Scripture: Acts 2:27-42
Summary: This scripture comes directly after the Holy Spirit descends on the disciples, they speak in many languages, and Peter preaches to the crowd. After the sermon, many of them are cut to the heart, asking what they should do. Peter tells them to repent and be baptized and about 3000 people were baptized.
Thoughts: Peter tells the people that the promise is "for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." God's promise is not just for the Jews, or those in my neighborhood or church, or those in my country. God's promise is for all of us. Sometimes it's hard to accept the fact that God is reaching out to us all. Surely God is not reaching out to the Iraqis, or the Hispanics, or the mentally challenged! But when I study the scripture, I find out that that is exactly who God is reaching out toward. In fact, God takes a great interest in the poor and the marginalized. So maybe I should too...
Prayer: You are the God of all people. Not just the God for Christians or for people who look like me. Remind me every day that I should treat everyone I meet as valued in your eyes. Amen.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Luke 5:27-32 - Repentence
Scripture: Luke 5:27-32
Summary: Jesus sees Levi, a tax collector, collecting taxes, and he tells Levi to follow him. Then Levi throws a big banquet for Jesus and the Pharisees complain because Jesus eats with sinners. Jesus tells them that those who are well don't need a physician, but the sick do.
Thoughts: Jesus tells the Pharisees "I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance." It's so easy when I read this scripture to look down on the tax collectors and the Pharisees. The tax collectors in Jesus' time were usually crooks. They collected more tax than was required and kept the difference. So I'm obviously better than them because I don't steal from people.... or do I? I know that I have left the grocery store before with a 12-pack of Cokes that I didn't pay for because neither the clerk nor I saw them under the cart. But it was too much trouble to go back in and pay for them. After all, I reasoned, I wasn't the only one who missed them! But I'm definitely better than the Pharisees because I don't look down on preachers who eat with sinners... or do I? Perhaps I am no better than the sinners in this story, both the tax collectors and the Pharisees. I am in need of repentance too!
Prayer: Forgiving God, help me to admit to my own sin and repent of it. For I know that I am no better than those around me, no matter what I might think on some days! Amen.
Summary: Jesus sees Levi, a tax collector, collecting taxes, and he tells Levi to follow him. Then Levi throws a big banquet for Jesus and the Pharisees complain because Jesus eats with sinners. Jesus tells them that those who are well don't need a physician, but the sick do.
Thoughts: Jesus tells the Pharisees "I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance." It's so easy when I read this scripture to look down on the tax collectors and the Pharisees. The tax collectors in Jesus' time were usually crooks. They collected more tax than was required and kept the difference. So I'm obviously better than them because I don't steal from people.... or do I? I know that I have left the grocery store before with a 12-pack of Cokes that I didn't pay for because neither the clerk nor I saw them under the cart. But it was too much trouble to go back in and pay for them. After all, I reasoned, I wasn't the only one who missed them! But I'm definitely better than the Pharisees because I don't look down on preachers who eat with sinners... or do I? Perhaps I am no better than the sinners in this story, both the tax collectors and the Pharisees. I am in need of repentance too!
Prayer: Forgiving God, help me to admit to my own sin and repent of it. For I know that I am no better than those around me, no matter what I might think on some days! Amen.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Mark 1:14-15 - Repentance
Scripture:Mark 1:14-15
Summary: After John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus says: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
Thoughts: I have been thinking about the kingdom of God alot lately. Now, if the word kingdom reminds you too much of a monarch who tries to control your life, then let's call it the reign of God. Either way, Jesus is telling us that the reign of God has come near. This is the good news that Jesus came to earth to proclaim, that the reign of God is near. It's coming. It's here but not all here yet. What's here? For me, the reign of God is that time when peace, justice, and healing rain down upon the earth. When every person has enough to eat and a place to sleep. When every child can go to school. When everyone gets equal treatment under the law. When all people take care of the earth and God's creation. I find myself longing for this time to be upon us! And then, of course, I begin to wonder what I can do to bring it here more quickly. What is God calling me to do today?
Prayer: God, remind me every day that your reign is upon us. Help me each day to contemplate what I can do that day to work toward your reign. Amen.
Summary: After John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus says: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
Thoughts: I have been thinking about the kingdom of God alot lately. Now, if the word kingdom reminds you too much of a monarch who tries to control your life, then let's call it the reign of God. Either way, Jesus is telling us that the reign of God has come near. This is the good news that Jesus came to earth to proclaim, that the reign of God is near. It's coming. It's here but not all here yet. What's here? For me, the reign of God is that time when peace, justice, and healing rain down upon the earth. When every person has enough to eat and a place to sleep. When every child can go to school. When everyone gets equal treatment under the law. When all people take care of the earth and God's creation. I find myself longing for this time to be upon us! And then, of course, I begin to wonder what I can do to bring it here more quickly. What is God calling me to do today?
Prayer: God, remind me every day that your reign is upon us. Help me each day to contemplate what I can do that day to work toward your reign. Amen.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Luke 17:11-19 - Do you want to get well?
Scripture: Luke 17:11-19
Summary: Jesus heals 10 lepers and only 1 of them returns, praising God in a loud voice and thanking Jesus. That 1 was a Samaritan. Jesus asks where the other 9 are and then tells this man, your faith has made you well.
Thoughts: What was different about this man that he chose to return to Jesus to thank him? Why didn't the others return also? Am I like these other 9 lepers who don't bother to come back and thank the man who has made them well? I'm afraid that, more often than not, I am like the 9 lepers who went on about their lives without offering thanks to the one who healed them.
Prayer: Help me Lord to be like the 1 leper who remembers to return to the one who healed him, praising God with a loud voice and thanking Jesus. Amen.
Summary: Jesus heals 10 lepers and only 1 of them returns, praising God in a loud voice and thanking Jesus. That 1 was a Samaritan. Jesus asks where the other 9 are and then tells this man, your faith has made you well.
Thoughts: What was different about this man that he chose to return to Jesus to thank him? Why didn't the others return also? Am I like these other 9 lepers who don't bother to come back and thank the man who has made them well? I'm afraid that, more often than not, I am like the 9 lepers who went on about their lives without offering thanks to the one who healed them.
Prayer: Help me Lord to be like the 1 leper who remembers to return to the one who healed him, praising God with a loud voice and thanking Jesus. Amen.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Matthew 9:18-26 - Do you want to get well?
Scripture: Matthew 9:18-26
Summary: There are 2 healing stories here. One is of the leader whose daughter had died, who comes to get Jesus knowing that if he will touch her she will live. The other is the hemorrhaging woman who touches his cloak and is made well.
Thoughts: In both of these stories, there is obviously faith in what Jesus can do. The woman knows that if she can just touch Jesus he will make her well. And more impressive, the father believes that if Jesus touches his dead daughter, she will live again! What faith these people have! If we could have faith like that imagine what healing Jesus could do in our lives. Most of us have many areas of our lives in which we need healing. But we need to face our wounds and want healing before the healing can occur.
Prayer: All things are possible with God. Help me to show my wounds to you, oh God, so that they might be healed. Amen.
Summary: There are 2 healing stories here. One is of the leader whose daughter had died, who comes to get Jesus knowing that if he will touch her she will live. The other is the hemorrhaging woman who touches his cloak and is made well.
Thoughts: In both of these stories, there is obviously faith in what Jesus can do. The woman knows that if she can just touch Jesus he will make her well. And more impressive, the father believes that if Jesus touches his dead daughter, she will live again! What faith these people have! If we could have faith like that imagine what healing Jesus could do in our lives. Most of us have many areas of our lives in which we need healing. But we need to face our wounds and want healing before the healing can occur.
Prayer: All things are possible with God. Help me to show my wounds to you, oh God, so that they might be healed. Amen.
Monday, August 20, 2007
John 5:1-18 - Do you want to get well?
Scripture: John 5:1-18
Summary: This is the story of Jesus healing a man on the sabbath. Jesus asks the man if he wants to be well and the man says that he is never the first to make it to the pool when the waters are stirred up (the belief was that the first person into the pool when the waters were stirred up would be healed). Jesus tells the man to take up his mat and walk, which he does.
Thoughts: This man had been ill for 38 years. Wow! This is a long time to have been ill, spending most of your day by a pool which is supposed to have healing powers. When Jesus asks him if he wants to be healed, he doesn't actually answer the question. Instead he gives an excuse for why he has not yet been healed. By telling the man to take up his mat and walk, Jesus gives him a chance to take charge of his own healing. Many of us might be tempted to remain on the mat, in a similar situation. It took great courage for this man to get up and walk. He must have really wanted to be healed. Often, when we are sick, we are so used to being sick that we don't really want to get well. This is often the case with our addictions. But if we really want to get well, Jesus is there to help.
Prayer: God, you are the great healer of this world. Help me to be willing to give up my sickness, to allow you to heal me, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Amen.
Summary: This is the story of Jesus healing a man on the sabbath. Jesus asks the man if he wants to be well and the man says that he is never the first to make it to the pool when the waters are stirred up (the belief was that the first person into the pool when the waters were stirred up would be healed). Jesus tells the man to take up his mat and walk, which he does.
Thoughts: This man had been ill for 38 years. Wow! This is a long time to have been ill, spending most of your day by a pool which is supposed to have healing powers. When Jesus asks him if he wants to be healed, he doesn't actually answer the question. Instead he gives an excuse for why he has not yet been healed. By telling the man to take up his mat and walk, Jesus gives him a chance to take charge of his own healing. Many of us might be tempted to remain on the mat, in a similar situation. It took great courage for this man to get up and walk. He must have really wanted to be healed. Often, when we are sick, we are so used to being sick that we don't really want to get well. This is often the case with our addictions. But if we really want to get well, Jesus is there to help.
Prayer: God, you are the great healer of this world. Help me to be willing to give up my sickness, to allow you to heal me, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Amen.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Colossians 1:9-14 - Who is this who forgives sinners?
Scripture: Colossians 1:9-14
Summary: Paul wishes for them to be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so they might lead lives worthy of God. God has rescued them and transferred them into the kingdom of Christ, in whom we have forgiveness of sins.
Thoughts: There is alot of good stuff in this scripture! But my favorite part is that we might be filled with the knowledge of God's will. What a great gift to know the will of God for our lives. Sometimes I think I know what God's will is for me, but often it is like I'm looking through a dense fog. Just when I think I've got it figured out, my life takes another sharp turn. There are two things at work here. First I can only see what God is willing to show me and second I have to pay attention to see what I'm being shown. I'm guessing that the main problem is with me! I need to keep working on paying closer attention to what God is showing me.
Prayer: Your will be done. Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. What more needs to be said? Amen.
Summary: Paul wishes for them to be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so they might lead lives worthy of God. God has rescued them and transferred them into the kingdom of Christ, in whom we have forgiveness of sins.
Thoughts: There is alot of good stuff in this scripture! But my favorite part is that we might be filled with the knowledge of God's will. What a great gift to know the will of God for our lives. Sometimes I think I know what God's will is for me, but often it is like I'm looking through a dense fog. Just when I think I've got it figured out, my life takes another sharp turn. There are two things at work here. First I can only see what God is willing to show me and second I have to pay attention to see what I'm being shown. I'm guessing that the main problem is with me! I need to keep working on paying closer attention to what God is showing me.
Prayer: Your will be done. Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. What more needs to be said? Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
