Grow. Pray. Study. Daily Guide from the United Methodist Church
of the Resurrection - Friday, 3 January 2014 – “Love's divine qualities”
Daily Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is
patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does
not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Reflection Questions:
"Love keeps no score of wrongs" is a difficult ideal,
perhaps an impossible one to live fully in this life. Paul knew that: "Now
we know in part," he said in verse 9. But ideals matter. You can see the
results of unchecked "keeping score" by looking at Palestinians and
Israelis, Hutus and Tutsis, and dozens of other hostile ethnic groups. Nearer
home, you can study thousands of broken relationships. And remember: Paul sent
these words originally to church members who were feuding over status and rank.
How do the other qualities of love Paul lists shape communities
and relationships in which keeping no score of wrongs becomes a realistic,
joy-filled way to live? When have you seen congregations, or marriages and
families that seemed to come close to living out these ideals? What intentional
choices and positive actions are important to help us live into mutual support
and respect?
This passage gives us a compact list of how love does and does
not act. Which of the items listed do you value most from someone else? Which
is the most challenging for you to offer to another person? How are you opening
your life to God's influence so that you can grow in these qualities?
Today's Prayer:
Loving Lord, every day I want to love as you love. Every day, at
some point, I fall short of that ideal. But every day your love enfolds me, and
I trust it to help me keep growing toward the kind of life you call me to live.
Amen.
Friday, 3 January 2014 – Insight from Darren Lippe
Darren Lippe helps facilitate Journey 101 “Loving God” classes,
guides a 6th-grade Sunday school class, is a member of a small group & a
men’s group, and serves on the Curriculum team.
Ah, a new year is upon us.
Which of course means the psuedo-obligatory New Year’s Resolutions,
which some might consider as simply a “To Do List” for the first week of
January.
Some resolve to exercise more, eat less, or improve our
behavior. Like the old preacher story of the parishioner who vowed to be more
cautious with her words & not put her foot in his mouth in 2014; then
promptly followed up by saying to him, “I’m guessing yours is to lose weight.”
As one ponders New Year’s pledges, it is easy to imagine
resolutions for some of our favorite Biblical friends.
·
Noah: Not going to hear me complain about the lack of
precipitation this summer; No Sir! (After his Oceans of Fun experience, seems
apt – Genesis 6:9-7:24)
·
Joshua: Going to really practice playing my ram’s horn &
join the Israelite Marching Band, a.k.a. the “Pride of the Promised Land.”
(Joshua 5:13-6:20)
·
Esau: A foodie no more.
Tomorrow I start my diet; I won’t let food dictate my fate. (Esau traded
his birthright for red stew; should have held out for Oklahoma Joe’s – Genesis
25:19-34)
·
Bathsheba: Select a tile
color already & finally finish my indoor bathroom renovation project. DIY! (This could have avoided a lot of
temptations – 2 Samuel 11)
·
Jeremiah: Quit surfing the channels & getting stuck on a
SAD-TV movie. No more “Old Yeller,”
“Beaches,” or “Brian’s Song” for me in 2014. (Jeremiah, a.k.a. the “Weeping
Prophet,” could probably stand a break from the tearjerker genre –
Lamentations)
·
King Solomon: I’m going to read Walden’s Pond by Henry David
Thoreau & block my QVC channel. (Simplicity was not Solomon’s strong suit –
1 Kings 10:14-29)
·
Lot’s Wife: Less Salt (A sodium-free life would probably be a
blessing for Lot & his family; no truth to the rumor that Lot’s Wife was
the original Morton Salt Girl – Genesis 19:23-26)
·
Elisha: Put aside my pride & join Hair Club for Men in 2014
(Perhaps the follicly-challenged Elisha could benefit from this resolution,
though one could argue he was more upset that the punks were mocking a prophet
of God – 2 Kings 2:23-24)
·
Samson: Ditto! (This shave & a haircut definitely cost more
than 2 bits – Judges 16:17-19)
·
The Teen-Aged Jesus: Be sure to regularly tell the folks where I
am & with whom. (This would resonate with parents of teenagers even today –
Luke 2:41-52)
In this spirit, Paul offers us some excellent resolutions for us
to strive for in 2014:
§ Care more for
others than self
§ Quit wanting
what I don’t have. Rejoice in what I do
have
§ Stop
bragging/boasting & don’t revel in the failures of others
§ Don’t keep
score of the wrongs of others
§ Quit looking
back
§ Look for the
best in others & ourselves
Trust God. Always.
Amen.
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United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, KS 66224 United States
(913)897-0120
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