This is special music from service on July 31, 2016. The Tenor and Bass mens choir singing The Chariot Spiritual.
As Christians, we are called to shift our attention and emphasis away from the small, vain, egocentric self and focus outward by living into a radical trust in God. In Jesus, we see the very heart of God, and that is where we find the ultimate and lasting treasure – the key that unlocks our hearts so we can live for others, the key that enables us to live lives that are rich toward God.
This is special music presented by Christopher Lewis today at the service at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan
Figuring out what is ultimately important and putting that first ~ that's the challenge of the Gospel. And nothing is more important than living into the Kingdom of God, wherever you are, when it comes near. Sometimes when we discern that God’s kingdom is near, the faithful thing to do is to drop everything and sit still and listen – like Mary. Other times when we discern God’s presence, the faithful thing to do is to get busy, to take on all of the organizational drive, ability and passion we can muster and work like Martha.
Fortunately, Jesus comes daily to beckon us anew to sit at his feet. As God’s people, we connect with God’s mission here first, at the feet of our Savior. Then, bound together as Christ’s Body, we go into the world, a world that will likely crucify us as it did him, to serve the ones who are broken, disconnected and as lost as we seem to be. This is the blueprint for everything we do together as God’s people. We come together at Jesus’ feet to sit and learn for a time.
Then we go out united with Jesus in Baptism and Communion, fed by his living, life-giving word, to live, not as ourselves, but as Christ. You see, it is not about hearing or doing, it is about hearing and doing that makes us faithful disciples. The good news is that when we sit down and eat our fill of the life-giving Word of God, when we have been nourished at this table, we will also be ready to put hands and feet, hearts and minds to work.
So, as I think about my relationship with my sister, I have begun to realize that I was not necessarily “right.” We both were doing necessary things. But, as we live into the dream of God, maybe I need to allow the Word to move me into greater areas of service and, just maybe, she needs to take a little time to become refreshed by God’s life-giving Word.
Today at Faith Lutheran Church, Elliot and Gwynne Kadrofske performed special music within the service with Gwynne played on flute and Elliot on Cello as they performed Air From Suite 3 by Bach.
As we think about this past week, the question for each of us is who is your neighbor and who are you called to serve and be present to as neighbor? Who has been neighbor to you? Jesus Christ has been neighbor to you. The crucified one has been neighbor to you. Have you felt God’s mercy make your own heart merciful, compassionate and loving? Then in your heart you will know what this means: Go and do likewise!
We have been called as a community of people, not individuals, a community of people to share with those around us in the greater community the good news of God’s love, grace, healing and peace. And, we do not work alone. Our mission is a shared mission. We work together as the community of Christ and our hope and welfare is inextricably linked to that of those around us. Participating in this Jesus mission means working and living together in intimate community, becoming vulnerable and giving up our need to control. And, quite frankly, that kind of vulnerability makes this work a lot more fun because it is all about what God is doing and has done and it is not about us.
Special music from the Soprano and Alto Choir of the Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.
Adopting a life of discipleship cannot be a part-time or momentary commitment. It is a life-changing shift in direction and priorities in which our own human needs and wants become subservient to the call of our Lord, the call to share and LIVE God’s transforming love and grace in this world. And, those who embrace and are embraced by the radical love of God made known in Jesus and his cross must necessarily see this love is contrary to all human conceptions of love. Virtually everything – friendships, love of family, other people, work, community, love of country – everything looks different when viewed through the lens of God’s sacrificial love for the cosmos. And the reality is, that transforming love will sometimes take you to places where you never thought you would go, some of the toughest of places in life. It is going to take you to the toughest place where you must leave your old self behind and never be the same, the place where you will be forever changed!
No, Jesus isn’t in a bad mood. He’s focused. He’s on a mission—a mission that will end with the cross. And, those who follow him are asked to go there with him. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls us, he bids us come and die.” Discipleship is not easy, but it takes us to a much deeper place in this faith journey. And, yes, we are reassured that that deeper place truly is a place of life – new life – and a place of deep, deep joy.