Latest / Still, Here / Practicing the Future Now – The Formed Future

Transcript

Practicing the Future Now – The Formed Future · Still, Here

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: This is still here.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: A quiet moment to remember what is true.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: Listen to these words from the book of 2 Peter chapter 3 verses 13 and 14.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: But according to his promise we look for new heavens and a new earth in
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: which righteousness dwells.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Therefore,
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: beloved,
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: seeing that you look for these things,
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: be diligent to be found in peace without defect and blameless in his sight.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: Peter looks toward new heavens and the new earth where righteousness dwells.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: Then he does an interesting thing.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: He immediately turns back toward the present.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: Because you were looking for that future, live differently now.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: That is one of the deepest ideas in spiritual formation.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: Hope gives direction to practice.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: At the beginning of the formed future,
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: we talked about the difference between knowing the playbook and getting onto
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: the practice field.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: A playbook can tell you what the game looks like.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: Practice forms the reflexes that allow you to live when that moment arrives.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: Scripture has shown us the direction of God's promised future.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: Peace belongs there.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Righteousness belongs there.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: Reconciliation, love, mercy, justice, beauty, truth, and the presence of God belong there.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Formation means those realities begin shaping our reflexes before
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: the promised future is fully visible.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: We cannot manufacture new creation.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: That belongs to God.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: Behold, I am making all things new, is God's promise, not our project plan.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: But we can live in its direction.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: That distinction protects us from two opposite errors.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: Passivity says God will renew everything someday,
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: so there is little reason to change the present.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Control says,
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: The future depends on us, so we must force history into the shape we think is right.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: Faithful participation does neither.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: It receives God's promise and asks how that promise should shape this day.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: If peace belongs to God's future, practice peace now.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: If reconciliation belongs there, repair what is within your reach.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: If truth belongs there, speak with integrity.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: If beauty belongs there, create with care.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: If mercy belongs there, let mercy govern the way you respond.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: If justice belongs there, make the space within your influence more just.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: These choices may feel small compared with the size of the future.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: But practice is supposed to be small enough to repeat.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_00: Every faithful act trains the soul in a direction.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: The future becomes more than an idea when its character begins appearing in your habits.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: So, choose one quality of God's promised future today.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: Peace.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: Reconciliation.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: Mercy, Justice, Beauty, Truth, Love, Faithful Presence.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: Then ask, what would it look like to practice that future now?
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: Do one thing before the day ends.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: Not to prove that you can save the world.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: Not to perform spirituality.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: Simply train your life toward the future God has promised.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: Soon we will gather the whole journey of the formed future.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: For today, practice.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: Let promise shape your reflexes.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: Let hope become embodied.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: Let the future God is forming begin to appear in the way you live now.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: Take a moment for this prayer of presence.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_00: Lord Jesus, thank you for the future you have promised.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_00: Keep me from waiting passively for a better world or trying to control the one I have.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: Train my habits toward peace,
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: righteousness, reconciliation, mercy, justice, beauty, truth, and love.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_00: Show me how to practice your future and the life directly in front of me today.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: As you practice the future God is forming, carry this prayer with you.
• 5:08
  [music]
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: Let promise shape my practice.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: Teach me your future now.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: Let promise shape my practice.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_00: If you would like to go deeper,
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: the written devotions and other resources are available at powerloveandmiracles.com
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, stay steady, Stay open.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_00: Stay present.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_00: You are still here.
• 6:08
  [music]