Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“They shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for all time, for their own good and the good of their children after them.”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, July 16, 2025
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Can there be “one way?” For this particular community at this particular time, perhaps. But God is way bigger than a single human lens can interpret. And when we assume that our “one way” is the only way, we immediately begin to act counter to God’s call to love our neighbors as ourselves. It’s true across religious traditions: fundamentalism, the belief that there is one, single “correct” way to understand and be in relationship to God, inevitably leads to hatred and violence. And I for one cannot believe for a single second that God desires hatred and violence, even though the Bible is full of it—images of a warlike god visiting punishment upon anyone who doesn’t fall in line. Like I said. Context.
That being said, I do believe, at depth, there is, actually, “one way.” That way is love. Compassion. Communion with a loving God. Connection with community. Spiritual questing. These things are absolutely universal. They are found in the best practices of every faith tradition. Even materialism/atheism (which is absolutely a faith tradition) can inspire people to act in love and compassion for the world.
We are all God’s people—however you define your groping for some understanding of the ineffable reality of God—and we are all called to live in God’s love. For our own good and the good of our children.
How am I living out my faith in ways that could impact future generations?
