God, come back!

Smile your blessing smile

That will be our salvation

-Pslam 80 (the message)

Salvation is something that we are taught growing up,
something that tells us that when we die God will save us from eternal
damnation and we will live in heaven for ever eating candy and smelling
flowers.   

I have no idea if that’s true or not, nor will I ever have
an idea—at least not until I die and I actually partake in a candy feast with
roses by my side.  

But instead of putting salvation off and to the side for the
next 60 years (God-willing) we all need to look and see where salvation exists
today, how the message of Jesus is affecting us today.  

It’s not just about reading the Gospel, or even believing
the Gospel, it’s about living the
Gospel.   With his life Jesus showed what
perfect human existence looks like, submitting to God’s will, seeking out the
lost and lonely, preaching kindness not hate, humbly following what God has
planned for him.  

This is God’s hope for our lives.  That we might humbly follow him, serve the
oppressed and be kind to all, to summarize: “What does the Lord require of you
but to do Justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.”- Micah 6:8.  

Just living like this, truly bringing our lives into God’s
presence will allow for salvation here and now.
We will be saved from ourselves.  Everyday
we try to serve some earthly God, whether it be popularity, TV, our job, a
spouse or significant other, or even our own natural urges to care only for
ourselves, these are the moments of are stumbling.  

The message of the Gospel, when we believe it, own it, and
live it, when we truly seek to dwell in God’s presence, that message can be our
salvation.  

The words and life that a man from Nazareth led 2000 years ago can today affect
change in our lives.  His life can be our
salvation today.  He can take us away
from all those habits that self destruct us and ruin friendships.  He can save us from the behaviors that hurt
us. He can save us from all the terrors and troubles in this world today.  

The life and example of Jesus can save us, when we die, but also
today.

Lord, help us to live in your presence so that you can save
us from those behaviors that destroy us. AMEN