March 22, 2015
Sunday

“Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.”      John 12:24-26

Here’s a quote from Rob Bell, from his book Love Wins:

“Several years ago we had an art show at our church. I had been giving a series of teachings on peacemaking, and we invited artists to display their paintings, poems, and sculptures that reflected their understanding of what it means to be a peacemaker. One woman included in her work a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, which a number of people found quite compelling. But not everyone. Someone attached a piece of paper to it. On the piece of paper was written: “Reality check: He’s in hell.” Really? Gandhi’s in hell? He is? We have confirmation of this? Somebody knows this? Without a doubt? And that somebody decided to take on the responsibility of letting the rest of us know? (Love Wins, Rob Bell)

Can someone tell me how much fruit has been born just from a single statement, or the individual recognition and inspiration of the work of Gandhi? I am sure no one can answer that definitively, and yet my hunch is that many people have been inspired to deeper faith in G*d because of Gandhi. What does not surprise me is the number of people who have determined definitively who is in and who is out of the realm of the love of G*d, and who is down under looking up at those who are in the kingdom. Who knows the mind of G*d enough to say with certainty that they are in and others are out? I would never, never ever say that I am definitely in – it is not my decision and there is no amount of work I can do to assume, or to reserve a place in the Kingdom. If G*d decides that I will participate in the Kingdom, I will be overjoyed and surprised – but that is not even my concern. My concern now is to do the will of the Father – and that is to die to this life in serving others so that, when I die, someone else may be able to bear some fruit because our paths have crossed.

Pastor Dave