Twelve Step Meditation for Friday February 03, 2023
Scripture reading for today: Exodus 24 – 31. This may seem like a lot, but it’s not that bad; just do it!
Attention to the rituals of worship did not guarantee that God’s people would worship God. Our rituals have never protected us from ourselves. (For more details than this small devotion can provide, check out “The Circle of Shame” message on www.northstarcommunity.com)
We all have rituals, and some of them are very dangerous. Let me give you some examples:
- What about when we overindulge in pizza, pastries, and pop, and then hit the gym for three hours of compulsive over-exercising? Instead of getting serious about being healthy, we’re trying to find a ritual to ameliorate the effects of our bad behaving.
- What about when we are getting ready for the neighborhood Super Bowl Party and we swear to our spouse that this year we’re not going to stand by the beer keg and overindulge, only to find ourselves three hours later standing next to the keg and saying things that we’re really going to regret tomorrow? Instead of acknowledging our powerlessness over our drinking and our propensity to hurt others with our unhinged tongues, we’re trying to find a plan that will enable us to do what we want without any negative consequences.
- What about when we’re standing over our sleeping, angelic child and promising ourselves that we’re never ever going to call them “stupid” again? Promising to “never do it again” never leads us to answers about why we did it in the first place, nor does it lead us to solutions and new ways to handle our parenting responsibilities.
These are three examples of rituals that we hope will save us:
- Try to take a “bad” and trump it with a “good” (fitness for fat).
- Recognize a negative consequence and negotiate a plan for “controlling” the damage (drink with rules).
- Remorse without repentance (“I’m sorry” versus “I’m wrong”).
These rituals aren’t working for us. The Israelites were not made more holy with their ritualized offerings, their fancy ark of the covenant, the plans for a decorated interior, the amazing courtyard, the priests’ special clothes, the washbasins, the oils, the money, the incense or even the craftsmen.
Sometimes our rituals are religious in nature, and we use them in hopes of atonement. But here’s the deal. “Coming to believe” is not about rituals; it’s about relationship. Our rituals are sometimes comforting in the moment, but they offer no guarantee that we’re going to be saved from our compulsions. What kind of rituals have you counted on for comfort? For cure? Is it possible that you’ve confused ritual with belief? Are you religious without relationship? “Coming to believe” is just that–a process. It’s okay to admit to ourselves that our believing has been more ritualized than real. It’s a good place to start.
“If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NIV
God knows these things about us and is not shocked. The truth for me is this: I imperfectly hold to the teachings of Jesus. That’s the truth. But what does that mean? Does it mean I’m not a disciple? “Coming to believe” is a process that allows us to ask these tough questions. An effective step two does not require us to have the answers, it is giving us an opportunity to be honest about our current state of belief.
© 2023 Teresa McBean. Theresa is. . . .
This meditation is from Rooted in God’s Love by Dale and Juanita Ryan. A copy of this book can be purchased HERE
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