Circle. Square. Triangle. Rectangle. Oval. Diamond. Star. Heart. Pentagon. Hexagon.
From this list, you probably have a favorite shape. Maybe you find one more interesting or appealing than the others. The truth is, whether we pay much attention to them or not, shapes are all around us. We see them everywhere we go: in our homes, buildings, street signs, screens, etc.
In a similar way, we are all being shaped by something. In fact, much of what shapes us comes from what is around us the most.
Think about the way you spend your time when you’re not working or taking care of everything that has to get done. What do you enjoy? Where do you go? What do you do simply because you love doing it? Maybe you exercise, read, travel, garden, watch sports, spend time with friends, make something, or finally get around to that project you’ve been putting off. Over time, these habits do more than fill our calendars, they shape us.
The same is true of our spiritual lives.
This Sunday, as we continue our History Class series, we come to Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and one of the defining passages of Israel’s faith: “Israel, listen! Our God is the Lord! Only the Lord! Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength” (v. 4-5).
After freedom comes formation. God has brought the Israelites out of slavery, but freedom alone won’t make them into the people God desires them to be. They need practices that will shape their new life together. So, God tells them to keep these words on their hearts, recite them to their children, talk about them at home and while they are away, when they lie down and when they rise. In other words, faith isn’t supposed to stay at worship, it goes home with us.
As we read chapter two of Wesleyan Vile-tality this week, we see that John Wesley and the early Methodists understood this. Methodism began as a countercultural movement in which people intentionally organized their lives around practices that kept them attentive to God. Prayer, Scripture, worship, Communion, fasting, Christian fellowship (what Wesley called “works of piety”) were means of grace through which God shaped people in personal holiness.
But Wesley never believed personal holiness was enough. The closer we grow to God, the more deeply we grow to love the people God loves. Works of piety lead us toward “works of mercy” (feeding, visiting, serving, advocating, welcoming, giving, and caring). As we practice our love for and faith in God, personal holiness takes shape as social holiness. This means there should be a connection between who we are becoming in worship and how we’re living everywhere else.
So, what’s shaping you? And what spiritual practice is God using to shape you? Which practice keeps drawing you closer to God and forming you into someone defined and motivated by love?
Join us Sunday, for worship and Holy Communion, as we hear that God’s love and God’s history takes shape in us.
Remember, it’s not Love University… without U.
With love,
Pastor Corey
