Wednesday's SOAP - Matthew 5:1-10

1 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them.

   3 “God blesses those who are poor

            and realize their need for him,

       for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

    4 God blesses those who mourn,

      for they will be comforted.

    5 God blesses those who are humble,

      for they will inherit the whole earth.

    6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,

      for they will be satisfied.

    7 God blesses those who are merciful,

      for they will be shown mercy.

    8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,

      for they will see God.

    9 God blesses those who work for peace,

      for they will be called the children of God.

   10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,

      for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

S(cripture) - "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God."

O(bservation) - Jesus’ first sermon – setting the tone for his ministry – painting a picture of the Kingdom that is the antithesis of pride, ego, power, wealth.  In Jesus day, the thought was if people had money, power, prestige, position, then this was a sign of God’s blessing.  Jesus said you could have all these things in this world and miss out on the Kingdom blessing.

A(pplication)  – Am I chasing the things of this world?  In a world filled with violence and a completely different set of values, what would it look like for me to go against the flow?  Do I care more about what people think than living out Your kingdom – even to the point of persecution for doing right?  It’s lonely living a kingdom life. God blesses those who work for peace – peacemakers. Not peacekeepers. Do I remain silent in the midst of injustice?

P(prayer) – Abba, Help me live out your kingdom principles.  I want your true blessing – a Kingdom blessing, not a temporal one.  Help me to find others who want to walk this Kingdom road – to live together as Kingdom people.  Give me courage to speak your truth in a world of MSNBC and FoxNews.  And may I be an agent of peace in a world filled with violence.  In the name of Jesus, I ask,  Amen.

Tuesday's SOAP - September 13 - John 17:20-21

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

S(cripture) - "so that the world will believe you sent me."

O(bservation) - This passage is so subtly "Trinitarian" but once you see it, it pops off the page.  The Trinity (God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit - God in three persons) has been a stumbling block for many including our Jehovah's Witness friends.  It's hard for our three and half pounds of gray matter to grasp how God can be be One and Three.  But you see it here - a Oneness as Jesus talks to his Father and acknowledges that they are "in" one another.  There's a depth of relationship here that's hard to explain, but what could be more intimate than to be "in?"  Father and Son are One - are "in" one another.  And THEN, Jesus is praying that we be "one" - that we be "in" one another and "in" them!  A unity, an intimacy - "in"timacy - Communion.  The intimacy husbands and wives are to share is really to be the gift to all Christ-followers. Jesus is praying for us that we would have a depth of relation with God and with one another - Communion and Community

But this is so rare.  Why?  Jesus wants us to have the same relationship with the Father that he has.  Most churches have lowered the bar on this "oneness" so far that we're happy if everybody can "just get along."

Why would Jesus pray this? "So the world might believe that you sent me."  Because our Communion with God (Father and Son) and our deep caring for one another (Community) is our witness to the world that God sent his Son. I never really heard these words when I read this passage previously.  I always focused on the unity that Jesus is praying for - that we would be "one."  But I typed in the words "Father" and "sent" into Bible Gateway and this is one of MANY places where Jesus acknowledges that the Father - God - has sent him - that he came from the Father - meaning that He was and is God. 

Being sent is costly.  Jesus left the glory of His Father's presence to come to us (the Word became flesh and dwelt among us).  Being sent is selfless.  

Being sent is costly for me.  It's easier to stay home and watch the ball game.  It means volunteering when I'm tired.  Swinging a hammer for someone else, when myown home needs repairs. Opening up our home when we just want to hide the mess.  Being sent is selfless.

So when the "world" sees us in Communion with God (one) and in deep Community (one) and being sent, they'll notice - and believe - Jesus was sent.  (And the antithesis is also true - if we are not in Communion and Community - why would anyone want to listen to what we say and why would anyone want to emulate us if we're no different than everybody else?)  

So while we Viners seek to be a community of Missional (sent) Communities, our Communion with God and Community with one another is essential.  We too are being sent, just as Jesus was sent!  So the world will believe that Jesus was sent.

Heady stuff I know - boil it down to three words - Communion, Community, Mission.

A(pplication) - I'm "living" in 21st century suburbia which does an excellent job of distracting me from the things of God (Communion) and keeping me busy and separated from my friends (Community) and likewise fills my schedule so that what little free-time I have, I don't want to be sent (Mission).  But I hear in Jesus' prayer that there's a better way to live - perhaps the ONLY WAY to live.  I'm tired of being alone and while I know God is always with me, I long for community and community in mission.

P(rayer) - Abba, today may I lay aside the excuses and seek to be "in."  Help me to "listen" throughout the day for your lessons in one-ness.  Amen.