God's Governmental Style

3:38 a.m......I'm up. Boy am I up. This is pretty much standard fare for me these days. Getting up between 3 and 4 a.m.  Coffee is ready to perk, but I will hold off until around 5:15 giving Vicki a chance to sleep in and get a fresh cup of coffee when she gets up.

Wayne Wimpee came by last night to drop off some home made chicken soup for Vicki's mother. She has been under the weather with that "crud" that has been making its rounds. A little chicken soup is good for the soul, or at least that is what the book says.We always enjoy Wayne's visit and last night was no exception. Coffee and conversation about what we perceive to be God's hand in our midst. Where we have come from, where we think God is leading us at Rapha and prayers for one another was the order of the visit.
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I want to share a thought with you that struck me this weekend during our Bible study. It comes from Quick Study Bible.
The reading is from Deuteronomy -Chapters 21-23.
All of man's societies and governments are built or founded on the premise that we must take care of ourselves because no one else will. Therefore, today's political systems must assume the role of provider / protector of its citizens. The democratic principle seems to purport that the people are gods themselves (See Genesis 3 where the serpent tells the woman, "If you eat this, your eyes will be open and you'll be like God. The thought here is that if I am like God, then I don't need God.) and are called upon to provide their own way to protect themselves. The biblical model for God's community is alien to our modern way of living. God's community is called to serve Him with excellence as we move our lives according to His assigned purpose. Then, God will guide each of us to work with, and strengthen each other. God's plan for people living together was complementary, not competitive.

Even as I read this, I saw how divisive our society here in the United States has become. We are no longer strong because of our unity, but live under a false sense of unity with the notion that it is based on our diversity. Now don't confuse "unity" with "uniformity".  I don't believe that we all have to think alike or dress alike. But at the central core of this idea of unity is the over riding thought that God truly does desire us to look to Him for our provision. Living a day dream with this thought of every one loving each other? Could be, but it has to start somewhere. Why not here? Why not today? Why not with me.

Truth be known, sometimes there is more love and concern found in an A.A. meeting than in some churches. I don't think God would want us to act this way of being unloving toward one another or even condone it. I remember Vicki and I had started attending a church which had just been formed and everyone was excited about what God was doing. One Wednesday night the topic turned to what kind of church did we want to be. The over riding consensus was that every onewanted a church that would love and care for those that no one else wanted. Little did we know that God was going to take us up on that. The very next Sunday as the service was beginning, three men on motorcycles drove up. Now these were not the rich-guys-on-a-Sunday-ride kind of guys. There were hardcore riders with "tats" and biker jackets and long hair and grease under the finger nails kind of guys. They asked if they could join us for the service. Vicki and I got them some coffee and introduced ourselves as we made our way to the sanctuary. If anyone ever looked out of place, it was these three dudes. Once in the room, no one would speak to them. In fact, every one kind of avoided them like the plague. Well, so much for a church wanting to reach out. Vicki and I apologized and thanked them for being with us. The three men mounted up and drove off. I felt like we missed an opportunity to be the community of God, looking to the needs of others more than ourselves.

You know, It could be that God sent three angels to visit that church that day. We left the church shortly there after as God moved us on. That church is no longer in existence by the way. They shut the doors some years ago. Wonder why?

Somehow I think the words of Galatians 5: 13-16 are on God's heart today.
For you are called to live in freedom----not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command..Love your neighbor as yourself. But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Sounds a little to me like a spiritual Step # 12 --  Having had a spiritual awakening ( A salvation experience) as a result of these steps, we tried to carry the message to others (Alcoholics and drug addicts....or, as some might say...to sinners) and to practice (or live) these principals in all our affairs.
In other words...the message becomes life to us as we give it away.
Think on these things today....

God on you.....
mb