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Gospel Righteousness |
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As a child, I expected science to solve all moral problems, no matter what crisis we faced. I was informed that the various scientific texts could resolve all potential conflicts. How wrong I was, much to my dismay. Fortunately, our heavenly Father had the patience to teach me that I am required to wait on the spirit for the love and caring that we need. Yes, I am required to receive gospel righteousness to live in the Kingdom of God. Because of the graciousness of my heavenly teacher, I opened myself to the Book of Jeremiah where the great prophet admonishes his hearers to "wait on the Lord" for the awesome power of love that overcomes all evil. But we need to be careful in the listening process because there are other voices that can and will lead us erroneously if we are not careful in discerning God's profound voice. This teacher demonstrated His kindness by moving me to welcome Isaiah's teaching that God will provide a heavenly teacher, a teacher replete in everlasting love, who would inculcate us in righteousness - as He is doing today, that is if we are listening, and perhaps more important, abiding in His caring. We have a Lord who willingly provides righteousness if we pray for His continued spiritual guidance. That is why, as Revelation 3 teaches, our beloved Heavenly Lord knocks on the doors of our very souls not only to teach us the wisdom we crave but to inculcate us in the spirit of love not as private property but as a calling we receive when we enter the Kingdom. That call prepares us for the task of ministering to people in the name and power of the Blessed Savior. . . But to receive that Kingdom inwardly, the Lord requires us to resist other forces, Satan himself, who is also competing with Almighty God for our very souls. This anti-Christ strives to corrupt us in the power of anger, ambition, as well as selfishness. And Satan can and does challenge God's people, if we do not hear Jesus' knocking. But when we welcome Jesus's love, we are endowed with the spirit of divine reconciliation. In that condition we do receive the heavenly bread of life that affords us the love to relate to our neighbors. Then, my Friends, we can understand the needs of our fellow humans who are also capable of receiving Jesus' bread because He knocks on their spiritual doors as well as our own. Through our accepting of Jesus' knocking, we are given the power to love our enemies and welcome the stranger. In that welcoming God provides the opportunity of waiting on the Lord together to receive Gospel righteousness as a Church belonging to our Savior. Small wonder we are moved by the Lord to establish meaningful friendships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is an important part of gospel ministry. The term friendship in gospel righteousness is beyond human connection. It is an opportunity of becoming a gathered people in Christ who are listening for the divine calling. Remember that the Gospel is not merely the writings in the New Testament, but as the apostle Paul reveals, it is the power of God that brings people to His Son's righteousness. That righteousness pervades the blessed community. God is still working on me to understand His ministry, for which I am grateful. We are still learners in Jesus' school. Let us welcome His righteousness in our hearts.
Arthur Berk |