FOCUS ON THE VISION
DENISE WALTON
It is the ninth Sunday of the Season after Pentecost and the lectionary readings speak toward accountable living as disciples of Jesus Christ. As disciples we are urged to not remain in our present state but to endeavor continuous growth through the love of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The world and the church are deeply rooted in division and separateness. However, God’s preferred future for humanity speaks of unity, peace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation. If the church is to speak to the level of violence, trauma, and harm present in our world today we must first examine the capacity to overcome individual and corporate divisions among us.
As I reflect on this text, perhaps our understanding and subsequent engagement, application of the height, depth, and width of God’s love is the only path to help the church move from the present state to God's preferred future.
“I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19)
As you reflect on your personal discipleship, what is your present reality? Are you satisfied with your personal engagement in your relationship with God the Father, Jesus his son, and the Holy Spirit? As you continue to engage daily in the spiritual disciplines of the faith, what will you work on to get better?
What about your church’s commitment to discipleship and overcoming the matters that cause division? What is the current reality? How do you, through individual and corporate prayer along with loving intentionality, participate in God’s preferred future for the church?
As a disciple of Jesus Christ, how deep is your love?
Rev. Denise Walton serves as the Assistant to the Bishop for Connectional Ministries. Contact her at denise@sgaumc.org.
