The Plumbline

All those people who didn’t seem interested in what God was doing actually embraced what God was doing as he straightened out their lives. And Israel, who seemed so interested in reading and talking about what God was doing, missed it. How could they miss it? Because instead of trusting God, they took over. They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing. They were so absorbed in their “God projects” that they didn’t notice God right in front of them, like a huge rock in the middle of the road. And so they stumbled into him and went sprawling. Isaiah (again!) gives us the metaphor for pulling this together: Careful! I’ve put a huge stone on the road to Mount Zion, a stone you can’t get around. But the stone is me! If you’re looking for me, you’ll find me on the way, not in the way. (Romans 9:30-33) Kids are like fresh sponges - absorbing not only what they hear, but what they see modeled. Early in their wee lives, they become interested in what we are doing and then they pay clo...

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. (Romans 12:4-5) We ALL belong to each other. Those words should ring true in the ears of each and every one of us today. We do not live independently of each other. Were it not for those who perform thousands of tasks each day in places I don't even realize, I'd not have electricity, water, phone service, TV broadcasts, clean streets, and food in my pantry. The list could go on, but you get the drift. We live 'inter-dependently' and as such, we need to be there for each other. In terms of believers, we have a responsibility to spur one another on in this faith walk, but we also have a similar responsibility to be light in a very dark world. Many parts, but one body. If my hand tried to act independently of my arm, it would be a freaky thing. There have been times I have sworn my feet acted on their own, tr...