Peace

March 30, 2017

Opening Hymns:
To God Be the Glory: http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh098.sht

Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:6-11
8:6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

8:7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law-- indeed it cannot,

8:8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

8:9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

8:10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Message:
There’s a song called “Imagine There’s no Heaven.” By John Lennon:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

 

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you

 

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one…

 

I remember really listening to the words to this song for the first time in a Philosophy class in college. It was hard to really hear these words as a Christian, and to see how people could view religion as a problem in this world instead of salvation. The scripture calls us to focus on our spiritual selves, and to leave the ways of flesh behind us. The song calls us to live as one with those around us, and to live in peace. In reading the lyrics over and over, I have a hard time seeing why living as one with our fellow man needs to be in a world without a heaven or religion.

Sometimes we can take our understandings of salvation, and make it only cover a small group of people. We can judge others, think of others as condemned, or try to show others how their beliefs are wrong and ours are right. The ways of the flesh are that of greed, judgment, and selfishness. However, if we follow Christ’s teachings, then we can see others as children of God who need our love, respect, and kindness. We can live our lives striving to do good for all those around us.  

Time of Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for teaching us how to love each other. Let us continue to grow in love, and to share Your love with everyone we meet. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
Take Time to Be Holy: http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh395.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.
Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God