Today’s Readings: Psalm 25; Lamentations 3:40-54; John 12:41-48; 1 Peter 1:22-2:3; Psalm 86
Featured Reading: 1 Peter 1:22-2:3
There’s no doubt that the problems we face these days are of an unprecedented magnitude. The economic challenges we face, for instance, have grown to such a degree that no single entity (not even a country like the United States) can single-handedly affect an economic recovery. The same is true of the environmental challenges we face. The tragic consequences of global climate change that we have already witnessed are of such a scope that only collaborative efforts of countries around the globe can ever hope to slow some of these life threatening changes. On the surface, it would appear that the challenges we face are so overwhelming that the only reasonable response would be to shrug one’s shoulders and give up. That might be the only reasonable response – but I don’t believe for a second that that would be a faithful response. The author of today’s passage from 1 Peter spelled out what I feel has always been the faithful response to the challenges we face – both individually and collectively. The author wrote: “Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended upon it” (1 Peter 1:22 from The Message). Think for a moment how the dynamics of our world would shift if we followed that challenge and began to love one another as if our lives depended upon it. CEOs of corporations, for instance, might respond by refusing their exorbitant bonuses in order to shore up the pension programs of their employees. Consumers might do their part by going out of their way to patronize retailers who provide health insurance for their employees. Home owners too might do their part by utilizing curb side recycling programs that exist in their communities to reduce the amount of garbage in landfills. Even real estate developers might chose to help by investing in planned communities that depend primarily upon renewable energy sources to fuel the life of their communities. Each of these changes could begin to slow – if not reverse – some of the horrific problems we are facing. If you are looking for personal motivation to effect some of these changes in your own little corner of the world, hang on to the wisdom of 1 Peter – for we have reached a stage in our development as a species when our lives really do depend on our ability to love one another. Til next time…
Featured Reading: 1 Peter 1:22-2:3
There’s no doubt that the problems we face these days are of an unprecedented magnitude. The economic challenges we face, for instance, have grown to such a degree that no single entity (not even a country like the United States) can single-handedly affect an economic recovery. The same is true of the environmental challenges we face. The tragic consequences of global climate change that we have already witnessed are of such a scope that only collaborative efforts of countries around the globe can ever hope to slow some of these life threatening changes. On the surface, it would appear that the challenges we face are so overwhelming that the only reasonable response would be to shrug one’s shoulders and give up. That might be the only reasonable response – but I don’t believe for a second that that would be a faithful response. The author of today’s passage from 1 Peter spelled out what I feel has always been the faithful response to the challenges we face – both individually and collectively. The author wrote: “Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended upon it” (1 Peter 1:22 from The Message). Think for a moment how the dynamics of our world would shift if we followed that challenge and began to love one another as if our lives depended upon it. CEOs of corporations, for instance, might respond by refusing their exorbitant bonuses in order to shore up the pension programs of their employees. Consumers might do their part by going out of their way to patronize retailers who provide health insurance for their employees. Home owners too might do their part by utilizing curb side recycling programs that exist in their communities to reduce the amount of garbage in landfills. Even real estate developers might chose to help by investing in planned communities that depend primarily upon renewable energy sources to fuel the life of their communities. Each of these changes could begin to slow – if not reverse – some of the horrific problems we are facing. If you are looking for personal motivation to effect some of these changes in your own little corner of the world, hang on to the wisdom of 1 Peter – for we have reached a stage in our development as a species when our lives really do depend on our ability to love one another. Til next time…
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