PASSION WEEK: WALKING WITH JESUS DAY 3

 

Isaiah 50:4-9

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
I have not been rebellious,
I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths will eat them up.

JOHN 13:21- 32

Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 

 

Most of us have experienced betrayal at some point in our lives by someone close and beloved. Have you ever shared the deepest parts of yourself, only for that trusted person to turn on you and become an adversary?

I feel like by reflecting on our own experiences of betrayal, can bring us closer to the cross, closer to Jesus’ Passion, closer to the experience of Jesus. I don’t know if you agree with me on this, but I find in reading today’s scriptures there is a connection between our experiences of betrayal, and the magnitude of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas.

There is something here really important for us in the details of our readings. Since Jesus was betrayed so painfully by Judas, we can be sure that he knows the dreadful pain and shame we feel from the betrayal of our friend or loved one. Like so many of our experiences, the Gospels tell us that we are not alone for Jesus has been there too. The message is that we can take our pain and brokenness to the cross in the confidence that Jesus knows it and feels it. When I was growing up there was a hymn that we used to sing that said “no one understands like Jesus.” In the throes of betrayal it is helpful to remember that Jesus lived it before we did. Best news ever is that Jesus lives it with us now. One of the most meaningful phrases in the Bible to me is found in the story of Lazarus, we are told “Jesus wept.” He wept because he knew the pain. Every human emotion we experience, Jesus knows it.

I admit this knowledge doesn’t eliminate the pain and hurt, there is a healing journey in the wake of betrayal. Yet, don’t you find there is a comfort in the reality that Jesus has walked it all before us and that he is able to sympathize with us.

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus, just as the disciples had no idea what was playing out before them, so we have many things going on in our lives that we cannot understand. Help us to trust that you have the full picture, and our times are in your hands. It is comforting to know that you share our pain, and you weep with us. Amen.

PASSION WEEK: WALKING WITH JESUS DAY 2

 APRIL 4, 2023

TUESDAY

TODAY'S READINGS

Isaiah 42:1-7

“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. “He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. “A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. “He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”

Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it, “I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

HEBREWS 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.



Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah prophesied about His coming, His ministry, His Spirit. How can this reassure you in your walk with God?

Hebrews 12:1 talks about the reality of “so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us.” How might this truth make a difference in how we live day to day ?

In what ways can we fix our eyes on Jesus, and run in perseverance and faithfulness?


TODAY’S PRAYER

Ask God for a fresh vision, that the things that weigh you down may be put into proper perspective in light of today’s readings.

PASSION WEEK: WALKING WITH JESUS - Day 1

APRIL 3, 2023

MONDAY

TODAY'S READING: John 8:12-27

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. “You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. “Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come. 

Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? “I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.” They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.


Today look for Jesus' willing obedience to the Father.


What do you note about His innocence versus His willingness to die for our sins?


What would it take to see our obedience and trust in Christ as a priority, as the most significant “thing” we do?


How do you “keep entrusting yourself ” to God no matter what your worries, fears, circumstances, injustices… tell you?

Pray that God's will overwhelms your will.

THE WAIT IS WORTH IT

 

^{MARCH 31, 2023}

^{JAMES 5:7-11}

7 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

10 For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

 

Planting seeds and waiting is well known to farmers and God. Every farmer and gardener knows there is planning, patience, and work involved with a harvest.

So it is with us and God. How long has God waited for the seeds to take root in each of our lives? The infinite patience of God is such a good reminder that every harvest takes time. Some crops take longer than others. The wait is clearly worth it in God's eyes.

As Lent draws to a close and we are about to enter the passion week, Holy Week some call it, beginning with Palm Sunday, we are invited to dwell in suffering, pain, and loss with Jesus. By weeks end we will be witnesses to Jesus’ exaltation through his suffering, pain, and loss. His extended arms on the cross made room for everyone, especially those who experience suffering, pain, and loss, to know that they are part of God’s Kingdom Community. For as James puts it our God is “full of tenderness and mercy.” So let us, “Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”

LET US PRAY

God of our consolation, you know our deep disappointments and you receive us with grace and open arms. Give us the courage to drop our guard and let you enter into our lives with words of comfort. Amen

 

FOUNDATIONS

 MARCH 30, 2023

MARK 13:1-13

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”

5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Mark 13:2


Not one stone here will be left on another;
every one will be thrown down.

Graham Kendrick wrote a song several years ago, a song that many Churches have added to their worship song list. The song is called MAKE WAY! MAKE WAY! Do you know it?

Kendrick wrote in the fourth verse the following lyrics that I want to draw our attention to today.

We call you now to worship Him as Lord of all
To have no gods before Him Their thrones must fall!
Graham Kendrick Copyright © 1986 Thankyou Music

That line “To have no gods before Him Their thrones must fall” gets at the teaching of Jesus in our reading today. I am struck by the conversation at the outset of our account. “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

The temple in today’s gospel is more than just a building in Jerusalem, more than a place of worship. It was the center and anchor of Jewish life. It provided identity, structure, and meaning just like our temples of today. The disciples are impressed. “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” They are, however, looking only on outward appearances.

I believe there is an important message here that we might miss if we get too bogged down with “the abomination that causes desolation” or “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars”, earthquakes and famines, family betrayals leading even to death, rebelling children, hatred toward followers of Jesus. Not that these aren’t important but even in the context of Mark 13 Jesus seems to say not to focus of these things, he says “do not be alarmed”, and later in the chapter he will say “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. In today’s reading Jesus says, “You must be on your guard.”

This makes me think of the line from the song above To have no gods before Him Their thrones must fall! Jesus has been teaching and challenging his followers and the Temple leadership to see that our focus ought to be on honoring God, he has called his followers to Love God with their whole being, “heart, soul and strength.”

The truth is one day the great buildings and structures of our life will fall. The very things that we often trust and rely upon to give identity, meaning, purpose, and security will crumble. This is not doom and gloom. It is just a statement of reality. Life changes, loved ones die, institutions fail, people disappoint, relationships break up, bodies get sick. In those moments, the great stones of our temples, our buildings are all thrown down.

We build all sorts of temples: families, beliefs and opinions, institutions, roles, reputations, accomplishments, dreams, and hopes. Jesus says, our spiritual work in those days is to not be alarmed or afraid, but to be faithful and to not be led astray, to be watchful, present, and observant.

This puts some hard questions before us about where we put our trust. I have learned in the last little while in my own life, that when our foundations crack, rock and give way that this is when we learn just how fragile our foundations are. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” These are moments of grace in which we discover something profound about God, that the only foundation on which to build is the foundation laid for us in God’s word in the person of Jesus. Our God is the God of life not death, the God of creation not destruction. Every moment of every day, new life is being created and given to us.

So let us, “have no gods before Him” let us allow their thrones to come crashing down. Let us “Make way, make way For Christ the King” and “Fling wide the gates and welcome Him Into your lives,” and “to worship Him as LORD OF ALL.”

What temples of your life are falling or need to fall?

What new truth or reality is being shown to you?

How might God be creating and birthing new life in you?



LET US PRAY

Almighty and loving God, we confess that we put our trust in other gods. We honor these gods alongside of you and in place of you. By the Holy Spirit’s power, help us to know you, the only true God, as you have revealed yourself in your Word, to trust in you alone, to look to you for every good thing, humbly and patiently, and to love, fear, and honor you with all our hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Text: adapted from Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 94, 95 (Lift up Your Hearts Hymnal, Faith Alive, #653)

 

PICTURE THIS

 

MARCH 29, 2023

Picture Jesus. What do you see? What do you feel? Do you have a picture in your mind that resembles a painting you have seen in your grandmother’s home, maybe in your home growing up, maybe you have one that you just looked at for a moment? Do you picture an actor from one of your favorite movies about Jesus? How do you imagine Jesus’ character and demeanor? Is he gentle? Is he humble, and calm and serene? Now put that picture of Jesus along side the following Gospel story.

Matthew 21:12-17

12 Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

14 The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. 15 The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”

But the leaders were indignant. 16 They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” 17 Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.

The Gospel of John even says that Jesus made a whip and used it to drive people out of the temple. How does this fit with your picture of Jesus? What was He up to, and how do we make sense of it?

Just a bit of historical context will help us, I believe, in grasping what is happening. In Jesus’ day, the main place to connect with God was through the Temple, and the main way to do it was through animal sacrifice. This practice goes all the way back to Moses, and the underlying message of the sacrifice was to learn to give God your best by literally giving up the best of your livestock.

Well, the temptation, then and as it can be now, is to give God, not your best, but your second or third best. To help people fight this temptation, the priests would check over the sacrifice at the door to make sure it was free of blemish. If there was a blemish, this creates a new problem, so naturally, there was a place where you could buy an acceptable sacrifice… and maybe you can see where this is going. The whole system became corrupt. The people who sold the “acceptable” sacrifices were conspiring with the people who deemed other sacrifices “unacceptable” and gave them a kickback; everyone made a tidy profit from the people, many of them very poor, who were desperate to have God in their life.

Back to our reading, Jesus Enters. Jesus, full of love and compassion. Jesus, who cares for the people no one else cares about, and who came into the world so people would know God’s heart and presence. The whole religious system, the way people were told what they had to do to connect with God, had become an obstacle, a barrier, that kept people from God. Jesus’ anger here and his shockingly violent behavior makes perfect sense when you think of God, as the Good Shepherd, who will protect the vulnerable and disadvantaged ones from injustice and corruption.

LET US PRAY

God, we pray today that we would never be an obstacle, or create barriers, that keep people from you. We also pray that if there is any part of us that needs to change, that you would help us see that, so that we can be the welcoming community you want us to be. May we always be ready to stand up against systems of injustice that oppress the vulnerable with love, compassion, and righteous anger. Amen

THE LAST WORD

 

MARCH 28, 2023

Matthew 14:24-33

²⁴ … the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

 

This isn’t the first time Jesus' disciples got into trouble on the Sea of Galilee. And in both times Jesus seems to have gotten them into that trouble. Earlier in Matthew, Jesus climbed into a boat with his disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee.

Very soon they found themselves in a raging storm that threatened to overwhelm their ability to keep the boat afloat. “Master, don’t you care?” they cried out as they woke him up. Jesus calmly stood up and commanded the storm to be quiet—"Be still!” And it was.

This time Jesus again tells his disciples to take the boat and cross over to the other side. But rather than going with them, he heads up the mountain to pray. Once again, the disciples are hit by a storm. Once again, their abilities are challenged. And this time, it looks like they’re going to have to take care of themselves.

Then something really strange happens. In the distance the disciples see someone literally walking on the water, undisturbed by the raging storm around him. If the storm hasn’t terrified them, this certainly does! “It’s a ghost!” they cry out. “It’s me,” Jesus calls out, this time not to the storm but to his disciples. “Don’t be afraid, it’s me!”

“Don’t be afraid, it’s me!” In each of these stories, Jesus’ disciples wind up in the middle of a storm that causes them to fear for their lives. In each story, Jesus deals with the storm and with their fears. And in both stories the disciples begin to realize—perhaps just a little bit more—who they’re dealing with: the Lord of the wind and the waves, the One who, when it comes to storms, gets the last word.

Be encouraged today that the one we worship, has the last word on the storms around us too!

LET US PRAY

Help me God, to always remember that you have the "last word" on all things, and to trust you in the rough stormy places. May we hear those comforting words "it's me, Do Not Be Afraid."

LISTEN to the CROWD

 

MARCH 27, 2023

Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

² Let Israel say:
    “His love endures forever.”

¹⁹ Open for me the gates of the righteous;
    I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
²⁰ This is the gate of the Lord
    through which the righteous may enter.
²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
    you have become my salvation.

²² The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
²³ the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.

²⁵ Lord, save us!
    Lord, grant us success!

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.
²⁷ The Lord is God,
    and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
    up to the horns of the altar.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

²⁹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

 

 Have you ever been part of a crowd that spontaneously burst into applause or cheers? How did that feel? What sparked the moment? The home team wins in the last moments of the game. The band opens their concert with their most well-known songs. The hero overcomes the conflict in the movie. Can you hear the crowd go wild?

This week we come to the end of the Lenten journey. Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem, and the crowds erupt in celebration with the words of Psalm 118. “Give thanks to the Lord!” “Hosanna (save us)!” “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” “God’s steadfast love endures forever.”

The Hebrew people sang this song when their king returned to Jerusalem in victory. The king had inspired hope and joy in them by the latest conquest. Their trust in God’s steadfast love was rekindled in these events.

What might inspire these words of hope and joy in you this week?

Let's Pray

God, we give you thanks for this day that you have made. Let us rejoice in your steadfast love. Amen.

REFLECTING GOD'S LOVE

 MARCH  24, 2023

Luke 6:27-36

27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.


Luke 6:35 begins, “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High…”

Jesus tells us that there is a gift for those who lend without expecting to be repaid or expecting anything in return for their work. This simple act of giving reminds me of the Porch pick up Food Drive we held just last week.

People of our Church and Community set donations out on their front steps, some brought donations to the church over the weekend, they did not wait for someone to notice them or to have their picture taken with their donation. They just gave, brought it in. This is what I believe this verse is teaching us.

Jesus calls us to give without hesitation and as we do this we worship him. We are living out the calling God has placed on our hearts to love and care for others and to take care of others whom he calls his children. Verse 6:36 says, “You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” When we answer God’s call to be compassionate with giving and worship, we are reflecting God’s love into this world.

 

PRACTICING HOSPITALITY

 MARCH 23, 2023

ROMANS 12:9-13

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Hebrews 13:1-2

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.


In our Worship Service last Sunday we reflected on Christian Hospitality as an important aspect of sharing God’s love. A fellow worshipper, following the service, wondered about the practical outcome of desiring to show God’s love. What ways or actions might we build into our lives that can show God’s love?

Today I want to suggest a few possibilities. 

Before I do, let me just say, I believe a key part of discovering our “love way” is by listening to those around us, it may be that in conversation you will hear a need that you can help meet. Each of us may show love in different ways, based on interests or personalities or ability or resources, I pray that God will help us develop our loving lifestyle.

Sharing the Love of God through acts of Hospitality is truly an important Biblical emphasis, whether we are entertaining angels or not, hospitality is a great way to show God’s love to one another.

Here are some examples of actions that show God's love through hospitality, that I thought of. You may think of other examples, I hope that you will.


Show God’s Love by Hosting Others

Opening up your home, or inviting someone for a outing, or to grab a cup of coffee or Tea, is a way that you can show God’s love to others and serve others as well.

Of course, many people have opened their homes for special events, or small groups. Anytime you invite others into your home, into your space, you are showing God’s love because God has done the same for us, God welcomes us to abide with him, and to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Show God’s Love by Cooking and Sharing a Meal

You can invite others over to your residence for a home cooked meal or pick up something on the way home and drop it off at a neighbor’s house, or friends or a work colleague, that you know are in a hard place. Whatever you are led to do, giving someone a meal is a great way to show hospitality and show God’s love to others.

Show God’s Love by Providing Transportation

You may be reading the above ways to show the love of God and think, well, my house/apartment is too small, I’m a lousy house keeper, or I’m a terrible cook. No worries! Do you have a vehicle?

You can serve and love others by giving them a lift. For example, someone who currently doesn’t have a car, would be blessed and no doubt feel cared for to receive the offer of a ride to an appointment, or to the grocery store, or to church. It may seem like a small gesture, but being chauffeured around is always appreciated.

Show God’s Love by Inviting Others into Your Life

A wonderful gesture of love and care is to invite others to do life with you. It means inviting them to experience life with you, and for you to participate in theirs.

The important thing we need to remember is that Christian hospitality is about making an intentional effort, and going out of our way to make sure the other person feels included, loved, and valued. For that is how God sees them, too. 

By showing hospitality to them in this way, we act as the hands and feet, even the face of God to others, we are being a beautiful example of God’s love and reminding the person that they are loved by God.

A GOOD WAY TO START?

 MARCH 22, 2023

Matthew 5:44

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Luke 6:28

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

1 Timothy 2:1

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.


I have been doing a lot of thinking lately on the practical ways that we can participate in loving others. Sometimes we feel like doing this, showing God’s love needs be something spectacular, maybe even something that drives us our of comfort zones. Not that coming out of comfortable places isn’t a good thing.

It occurred to me that perhaps a great way to start with sharing love with others is by praying for them. I believe we know that Prayer is powerful because prayer allows us to connect with God and that we can pour our hearts out to him. It causes us to know that we are heard!! 1 John 5:14 says,

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

Admittedly, prayers aren’t just about us, our wants and needs. The Gospel's reveal to us that Jesus prayed for his disciples, John 17 records that after Jesus prayer for his disciples he prayed for all believers. 17:20 says  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message …” Therefore, this implies that we can and should also pray on behalf of others.

So today, I invite all of us, to think of people in our life, even those that are difficult to be around, that really test our love. Jesus said “pray …. for those who persecute you, pray for those who mistreat you. Paul, we read, urges that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. So make a list of 2 or 3 people and begin to pray for them.

Here are some themes that we can pray for the people on our lists. That they might experience:

• Peace
• Comfort
• Wisdom
• Knowledge
• Composure
• Trust
• Courage
• Strength
• Provision

Just watch how God moves!!

WALK THIS WAY

 MARCH 21, 2023

1 John 2:6

“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”



How should our life (words, actions, and decisions) reflect our relationship as a Jesus follower?

“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6)

The perfect expression of God’s love for others is found in the person of Jesus. Jesus does not expect anything from us that He did not already live out in His own practice and life. The command to love one another (John 13:34) and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39) were given and modeled by Jesus, and now this lifestyle is given to us, His followers, as we with the help of God’s Spirit, walk in his steps.

The Bible gives us many examples of the ways that Jesus demonstrated Love. Here are a few ways for us to ponder today.

Compassion

Jesus was incredibly compassionate. We see Him time and time again responding to the needs of the suffering:
The sick were made well and the blind given sight (Luke 7:21)
He liberated those who were bound by social injustice and prejudice (Mark 7:24-30; Luke 5:12-15; 7:36-50; 8:43-48; 10:38-42; 19:1-10)
Those in bondage to demonic powers were set free (Luke 4:33-35)
He loved deeply (Matt 9:36; Mark 10:21; Luke 7:13)

Respect

Jesus’s respect for all of life was universal.
He repeatedly respected and valued women – an attitude largely unexpected and unknown in His culture and time. (Mark 1:30-31; Luke 7:11-15; 13:10-17)
He respected and valued children (Mark 10:13-16)
He respected the oppressed and poor. It’s the purpose for which He came according to Luke 4:18-19

Listened

Jesus was an extraordinary listener. Whether it be His enemies or His disciples, Jesus valued people by listening to them and responding thoughtfully and patiently.

Encouraged

Jesus spent a great deal of time encouraging people towards love. (Luke 6:17-49) The Beatitudes serve as a call to be responsive to God and to love others as Jesus advocates throughout His life.

We learn from the Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that all people were accepted and loved, especially those at the bottom of the social pyramid—poor people, women, outcasts, lepers, children, prostitutes, and tax collectors. Jesus is the perfect model of loving your neighbor as yourself.

How should our life (words, actions and decisions) reflect our relationship as Jesus follower? What if we, in dependence on God working in us and through us, subscribed to being compassionate to the suffering, to showing genuine respect the person in front of us at any moment, to offer the gift of listening to the people we have around us, being women and men of encouragement. These are some ways that we can live and love as Jesus did.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Let all that you do be done in love.

LET YOUR COMPASSION COME TO ME

 MARCH 20, 2023

NEHEMIAH 9:19-21

19 “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.


PSALM 119:77

Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.

COMPASSION

Think about your closest relationship, whether that’s with your spouse, parent, child, or good friend. How has that relationship changed over the months or years? Maybe you have become more comfortable with that person, spend more time with them, or try to serve and bless  them more often. But above all, you might realize that you feel a growing tenderness and affection toward that person.

The closer your bond grows with someone, the more you love, care about, and want to serve them. That’s how compassion begins.

Compassion is that deep feeling of love for someone else. The online dictionary paints a distinction between compassion and empathy, saying that compassion is more involved than empathy because it includes “a desire to alleviate the person’s distress.”

That’s the kind of compassion Jesus displayed in His earthly ministry. He not only understood the pain each person was going through, but He also took action to heal those who were suffering. Compassion is what drove Him to action.

Throughout the Bible, God is described as “compassionate” or “showing compassion” on His people, forgiving a person or a nation of their sins and choosing to love them.

We, as Jesus followers, are called to pattern ourselves after the compassion of Jesus. This is the compassion that leads to action, to service, and to sacrifice.

Remember the parable of the prodigal son? The father had compassion for his son and chose to welcome him with open arms instead of turning him away. The father identified with what the son was going through, and he acted to “alleviate [his son’s] distress,” to quote the dictionary definition.

Perhaps our challenge is to demonstrate compassion toward someone in our lives. Someone who we might not be close to, or we find challenging, or someone new God has brought into our life. How might God use us to “alleviate distress.”