Learning to more dynamically follow Jesus
Exodus 8 | God made frogs appear. So did the magicians. Sure we can experience success on our own. But the breakthrough we experience from God’s power will be more powerful and more lasting.
What is it that God wants to do in your life? Where are you getting in the way?
Fact is, in using their power, the magicians just doubled their trouble!
March 1, 1457: Beginning of the Unity of the Brethren in Bohemia
Psalm 31:21-24 | Exodus 8 | Matthew 20:17-28
This is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever. Psalm 48:14
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
Faithful God, on this special day marking the birth of our church, we are mindful of those who have gone before, especially those saints in 1457 who held fast to their hope. Like them, may we today walk forward unwavering, trusting in your guidance and faithfulness. Amen.
Matthew 20:1-16 | I’m always amused when so many of us become offended with this parable. For some reason we all think that we are among those who have been working all day. We think we should be paid more than the latecomers. We declare, “It’s not fair!”
But, when it comes to doing the work of God’s kingdom, I have to risk being honest and vulnerable to admit I’m a latecomer. And I’m pretty sure most of you are, too. We are not among the first. We are among the last.
God’s economy is different. Don’t be so offended or proud that you fail to enjoy it.
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Reading Seth Godin’s blog today I got a real sense of the joy of God’s economy.
Psalm 31:10-20 | Exodus 6:13-7:24 | Matthew 20:1-16
Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. Job 14:1 (NIV)
It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 1 Corinthians 15:43
Father God, help us follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus who was born, remained sinless and was raised in the power of your glory. Amen.
Exodus 5:10-6:12 | We think freedom should be easy. God sent Moses to free the Hebrew people from slavery under Pharaoh. Pharaoh retaliated, making life harder for the Hebrews. Then the Hebrews complained to Moses saying they preferred things how they used to be. “We thought getting to freedom would be easy. If this is what it takes, maybe we don’t want freedom.”
We think being brought into freedom should feel, well, like freedom. Light and bright – the weight and the darkness quickly lifted.
But freedom isn’t simply the old you in a new situation. The journey to freedom changes us. Freedom calls something new from us. It’s a birth.
And birth isn’t easy. It takes time to get ready for. Then when it arrives, it takes effort, it’s painful, it’s messy.
And things are never the same.
You just made new life!
Psalm 31:6-9 | Exodus 5:10-6:12 | Matthew 19:23-30
Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Jonah 2:8 (NIV)
The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 1 Timothy 6:10
Lord God, we confess our weaknesses. We need your help to turn away from the idols we have created. May we always put our trust in you and worship you – the one true God. Amen.
Exodus 4:1-5:9 | It seems pretty unquestionable. The voice from the bush, a bush that is burning but not being consumed. God is here. And he wants Moses to free his people. Seems like the kind of thing if God asked you to do it you would do it.
Moses asks God, “What if the Israelites don’t believe me?” Maybe what he’s really asking is, but what if I don’t believe? What if I don’t believe what I’m hearing and seeing? Because the excuse Moses offers is kind of flimsy, isn’t it? Why would the Israelites resist being freed?
God gives Moses a sign right then and there. He turns Moses’ staff into a snake and then back again. He says it’s to show the Israelites. But Moses gets the benefit of seeing God’s power doesn’t he?
And then God does it again, just in case the Israelites don’t get it the first time. And this one, even more than the first, should get Moses’ attention, as God shows his power by causing Moses’ hand to become diseased and then restored. Did Moses receive this as a threat? God clearly has power (to do things to Moses)!
God even suggests a third display of power if the first two don’t work, turning water from the Nile into blood.
Moses clearly heard, saw, and experienced examples of God’s power. Yet . . .
How much power do we need to see before we will believe?
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A couple weeks ago I was resisting giving myself over to the vision that God was placing on my heart. It was – and is – a good, faithful vision (as God’s vision would be). But I wasn’t yet fully on board. I had lots of things I was weighing. Lots of reasons I thought it was maybe my own vision and not God’s. Lots of excuses holding me back.
As Kristine and I worshiped with our 3DM extended family, there was an opportunity to receive prayers for the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12). I had never experienced that. I wanted that! A dramatic sign to confirm God’s vision and God’s power.
As we prayed, I received a gift. It was . . .
The gift of faith (1 Cor 12:9). Looking back, it makes perfect sense to me that it wasn’t one of the “dramatic” gifts I had hoped for. At the time, though, I wanted something with a little more flair.
The gift of faith. God was pressing me. “Do you have faith in me, in my love, in my vision? Do you have faith in me?”
And what occurred to me was this. Any answer but yes was no.
“Honey, darling, sweetie, do you love me?” Um, sorta. That’s just not going to cut it.
When it came to this vision God was giving me, he was saying, “You’re either in or you’re out.” Which is it?
I was finally able to move from saying “I’m sorta in” (which sounded an awful lot like “I’m not in”) to saying “I’m all in.”
What allowed me to do this on that day was the gift of faith. This was God’s power at work, too. Not so dramatic though. This is the other side of the same question.
How much power do we need to see before we will believe?
Psalm 31:1-5 | Exodus 4:1-5:9 | Matthew 19:13-22
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. Psalm 22:27
God desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4
Lord, help us to remain faithful while we take our journey as a people to worship you in the beauty of your holiness. Give us a better understanding, knowledge and saving grace as we walk in your devout light! Amen.
First Sunday in Lent
Watchword for the Week – Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. Psalm 25:8
Genesis 9:8-17 | Psalm 25:1-10 | 1 Peter 3:18-22 | Mark 1:9-15
I will set my eyes upon them for good. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. Jeremiah 24:6
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:7
God of heaven and earth, as we gather for worship, let us praise you as Lord who is able to shape us as a people of one mind. You are the one who also provides for us the life-giving water needed to sustain our growth. Amen.
Psalm 30:6-12 | Exodus 2:11-3:22 | Matthew 19:1-12
O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you. Psalm 63:1
Christ says, “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
Most holy Lord and God, to you we give all honor and praise. Help us always to seek first your kingdom and its righteousness as instructed by our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Matthew 18:15-35 | Here’s what to do when another one of Jesus’ followers, a fellow member of your community, wrongs you or hurts you or is gossiping about you or seems out to get you.
Psalm 30:1-5 | Exodus 1:1-2:10 | Matthew 18:15-35
I rejoice in your salvation. 1 Samuel 2:1 (NASB)
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. Mark 16:9,10
Precious Lord, we rejoice with the angels and the disciples in the salvation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died for our sins and was raised as King of kings. Amen.
Good Shepherd! 