8 But if we died with Christ, we have faith that we will also live with him.
Reflection
The theme for worship at Medford UMC this past Sunday was “The Secret of Contentment.” Today’s scripture reflects that theme as well. This verse is what we commonly call an “if-then” or a “conditional” statement. We cannot have one thing without the other. It is a logical grammatical construction that expresses a relationship between two ideas, stating that if one is true then another thing follows as the result. We “die with Christ” when we “have faith that we will also live with him.”
What does it mean to “die with Christ”? I understand this to mean we aren’t literally up there with Jesus being crucified as a political prisoner. It is a metaphor for putting our lives and our beliefs on the line, standing for justice rather than burying our heads in the sand. And when we “live with him” I believe that we choose to do as Jesus would do, every day, following in his footsteps with every decision we make. “WWJD” (what would Jesus do) is still the best advice for living as Jesus would. Living and dying with Christ is not a one-time thing but a constant way to live that I understand to be “the Secret of Contentment” as Pastor Joe so vividly described it in his message.
by Kathleen Stolz
For Pondering and Prayer
When I had a bridal shower many, MANY years ago, I received a recipe box to hold and written recipes on 3×5 index cards. Each of the guests at the shower had one or more handwritten recipe in that box and it still is a treasured memory from that day. The first card in the box was in my mother’s handwriting and the title was “Recipe for Living.” It is as valid today as it was 50+ years ago. She meant it to be about living with my future immediate family, but I believe it also is true for living with ALL God’s children every day. I rediscovered it last Thanksgiving and had it printed on Tea Towels for each of our children.
If you created a “recipe for living” what would you put into it?
Prayer: Here is my mom’s recipe/prayer which I treasure and pray often:
“Work together, pray together, share one another’s sorrow;
play together and try to make each other happy.
Put all of these together and you have security and contentment,
the greatest blessing a family can have on earth.” Amen
