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Monday 11 September 2017

"Sanctification... Eternal Life."

May we desire what is right.  May we know hope and nourishment.  May we let go of what is false and evil.  May we participate in making God's world a little more loving, a little more just, and a little more kind.


Romans 6:20-23
20 When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


1) "...free in regard to righteousness;" "...the end of those things is death;" "...freed from sin;" "...enslaved to God;" "...sanctification;" "...the end is eternal life;" "...the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ."   "


2) I'm not sure what that first line means, "free in regard to righteousness."  Does that mean we didn't know what right relationship was and so we had no cause to pursue it?  Hence we did outrageous things?  The first thing that comes to mind is White settlers "settling" land that already had occupants.  We didn't know what right relationship was, didn't really care what right relationship was.  Maybe now we know different.  I am certainly ashamed of how the government of Canada has treated aboriginal people.  Paul, of course wasn't talking about politics in North America, but this modern situation illustrates his argument well.  If we continue to maintain the status quo between settlers and aboriginal people... the end of those things is death.  Right relationship would be the greater advantage... eternal life, in fact.


3) To choose the path to eternal life.


"Holy One, help us want to walk the path to eternal life, the path of reconciliation and right relationship."


Breathprayer: "Sanctification... eternal life."



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