In this time of Lent, we look closer at the practices or disciplines that move us toward a closer relationship with God. We understand being Christian as a journey. One we take with the Holy Spirit and with each other. In a world that demands so much of our time, energy, and thoughts, it can be difficult to prioritize our Christian journey. It is part of the human challenge. It can even appear to be in opposition to the good sound practices of taking care of life’s daily business. But it is not. Considering the life, teachings, and sacrifices of Jesus and the Apostles, our journey with Christ is what counts most in our complicated and busy lives. Which means it is one that occurs simultaneously with the human-oriented and defined journey.

The only contrast between these two journeys of life is the ones that pit our methods and practices against God’s will. It is not always easy to follow or even understand God’s way in this life. Particularly when our social and economic wisdom and ways differ from that of Jesus. Have you ever read a teaching of Jesus and thought, well, that works for you Jesus, but in my real world it won’t work? It would appear that the paths of humanity and the ways of Jesus can move together, side by side.

But the one we call the Lord has made it clear that our paths can and must work together. This is possible only with the Holy Spirit. A better description may be that the paths work in tandem, like a bicycle built for two. Then the question becomes, who gets the front seat, the one that steers? That is a question that needs to be addressed consistently, daily. It is a question that is easily clouded by our real and perceived needs and desires. Our Christian walk challenges all of us daily to follow a Lord who values the servant’s work most of all. As we say, it’s a tall order, some days more than others. Does this doom us to being miserable failures in our walk with Christ? No. Neither does it give us a built-in excuse to say, O well, I’m forgiven, God loves me and I’m just fine doing as I see fit.” The challenge of Christ is to hold all of this together while maintaining the faith to believe that Jesus’s way really is the way to a relationship with God, the truth above our own, and the life for which we have been created.

How in the world do we do this? The short answer is in Jesus’s teaching concerning the greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:37-39 NRSV He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Simply, the love of God and the human community.  Admittedly, this is a challenge for many of us.  How do we check the thoughts within us or the actions that work against God’s will?

We need to develop the disciplines that help us listen to the Holy Spirit and be renewed within our minds and in our actions.  We need each other to help and guide one another in this walk.  In the letter of Hebrews, we read:

24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).

We are in this together.  The community of Christ has a purpose.  To spread the Good News that the love of God has come to us in Christ Jesus. That we can be reconciled with God and one another. We are to show the world what this looks like in our lives together and as individuals. When people see the love of God in us and shared between us, they see the power of Christ walking in this life. Therefore, let us gather together to worship, and share the sacraments, and the journey of Christian living.

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

Pastor Rick