Ripping the Labels Off

This blog is designed to give people an inner look at a devotional life. Taking time each day to spend time with the Lord. The hope is if you travel on this journey with Rev. Jacob Shaw, you may be more inclined to spend time with the Lord as well. I encourage the use of a devotional, a scripture reading and prayer, then finally a song, hymn or selection of poetry to tie it all together. 

Today's devotional is taken from: Vujicic, Nick. Limitless Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life. Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook Press, 2013. pp 56-7.

Opening Thought: Nick speaks about how his parents did not limit him to social group that we all people with disability, rather they had him play with “normal” children in order to instill in him that he was normal, just missing limbs. There is a true struggle in finding the balance between “individuality” and “community”. I am seeing this tension building is society, people are trying to claim individuality, but they seem to be doing it by clinging to communities. Which is essentially why I believe we are seeing more tribalism in society than ever before. Many would disagree with me I am sure, but just spending an hour on any social media platform I am see so much more “us verse them” speech. Now the funny part is that anyone who is reading this, will likely point to a group they think are responsible for that, but you know the old thought about pointing fingers, when you point fingers – three fingers are pointing back at you.              

The devotional begins with: 
Psalm 32:6-7

For this cause everyone who is godly, shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. .

Second Thought: I critique heavily the tribalism I see in society but it is challenging, we need tribes in many ways, people who have a solid definable community have much to gain, it helps their foundations of purpose and meaning, which is foundational in my opinion to healthy spirit. We also must be able to work with other tribes as well, and that helps to hold individualism as you can recognize that just as you are a unique person, everyone in their context is too. I think what Nick’s parents did was wise, they made his tribe enabled children and disable children – making him a person between the tribes. Often a challenging pursuit, but I think in many ways more rewarding.         

Continual Work: What are my tribes, and what is my individual definition? Important questions. It really is asking, what I am dedicating my time, energy and resources towards. One of the challenges, to a more globally aware world, is we have layered the tribes more than ever in history, we are interlayer into nations and the whole human race and then with the eclectic nature of post-modern world, it puts good and bad tensions on our personal definitions. So more to reflect upon.

What Rev. Jacob is Working On: Where do I feeling like I belong? What am I apart of? And do the “tribes” I find myself in speak a good, righteous and humble language, do they speak a language that reflects the teachings of the Gospel – because my ultimate tribe, is the body of Christ!

Scripture time: Matthew 28:19-20 [NIV]

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus makes it clear that we are to spread the teachings of Jesus to every nation. In a world of diversity, it can be a challenge to feel like our evangelistic calling has a place in our world anymore. I think it has a great calling today, if not a stronger calling. When the Jesuits were working into the world sharing Christ stories, they would learn the traditions of the places they were going to better share the stories of Jesus. To be a disciple who share the Good-Word is to reach out to the other and engage with them on a deeper level – when you share what you believe you are bound  to be given a look into what they believe. It doesn’t mean that, just because you have a deeper insight to another’s beliefs or even an appreciation for their belief, that you are abandoning your faith and belief – it just means you have enough dedication to your belief to share it with everyone and enough respect to listen in return. If people find value in it, great, and if not, then that is okay – it is their prerogative.

Prayer Time: Jesus, help me recognize you as the leader of my tribe, guide me to be a great member of this community. Being steadfast in my belief, but also vulnerable enough to share in the diversity of tribes within the world. Amen.  

Closing Words: I hope you enjoyed and were lifted by this devotional time; it is truly important to take time for God each day. By doing so, you welcome God into your life, and in turn you will be able to better see the world through the eyes of God, rather than God through the world's eyes.

Artistic Close: 

“Praise and worship go way beyond the songs we're familiar with, songs we dislike or songs we disapprove. It's all about any type of songs that touch God's heart because He's the creator of nations and tribes and His desire is for every nation and every tribe to praise and worship Him in spirit and in truth. That's the God we serve.”

― Euginia Herlihy