Daily Scripture: Ephesians 2:4 But God is so rich in mercy and loves us with such intense love 5 that, even when we were dead because of our acts of disobedience, he brought us to life along with the Messiah — it is by grace that you have been delivered. 6 That is, God raised us up with the Messiah Yeshua and seated us with him in heaven, 7 in order to exhibit in the ages to come how infinitely rich is his grace, how great is his kindness toward us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua. 8 For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God’s gift. 9 You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast. 10 For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.
Reflection Questions:
God’s free grace, offered to all, is a gift we can never earn. But that free grace changes us. Paul, as passionate a preacher of God’s saving grace as ever lived, wrote that when we accept that grace, we live as “God’s accomplishment [Greek poema, meaning “artistry” or “handiwork”], created in Christ Jesus to do good things.”
- The Second General Rule of the Methodist Church was John Wesley’s way of applying the idea that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good things”: “By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men.” In what ways does the phrase “doing good of every possible sort” spark your imagination? What are one or two “sorts” of goodness you formerly didn’t practice, but now do as a follower of Christ?
- What is your life’s purpose? (You have one, even if you think you don’t. You make choices each day based on some inner vision of who you are and what you’re here for.) And no matter how much or how little time you’ve given to thinking about your purpose, God has a purpose for your life. Spend some quiet time today comparing your life’s direction with what Ephesians 2:10 says about God’s intention for your life.
Lord Jesus, thank you for offering me the gift of your saving, transforming grace. Guide me as I seek to live into the reality of the good things you’ve created and re-created me to do. Amen.Insights from Kari Burgess
Kari Burgess is a Program Director for the Catalyst team, handling promotion and marketing for all of the conferences held at Resurrection, as well as registration and coordinating hospitality volunteers.
I am full of good intentions. I have a great desire to serve others as an expression of God’s gift of grace to me, but I also find lots of excuses not to do so. I get caught up in my kids’ activities and busy schedule (which I’ve encouraged), caught up in my own to-do list at work and home, and as a result I find my life filled with activities that do not necessarily resemble the life of service I imagined. So looking at today’s Scripture about the good works God prepared in advance for me to do, and thinking about how I am following God’s will for me in this area, I can sure get discouraged. I wonder where I might have missed or completely ignored the nudging of the Holy Spirit to reach out to a friend or neighbor or to sign up for a serving event in the community or through church.
But rather than feel discouraged, I started thinking about who inspires me, who challenges me in the area of serving others. Immediately my thoughts went to my friend Leslie who, from my point of view, is always serving someone, somewhere.
Our kids go to school together and she and her family are active members of The Church of the Resurrection, so our paths cross often. Whether at school or at church, very often it is Leslie or her husband greeting us at an event as a volunteer. Frequently, an email will come through from Leslie asking if we’d like to join them on a school day off for a serving opportunity. Whether it be coordinating the President’s Volunteer Service Award Program at the school (encouraging volunteerism among students) or starting a campaign through social media during Random Acts of Kindness Week, Leslie and her family are living out Scripture to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.
Come to find out, Leslie comes by this naturally! We had coffee this week and as she told me about her faith journey, she described to me how she grew up in a United Methodist church in a family and faith community where serving was a way of life. Her father was a Lion’s Club member for 50 years, her mother was constantly making a meal for a friend or neighbor in need and as a family they were very involved in serving others through their church. Service was modeled for her over and over in her growing up years and was a way of life. Now as a parent she is intentional in living her life serving God’s people and believes by doing so she can have a profound effect on her children to cultivate a desire to serve others. What Leslie may not realize is that while modeling a heart for serving others to her children, she is also modeling it for me (and everyone around her).
She told me a story about a time when she distinctly felt the Holy Spirit’s nudge to action, This story is a great reminder to me that the Holy Spirit is constantly at work leading and showing me works he has prepared for me, if I would only be open to His prompting.
A friend of Leslie’s had mentioned that one particular day of the week was difficult for her to get a meal ready for the family due to her work schedule. Leslie had tucked that away in her mind and thought she would like to surprise this friend with a meal sometime on that day of the week, just to bless her (remember her mom’s ministry of food?). Time passed, life got in the way and she hadn’t gotten around to taking a meal. Then one day she had a strong sense to make a meal for this friend. She stopped for groceries and came home to prepare the meal. But as she started preparing the meal she met one barrier after another—she was missing a key ingredient for the side dish, she hadn’t picked up lettuce for the salad, she didn’t have enough time for the dessert to bake. All she had was the entrée to offer, and she began to wonder why she bothered. But she continued to sense that she was supposed to do this. When her friend answered the door and Leslie gave her the food and explanation, her friend broke down weeping. Something incredibly difficult had happened the day prior in this woman’s life and the food blessed her in more ways than one. Leslie’s timing (and the Holy Spirit’s) was perfect.
I walked away from our coffee date feeling inspired, encouraged and empowered about making an impact in the lives of those in my immediate community, in Greater Kansas City and beyond. My prayer is for my eyes and heart to be open to where God leads me. I look forward to acting the next time I feel that little nudge from the Holy Spirit.
Has the Holy Spirit been at work in your heart lately? Have you felt a nudge to reach out to a neighbor, or to sign up for a serving opportunity at church? I encourage you to follow that prompt. It could be God working to put you exactly where you need to be to bless someone else. In the process, you might be blessed too.
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
I am full of good intentions. I have a great desire to serve others as an expression of God’s gift of grace to me, but I also find lots of excuses not to do so. I get caught up in my kids’ activities and busy schedule (which I’ve encouraged), caught up in my own to-do list at work and home, and as a result I find my life filled with activities that do not necessarily resemble the life of service I imagined. So looking at today’s Scripture about the good works God prepared in advance for me to do, and thinking about how I am following God’s will for me in this area, I can sure get discouraged. I wonder where I might have missed or completely ignored the nudging of the Holy Spirit to reach out to a friend or neighbor or to sign up for a serving event in the community or through church.
But rather than feel discouraged, I started thinking about who inspires me, who challenges me in the area of serving others. Immediately my thoughts went to my friend Leslie who, from my point of view, is always serving someone, somewhere.
Our kids go to school together and she and her family are active members of The Church of the Resurrection, so our paths cross often. Whether at school or at church, very often it is Leslie or her husband greeting us at an event as a volunteer. Frequently, an email will come through from Leslie asking if we’d like to join them on a school day off for a serving opportunity. Whether it be coordinating the President’s Volunteer Service Award Program at the school (encouraging volunteerism among students) or starting a campaign through social media during Random Acts of Kindness Week, Leslie and her family are living out Scripture to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.
Come to find out, Leslie comes by this naturally! We had coffee this week and as she told me about her faith journey, she described to me how she grew up in a United Methodist church in a family and faith community where serving was a way of life. Her father was a Lion’s Club member for 50 years, her mother was constantly making a meal for a friend or neighbor in need and as a family they were very involved in serving others through their church. Service was modeled for her over and over in her growing up years and was a way of life. Now as a parent she is intentional in living her life serving God’s people and believes by doing so she can have a profound effect on her children to cultivate a desire to serve others. What Leslie may not realize is that while modeling a heart for serving others to her children, she is also modeling it for me (and everyone around her).
She told me a story about a time when she distinctly felt the Holy Spirit’s nudge to action, This story is a great reminder to me that the Holy Spirit is constantly at work leading and showing me works he has prepared for me, if I would only be open to His prompting.
A friend of Leslie’s had mentioned that one particular day of the week was difficult for her to get a meal ready for the family due to her work schedule. Leslie had tucked that away in her mind and thought she would like to surprise this friend with a meal sometime on that day of the week, just to bless her (remember her mom’s ministry of food?). Time passed, life got in the way and she hadn’t gotten around to taking a meal. Then one day she had a strong sense to make a meal for this friend. She stopped for groceries and came home to prepare the meal. But as she started preparing the meal she met one barrier after another—she was missing a key ingredient for the side dish, she hadn’t picked up lettuce for the salad, she didn’t have enough time for the dessert to bake. All she had was the entrée to offer, and she began to wonder why she bothered. But she continued to sense that she was supposed to do this. When her friend answered the door and Leslie gave her the food and explanation, her friend broke down weeping. Something incredibly difficult had happened the day prior in this woman’s life and the food blessed her in more ways than one. Leslie’s timing (and the Holy Spirit’s) was perfect.
I walked away from our coffee date feeling inspired, encouraged and empowered about making an impact in the lives of those in my immediate community, in Greater Kansas City and beyond. My prayer is for my eyes and heart to be open to where God leads me. I look forward to acting the next time I feel that little nudge from the Holy Spirit.
Has the Holy Spirit been at work in your heart lately? Have you felt a nudge to reach out to a neighbor, or to sign up for a serving opportunity at church? I encourage you to follow that prompt. It could be God working to put you exactly where you need to be to bless someone else. In the process, you might be blessed too.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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