Last Sunday we gathered round the table. We started a little small and with guests (my family!) joining. As is our custom we opened in prayer. Then we began to check in….we began to talk about the homework assignment & question. We tried to talk about if we would live or think any differently if we truly believed/considered that we have more than enough resources to do what God has called us to do/make/be.

Turned out the question was challenging. And also many (if not most or all) shared that actually there is not enough! There’s (never?) enough to meet all the needs. The conversation was full and there was discussion of the needs (individual, communal, global) — there was talk about having more than enough does not only include finances (being able to be hospitable in different ways) — there was discussion of both how if there was more money that someone (we) might have it sure would make it easier to be a great philanthropist. AND there was also the question though about — if there is not “enough” for the things we want and desire to do or if there is not “enough” for that which God calls us to do? Some would say – not enough for any of it. I wonder if we find ourselves to be under-resourced more often when it is a good idea as compared to a God idea that we are trying to accomplish? Not to say that we will find all the resources needed to be “enough” for what God guides us to do, however — when working within God’s will/desire/plans there are often ways where what is needed becomes provided (even if not in the way desired or expected). Also, when doing exactly what God has directed and we hit a wall, how often might it be God inviting and guiding us to someone who has also been called in a similar way and the even larger design is to partner with others to bring about God’s will? That seems rather God-like, that doing God’s will would require working together with others (who might be VERY different parts of the body of Christ!).

But we didn’t stop with the conversation — we just pivoted to scripture, specifically:

Luke 4:18-19 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

As we listened and tried to listen to what the Holy Spirit highlighted for us quickly it was mentioned the scripture references Isaiah 61:1. We recalled that this was Jesus reading the scroll and that his proclamation of this didn’t go so well. We wondering aloud if this really was true — did Jesus tell the truth — (yes, but…) because there are still poor, still prisoners, still those blind, still those oppressed! And what is the year of the Lord’s favor? Is it the jubilee year? Is it just a year?

And with these questions looming, with scripture speaking to each of us in whatever way needed just then we heard the homework….to answer 2+ questions (an easy assignment!):

• (answer) Has God set you free?
• (answer) Are you living free?
• + (answer) — What does that mean (living free)?

Looking forward to gather round the table and talk freedom y’all.

In Christ ~
Rev. Sabrina Slater