BE

September 12th, 2023

Scripture: "For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things; and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, even as some of your own poets have said, For we also are His offspring." Acts 17:23-28

BE right where you are. And BE RIGHT where you are. And both need some 'Jesus'.
Might the Paul and Pauline of our future find the absence of Christ and Christianity so complete that they only find left an inscription such as stated above, 'To An Unknown God’. Might this Paul and Pauline be the children of our grandchildren? Undoubtedly the altar of this future will be electronic, in company with an innumerable count of altars and objects of worship. [Lord willing 'that tomorrow'] Imagine that. [No need to travel to Athens] Will we be as Athens, with the capital as Mars Hill?

America, the republic, has the advantage in its history to consider the movement of Christianity while in its own beginnings, and operating through its earliest leadership, has the evidencing of both challenges and blessings. We proceed with a constitutional approach that respects and honors the same. In part, our Declaration of Independence echoes what the Bible has stated, and while the 'declaration' lacks the power to convert a soul, it is good that our tradition, our orthodoxy, and our founders saw the need for a constitution that could reroute us when life's normalcy strays, or when clarity is needed for what is imperative, with the influence of the bible.
"...We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..." from the Declaration of Independence

Given diversity, within a 'free' people, the unwritten yet necessarily strong thread implicitly here is the call for humility come of grace, for such as life, liberty, and happiness' pursuit to stand a chance. One could say that our nation's big document has a measure of the mind of Christ in it, with many of those penning it being Christian or at least affectionate towards the faith or the teachings of the Christ.

The Bible whispers through the 'declaration' with a call to live out the truths espoused. With that alignment we have choices to make, and the opportunity for good. "...and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth ... that they" [all] "should seek God." [Acts 17:26-27] Logically then, for all the following constructs we choose, there is by creation, one and only one race, the human race, whom the Creator [God] allowed freedom and a unique capacity not shared with the other creatures.

Truly then, we are family. We are family with individual and group distinctions, as well as distinctions of development. We are one color on the surface, flesh-colored, with variations of shade due to melanin...beneath which, we continue as monochromatic, one shared color.
We all ride the good ship Earth-one within the cosmos having the adventure of self-discovery and the progressive embracing of God across the span of our living's length. We all are literal and variably spiritual astronauts.

The call is to "Be", and by the in-working of mercy and grace to "Be Right" in Christ, by His Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Now considering the truth there remains always the choosing and the conduct to rest upon it. "Be" and "Be right" in Jesus; be blessed of God and bless the Lord, right where you are.

"Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said We shall hear you again concerning this. So Paul went out of their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them." Acts 17:32-34

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to be bigger and better ambassadors of Your peace, being peacemakers whenever we can, lending to the unity which pleases You, and is consistent with Your design for us all, though we boast secondary distinctions. Our primary distinction is that we all are family. With our present abode, let us bring honor and glory to a point of flourishing. Jesus be praised. Christ be preached. Right where we are, Lord speak... toward Your word we listen, we hope...Amen & Amen!
By Bro. McNeal Brockington