Today's Word
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Salisbury PlainClimb a Hill, Look at a Rock Day
Our Lord is so good, He grants us many blessings. We can see Him in the daily course of events, in our homes, our jobs, our lives. I pray that these words help you to grow in your faith and recognize His hand in even the most mundane circumstances.
The picture to the right is of a Celtic Chapel located in Cornwall England. This building is approximately 1700 years old, and contains a holy well known for its healing powers.
(Click for enlarged)
“If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:1-11, WEB
One of the most popular advertising campaigns in the history of television was a song written for the Coca Cola Company. Many will remember humming along to the New Seekers as they sang about loving the world. “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. I’d like to buy the world a coke and keep it company.” This might seem like an impossible ideal, especially as we watch the hate and violence that occurs around the world daily.
There is an interesting story behind the song. When Coke decided to do a new campaign, they gathered several people together to write the music. Bill Backer, the creative director for the advertising agency, was on his way to London to meet with the song writers Billy Davis and Robert Cook. His plane was diverted because of fog and landed in Ireland. Conditions were uncomfortable, many of the passengers were angry with the disruption to their plans. The next morning, Bill joined the other passengers in a coffee shop to wait for clearance. He noticed that many of the travelers that had been irate were laughing and telling stories over bottles of coke. He saw that there was more to the product than just a liquid to drink. Coke could draw people together, bring them through difficult times, and give them something common even if they have many differences.
I grew up in the haven of a local church, a flock of believers who agreed about many things. Our basic doctrine was the same, we enjoyed the same type of worship, and we practiced our faith in much the same way. It was not that we were brainwashed or unable to think for ourselves. We had our disagreements, sometimes about the silliest things. However, in general we were of one mind, and we lived together in harmony.
Imagine my shock when I became involved with the military chapel system, which is a more ecumenical experience. The community of believers was made up of people from every point on the spectrum of Christianity. The disagreements about doctrine and practice were so immense that it was often as if we were from completely different religions. I noticed the same thing when I was involved in internet chat rooms and email discussions. Many conversations in these groups became heated and angry. It was difficult to believe that we had anything in common. There certainly was little harmony in those relationships.
The people on that airplane found something in common: coke brought them together and they found peace and joy in each other’s company. As I have grown older, I have realized the idea of a perfect church, a church where no one argues about anything, is an impossible ideal. We are unique individuals that have unique perspectives about issues that face our churches. Sometimes our arguments are ridiculously small, although sometimes our disagreements are about important issues. I love my current church, which is mostly of one mind, but even then, we’ve had some tough conversations and people have walked away because they didn’t like the answer. Thankfully, most have returned after realizing what we truly have in common, the love of Christ.
No matter what it is we are discussing, we are called to love one another. This was manifested at the church of my youth and in my current church, the members love one another despite the disagreements we have had about the issues that faced our congregation. We run into difficulty when we hold ourselves higher than our brothers and sisters, when we consider ourselves wiser than anyone else.
Living in love, the love of Christ that binds us together, Paul encourages us to be of one mind. Does that mean we have to agree about every question? No, it means that we are to find harmony by living in the foundation of our faith that we have in common. Life together means loving even those who are so different because we have all confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord. He came to dwell among us, giving up the glory of heaven to be like us, calling us to be unified with Him glorifying God as His body in this world. It is His love and grace that holds us together and gives us what we need to serve God in every way.
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“They said therefore to him, ‘What then do you do for a sign, that we may see and believe you? What work do you do? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, “He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.”’ Jesus therefore said to them, ‘Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn’t Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.’ They said therefore to him, ‘Lord, always give us this bread.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:30-35, WEB It is much cheaper to make dinner at home than to take a family of four to a fast-food place. A home-cooked meal is not only cheaper, but also healthier. The reality though, is that we eat fast food because it is more convenient. Most families do not leave the house to go for a fast food for dinner; they grab dinner in between activities. It is so much easier to go through the drive thru and eat in the car than to go home, fix dinner and then head back out to whatever activity awaits.
The irony is that most of the activities are meant to encourage healthy living. The kids play sports for exercise and self-esteem. Youth groups encourage spiritual health. Tutoring and academic clubs help with learning. We know, however, that the best thing we can do for our kids is to gather around the table to eat together as a family.
Families that eat together are happier and stronger. Studies have shown that the family meal is a stress reliever and a unifying endeavor. The children feel more loved because parents are actually paying attention to them, rather than just driving them here, there, and everywhere. The family dinner table is a place where good manners and behavior can be modeled and learned. Also, parents who cook with their children teach good habits, independence, and decision making.
The food we cook at home is naturally more nutritious than anything we can buy at a fast-food place, even the salads, which have more calories and fat than you might expect. Home cooked meals include more fruits and vegetables, more dairy and less salt. Fried foods and soda, staples of the fast-food industry, are not as prevalent at home. It is much easier to control the portions. The family dinner table is also the perfect place to help children try new foods which may one day become a favorite.
Studies have shown that the family dinner helps a child grow into maturity with less destructive behavior and better grades. According to one study, teens who have fewer than three family dinners a week are 3.5 times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. Children that eat at home fewer than three times a week are more likely to have poor report cards.
We think we are doing wonderful things for our children when we provide them with so many opportunities and activities, but we are taking away the most important things like the experience of family togetherness. Sports, youth group and academic clubs are very positive activities for our children, but not if the foundation of home is lost.
Some of Jesus’ most important lessons took place around the dinner table. He ate with sinners and tax collectors. He went to Zacchaeus’ house. He fed thousands. He revealed Himself to the two disciples in Emmaus with the breaking of bread and forgave Peter on the beach around a meal of fish. He instituted the New Covenant around a family meal with His friends. He did these things because He is the Bread of Life. He invites us to eat a meal better than anything we can buy. He is the food that will keep us well in this life and take us into the next.
We tend to fill our lives with fast-food like burgers, but also spiritual food. It is easy and convenient. Fast-food might seem easy, but we know that it is really more costly than we can realize, especially to our physical, intellectual, and emotional health. So, too, is the fast-food we feed ourselves spiritually as we chase after the most convenient ways to pray, serve, and worship, but in the long run it is better to live the life God has called us to live and eat the real food that He has given.
The following links provide some specially chosen scripture that tell the stories of the Birth and Passion of our Lord as Saviour Jesus Christ, as well as a fictional perspective of the Crucifixion. Spend time in God's Word, read about His life and learn of the wonderful gifts He has for you. Know Jesus Christ and honour Him today. Thanks be to God.
The Story of our Saviour's Passion
The Crucifixion, a fictional perspective
When researching, I use several versions of the bible, including the New International Version and English Standard Version. Due to copyright restrictions, I have not included quotes for the scriptures on some of the archives, but highly encourage you to open your own bibles to read the scripture passages for yourselves. Where scripture is quoted, it is usually the American Standard Version or World English Bible which belong to the public domain. Any other versions used in quotes are identified.
The devotion posted on Wednesday is based on the Lectionary texts used by millions of Christians each Sunday. The Lectionary consists of four texts: an Old Testament passage, a Psalm, a passage from one of the Epistles and a Gospel text and follows the church calendar. Archives for these writings are found at Midweek Oasis.
You are welcome to use these words to share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Please remember to give credit to the Author who has given you these gifts, and keep in remembrance the vessel which He used to bring them to you. We pray that this site may be a blessing to you and anyone with whom you've shared it. Peggy Hoppes
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