Refreshing at God's Presence

The Inescapable God
God Sustains
Acts 3:17-26 (The Message)
 ^17-18"And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans.
 ^19-23"Now it's time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be. Moses, for instance, said, 'Your God will raise up for you a prophet just like me from your family. Listen to every word he speaks to you. Every last living soul who refuses to listen to that prophet will be wiped out from the people.'
 ^24-26"All the prophets from Samuel on down said the same thing, said most emphatically that these days would come. These prophets, along with the covenant God made with your ancestors, are your family tree. God's covenant-word to Abraham provides the text: 'By your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.' But you are first in line: God, having raised up his Son, sent him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways.


For Reflection
 What did they do when they killed Jesus?  They set in motion the most dramatic, earth shaking overture for reconciliation.  They set in motion a most powerful invitation to participate in the Kingdom of God.  They set in motion a way for all people to be received in the grace of God.  They set in motion an opportunity for you and I to become the peace makers, those who foster justice, and the vessels through which God works to restore the promise in the Kingdom of God.  Are we up to the task?

Pray
for the peacemakers.  Pray for those who accept nothing short of a just community.  Pray for those who work tirelessly for the Kingdom of God.  Pray for we who struggle daily with our obedience to God's call.