Scripture Scribbles: October 03, 2021

the Gospel

Mark 10 : 2-16

The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked,
"Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?"
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply,
"What did Moses command you?"

They replied,
"Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate."

In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery."

And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me;
do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these. Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it." Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

the devotion

Here we are.
Our first-ever written devotion!
So, so happy to have you here with us, friend.

As I was praying over this Gospel, and reflecting on the journey of what it took to get here writing this for you, I was struck by the undeniable authority of God.

These words that we hear today can be, for so many, some of the most challenging words to hear from Jesus Christ.

And yet, paradoxically, in them is the key to true freedom.

It got me thinking how it is not up to us. It is not up to us to define the meaning of life. It is not up to us to decide our mission for ourselves. It is not up to us to decide what it is that is true. It is not up to us to define what is objectively right or wrong.

We live in a world where truth has been diminished into nothing more than "my opinion", or "your opinion". "My theology", or "your theology". As if truth were not something to be given to us by God, our Creator.

As if truth were not a Person.

There is so much talk about “man-made” religion. And yet, I can’t help but look around and see a sea of “man-made” religions, everywhere I look. Each deciding for themselves what sounds, looks or feels to be true.

Instead, today, we hear the words of Christ Himself, as he reveals the beautiful and profound truth of our own identity to us. It is a beautiful, sacred gift to us.

"From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

I used to cringe at a sentence like that. But now I understand, and have truly experienced, that it is in realizing this truth... in entering into it, in diving deeper into the mystery and challenge of it, that I have become truly free. I can be seen, known and loved.

Encased within this sacred truth is an invitation. An invitation to give up trying to force our own way, and submit to the authority of the living God. When we do this, we allow the Lover of our soul to reveal to us our true identity, our true mission and our true worth.

He who we are submitting to is the very source of all truth, beauty and goodness.
Nothing at all is lost, and instead everything is gained.

Today’s devotion was written by Rachel Smith.