Daily Scripture:
Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that!
Luke 23:34 Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”
They divided up his clothes by throwing dice.[Luke 23:34 Psalm 22:19(18)]
47 When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he began to praise God and said, “Surely this man was innocent!”
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"Prayer Tip"
This week in worship, we are blessed to hear our Pastor Darryl Burton share his story. One theme I know we will hear: the power of forgiveness. So I thought we might spend a bit of time reflecting and praying about forgiveness.
First, spend time quieting your heart and mind. Once you have, read the scriptures below. What are some of the things we can learn about the nature of God’s forgiveness from these scriptures?
The most striking thing to me about these Scriptures is the sense they give me that God is eager and always willing to forgive. God graciously invites us to come and share the areas where we have missed the mark. God isn’t sitting in some proverbial “corner,” smugly crossing God’s arms and muttering about God’s disappointment in us. Instead, God demonstrates openness, understanding and grace towards us.
I recently found a cross that belonged to my mother-in-law that I think depicts Christ’s heart/God’s heart towards us in a way that captures me. Take a look:
Spend a moment praying to this God, our God, for any forgiveness you need.
But I have one more question. As beings created in the image of our God, how can we demonstrate the same posture of openness, understanding and grace towards others as they seek our forgiveness? I found Bluefish TV’s Signs of Forgiveness video demonstrated beautifully what this looks like. Take a look.
As you close your time of reflection and prayer, ask God to help you become more forgiving. May it be so.[Rev. Katherine Ebling-Frazier, Pastor of Prayer]
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Join us for worship today - click here for information on worship times and locations. If you are not in the Kansas City area, you can take part in our worship via live Web stream at rezonline.org.
Download a printable version of this week's GPS.-------
Sunday, October 30, 2016 – “Hope and Forgiveness”
Scripture: Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that!
Luke 23:34 Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”
They divided up his clothes by throwing dice.[Luke 23:34 Psalm 22:19(18)]
47 When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he began to praise God and said, “Surely this man was innocent!”
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“Father, forgive them” for Monday, 31 October 2016
Luke 23:34 Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”
They divided up his clothes by throwing dice.[Luke 23:34 Psalm 22:19(18)] 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at him.[Luke 23:35 Psalm 22:8(7)] “He saved others,” they said, “so if he really is the Messiah, the one chosen by God, let him save himself!” 36 The soldiers too ridiculed him; they came up, offered him vinegar[Luke 23:36 Psalm 69:22(21)] 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 And there was a notice over him which read,
THIS IS
THE KING OF THE JEWS
39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him. “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other one spoke up and rebuked the first, saying, “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same punishment as he is. 41 Ours is only fair; we’re getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man did nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Yeshua, remember me when you come as King.” 43 Yeshua said to him, “Yes! I promise that you will be with me today in Gan-‘Eden.”
44 It was now about noon, and darkness covered the whole Land until three o’clock in the afternoon; 45 the sun did not shine. Also the parokhet in the Temple was split down the middle. 46 Crying out with a loud voice, Yeshua said, “Father! Into your hands I commit my spirit.”[Luke 23:46 Psalm 31:6(5)] With these words he gave up his spirit.
47 When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he began to praise God and said, “Surely this man was innocent!”
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Last weekend, Pastor Darryl Burton shared his tragic (yet finally triumphant) story of unjust accusation and imprisonment. Jesus could identify with Pastor Burton. Jesus’ friends and his nation betrayed him, a Roman procurator who could see his innocence approved his crucifixion (cf. John 19:4-6), and he felt a deep sense of separation from God (cf. Matthew 27:46). Yet on the cross, Jesus did what might seem impossible—he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34).
• Think of a time when someone wronged you in a major way. Remember how the situation
came to be, what feelings it triggered in you, and what you did about them. Have you been able to forgive and let go of the hurt, or has this wrong continued to haunt you? What would it take for you to set yourself free from the past by forgiving? What kind of help, divine or human, might you need for that process?
• Too many Christians want to view injustices like the one Pastor Burton suffered as rare
glitches, or just ignore them as long as they don’t happen to them. But Jesus rebuked very
religious people in his day for carefully giving a tenth of even tiny herbs like mint “while neglecting justice and love for God” (Luke 11:42). What opportunities do you have each day, in regular activities or in volunteer efforts, to act in ways that bring about greater justice? How willing are you to consistently act for justice and righteousness?
Prayer: Compassionate God, you suffered so much, yet prayed, “Father, forgive them…” As
you forge a new identity in me, may I see myself and others through your eyes, and forgive as you forgave. Amen.
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“I was in prison and you visited me” for Tuesday, 1 November 2016
Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, 36 I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the people who have done what God wants will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and make you our guest, or needing clothes and provide them? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!’
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Jesus gave a word picture of the final judgment, using his familiar technique of telling a short “parable” story. His judgment story clearly showed his Kingdom’s priorities. Kingdom people, he said, care for the hungry and thirsty, the poorly-clothed and strangers, the prisoners and the sick—the people whom Jesus called “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine.” Jesus knew that, most of the time, it’s relatively easy to serve people doing well. He said we meet
him with those who are poor, sick, hungry—and in prison.
• We sometimes say we should “see the face of Jesus” in people in need, and help them. But
in Jesus’ story, both those accepted and the ones turned away were surprised. Jesus said all people in need of help were his brothers and sisters. We’re one human family—and people treated unjustly, or facing poverty and illness, are “us,” not “them.” In what ways can you sense God reshaping your attitudes toward “the least of these” in your community and world?
• Some think following Jesus means giving up bad habits, learning large amounts of
Scripture, or other “religious” duties. Jesus said those who inherit his kingdom live as his physical presence to meet the needs of the human family he loves. How can you bless
Jesus, day to day, by actively seeking to help meet some of the needs of “the least of
these” in your family, neighborhood, at work, or in the world at large?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, how many times have I met you, needing justice, food or healing, and
turned away without recognizing you? Forgive me, and keep shifting my perspective to see
and act with your compassion. Amen.
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“Love your enemies” for Wednesday, 2 November 2016
Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that!
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How did Pastor Burton move forward after 20 years of unfair detention? He lived into the focus of Jesus’ teaching about tragedy or suffering. Jesus was not much concerned with assigning blame for the bad things that happen in life, but rather with bringing healing. He taught that God doesn’t send bad things into our lives, but rather can find ways to redeem even those when they happen.
• Pastor Hamilton wrote, “God does not take from us our freedom, nor does God
miraculously deliver us from the consequences of our actions or the actions of others…. God does promise to sustain us and force good to come from the painful things we experience in this life.”1 What makes it important to you that Jesus pictured God as a just, loving, merciful parent, not a monster who makes bad things happen to us?
• Jesus said that God causes it to rain on the just and the unjust alike. How often are you tempted to limit your help and your efforts to bless only to people you like, or consider “worthy”? How do you understand the idea of loving your enemies? Do you believe Jesus meant having mushy, affectionate feelings about them, or choosing to act for their good despite what they have done? How can making those hard choices help you grow in character and maturity?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, hate is so tempting—and, in the end, so destructive to me, and to your
purposes for my life. Teach me more each day about how to love and pray for even my
enemies. Amen.
1 Adam Hamilton, Why? Making Sense of God’s Will. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011, p. 20.
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"Forgive—as God forgives" for Thursday, 3 November 2016
Luke 6:31 “Treat other people as you would like them to treat you. 32 What credit is it to you if you love only those who love you? Why, even sinners love those who love them. 33 What credit is it to you if you do good only to those who do good to you? Even sinners do that. 34 What credit is it to you if you lend only to those who you expect will pay you back? Even sinners lend to each other, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing back! Your reward will be great, and you will be children of Ha‘Elyon; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Show compassion, just as your Father shows compassion.
37 “Don’t judge,
and you won’t be judged.
Don’t condemn,
and you won’t be condemned.
“Forgive,
and you will be forgiven.
38 Give,
and you will receive gifts —
the full measure, compacted, shaken together and overflowing, will be put right in your lap. For the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure back to you!”
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Luke used much (but not all) of the material from “The Sermon on the Mount” (cf. Matthew 5-7) in this passage. That does not mean we have to choose the “right” version. Most scholars believe these principles were likely the core of most of Jesus’ sermons. Too often, we are a bit glib about forgiving. “No big deal—it doesn’t matter,” we want others to say. But it IS a big deal to forgive. Forgiving as God forgave reminds us that it took the cross to show us God’s forgiveness.
• Luke linked the Golden Rule (“Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat
you”—verse 31) to Jesus’ words about how to treat enemies. In what relationships do you
find it hardest for you to treat others as you’d wish to be treated? How can Jesus’ teaching help you discern how to live out the Golden Rule in ways that bless others while you maintain healthy boundaries and self-care?
• From Francis of Assisi to his namesake Pope Francis, from Martin Luther King, Jr. to
Mother Teresa, many Christ followers have stood with the poor and victims of injustice.
The Message rendered Luke 6:46 as, “Why are you…always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s
right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you? These…are words to build a life on.” How are you building your life on Jesus’ values, as so many of his followers through the centuries have done?
Prayer: O Jesus, I’m not God—but you promised me that you can shape me to be more and
more like you. I offer my life to your re-shaping hand, because ultimately your way of life is the best way of life. Amen.
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"Living with hope" for Friday, 4 November 2016
Romans 5:1 So, since we have come to be considered righteous by God because of our trust, let us continue to have shalom with God through our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. 2 Also through him and on the ground of our trust, we have gained access to this grace in which we stand; so let us boast about the hope of experiencing God’s glory. 3 But not only that, let us also boast in our troubles; because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4 endurance produces character, and character produces hope; 5 and this hope does not let us down, because God’s love for us has already been poured out in our hearts through the Ruach HaKodesh who has been given to us.
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The apostle Paul sketched the spiritual growth process through which every Christ-follower can develop a character that meets challenges (like unfair conviction, or any of life’s dark twists and turns) with hope and trust, not despair. God, the apostle said, has the power to bend even bad things to good purposes in our lives. Paul said that as we meet trouble in God’s grace we grow in the kind of resolute, grounded hope needed to survive and thrive.
• The apostle didn’t write through naïve, rose-colored glasses. Human nature is not at all inclined to view tests as something to “take pride” in. That’s why he focused on God’s wisdom and love as the divine gifts that can turn hard times into times of growth. When has God given you wisdom to face a tough challenge, or surrounded you with love and support for the strength you needed? In what ways does God’s ability to “grow you” through life’s challenges help you view hard times differently?
• Later in Romans, Paul wrote, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). How close to “overflowing” is your inner supply of joy and hope today, whether you face good situations, hard ones or a mix? How can you open your heart and allow God to fill you to overflowing with all joy and peace?
Prayer: Lord God, come and fill me. Replace fear, doubt and despair with your joy, peace,
faith and hope. Let me walk every day in the light and love you pour into my heart. Amen.
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“Nothing can separate us from God’s love” for Saturday, 5 November 2016
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, 39 neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.
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Pastor Burton’s remarkable story reminds us that seeking justice matters to all of us as God’s people (cf. Amos 5:24). It also shows us the truth of Romans 8:38-39: nothing (!) can separate us from God’s love. When he wrote that, the apostle Paul knew all about “trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword” (verse 35). Those are the parts of life that often shake our faith in God’s love. But Paul said God allows us to face them, but never leaves us while we face them. Scholar N. T. Wright wrote, “Look around at the many things that threaten to separate you from the powerful love seen through the cross and
resurrection, and learn that they are all beaten foes. Learn to dance and sing for joy to celebrate God’s victory. The end of Romans 8 deserves to be written in letters of fire on the living tablets of our hearts.”1
• The compound Greek word translated “sweeping victory” was hupernikaō. “Huper” was a superlative, the origin of the English “hyper.” And the “nik” in the middle of the word came from the Greek word for “victory,” a word we know from shoes and athletic gear—“nikē”! Paul asked two compelling questions: “If God is for us, who is against us?” and “Who will separate us from Christ’s love?” Both were phrased in a way that assumed the answer was “Nobody and nothing!” In what ways does that confidence shape your daily life for the better? What can help you, even on the hardest of days, to open your heart to the sweeping victory God offers you?
Prayer: All powerful God, whatever comes my way, hold me close in the shelter of your love. Thank you that, through you, I can win a sweeping victory in “all these things.”
Amen.
1 N. T. Wright, Paul for Everyone, Romans Part 1: Chapters 1–8. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p. 159.
Family Activity: Sometimes people get angry with or hurt one another. It is important for us to ask forgiveness when we sin against someone, and forgive those who’ve hurt us. Place a handful of coins in a container and go as a family to a nearby fountain. Ask each person to take one or more coins. Explain that this is a time to tell God “I’m sorry” for my wrongs, and start the process of forgiving hurts from others. Ask each person to pray (aloud or silently), “Lord, I am sorry I…” and/or “Lord, help me to forgive….” Toss the coins into the water. Invite family members to dip their hands in the fountain for a quick washing. End by praying, “Thank
you, God, for the reality of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Amen.” Make sure to also ask forgiveness of the ones who have been hurt by your words or actions.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Jessie Fetters and family on the death of her brother Alvin Pemberton, 10/23
•Kaye Schultz and family on the death of her brother Gaylord Freshley, 10/20
• Jaime Kernaghan and family on the death of her father Bob Kernaghan, 10/17
•Stacy Vollmar and Kristin Vollmar on the death of their father Dean Vollmar, 10/1
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Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that!
Luke 23:34 Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”
They divided up his clothes by throwing dice.[Luke 23:34 Psalm 22:19(18)]
47 When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he began to praise God and said, “Surely this man was innocent!”
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"Prayer Tip"
This week in worship, we are blessed to hear our Pastor Darryl Burton share his story. One theme I know we will hear: the power of forgiveness. So I thought we might spend a bit of time reflecting and praying about forgiveness.
First, spend time quieting your heart and mind. Once you have, read the scriptures below. What are some of the things we can learn about the nature of God’s forgiveness from these scriptures?
- Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19)
- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
- “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The most striking thing to me about these Scriptures is the sense they give me that God is eager and always willing to forgive. God graciously invites us to come and share the areas where we have missed the mark. God isn’t sitting in some proverbial “corner,” smugly crossing God’s arms and muttering about God’s disappointment in us. Instead, God demonstrates openness, understanding and grace towards us.
I recently found a cross that belonged to my mother-in-law that I think depicts Christ’s heart/God’s heart towards us in a way that captures me. Take a look:
But I have one more question. As beings created in the image of our God, how can we demonstrate the same posture of openness, understanding and grace towards others as they seek our forgiveness? I found Bluefish TV’s Signs of Forgiveness video demonstrated beautifully what this looks like. Take a look.
As you close your time of reflection and prayer, ask God to help you become more forgiving. May it be so.[Rev. Katherine Ebling-Frazier, Pastor of Prayer]
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Join us for worship today - click here for information on worship times and locations. If you are not in the Kansas City area, you can take part in our worship via live Web stream at rezonline.org.
Download a printable version of this week's GPS.-------
Sunday, October 30, 2016 – “Hope and Forgiveness”
Scripture: Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that!
Luke 23:34 Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”
They divided up his clothes by throwing dice.[Luke 23:34 Psalm 22:19(18)]
47 When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he began to praise God and said, “Surely this man was innocent!”
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“Father, forgive them” for Monday, 31 October 2016
Luke 23:34 Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”
They divided up his clothes by throwing dice.[Luke 23:34 Psalm 22:19(18)] 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at him.[Luke 23:35 Psalm 22:8(7)] “He saved others,” they said, “so if he really is the Messiah, the one chosen by God, let him save himself!” 36 The soldiers too ridiculed him; they came up, offered him vinegar[Luke 23:36 Psalm 69:22(21)] 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 And there was a notice over him which read,
THIS IS
THE KING OF THE JEWS
39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him. “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other one spoke up and rebuked the first, saying, “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same punishment as he is. 41 Ours is only fair; we’re getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man did nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Yeshua, remember me when you come as King.” 43 Yeshua said to him, “Yes! I promise that you will be with me today in Gan-‘Eden.”
44 It was now about noon, and darkness covered the whole Land until three o’clock in the afternoon; 45 the sun did not shine. Also the parokhet in the Temple was split down the middle. 46 Crying out with a loud voice, Yeshua said, “Father! Into your hands I commit my spirit.”[Luke 23:46 Psalm 31:6(5)] With these words he gave up his spirit.
47 When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he began to praise God and said, “Surely this man was innocent!”
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Last weekend, Pastor Darryl Burton shared his tragic (yet finally triumphant) story of unjust accusation and imprisonment. Jesus could identify with Pastor Burton. Jesus’ friends and his nation betrayed him, a Roman procurator who could see his innocence approved his crucifixion (cf. John 19:4-6), and he felt a deep sense of separation from God (cf. Matthew 27:46). Yet on the cross, Jesus did what might seem impossible—he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34).
• Think of a time when someone wronged you in a major way. Remember how the situation
came to be, what feelings it triggered in you, and what you did about them. Have you been able to forgive and let go of the hurt, or has this wrong continued to haunt you? What would it take for you to set yourself free from the past by forgiving? What kind of help, divine or human, might you need for that process?
• Too many Christians want to view injustices like the one Pastor Burton suffered as rare
glitches, or just ignore them as long as they don’t happen to them. But Jesus rebuked very
religious people in his day for carefully giving a tenth of even tiny herbs like mint “while neglecting justice and love for God” (Luke 11:42). What opportunities do you have each day, in regular activities or in volunteer efforts, to act in ways that bring about greater justice? How willing are you to consistently act for justice and righteousness?
Prayer: Compassionate God, you suffered so much, yet prayed, “Father, forgive them…” As
you forge a new identity in me, may I see myself and others through your eyes, and forgive as you forgave. Amen.
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“I was in prison and you visited me” for Tuesday, 1 November 2016
Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, 36 I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the people who have done what God wants will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and make you our guest, or needing clothes and provide them? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!’
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Jesus gave a word picture of the final judgment, using his familiar technique of telling a short “parable” story. His judgment story clearly showed his Kingdom’s priorities. Kingdom people, he said, care for the hungry and thirsty, the poorly-clothed and strangers, the prisoners and the sick—the people whom Jesus called “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine.” Jesus knew that, most of the time, it’s relatively easy to serve people doing well. He said we meet
him with those who are poor, sick, hungry—and in prison.
• We sometimes say we should “see the face of Jesus” in people in need, and help them. But
in Jesus’ story, both those accepted and the ones turned away were surprised. Jesus said all people in need of help were his brothers and sisters. We’re one human family—and people treated unjustly, or facing poverty and illness, are “us,” not “them.” In what ways can you sense God reshaping your attitudes toward “the least of these” in your community and world?
• Some think following Jesus means giving up bad habits, learning large amounts of
Scripture, or other “religious” duties. Jesus said those who inherit his kingdom live as his physical presence to meet the needs of the human family he loves. How can you bless
Jesus, day to day, by actively seeking to help meet some of the needs of “the least of
these” in your family, neighborhood, at work, or in the world at large?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, how many times have I met you, needing justice, food or healing, and
turned away without recognizing you? Forgive me, and keep shifting my perspective to see
and act with your compassion. Amen.
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“Love your enemies” for Wednesday, 2 November 2016
Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that!
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How did Pastor Burton move forward after 20 years of unfair detention? He lived into the focus of Jesus’ teaching about tragedy or suffering. Jesus was not much concerned with assigning blame for the bad things that happen in life, but rather with bringing healing. He taught that God doesn’t send bad things into our lives, but rather can find ways to redeem even those when they happen.
• Pastor Hamilton wrote, “God does not take from us our freedom, nor does God
miraculously deliver us from the consequences of our actions or the actions of others…. God does promise to sustain us and force good to come from the painful things we experience in this life.”1 What makes it important to you that Jesus pictured God as a just, loving, merciful parent, not a monster who makes bad things happen to us?
• Jesus said that God causes it to rain on the just and the unjust alike. How often are you tempted to limit your help and your efforts to bless only to people you like, or consider “worthy”? How do you understand the idea of loving your enemies? Do you believe Jesus meant having mushy, affectionate feelings about them, or choosing to act for their good despite what they have done? How can making those hard choices help you grow in character and maturity?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, hate is so tempting—and, in the end, so destructive to me, and to your
purposes for my life. Teach me more each day about how to love and pray for even my
enemies. Amen.
1 Adam Hamilton, Why? Making Sense of God’s Will. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011, p. 20.
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"Forgive—as God forgives" for Thursday, 3 November 2016
Luke 6:31 “Treat other people as you would like them to treat you. 32 What credit is it to you if you love only those who love you? Why, even sinners love those who love them. 33 What credit is it to you if you do good only to those who do good to you? Even sinners do that. 34 What credit is it to you if you lend only to those who you expect will pay you back? Even sinners lend to each other, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing back! Your reward will be great, and you will be children of Ha‘Elyon; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Show compassion, just as your Father shows compassion.
37 “Don’t judge,
and you won’t be judged.
Don’t condemn,
and you won’t be condemned.
“Forgive,
and you will be forgiven.
38 Give,
and you will receive gifts —
the full measure, compacted, shaken together and overflowing, will be put right in your lap. For the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure back to you!”
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Luke used much (but not all) of the material from “The Sermon on the Mount” (cf. Matthew 5-7) in this passage. That does not mean we have to choose the “right” version. Most scholars believe these principles were likely the core of most of Jesus’ sermons. Too often, we are a bit glib about forgiving. “No big deal—it doesn’t matter,” we want others to say. But it IS a big deal to forgive. Forgiving as God forgave reminds us that it took the cross to show us God’s forgiveness.
• Luke linked the Golden Rule (“Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat
you”—verse 31) to Jesus’ words about how to treat enemies. In what relationships do you
find it hardest for you to treat others as you’d wish to be treated? How can Jesus’ teaching help you discern how to live out the Golden Rule in ways that bless others while you maintain healthy boundaries and self-care?
• From Francis of Assisi to his namesake Pope Francis, from Martin Luther King, Jr. to
Mother Teresa, many Christ followers have stood with the poor and victims of injustice.
The Message rendered Luke 6:46 as, “Why are you…always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s
right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you? These…are words to build a life on.” How are you building your life on Jesus’ values, as so many of his followers through the centuries have done?
Prayer: O Jesus, I’m not God—but you promised me that you can shape me to be more and
more like you. I offer my life to your re-shaping hand, because ultimately your way of life is the best way of life. Amen.
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"Living with hope" for Friday, 4 November 2016
Romans 5:1 So, since we have come to be considered righteous by God because of our trust, let us continue to have shalom with God through our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. 2 Also through him and on the ground of our trust, we have gained access to this grace in which we stand; so let us boast about the hope of experiencing God’s glory. 3 But not only that, let us also boast in our troubles; because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4 endurance produces character, and character produces hope; 5 and this hope does not let us down, because God’s love for us has already been poured out in our hearts through the Ruach HaKodesh who has been given to us.
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The apostle Paul sketched the spiritual growth process through which every Christ-follower can develop a character that meets challenges (like unfair conviction, or any of life’s dark twists and turns) with hope and trust, not despair. God, the apostle said, has the power to bend even bad things to good purposes in our lives. Paul said that as we meet trouble in God’s grace we grow in the kind of resolute, grounded hope needed to survive and thrive.
• The apostle didn’t write through naïve, rose-colored glasses. Human nature is not at all inclined to view tests as something to “take pride” in. That’s why he focused on God’s wisdom and love as the divine gifts that can turn hard times into times of growth. When has God given you wisdom to face a tough challenge, or surrounded you with love and support for the strength you needed? In what ways does God’s ability to “grow you” through life’s challenges help you view hard times differently?
• Later in Romans, Paul wrote, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). How close to “overflowing” is your inner supply of joy and hope today, whether you face good situations, hard ones or a mix? How can you open your heart and allow God to fill you to overflowing with all joy and peace?
Prayer: Lord God, come and fill me. Replace fear, doubt and despair with your joy, peace,
faith and hope. Let me walk every day in the light and love you pour into my heart. Amen.
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“Nothing can separate us from God’s love” for Saturday, 5 November 2016
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, 39 neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.
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Pastor Burton’s remarkable story reminds us that seeking justice matters to all of us as God’s people (cf. Amos 5:24). It also shows us the truth of Romans 8:38-39: nothing (!) can separate us from God’s love. When he wrote that, the apostle Paul knew all about “trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword” (verse 35). Those are the parts of life that often shake our faith in God’s love. But Paul said God allows us to face them, but never leaves us while we face them. Scholar N. T. Wright wrote, “Look around at the many things that threaten to separate you from the powerful love seen through the cross and
resurrection, and learn that they are all beaten foes. Learn to dance and sing for joy to celebrate God’s victory. The end of Romans 8 deserves to be written in letters of fire on the living tablets of our hearts.”1
• The compound Greek word translated “sweeping victory” was hupernikaō. “Huper” was a superlative, the origin of the English “hyper.” And the “nik” in the middle of the word came from the Greek word for “victory,” a word we know from shoes and athletic gear—“nikē”! Paul asked two compelling questions: “If God is for us, who is against us?” and “Who will separate us from Christ’s love?” Both were phrased in a way that assumed the answer was “Nobody and nothing!” In what ways does that confidence shape your daily life for the better? What can help you, even on the hardest of days, to open your heart to the sweeping victory God offers you?
Prayer: All powerful God, whatever comes my way, hold me close in the shelter of your love. Thank you that, through you, I can win a sweeping victory in “all these things.”
Amen.
1 N. T. Wright, Paul for Everyone, Romans Part 1: Chapters 1–8. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p. 159.
Family Activity: Sometimes people get angry with or hurt one another. It is important for us to ask forgiveness when we sin against someone, and forgive those who’ve hurt us. Place a handful of coins in a container and go as a family to a nearby fountain. Ask each person to take one or more coins. Explain that this is a time to tell God “I’m sorry” for my wrongs, and start the process of forgiving hurts from others. Ask each person to pray (aloud or silently), “Lord, I am sorry I…” and/or “Lord, help me to forgive….” Toss the coins into the water. Invite family members to dip their hands in the fountain for a quick washing. End by praying, “Thank
you, God, for the reality of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Amen.” Make sure to also ask forgiveness of the ones who have been hurt by your words or actions.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Jessie Fetters and family on the death of her brother Alvin Pemberton, 10/23
•Kaye Schultz and family on the death of her brother Gaylord Freshley, 10/20
• Jaime Kernaghan and family on the death of her father Bob Kernaghan, 10/17
•Stacy Vollmar and Kristin Vollmar on the death of their father Dean Vollmar, 10/1
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