Lessons: Psalm 38; Isaiah 6:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; John 7:53-8:11
That’s Why We Call It Faith
“The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.” ~ John 5:36
Richard Rohr is one of my favorite theologians. Earlier in the week, I received the following post in the email account. This quote is taken from Rohr’s reflections entitled, Preparing for Christmas. He writes: “The Scriptures very clearly teach what we call today a ‘bias toward action.’ It is not just belief systems or dogmas and doctrines, as we have often made it. The Word of God is telling us very clearly that if you do not do it, you, in fact, do not believe it and have not heard it.
“The only way that we become convinced of our own sense of power, dignity, and the power of God is by actually doing it—by crossing a line, a line that has a certain degree of nonsensicalness and unprovability to it—and that’s why we call it faith. In the crossing of that line, and acting in a new way, then and only then, can we really believe what we say we believe in the first place. We do not think ourselves into a new way of living as much as we live ourselves into new ways of thinking. Lifestyle issues ask much more of us than mere belief systems” (page 48 and 49).
Good advice for a weekday in Advent as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Go out and live today for Christ and experience the power of God in your life.
Here I am Lord, It is I, Lord. I have heard you calling in the night. Take my heart and fill it with your love that I may live in you and you may live in me. Amen.
Advent Action Step: Company and family visits can be daunting in this season. Try the Benedictine approach. Welcome all who come to your home as though they were Christ.
Love One Another – Brian
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