The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Thursday, 28 May 2015 - "We are God’s 'searchers'”
Daily Scripture: Matthew 28:16 So the eleven talmidim went to the hill in the Galil where Yeshua had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they prostrated themselves before him; but some hesitated. 18 Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.”
Acts 1:4 At one of these gatherings, he instructed them not to leave Yerushalayim but to wait for “what the Father promised, which you heard about from me. 5 For Yochanan used to immerse people in water; but in a few days, you will be immersed in the Ruach HaKodesh!”
6 When they were together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra’el?” 7 He answered, “You don’t need to know the dates or the times; the Father has kept these under his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Ruach HaKodesh comes upon you; you will be my witnesses both in Yerushalayim and in all Y’hudah and Shomron, indeed to the ends of the earth!”
Reflection Questions:
It’s wonderful that, when we miss the path, God comes seeking us. But the Bible also said that once God finds us, we don’t just sit idly by and watch God search for others. Jesus' “marching orders” to his followers were that we take an active part in God’s work of calling humans back to God. Having all authority from God, Jesus sent us to all nations, to teach all that he commanded.
- In Isaiah 43:10, the prophet quoted God as saying, “You are my witnesses, says the Lord, my servant, whom I chose, so that you would know and believe me and understand that I am the one. Before me no god was formed; after me there has been no other.” Will you accept God’s call, and be a living witness to the risen Lord, sharing what you know of his love and life?
- Acts 1:6 showed that the disciples still wished that Jesus would set himself up as an earthly king in Jerusalem. Jesus corrected them by saying, as The Message put it, “Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit.” Have you ever had to set aside your own wishes and plans, and accept what God gives you instead? How hard or difficult is it at those times for you to trust that God is doing what is best?
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, whether you call me personally to go to the end of the earth, or just to a corner of my hometown, give me a heart open to your Spirit’s power. Make me willing to answer your call. Amen.
Insights from Dr. Amy Oden
Dr. Amy Oden is Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at Saint Paul School of Theology at OCU. Teaching is her calling, and she looks forward to every day with students. For 25 years, Amy has taught theology and history, pursuing scholarship in service of the church.
I have really struggled in my life with how to witness for Jesus Christ. Do I stand on a street corner and shout dire warnings as people walk by? Make pronouncements on Facebook? Confront people about their beliefs or behaviors? Put bumper stickers on my car professing Christ? What does it look like to witness to my faith in everyday life, or as today’s GPS puts it, to “take an active part in God’s work of calling humans back to God”?
For me, it helps to keep it simple. My witness is not about a set of doctrines or pronouncements. It’s about the love of God. When I can focus on this simple (and amazing!) truth and my experience of it, then I can witness authentically through my words and deeds. Most often I do this by pointing to the ways I see God at work all around me. Every day I make a point to say, “Look! See!” to at least one other person about signs of new life, growth, fruits or gifts I see, either in them or their church or in the world. This is my witness to the love of God that fills all things, my way of “calling humans (and myself) back to God.”
For many years, I thought it was arrogant to talk about my faith–that I would be imposing it on others, or implicitly judging them by sharing my own. Now, though, I realize how many people are hungry for mercy, second chances, unconditional love and grace. To not share my witness of God’s love is to withhold spiritual food to those spiritually starving. If we don’t share our verbal witness of love, then the only voices those hungry folks will hear are the loudest ones out there who scold or scare in the name of Jesus. I call that “spiritual junk food” that offers no spiritual nutrition to sustain one’s walk with Christ. The good news of Jesus is love.
What is your experience of God’s love? How do you express it? Start here.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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