Spirit of Adoption

 "For all who are led by the Spirit of God

are children of God.

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery

to fall back into fear,

but you have received a spirit of adoption."

Romans 8:14-15

This is my Mother-in-law.

I did not choose her and she did not choose me. Seated beside her is my niece whom I did not choose either and neither did she choose me. Yet, the spirit between us is one of acceptance and caring. 

In ancient Rome, unwanted children were abandoned or sold into slavery. Sadly, this reality persists today in many parts of the world. Families overwhelmed by poverty abandon infants they cannot afford to raise, or sell them into the slavery of child labor.  

Parents might give their children with the hope of offering them an opportunity for a better life and a more hopeful future.

That's the story of a farmer in Central America who told a reporter the older children were sent north to the US border. The drought was so bad there was nothing to feed the children. Perhaps in the US they would be fed and have a better future.

 In Romans 8:15 Paul assures us that although we struggle in a world of sin and death, we have not been abandoned to lives of slavery and fear. In Christ, God has adopted us as God’s very own children. We know this because because God’s Spirit “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”

As God’s adopted children we share in Christ's sufferings so God’s good purposes - the liberation of a world in bondage - are achieved.

AS God's adopted children we know that whatever evil or suffering we face, we have God's promise that nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

Waiting with Patience

"Now hope that is seen is not hope.

For who hopes for what is seen?

But if we hope for what we do not see,

we wait for it with patience."

Romans 8

In early March the Spring Breck's catalogue arrives filled with beautiful photos of peonies of all varieties and colors. In addition to those tempting, enhancing photos of award winning plants, come sale prices. 50% off. Buy One Get One. So I did some shopping, the plants arrive at appropriate planting time.

The planting began, faced with the unknown. How deep should they go to bloom? What happens if they are planted too deep? If they are too shallow, will the resident squirrels partake of the banquet?

Now begins the waiting and the hoping. To paraphrase Paul,  I wait with patience for what I don't see.

Things aren't right. As I watch the local, national, and international news, I conclude that things aren't right. The struggle for social justice isn't over when attacks on racial individuals and institutions seem excessive. 

Things aren't right.  I watched several interviews of adopted children and heard their stories of being moved from foster home to foster home. They hope someone would adopt them. As one child said, "all I want is someone to love me." 

Things aren't right.

But the Romans 8 message says God isn't finished with the world yet. Paul says we are not alone facing the struggle to make things right.

Instead, God’s Spirit is groaning right along with us, expressing our pain, fears, and dreams to God as petitions too deep for our words.

There is the hope. As we experience pain, the Spirit is lifting prayers to God in ways we cannot express. In our fears of things never becoming right, the Spirit expresses that fear to God. As we dream of things beyond now, the Spirit lifts them to God.

As we live a trusting, Spirit-filled life we will see the Spirit constantly working in human weakness to bring about God’s full liberation and wholeness.

And so, with patience and hope, we wait for what we do not  see.

Life's Sustaining Source

"They are like trees

planted by streams of water, 

which yield their fruit in its season,

and their leaves do not wither." 

Psalm 1:3

My 30 years as a pastor were fun, fulfilling and fruitful. But sometimes there were hard years and I wanted to quit because of the pain and frustration. I persevered though because I knew that was God’s way, God’s call, God’s path for my life. I grew, changed, and matured. I went deeper in my faith than I ever could have if everything was ease and comfort. As I matured I realized the psalms are expressions of the heart.

Psalm 1 is an example. It has two images. 

The first is a road. 

The road has two ways characterized by who walks on it. On one path walk the wicked, sinners, and scoffers. Down the other walk the righteous meditating on God's word. This other road belongs to God who watches over it.

The other is a tree. 

The tree is characterized by deep roots. The righteous, who depend on God, are like a tree, with deep roots next to a stream. Therefore, the tree bears fruit and its leaves don't wither. Like this tree, which drinks deeply from streams of water, the righteous drink daily from God’s Word. They are resilient, but God watches over the paths they walk.

Psalm 1 makes a promise: Those who drink deeply from the psalms will find a sustainable source of spiritual drink. A source sustaining us throughout life and a source will never run dry.

 Some pastors and I went on an annual retreat to Weston Priory. Singing Psalm 91 in the evening service gave me a sense of inner peace during hard times. 

"Because you have made the Lord your refuge,

the Most High your dwelling place,

no evil shall befall you,

no scourge come near your tent."

Ps.91:9-10

I am certain that the Lord will sustain you as you drink deeply from this source.

A Place at the Table

  Beloved, let us love one another,

 because love is from God; 

And each one who loves

 has been begotten from God 

and knows God.

1 John 4:7

One quick look at this photo raises thoughts of romance culminating in a commitment to a lasting love. 

But there is more to this photo than a wedding. To begin with, the groom is a former member of my Vermont youth group. He grew up in the church and lived out Jesus' teachings in his life and among his friends. Beyond Sunday School, he went on several mission trips in NYC and Albany, NY. where he helped work with the hungry and homeless.

After Graduation from college, he got an internet security job in California, where this wedding took place. The depth of his love can be seen at the two men on his left. One, who lives in Vermont, has a minimum wage job and couldn't afford coming to the wedding. The groom paid for his flight, ground transportation, and housing. That's how he got a place at the table. 

God is love. God is the source and the definition of love. In 1 John 4:7 the love that is being talked about is agape. Agape is the highest form of love because it is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. Agape love is demonstrated through actions. 

God's love, active through Jesus Christ, tells us that there is a place at the table for each of us, unconditionally. 

When the table is set with bread and wine, and the invitation is given, God's agape love says, "Come, there is a place for you."

A First Ride

There is no fear in love, 

but perfect love casts out fear

1 John 4:18

It all begins with God’s love. 

I began a "first ride" ministry with the youth in  my church. When I learned of a youth working toward a driver's license, I told them I would consider it an honor to be the first person they would take for a ride. They could go wherever they chose, but I suggested having lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. I joked with them saying I had confidence in their driving, but if they killed me I would never talk to them again. 

Each "first ride" was a little different. I probably would have driven at a different speed or used the brake pedal sooner or taken a curve differently. But this was not about driving skills.

It's all about showing God's love through trust and respect.

God’s love is not an abstract concept. God sent Jesus on earth to preach, teach and heal. Jesus touched the untouchable and welcomed the rejected. Jesus demonstrated God's love in action without boundaries. We don’t have to reach out to God or meet some sort of standard or worthiness in order to be loved. 

Sometimes we can get stuck in life not knowing which way to go or what to do next. We may come across seemingly impossible boundaries or struggling to move forward from heartbreaking events. 

When these times happen, I assure you, God's love is with you in what may feel like a "first ride". I know. I've been there.