September 5th-7th - Reflection

Video
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=f0fed07815b00536cf61

Readings
Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. - Ecclesiastes 11:7
Song of Solomon 1:1-8:14
Set me a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. - Song of Solomon 8:6
2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15
As it is written, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little." - 2 Corinthians 8:15
Psalms 49:1-51:19
Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. - Psalms 51:5
Proverbs 22:20-25

Reflection
We started as one and we will end as one. Indeed when we meet at the foot of that cross we will all again be one in Christ Jesus. It seems we let our differences divide us. Differences in how we think about God, differences in how we act, differences in how we treat another and even differences in physical appearance.

Born into sin we struggle with the differences. We struggle with prejudice. We struggle with the differences, yet in the end we are united in what is common. In common, is the salvation received through the gracious act of our Savior. A Savior so sweet the His Light is pleasing for our eyes and we have a commonality to unite us in His Love. A love so deep and a passion so fierce that He gave His very life that we may leave our differences and be united in Him.

May we all see that fierce passion that rises from the grave in love to unite us at the foot of the cross, even with all of our differences in a unity of love and a Spirit of bold flashes of great light, in union with Him. It's time we work towards that unity, today, and tomorrow.

Prayer
Lord, forgive our sinfulness in our differences and unite us in our common love through Jesus Christ, now and forever. ---Amen