those who come to Jesus declaring their own righteousness in today's lesson from Matthew have not understood how to be the church. They see the church as power. They declare their own power and righteousness, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?" Jesus calls them evildoers, as opposed to those who hear the call to be the church and answer it faithfully and humbly. The church is a gift for the world.
This way of life called the church is foundational, says Jesus. Because it comes from God it is worth building a life upon. But building on our own sense of power and righteousness, even as we try to be the church, is shifting sand. It will not stand. We have no power on our own, only what God has prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
God of grace, let our concern for others reflect Christ's self-giving love, not only in our prayers, but also in our practice. For this is indeed our way of life...
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