“That Inner Drive” (Spanish Jerusalem Bible Luke 17:10; Matthew 7:12; Galacians 2:20; Matthew 5:17-20) [Reflections on Stacy Hainstock’s Sermon at First Baptist Church, Brandon , Manitoba May 28 ,2017] ”

Until I pondered Stacy’s words
For several weeks, I had not heard
Just what it was You said, O Lord,
But wow! That was some punchy word!

I’d always heard that passage wrong,
Like “obligation” was its song –
Some servant, slave (no choice but smile),
Did work s/he did “in servant’s style”.

And yes, that is what’s said, alright,
But more there is, if heard aright –
Some aspect of her talk procured
In me response – “Find its allure”.

What was that clue, just out of reach?
What was the lesson You would teach
If we could only hear through words
Until the truth in it was heard?

I listened and re-listened to
Her sermon on that word from You,
Then listened to the Spanish text,
And bang! A word I’ll not forget.

For she had talked of “teaching-love”;
“Mike drop” when math fit like a glove
For kids – despite her “business gig”,
She “had” to teach as Jesus bid.

And there it was – what we should say
When done our task at end of day,
Along with other household tasks –
Far more than, “Just did what was asked”.

For in the Spanish (fresh the words) –
Quite new to me – in them I heard
“Just did the task I had to do
The driver’s inside me and you.”

“No longer do I live, but Christ
Lives in my heart” – far more than “nice
As way to do our sandbox-play”;
He lives His life in us, His way:

“I came not to dismiss the law,
But do it for you”. (As we saw
Within the Scripture – He’s in us,
The law’s fulfilled without the fuss).

“What law?” You ask. Why, “Golden rule” –
Jot down those times when life was cruel,
And ask, “How do I wish someone
Had done things better, made more fun?”

Add to that list those times life worked –
When folks ’round us were less like jerks,
And more responsive to our hearts –
When life was good – folks did their parts.

Now, do that list for other folks,
As Spirit moves – take up His yoke,
And “Do to others as you would
Have liked (did like) – shift “should” to “could”.

For grace empowers mercy, such
As we desire to pour out thus
Each day – released to “mike-drop” math
From inner drive in Christ we have.

“Just did the task I had to do”
We quip as we put on the stew,
And set the table – “Mike-drop day
Is what I had, in Christ today”.

Thanks Lord for this.

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