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Luke 17:20-24 (The Message)

20-21 Jesus, grilled by the Pharisees on when the kingdom of God would come, answered, "The kingdom of God doesn't come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, 'Look here!' or, 'There it is!'

And why? Because God's kingdom is already among you."

22-24 He went on to say to his disciples, "The days are coming when you are going to be desperately homesick for just a glimpse of one of the days of the Son of Man, and you won't see a thing.

And they'll say to you, 'Look over there!' or, 'Look here!' Don't fall for any of that nonsense.

The arrival of the Son of Man is not something you go out to see.

He simply comes.

Long ago, when my faith was something I was just starting to grow into (and of course we're always "growing into it"), and pastoral ministry was just a faint possibility on some distant horizon, a very wise Christian said to me, "learn to observe your life...and just when you need it, and maybe when you least expect it...God will always send an encourager."

I have found that statement to be absolutely true.

When you least expect it...when you most need it...God's encouragers will show themselves.

This, it seems, is partly the very nature of God.

You don't go "attend" God, or "show up" for a "showing" of the Holy Spirit.

But isn't that what we do with church? We "show up" and "attend" worship?

Yes...but what we do on Sunday morning is gather together to witness to the ways that God is moving freely among us and in the world. We don't say, "look here, God, perform for us now!"

Why? "Because the Kingdom of God is already among you," and "the arrival of the Son of Man is not something you go out to see." Instead, "he simply comes."

And that is a beautiful thing.

Following in the way of Jesus means learning to become more receptive. It means that we practice the art of receiving God's gift. It means that we learn something about the beauty of grace, and we admit that we are not in control...of anything.

Here's your spiritual idea for the day...don't try to control God.

Don't try to control God and don't strive to control your life and experiences. Observe. Move as the Holy Spirit opens space and allows. Wait for encouragers. They will arrive. Treat them as the divine gift that they are, and be thankful.

Prayer: Forgive us when we make demands on your schedule and expect you to play by our rules. Teach us to look for your encouragers, to become more receptive to your kingdom, and to trust you more fully.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.