Today’s reading comes from “The Power of Forgiveness” by Johann Christoph Arnold. Arnold details the ripple effect of showing the forgiveness exemplified and embodied in Jesus Christ. He gives a helpful definition of forgiveness with this, “ Forgiving is not ignoring wrongdoing, but overcoming the evil inside us and in our world with love.” This does not just appear, it is a development of growing in Christ through the variety of experiences that come our way through the lenses of Scripture and the example of Christ. Arnold cites the well-known quote of Martin Luther King Jr. talking about power of love for real transformation. Romans 5:1-5 speaks of the transformation that takes place within us, and the character development that comes. How would your world change if you chose love over bitterness today? “Father forgive them,” said Christ may by that same power we say it too.
New Life Reading
Today’s essay was written by Amy Carmichael in the mid-20th century. Camrichael is best known for her missionary work among orphan children in Southern India. The essay is entitled “Calvary Love” and reads very similar to the Thirteenth chapter of One Corinthians. Carmichael writes introspectively and provides some thoughtful examples of what is lacking in our lives to show the love of Christ exemplified in the cross. I cannot help but be stuck on one section as I reflect on the essay. In it Carmichael asserts,
If I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying “Peace, peace,” where there is no peace; if I forget the Poignant word “Let love be without dissimulation” and blunt the edge of truth, speaking not right things but smooth things, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
I do think there might possibly be more nuance to what Carmichael is asserting but I do know the temptation to smooth talk versus lovingly telling the truth. How do speak truth in a way that is respectful, caring, and ultimately loving. We live a world of “zingers” and “gotcha” moments. But love that is Christ centered cannot rejoice in “zinging” or “getting” someone else when it comes to sharing the truth.
An earmark of Christian community is hospitality. When we open our home and ourselves to others we do so in love and truth. 1 Peter 4:8-9 speaks of the importance of real love, not looking over sins but covering the sins of others with the love we have received in respect to our own sin. Let us live Calvary love.
new life reading
In today’s essay the fiery Christoph Blumhardt reminds us of the inseparable link between the reality of the Resurrection and living in Christ. For Blumhardt it is not enough for one to say “ I believe” in reference to the resurrection if that is not accompanied by a vigorous living for Christ in Kingdom activity. Here Blumhard makes a passionate statement that hits to the heart of the New Testament idea that the death and resurrection of Christ must be in us:
It is not the worst if some people are unable to believe that Christ rose from the dead-at least they still regard it as something tremendous, too to tremendous to glibly confess. The sad thing is that so many people today claim to believe it, and yet it means so little to them. It has no effect on their lives.
We tend to focus on perspective and that is helpful sometimes. But we should never loose our focus on purpose. It’s important to look at life from different vantage points but we must never forget that Jesus came to die and live and our lives are no different. We experience the death in and of this world but nevertheless we live because and for Him. Again Blumhardt, “We are simply to ask Jesus to give us more and more of his resurrection, until it runs over, until the extraordinary powers form on high that are within our reach can get down to work on all that we do.” Part of the “running over” is that the alive Jesus alive in us calls to bring life to others in ministry. 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “ And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” The idea is that as the reality of the resurrection should pour out of our lives into the lives of others as God gives us opportunity. Live today.
New Life Reading
Today’s Essay comes from Methodist Minister and Missionary, E. Stanley Jones. What William Carey was to Overseas Missions in the 18th Century, Jones was to India in the 20th Century. In looking back on his earliest Spiritual development and looking forward to what it really means to follow Christ, Jones centers in on the centrality for Christ followers to be witness. I was really pulled by the following sentence, “In my ministry I was to be, not God’s lawyer, but his witness.” I appreciate the study of Christian apologetics and those who study and work to build a knowledge base to relate the truths of Christianity to many different cultural and intellectual audiences. The greatest defense of Christianity will always be a solid, authentic witness of Christ in one’s daily life. Part of being an authentic witness is recognizing our dependence on Christ and confessing our sins to Him. This helps with humility and avoids the arrogance that dampen the witness for Christ to those who might already have a suspicious opinion of Christianity. 1 John 1:5-10 talks about the importance of confession and the security we have in Christ. Confession develops us on the inside to effect the outside of our lives. To quote Jones once more and solidify life of witness, “We cannot merely talk about Christ- we must bring him.” Come in confession and bring Christ to your world.
New Life Reading
Today’s reading is entitled “I Had Been Waiting” and is written by Alfred Kazin, a premier writer and literary critic of the 20th century. It is not clear whether or not the essay is biographical or not, but it chronicles the experience of a Jewish man coming to believe in Jesus Christ of the New Testament as the promised Messiah looked forward to in Judaism, Yeshua. It tells with vivid imagery of how a honest reading of the New Testament led the speaker to know that Christ was everything he had longed for and needed. The realization comes from the work of the Spirit through the recording and teaching of Scripture. In hearing Jesus through the Gospel record the speaker says,
For that voice, that exultantly fiery and tender voice, there were no gaps between images and things for constantly walking before the Lord, he remained all energy and mind thrust his soul into every corner of the world, and passing gaily under every yoke, remained free to seek our God in His expected place.
This revelation is not the result of a stagnant Spirit or a casual reading. This comes from the Diving work of God as someone chooses to dig in to the meat of Scripture. Today’s Spiritual Formation is the meditate on Scripture. The text suggested is Psalm 23. To meditate simply means to give concentrated time and focus to portions of Scripture allowing space for God to reveal Himself and for us to really take it in. The suggestion is to read a different verse each hour over a period of six hours. However you choose to go about it an intense concentration on Scripture yields the opportunity to see God in His word and come away with an anchored conviction of His character and call. Meditating on Scripture allows us to be “free to seek our God in His expected place.”