Value of the Law

Discipleship and Mission

Spread the Gospel

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

Romans 7:7-12 Amplified Bible 

7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, if it had not been for the Law, I would not have recognized sin. For I would not have known [for example] about coveting [what belongs to another and would have had no sense of guilt] if the Law had not [repeatedly] said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, finding an opportunity through the commandment [to express itself] produced in me every kind of coveting and selfish desire. For without the Law sin is dead [the recognition of sin is inactive]. 9 I was once alive without [knowledge of] the Law; but when the commandment came [and I understood its meaning], sin became alive and I died [since the Law sentenced me to death]. 10 And the very commandment which was intended to bring life actually proved to bring death for me. 11 For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment beguiled and completely deceived me, and [a]using it as a weapon killed me [separating me from God]. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

For Reflection

The Mosaic Law is still in effect.  However, Jesus called us to resist the malicious use of the law and instead to apply it compassionately.  Remember, the Law was extended in conflicting detail into all aspects of Jewish life making it almost impossible to follow mercifully.

Are we guilty today as the Hebrews were of adding to our Christian beliefs and values in ways that contradict the teaching of Christ?  

Pray

Pray so that you will be able to distinguish the influence of the common culture in how we interpret and implement God's call to be a compassionate, loving, and caring community of believers.

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God's Tasks for Workers

Discipleship and Mission

Spread the Gospel

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 The Message (MSG)

9-13 But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I’ve had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he’s left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he’s coming or going. I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That’s it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It’s God’s gift.
14 I’ve also concluded that whatever God does, that’s the way it’s going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God’s done it and that’s it. That’s so we’ll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.
15 Whatever was, is.
Whatever will be, is.
That’s how it always is with God.

For Reflection

Does it make a difference in what we do?  Absolutely!  God has created humankind in God's image and God has demonstrated through Jesus Christ how we are to perform to fulfill our destiny as the people of God.  Robin Myers calls us to "RESIST."

RESIST the seduction of selfishness that our ego demands.
RESIST blind adherence to false and misleading beliefs.
RESIST  becoming complicit in the unjust activities in everyday practice.  

Instead, follow the ideas in the Beatitudes, Act in love. Be forgiving. Be a peacemaker. Have confidence in who you are as a child of God. Care for others as you care for yourself. In short live the joyful life that God has given you in service to God and each other.  Follow the example of Christ.

Pray

Pray so that you will be able to resist the seduction of the ordinary corporal life.  Pray so that you can be more like Christ each day.

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Replacing Judas

Discipleship and Mission

Call and Commissioning

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

Acts 1:12-17 The Message (MSG)

Returning to Jerusalem

12-13 So they left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem. It was a little over half a mile. They went to the upper room they had been using as a meeting place:
Peter,
John,
James,
Andrew,
Philip,
Thomas,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Simon the Zealot,
Judas, son of James.
14 They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers.

Replacing Judas

15-17 During this time, Peter stood up in the company—there were about 120 of them in the room at the time—and said, “Friends, long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David regarding Judas, who became the guide to those who arrested Jesus. That Scripture had to be fulfilled and now has been. Judas was one of us and had his assigned place in this ministry.

For Reflection

Over one hundred men and women gathered and a replacement for Judas was chosen.  Matthias became the twelfth disciple.

What interested me was how Judas was represented.  In this version, Judas role was destined by prophecy. In the Amplified Bible Judas "...was counted among us and received his share [by divine allotment] in this ministry." Perhaps because God selected Judas, Judas, a participant in the ministry of Christ, was entitled to grace.

Pray

Pray so that you will be worthy of the grace of God.  Pray so that divine grace will be shown to others as was offered to Judas.

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Reaching New People

Discipleship and Mission

Call and Commissioning

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

Acts 18:5-11 The Message (MSG)

5-6 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was able to give all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade the Jews that Jesus was, in fact, God’s Messiah. But no such luck. All they did was argue contentiously and contradict him at every turn. Totally exasperated, Paul had finally had it with them and gave it up as a bad job. “Have it your way, then,” he said. “You’ve made your bed; now lie in it. From now on I’m spending my time with the other nations.”
7-8 He walked out and went to the home of Titius Justus, a God-fearing man who lived right next to the Jews’ meeting place. But Paul’s efforts with the Jews weren’t a total loss, for Crispus, the meeting-place president, put his trust in the Master. His entire family believed with him.
8-11 In the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptized. One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: “Keep it up and don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city.” That was all he needed to stick it out. He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians.

For Reflection

Some will hear and understand the potent meaning of the Gospel. Others will not. Some may even be threatened by it. But those who hear and become obedient to the message will live lives less burdened by the human condition. Live a righteous life and millions will benefit from your butterfly wings effect.

Pray

Pray and develop a more authentic relationship with God and God's people.  Pray and increase the power of your light so that all with whom you interact and all with whom they interact will form a network of righteousness which will transform this world into the Kingdom of God.

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Jailer and Household Baptism

Discipleship and Mission

Call and Commissioning

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

Acts 16:25-34 The Message (MSG)

25-26 Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.
27-28 Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway when Paul stopped him: “Don’t do that! We’re all still here! Nobody’s run away!”
29-31 The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?” They said, “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!”
32-34 They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn’t wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family. There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal. It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration.

For Reflection

No matter what you have done, the transforming power of trusting in God and following Jesus is provided to you.  The overture offers unconditional love.  God intends you to live lives of joy and celebration in mutual support and love.  

Pray

Pray and get closer to God.  Pray and live the lives God has intended you to live.

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Lydia and Household Baptized

Discipleship and Mission

Call and Commissioning

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

Acts 16:11-15 The Message
11-12 Putting out from the harbor at Troas, we made a straight run for Samothrace. The next day we tied up at New City and walked from there to Philippi, the main city in that part of Macedonia and, even more importantly, a Roman colony. We lingered there for several days.
13-14 On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed!
15 After she was baptized, along with everyone in her household, she said in a surge of hospitality, “If you’re confident that I’m in this with you and believe in the Master truly, come home with me and be my guests.” We hesitated, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

For Reflection

One of the most visible signs of the transforming power of following Christ is sharing the good news and revolutionary hospitality.  Lydia demonstrates both.  Hospitality is the ultimate expression of dynamic Christian love.

Pray

Pray so that you will practice Christian hospitality.

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Build up the Church

Discipleship and Mission

Call and Commissioning

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 3:12-17 The Message 

12-13 You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts—limbs, organs, cells—but no matter how many parts you can name, you’re still one body. It’s exactly the same with Christ. By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves—labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free—are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive.
12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God theFatherevery step of the way.

For Reflection

One principle that these two passages illustrate for me is that our arguments over orthodoxy (which at times are violent) may be the babble of fools. If our practice is worth the sacred robes of God's peace, then we cultivate the joy, wisdom, compassion, and justice that is the will of God.

Let us not only preach what to practice but live in the light, trusting God, following the wisdom in the life of Christ, and resting in the hollow of God's hands. 

Pray

Pray so that you may be more in tune and in step with God's intention that we live joyfully compassionate lives.

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Christ Reigns Triumphant

Discipleship and Mission

Called to Proclaim the Resurrection

Matthew 27:62-66 The Message

62-64 After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate. They said, “Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ We’ve got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There’s a good chance his disciples will come and steal the corpse and then go around saying, ‘He’s risen from the dead.’ Then we’ll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first.”
65-66 Pilate told them, “You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can.” So they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.

For Reflection

Nothing can conceal Jesus from the world. Not the power of money, nor political systems.  Jesus is more powerful in his non-violent humble love than the most violent tyrant.  Set your eye on Christ.

Pray

Pray so that you can resist violent and unjust action.  Pray so that you can be a beacon of peace.

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Mary Meets the Risen Jesus

Discipleship and Mission

Called to Proclaim the Resurrection

John 20:11-18 The Message

11-13 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?”
13-14 “They took my Master,” she said, “and I don’t know where they put him.” After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t recognize him.
15 Jesus spoke to her, “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?”
She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, “Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.”
16 Jesus said, “Mary.”
Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!”
17 Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: “I saw the Master!” And she told them everything he said to her.

For Reflection

The absence of Christ sharpens our desire for him.  If we could but touch him. Mary could not. Nor can we. But we can study the life and times of Christ try to understand the meaning of the Christ event. In doing so, we to are resurrected into a new life.

Pray

Pray so that you will be able to realize the full potential of your new resurrected life in Christ.

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Jesus Crucified

Discipleship and Mission

Called to Proclaim the Resurrection

Matthew 27:32-44 The Message

32-34 Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus’ cross. Arriving at Golgotha, the place they call “Skull Hill,” they offered him a mild painkiller (a mixture of wine and myrrh), but when he tasted it he wouldn’t drink it.
35-40 After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the jews. Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come down from that cross!”
41-44 The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: “He saved others—he can’t save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then! He was so sure of God—well, let him rescue his ‘Son’ now—if he wants him! He did claim to be God’s Son, didn’t he?” Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery.

For Reflection

"Tearing down the Temple...in three days," was a metaphor for reformation.  Because of Christ's death, the status quo  Jewish faith system (the temple) was reformed to become less legalistic, more compassionate, more inclusive of non-Jews, and a more intimate relationship with God.

Pray

Pray for those who resist the status quo.  Pray for the change agents who prophesy reformation.  Pray so that you will become a more authentic God worshiping, Jesus follower.  Pray so that you mimic the life of Christ.

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Judas is Suffering Remorse

Discipleship and Mission

Called to Proclaim the Resurrection

Matthew 27:3-10 The Message

3-4 Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.”
They said, “What do we care? That’s your problem!”
5 Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself.
6-10 The high priests picked up the silver pieces, but then didn’t know what to do with them. “It wouldn’t be right to give this—a payment for murder!—as an offering in the Temple.” They decided to get rid of it by buying the “Potter’s Field” and use it as a burial place for the homeless. That’s how the field got called “Murder Meadow,” a name that has stuck to this day. Then Jeremiah’s words became history:
They took the thirty silver pieces,
The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel,
And they purchased the potter’s field.
And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter.

For Reflection

Judas suffered for his sin.  He gave the money back to those who had tempted him.  Judas repented.

The priests, on the other hand, cared not for Judas.  Judas was merely a tool used to trap Jesus.

God's plan for the salvation of his people was near completion.

Pray

Pray for those who suffer and are repentant. Pray also for those who ignore the will of God and sin without remorse.

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I Am the Resurrection and the Life

Discipleship and Mission

Called to Proclaim the Resurrection

John 11:17-27 The Message

17-20 When Jesus finally got there, he found Lazarus already four days dead. Bethany was near Jerusalem, only a couple of miles away, and many of the Jews were visiting Martha and Mary, sympathizing with them over their brother. Martha heard Jesus was coming and went out to meet him. Mary remained in the house.
21-22 Martha said, “Master, if you’d been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you.”
23 Jesus said, “Your brother will be raised up.”
24 Martha replied, “I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time.”
25-26 “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Master. All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who comes into the world.”

For Reflection

For those that study the life of Jesus and attempt to emulate it will understand the meaning of resting in the Lord.  The peace that will overcome a believer will be coupled with a righteous life.  One that practices this peace-filled life will be humble, kind, forgiving, and just.  That person will be transformed over and over by fulfilling the will of God.

Pray

Pray so that you will be more like Jesus.

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The Last Passover Meal

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Call to Remember

Matthew 26:17-29 The Message

The Traitor

17 On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?”
18-19 He said, “Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.’” The disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal.
20-21 After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, he said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.”
22 They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?”
23-24 Jesus answered, “The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”
25 Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”
Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.”

The Bread and the Cup

26-29 During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:
Take, eat.
This is my body.
Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:
Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
God’s new covenant poured out for many people
    for the forgiveness of sins.
“I’ll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I’ll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father.”

For Reflection

Is Christ with Judas in heaven? In spite of all the talk of Hell, I would like to think so.  Christ wished as we all do that the world and the Kingdom would be better off without people who betray us.

But did not God create Judas? Did God not love Judas as God loves me? Did Judas not participate in the last meal?  Did Christ promise to drink with his disciples in the Kingdom of God? Did Christ exclude Judas from that promise?

Judas sinned, and so do I. Judas was remorseful and so am I.

Pray

Pray so that you will be more able to love as God loves.

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Alas, Poor Judas

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Call to Remember

Matthew 26:14-16 The Message

14-16 That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests and said, “What will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They settled on thirty silver pieces. He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over.

For Reflection

Alas, poor Judas. He will never know peace in his lifetime.  While he lives, he will never know what it means to rest in God. Matthew says he repented.  In Acts, Judas does not repent but in remorse falls on his sword.  In both cases, Judas, so conflicted by his action commits suicide.

Poor Judas -- forever blamed. Poor Judas, may he rest -- forgiven in the presence of God.

Pray

Pray so that you will be more able to love as God loves.

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One must Die for the Nations

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Call to Remember

John 11:47-54 The Message

The Man Who Creates God-Signs

45-48 That was a turnaround for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him. But some went back to the Pharisees and told on Jesus. The high priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Jewish ruling body. “What do we do now?” they asked. “This man keeps on doing things, creating God-signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have.”
49-52 Then one of them—it was Caiaphas, the designated Chief Priest that year—spoke up, “Don’t you know anything? Can’t you see that it’s to our advantage that one man dies for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed?” He didn’t say this of his own accord, but as Chief Priest that year he unwittingly prophesied that Jesus was about to die sacrificially for the nation, and not only for the nation but so that all God’s exile-scattered children might be gathered together into one people.
53-54 From that day on, they plotted to kill him. So Jesus no longer went out in public among the Jews. He withdrew into the country bordering the desert to a town called Ephraim and secluded himself there with his disciples.
11 “And here is how you are to eat it: Be fully dressed with your sandals on and your stick in your hand. Eat in a hurry; it’s the Passover to God.
12-13 “I will go through the land of Egypt on this night and strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, whether human or animal, and bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am God. The blood will serve as a sign on the houses where you live. When I see the blood I will pass over you—no disaster will touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
14-16 “This will be a memorial day for you; you will celebrate it as a festival to God down through the generations, a fixed festival celebration to be observed always. You will eat unraised bread (matzoth) for seven days: On the first day get rid of all yeast from your houses—anyone who eats anything with yeast from the first day to the seventh day will be cut off from Israel. The first and the seventh days are set aside as holy; do no work on those days. Only what you have to do for meals; each person can do that.

For Reflection

Caiaphas was correct, but not for the reason he asserted.  Caiaphas referred to the existence of the relationship between the Roman occupation and the priesthood. He may have rationalized that he was protecting Israel from persecution.


Christ had to die at the insistence of those who represented the empirical domination of Israel and for whom violence was necessary to maintain peace and order. In his death, Christ has shown us the tragic loss that godless violence brings. Through choosing death over capitulation, Christ illustrates the extent to which he, and therefore we, should be committed to the promise of God. Through his resurrection, Christ ends the fear of death and elevates the demand to resist injustice and trust in God.

Pray

Pray so that you will trust in God.  Pray that you will have the courage to resist the temptation to violence in the face of injustices.  Pray so that you endure fear and act in confidence according to the will of God for peace that is not only the absence of war.

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Anointing His Feet

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Call to Remember

John 12:1-8 The Message

Anointing His Feet

12 1-3 Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus’ feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.
4-6 Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them.
7-8 Jesus said, “Let her alone. She’s anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don’t always have me.”

For Reflection

Judas's love of money separated him from God.  Jesus selected a spiritually blind person who in spite of his experience as a trusted disciple chose to violate that trust. Judas was selected, but he decided to follow the will of his human ego rather than the will of God. We who have elected to become Christian or have been born into the faith are not exempt from the seductions of our secular lives -- not even a leader in the Christian church or a disciple.

Pray

Pray for the leaders of the Christian church universal. Pray for those of us who consider ourselves disciples of the living God. Pray for those who use Christ for personal aggrandizement.  

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The Original Passover Celebration

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Call to Remember

Exodus 12:1-16 The Message (MSG)

12 1-10 God said to Moses and Aaron while still in Egypt, “This month is to be the first month of the year for you. Address the whole community of Israel; tell them that on the tenth of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one lamb to a house. If the family is too small for a lamb, then share it with a close neighbor, depending on the number of persons involved. Be mindful of how much each person will eat. Your lamb must be a healthy male, one year old; you can select it from either the sheep or the goats. Keep it penned until the fourteenth day of this month and then slaughter it—the entire community of Israel will do this—at dusk. Then take some of the blood and smear it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which you will eat it. You are to eat the meat, roasted in the fire, that night, along with bread, made without yeast, and bitter herbs. Don’t eat any of it raw or boiled in water; make sure it’s roasted—the whole animal, head, legs, and innards. Don’t leave any of it until morning; if there are leftovers, burn them in the fire.
11 “And here is how you are to eat it: Be fully dressed with your sandals on and your stick in your hand. Eat in a hurry; it’s the Passover to God.
12-13 “I will go through the land of Egypt on this night and strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, whether human or animal, and bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am God. The blood will serve as a sign on the houses where you live. When I see the blood I will pass over you—no disaster will touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
14-16 “This will be a memorial day for you; you will celebrate it as a festival to God down through the generations, a fixed festival celebration to be observed always. You will eat unraised bread (matzoth) for seven days: On the first day get rid of all yeast from your houses—anyone who eats anything with yeast from the first day to the seventh day will be cut off from Israel. The first and the seventh days are set aside as holy; do no work on those days. Only what you have to do for meals; each person can do that.

For Reflection

There are a lot of reasons to remember this story, not the least of which is its expression about the mercy and protection God delivers to his chosen people.  But this story is also paired with God's proclivity toward violence as are many of the old testament stories. And yet, in many instance's God is kind, compassionate, and forgiving. For me the issue of a vengeful violent God is baffling.

Perhaps we Christians need to remember that Jesus in his life's work has shown us who God is. As the fullest revelation of God, Jesus not only shed light on how the righteous should behave, but he also revealed much about how we should understand how the people of the old testament defined God and their relationship to God.  Christ did not hit, nor did he hate anyone. Christ preached and practiced reconciliation, kindness, and love. He was not cruel or commit acts of retaliation or vengeance.

My image of Christ is hanging with outstretched arms on a cross, willing to die; not to take up arms. it was a sacrifice so profound to lead us to understand God's commitment to resist violence.

Pray

Pray and invite the Holy Spirit into your soul.  Pray so there is not room in your soul for anything else except God's wisdom.

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Handling and Surviving Persecution

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Call and Mission

Matthew 10:16-25 The Message (MSG)

16 “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.
17-20 “Don’t be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me. Don’t be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they’ve done you—and me—a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don’t worry about what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words.
21-23 “When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
24-25 “A student doesn’t get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn’t make more money than his boss. Be content—pleased, even—when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, ‘Dungface,’ what can the workers expect?

For Reflection

Being a Christian does not insulate you from the negative impacts of a corporeal world.  Christianity is not an anesthetic. On the contrary, becoming an authentic Christian exposes you to significant risk. Transforming in the way of Christ is costly.
Face your mission courageously in the confidence that God is with you; comforting you and bringing you into God's grace and peace that passes all common understanding.

Pray

Pray so that the Holy Spirit will live in you and you will face your transformed life with divine courage.

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Great Harvest but Few Workers

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Call and Mission

Matthew 9:35-38 The Message 

35-38 Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”

For Reflection

God does not desire that we travel through our lives aimlessly and confused about who we are and how we should cultivate each other. God calls each of us to be shepherds of each other and God's universe. Each of us is a minister in word and deed. We should take that call seriously. Our reward is compassion, love, and justice.

Pray

Pray for all who walk in the Way of Christ.  Pray so that you will be a blessing to all whom you encounter.

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Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Call and Mission

Mark 6:7-13 The Message

The Twelve

7-8 Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions:
8-9 “Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.
10 “And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave.
11 “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”
12-13 Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.

For Reflection

Christ sent the disciples out in pairs.  He instructed them to live humble lives. If they found an unwelcome population, they were to move on with no regret or calamity. 

They preached with joy and offered a radical new way of viewing the world in which they lived.  They healed the bodies and the spirits in those who accepted the gift and grace of their teaching.

Pray

Pray for those who minister in the name of Christ and offer healing and a wave of peace that knows no bounds.

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Paul Called by a Vision

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Call and Mission

Acts 16:6-10 The Message (MSG)

6-8 They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas.
9-10 That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans.

For Reflection

Paul was called to teach the whole western world. Paul obeyed, and God prepared the way for Paul's ministry.  God also prepared Paul to preach the good news to the Europeans.  God and Paul collaborated in building God's Kingdom.

Pray

Pray so that you will be more able to become a co-conspirator with God in God's plan for the Creation.

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Prophet to the Nations

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Ministry

Called and Mission

Jeremiah 1:4-10 The Message

Demolish, and Then Start Over

1 1-4 The Message of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah of the family of priests who lived in Anathoth in the country of Benjamin. God’s Message began to come to him during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amos reigned over Judah. It continued to come to him during the time Jehoiakim son of Josiah reigned over Judah. And it continued to come to him clear down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah over Judah, the year that Jerusalem was taken into exile. This is what God said:
5 “Before I shaped you in the womb,
    I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
    I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations—
    that’s what I had in mind for you.”
6 But I said, “Hold it, Master God! Look at me.
    I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!”
7-8 God told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’
    I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there.
I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it.
    Don’t be afraid of a soul.
I’ll be right there, looking after you.”
    God’s Decree.
9-10 God reached out, touched my mouth, and said,
    “Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered!
See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do
    among nations and governments—a red-letter day!
Your job is to pull up and tear down,
    take apart and demolish,
And then start over,
    building and planting.”

For Reflection

Some have termed this creative demolition. Some campaign only to tear down.  These activists have no real restoration plan in mind.  Their only objective is to call attention to problems or concerns.  They offer no hope.
But God called Jeremiah to focus attention to the need for spiritual renewal and offer a means to achieve the rewards of God's call to reinvent their paths to peace.

Pray

Pray so that you will recognize God's call to follow Christ and be renewed in spirit and righteousness.

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