Jesus' message: turning our world right-side up
Daily Scripture
Acts 17:2-8
2 As was Paul’s custom, he entered the synagogue and for three Sabbaths interacted with them on the basis of the scriptures. 3 Through his interpretation of the scriptures, he demonstrated that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. He declared, “This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.” 4 Some were convinced and joined Paul and Silas, including a larger number of Greek God-worshippers and quite a few prominent women.
5 But the Jews became jealous and brought along some thugs who were hanging out in the marketplace. They formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason’s house, intending to bring Paul and Silas before the people. 6 When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city officials. They were shouting, “These people who have been disturbing the peace [NRSV: “turning the world upside down”] throughout the empire have also come here. 7 What is more, Jason has welcomed them into his home. Every one of them does what is contrary to Caesar’s decrees by naming someone else as king: Jesus.” 8 This provoked the crowd and the city officials even more.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Love isn’t vaguely “spiritual”—it changes the world. Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry noted, “This movement was perceived as somehow reordering the way things were, ‘turning the world upside down’.… the reason the movement was turning the world upside down was because members of the movement gave their loyalty to someone named Jesus and committed themselves to living and witnessing to his way above all else…. The way of Jesus will always turn our worlds and the world upside down, which is really turning it right-side up.” *
- Opposing people or systems in power often feels like turning the world upside down. Whether in your home, your work, your friendships or your community and nation, those in power tend to want to stay in power, even if they are using their power in ways that oppose God’s principles. Can you name a time when you opposed a powerful force for reasons of principle? What happened? Regardless of the visible outcome, how did doing that shape your inner self?
- Jesus was counter-cultural and regularly upset the status quo with his teachings and actions. The people who believed they were “in charge” rather quickly perceived him as a threat, despite his apparently lower status and power than theirs. Jesus’ love tends to upset the status quo of your life when you become his disciple too. In what ways has Jesus turned your world upside down… or right-side-up?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I don’t want to maintain the status quo. I’m ready for you to be in charge, to upset my life in the best way possible. Help me be a part of creating a world that is right-side-up. Amen.
GPS Insights
Lydia Kim
Lydia Kim serves as a pastor of Connection and Care at Resurrection Leawood. An avid believer that growing in faith pairs well with fellowship and food, she is always ready for recommendations on local restaurants and coffee shops.
While I believe in God’s never-ending, grace-filled love, I sometimes forget how powerful that love is. For the early church, the power of love radically changed their lives and those around them. It impacted their allegiance, habits, and social norms–their entire way of being shifted. The power of love brought housing to the homeless, empowerment to the disempowered, food to the hungry, healing to the sick, belonging and community to the outsider, orphaned, and widowed.
When I think about this life-altering love, I think of those in our recovery community. Working the 12 steps is no joke. It is hard work that takes humility and strength. It requires one to acknowledge a love that is bigger, stronger, and more powerful than any drug or co-dependency.
We don’t have to be in a 12-step program to recognize that we, our communities, and the world would all benefit from a love that sets us on the path to restoration, humility, forgiveness, grace, hope, and love. We all need a love like that that turns our upside-down world right-side-up.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Curry, Bishop Michael. The Power of Love (p. 75). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
