I was recently talking with someone who said that he can’t really remember the last time he was in a brick-and-mortar church building “But,” he said, “if ‘church’ is ‘wherever two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name,’ then I guess that I really go to church all the time.” My friend was referring to the way that he seeks, in his own life, to bring people together through kindness, respect, and joy. And for him, his form of “church” just happens to look different from what you and I might envision.
No matter who we are or what we believe, most of us have some sort of guiding principles that we use to hold ourselves and others accountable (principles like kindness, respect, and sharing joy). These can be words to live by – words that help shape our whole way of living and believing, our behavior, and our relating to others and the world.
In my mind, one of the best places to find some words to live by is the Bible. Yes, I know. . . here is your pastor talking to you about reading the Bible. . . But, consider just a few of these verses of scripture – some of which you might know by heart.
- “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 21:1)
- “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)
- “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
- “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2)
- “Bless the Lord, O my soul, an all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.” (Psalm 103:1)
- “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. . . and love your neighbor as yourself. . .” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Leviticus 19:17-18, Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27)
- “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31)
- “I give you a new commandment: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must also love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
- “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
- “Love is patient, love is kind, love is slow to anger. . . love is not envious, boastful, arrogant, or rude. . .” (1 Corinthians 13)
- “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.” (James 1:22)
The Benediction that I use at the end of worship each week contains some words to live by and has a lot of scripture references, too, based, in part, on Romans 12:9-21:
Go out into the world in peace, have courage, hold onto what is good, do not return anyone evil for evil, strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak and help the suffering, honor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. . .
In recent weeks, with all that has been going on in the life of the world, I have been returning – again and again – to the words of scripture that remind us to care for those that Jesus calls, “the least of these” in Matthew 25:40. The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments teach us that God is on the side of the poor, the vulnerable, the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the sojourner (foreigner in the land) – see Exodus 23:9, Leviticus 19:33, Psalm 9:9, Psalm 10:17-18, Isaiah 1:17, Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 19:17, Isaiah 58:6-10, Ezekiel 22:29, Micah 6:8, and Matthew 25:34-40.
Are these words to live by, too? I believe that they are. . .
If we are seeking to be faithful to God, God calls us to also be on the side of the vulnerable in the poor, the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the sojourner. The prophets in the Old Testament, as well as Jesus and his disciples in the New Testament, all condemn the mistreatment of the poor and vulnerable. In addition, Jesus and his followers are always reaching out to – and loving – those who are not part of their own faith tradition.
In the end, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments can be summed up in a single word: Love. Love for God and love for neighbor. Are these words for us to live by? I certainly hope so. . .
When the rubber meets the road and the cards are down, and you are called upon to rely upon the principles that guide you, what are your words to live by?
If you have a “life verse” that helps to shape your life or a “heart verse” that you carry in your heart from the Bible, I would love to hear what it is!
See you in church!
Grace and Peace,
John
Prepare for Worship
- This Week: “Closed Door? Open Heart! Jesus Walks In”
- Read Acts 5:27-32 (you might also want to read what happens earlier in Acts, Chapter 5)
- Read John 20:19-31 (you might also want to read what happens earlier in John, Chapter 20)
- Read or sing Hymn # 257 – “The Risen Christ”