31 Days of UnitySample

(Re)flect: It is an absurd notion that God notices us. Humanity has created many ideas about god(s) and what they are like. Studying the world’s religions, you will find vastly different ideas about the nature and character of supernatural beings. A recurring characteristic in many religions is that it is hard to get the attention of your god(s). Much of religion is performative. You must prove your worth by jumping through the expected religious hoops to be worthy of the presence and attention of your god(s).

Part of the beauty of the God of Israel, the God revealed perfectly in Jesus, is that God sees us. God is already paying attention to us. We don’t perform for God. Nothing we do can make us worthy of God's love. Instead, we are invited into a relationship with God. This is such a sharp contrast to other ideas of god. In many world religions, you prepare an offering for your god, a table, a sacrifice, or a temple, hoping your deity will pay attention. In the gospels, however, God arrives in our flesh, walks among us, and invites us to a table of fellowship. This is an idea so absurd and beautiful that in all of humanity a Creator God, who sees and loves us like this, could never even be imagined. Our God is revealed through the love of Christ.

This love changes our relationship with God because we don’t have to perform. Performing, especially religious performance that calls attention to us and seeks to earn the praise of others, gets in the way of knowing and loving our God. Jesus makes it clear that standing on street corners and performing for God is not the way of God's kingdom. Instead, removed from any need to earn the attention and approval of God, we are freed for a joyful relationship with God. We pray out of love, to experience God and be changed by God. We serve others not to earn credit with God, but because we love them and God loves them. We give generously because God has already given generously to us.

The good news invites us to be changed by the absurd notion that God already sees us and loves us. This love is also the foundation for our pursuit of unity. Unity can't be achieved by performance or being religious. It is only ever the fruit of a people experiencing the love of God and learning to love one another. We learn to love as God does, acknowledging the worth and dignity of all people, and we create communities rooted and established in God's love. Then, as a work of the Spirit, unity is possible. So long as our pursuit of God is performative, there will be no unity.

After you read the passage, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you ever feel like you are performing your faith to get God’s attention?
• How often do you feel the presence of God?
• Do you believe God hears you when you pray?
• How would your prayers change if you prayed with the confidence that God was present right there in the room with you, waiting to listen?

Our Prayer for (Re)flection:

Lord, reveal how we have failed to be obedient to you and to love one another as the children of God. We long to be unified through your love and as the body of Christ. Renew our hearts and minds through your unending love, and give us the courage to surrender ourselves to your Spirit this day. Amen