Missionary Renegade: The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection from Leawood, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 7 May 2016 "What the apostle did with his second chance"

Saturday, May 7, 2016

The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection from Leawood, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 7 May 2016 "What the apostle did with his second chance"

Saturday, 07 May 2016 - "What the apostle did with his second chance"
Daily Scripture: Philippians 3:3 For it is we who are the Circumcised, we who worship by the Spirit of God and make our boast in the Messiah Yeshua! We do not put confidence in human qualifications, 4 even though I certainly have grounds for putting confidence in such things. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for putting confidence in human qualifications, I have better grounds:
a. 5 b’rit-milah on the eighth day,
b. by birth belonging to the people of Isra’el,
c. from the tribe of Binyamin,
d. a Hebrew-speaker, with Hebrew-speaking parents,
e. in regard to the Torah, a Parush,
f. 6 in regard to zeal, a persecutor of the Messianic Community,
g. in regard to the righteousness demanded by legalism, blameless.
7 But the things that used to be advantages for me, I have, because of the Messiah, come to consider a disadvantage. 8 Not only that, but I consider everything a disadvantage in comparison with the supreme value of knowing the Messiah Yeshua as my Lord. It was because of him that I gave up everything and regard it all as garbage, in order to gain the Messiah 9 and be found in union with him, not having any righteousness of my own based on legalism, but having that righteousness which comes through the Messiah’s faithfulness, the righteousness from God based on trust. 10 Yes, I gave it all up in order to know him, that is, to know the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings as I am being conformed to his death, 11 so that somehow I might arrive at being resurrected from the dead.
1 Timothy 1:12 and I thank the one who has given me strength, the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord, that he considered me trustworthy enough to put me in his service, 13 even though I used to be a man who blasphemed and persecuted and was arrogant! But I received mercy because I had acted in unbelief, not understanding what I was doing. 14 Our Lord’s grace overflowed to me with trust and love that come through the Messiah Yeshua. 15 So here is a statement you can trust, one that fully deserves to be accepted: the Messiah came into the world to save sinners, and I’m the number one sinner! 16 But this is precisely why I received mercy — so that in me, as the number one sinner, Yeshua the Messiah might demonstrate how very patient he is, as an example to those who would later come to trust in him and thereby have eternal life.
Reflection Questions:
Paul wrote to the Philippians that if we could save ourselves by religious performance, he’d gladly put his record up against anyone. But those religious “assets” no longer counted. He “wrote them off,” and trusted in Christ’s grace. In 1 Timothy, he recalled when he was a persecutor and described himself as “the biggest sinner of all.” But he did so, not in self-loathing or despair, but to bear witness to the amazing difference God’s mercy had made in his life. “Our Lord’s favor poured all over me along with the faithfulness and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:14).

The young Pharisee Saul had all the human credentials—“proper” birth, great education, and even persecuting Christians. What are the family heritages, human accomplishments and credentials you are proudest of? If preserving any of them ever conflicted with heeding God’s call on your life, what choice would you make? Paul told the Philippians they were all his “partners in the ministry of the gospel” (Philippians 1:5), and urged the Romans to render their “appropriate priestly service” to God by using the gifts God had put in each of their lives (cf. Romans 12:1-8). In what ways has God appointed you to ministry? How are you responding to that appointment?

Today’s Prayer:
Lord Jesus, like Paul, I’ve done plenty of things that disappointed you and hurt others. Thank you for showing me mercy, and calling me into your service. Amen.
Family Activity:
Adults, gather several pennies and hide them throughout your home. Place a bowl in the center of the room. Ask your children to hunt for the pennies. (Pennies can be a choking hazard, so very young children should be supervised.) Let each child place the pennies he or she collected in the bowl. Ask, “If this was all the money our family had, what would you do with it?” Read aloud Mark 12: 41-44 and 2 Corinthians 9:7[Mark 12:41 Then Yeshua sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the crowd as they put money into the offering-boxes. Many rich people put in large sums, 42 but a poor widow came and put in two small coins. 43 He called his talmidim to him and said to them, “Yes! I tell you, this poor widow has put more in the offering-box than all the others making donations. 44 For all of them, out of their wealth, have contributed money they can easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.[2 Corinthians 9:7 Proverbs 22:8 (Septuagint)]]. Ask, “Who does Jesus say gave more money? Why do you think Jesus wants us to share? How does God want us to feel when we give?” Decide where you will give the pennies. Pray for the people who will receive them and thank God for your blessings.
Insights from Chris Folmsbee

Cathy Bien was unable to write for the Insights blog today. Instead, we share a post written by Chris Folmsbee, Resurrection’s Director of Discipleship Ministries, and first posted on Sept. 9, 2014. Chris is the author of several books, with an extensive background in applying principles of spiritual growth to real life. He, his wife Gina and their family have been attending Resurrection since 2008.
A few weeks ago I sat down with one of my friends who is a major league baseball player. He was in town with the Giants, playing against the Royals. As we sipped our coffee and chatted I asked, “So how is your body feeling these days? As many games as you play, how do you keep healthy?” My friend replied, “Taking care of your body is crucial. The stretching, the sleep, the healthy eating, etc. is very important. However, at this point in such a long season, every player I know is hurting somewhere on his body. What matters the most at this point is my heart, my drive, and my attitude. If I can keep the inner life healthy as we gear up for the playoffs, the body will follow suit.”
Today’s reading (Philippians 3:5-7) made me reflect on that conversation. Paul had all of the things needed to be a religiously committed and respected Jew on the outside—circumcision, bloodline, scholarship, fiercely standing up for his faith as a committed Pharisee, and blamelessly following the law. But Paul’s true estimate of his religious commitment came not from what he had or had done, but from who Jesus Christ was. Paul was not making light of the ritual and rite he possessed as a Jew. Paul was making sense of the power of who Jesus is, and what Jesus did. Paul affirmed his identity and heritage as a Jew, but articulated that Jesus meant more to him than all of the other assets.
Professional athletes, like my friend, typically do everything it takes to become a skilled, trained and proficient specialist. But without the drive, the determination and the inner strength to continue to pursue championships, the outer ritual of exercise and practice loses most of its significance.
Jesus provides the inner peace and power to passionately pursue the person God desires each of us to become. Our inner life is where we move our faith from ritual to relationship (though not in the absence of our outward expressions of faith). A faithful commitment to Jesus takes us beyond the procedures of the faith, and leads us toward a profound, life-changing personal and public faith.