The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States "Aged saints blessing a young mother" for Wednesday, 15 February 2017Luke 2:25 There was in Yerushalayim a man named Shim‘on. This man was a tzaddik, he was devout, he waited eagerly for God to comfort Isra’el, and the Ruach HaKodesh was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach HaKodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah of Adonai. 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he went into the Temple courts; and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for him what the Torah required, 28 Shim‘on took him in his arms, made a b’rakhah to God, and said,
29 “Now, Adonai, according to your word,
your servant is at peace as you let him go;
30 for I have seen with my own eyes your yeshu‘ah,
31 which you prepared in the presence of all peoples —
32 a light that will bring revelation to the Goyim
and glory to your people Isra’el.”
33 Yeshua’s father and mother were marvelling at the things Shim‘on was saying about him. 34 Shim‘on blessed them and said to the child’s mother, Miryam,
“This child will cause many in Isra’el to fall and to rise,
he will become a sign whom people will speak against;
35 moreover, a sword will pierce your own heart too.
All this will happen in order to reveal many people’s inmost thoughts.”
36 There was also a prophet named Hannah Bat-P’nu’el, of the tribe of Asher. She was a very old woman — she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage 37 and had remained a widow ever since; now she was eighty-four. She never left the Temple grounds but worshipped there night and day, fasting and praying. 38 She came by at that moment and began thanking God and speaking about the child to everyone who was waiting for Yerushalayim to be liberated.
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We usually read this story at Christmas. But it also carried a generational message. Here were Mary (probably in her early teens) and Joseph, bringing an infant to the Temple to dedicate to God. Who greeted them? Simeon, so old that as soon as he’d seen Jesus he said to God, “Now let your servant go in peace.” Anna, an 84-year-old widow. The young couple didn’t brush the elderly off as out-of-date annoyances, nor did Simeon and Anna scorn the young parents as clearly too young to parent the Messiah.
• Simeon hadn’t let himself become a “cranky old man.” Luke said he “eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel,” even though the mighty Roman army firmly controlled Judea, and Israel’s religious leaders often quarreled and were at times corrupt. How can you nurture a hopeful sense of “eager anticipation” about what God is doing today, through people of many ages and styles?
• We don’t know exactly, but Anna had probably been constantly in the temple for sixty or more years. It might seem a stretch to “worship night and day” (verse 37). How can your time spent worshipping God, praying and studying the Bible shape what you do with the rest of your time? How can you let your worship fill you with the same confidence and eager anticipation that it gave Simeon and Anna?
Prayer: O God, one of your names in the Bible was “Ancient of Days.” I’m thankful you are the Lord of all my days, from birth through old age. Keep me aware of your presence with me. Amen.
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I am a Boomer. I have used a land-line telephone as my only means of telecommunication and owned a car with a built-in 8-track player. I’ve walked all the way to the TV to change the channels, and I have definite opinions about music that reflect being a teenager in the early 1970s. Over the years I’ve worked at Resurrection, I’ve several times been in the interesting position of being directed and/or supervised by a pastor or other staff member who was much younger, and had their own ideas and experiences regarding communication, encountering the world and music. At the moment, my direct supervisor is younger than my youngest child. Some of you will remember Nicole Conard, who was a pastor in Congregational Care a few years back. When we began to work together she was exactly the same age as my oldest daughter, and the two of us definitely had some things to learn and adjustments to make. We learned so much about working together and inter-generational relationships that we’ve talked about writing a book about it someday.
In today’s GPS we read about an interaction between generations at the temple in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph arrive at the temple to present their baby, Jesus, according to the custom of the day. They encounter two people who must seem as ancient to them as the stone walls of the Temple. The first stranger approaches, picks up their baby and begins praising God! That would be enough to make most young parents very uncomfortable, but Mary and Joseph watched and were amazed. Then the old man starts making prophetic announcements. Many parents would grab the baby and run at that point, but Mary and Joseph listen as Simeon speaks about Jesus destiny as the salvation of his people and the revelation of God and salvation to the Gentiles. Next they encounter an 84-year-old woman who has not lived outside the temple for at least 60 years. spending all that time in prayer and worship and fasting. She, too, takes interest in the baby and begins to praise God and “speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38)
There is a whole lot going on here that I am going to leave to the theologians. But this is also a story of an encounter between generations. Mary and Joseph came to the temple to present their baby, along with all the other young parents that day. They probably talked about their babies and adjustments to family life. After the incredible events surrounding the birth of her baby, maybe Mary was hoping to just be a part of the new-parent crowd. Instead, here are these strange old people picking up her child and talking about the salvation of Israel, praising God and making a fuss. She could have protested, wrapped up her baby and left in a hurry. But instead, she stayed and listened.
And what about Simeon and Anna? God has blessed them with a glimpse of the Messiah, and he is a tiny baby in the care of these ordinary-looking young people. Do you suppose that, in addition to speaking the words God gave them, they really wanted to talk to Mary and Joseph about what they were feeding the baby Jesus, how much fresh air he was getting and the dangers of babies riding on donkeys? But they stick to the words God wants them to speak and the truths God wants them to proclaim.
What I have learned from my other-generation co-workers and ministry leaders is that if we rely on respect for the other person and a desire to find out why God put us together in this time and place, we can have a successful relationship. What is there to learn? What is there to accomplish together that will honor God and this ministry? What do each of us bring to the relationship and to the adventure of exploring the work God has given us? It’s pretty easy to view those who are different from us because of age, culture, or other difference as scary, uninteresting, or irrelevant. If we do that, we may be missing a chance to hear God’s plan for us as it is revealed by someone outside of our usual experience--or generation.
JENNIFER CREAGERJennifer Creagar facilitates the Prayer Ministry and coordinates the Financial Care and Assistance ministries. She is married, has three great kids and three perfect grandchildren whom she loves spending time with, and she enjoys writing and photography.
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"Hope in God’s unseen glory—greater than illness, age, even death"
Thursday, 16 February 2017
2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who once said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has made his light shine in our hearts, the light of the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of the Messiah Yeshua.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. 8 We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair; 9 persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed. 10 We always carry in our bodies the dying of Yeshua, so that the life of Yeshua may be manifested in our bodies too.
4:16 This is why we do not lose courage. Though our outer self is heading for decay, our inner self is being renewed daily. 17 For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting glory whose weight is beyond description. 18 We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.
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The apostle Paul wrote 2 Corinthians after a painful time, when many Christians in Corinth, biased by a set of false teachers, had turned against him. Later in the letter, he cataloged the many challenges he had faced in carrying out God’s mission (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Yet Paul did not let any of that destroy him. In verse 10, he tied his struggles to Jesus’ death, which seemed the worst defeat of all and yet became a victory when he rose from the dead three days later.
• When did you last feel confused, harassed or knocked down? What resources helped you avoid being crushed, depressed or knocked out? Have you ever seen, in yourself or anyone you know, the truth of “even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day”?
• We often tend to feel shame about the realities of illness or aging. We see them as a sign of weakness or failure. Paul faced those realities, but saw them differently. Are there disciplines (e.g. Bible memorization, meditation, prayer) that help you access God’s strength to keep your inner self moving toward victory even when your outer self is breaking down? How has the Bible’s teaching that our eternal life starts now shaped your view of your limitations?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, on the days when life feels dark, when nothing seems to go right, help me not to be crushed or destroyed. Remind me always that “the worst thing is never the last thing.” Amen.
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"Resurrection defeated death forever"
Friday, 17 February 2017
Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the children share a common physical nature as human beings, he became like them and shared that same human nature; so that by his death he might render ineffective the one who had power over death (that is, the Adversary) 15 and thus set free those who had been in bondage all their lives because of their fear of death.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Look, I will tell you a secret — not all of us will die! But we will all be changed! 52 It will take but a moment, the blink of an eye, at the final shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised to live forever, and we too will be changed. 53 For this material which can decay must be clothed with imperishability, this which is mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When what decays puts on imperishability and what is mortal puts on immortality, then this passage in the Tanakh will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.[1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8]
55 “Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your sting?”[1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14]
56 The sting of death is sin; and sin draws its power from the Torah; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!
Revelation 21:3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God.[Revelation 21:3 Leviticus 26:11–12; Isaiah 7:14; 8:8, 10; Jeremiah 31:33(34); Ezekiel 37:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.”
5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!’”
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From ancient Rome to today, the “ultimate” human threat is, “I will kill you.” Roman officials puzzled over how little that threat seemed to affect Jesus’ followers. Jesus, who died and rose again, set his followers free from even the fear of death. In 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul boldly proclaimed a divine victory so sweeping that death would be “swallowed up.” In John Wesley’s sermon “On the Resurrection of the Dead,” he quoted Paul and said, “Let this especially fortify us against the fear of death: It is now disarmed, and can do us no hurt.” The Bible ended with Revelation’s glorious vision of a world in which “death will be no more.”
• Jesus faced evil and death at their very worst—you can read about his arrest, trial and crucifixion in any of the four gospels. Jesus defeated evil and death at their very worst—go on to read the Easter story in any of the four gospels. Early Christians staked their lives on the truth of Jesus’ victory over death. In what ways does fear of death subtly shape your life choices? How can Jesus’ death and resurrection set you free from that fear?
• When someone we love faces death, we often use “combat” language, sadly saying things like “she lost the battle.” But Paul quoted the prophet Hosea to deny that death “wins”: “Where is your victory, Death?” (cf. Hosea 13:14) For a Christian, death is not a defeat, but a transition into a new phase of our victorious walk with Christ. Does the idea of death cause you fear and anxiety? How can internalizing the full meaning of Jesus' resurrection lead you toward greater peace as you await God’s eternity, where death will be no more?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you went where most of us most dread going—the realm of death—and you emerged victorious! You offer me the choice to join you in that victory. I accept your offer of a life that lies beyond the power of death. Amen.
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“'Fear of the Lord:' the one life-giving fear"
Saturday, 18 February 2017
Psalm 111:7 The works of his hands are truth and justice;
all his precepts can be trusted.
8 They have been established forever and ever,
to be carried out truly and honestly.
9 He sent redemption to his people
and decreed that his covenant should last forever.
His name is holy and fearsome —
10 the first and foremost point of wisdom is the fear of Adonai;
all those living by it gain good common sense.
His praise stands forever.
Proverbs 2:2 paying attention to wisdom
inclining your mind toward understanding —
3 yes, if you will call for insight
and raise your voice for discernment,
4 if you seek it as you would silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure —
5 then you will understand the fear of Adonai
and find knowledge of God.
6 For Adonai gives wisdom;
from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, my dear friends, since we have these promises, let us purify ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit, and strive to be completely holy, out of reverence for God.
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This sermon series has called us to live above and beyond many of our most common fears. We’ve learned human therapeutic tools that work along with our trust in God to point us toward an unafraid life. There is one kind of “fear,” however, that the Bible fully endorsed: “the fear of the Lord.” Proverbs 3:6-7 gave a concise definition of the life-giving kind of “fear” today’s readings called us to: “Know him in all your paths and he will keep your ways straight. Don’t consider yourself wise. Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”
• “While we tend to associate the word ‘fear’ with a ‘hair standing on end’ or ‘fight or flight’ feeling, ‘the fear of the LORD’ is better understood as reverent awe. Indeed, the Lord is ‘fearsome,’ but not in the sense that some want to run away from or escape from God’s presence. Rather, we are called to approach the Lord with a sense of awe while in the presence of the holy.”*
Can you recall times when you have experienced this healthy, lifegiving kind of fear in particularly vivid way? Why would this type of fear cause you to want to draw closer to God, rather than to shrink away?
Prayer: O God, let me never lose a sense of awe at the privilege you offer me to accept your love and to walk through my life in your presence, with you as my Lord and guide. Amen.
* Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford, study note on Proverbs 1:7 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 1007 OT.
Family Activity: Every day is a gift from God! No matter our situation or our age, we can celebrate and give thanks, even when we face challenges and fear. Encourage your family members to choose one day this week where they will be intentionally aware of the world around them. Invite them to use their senses of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell to soak in God’s presence in the everyday ordinariness of life. When you gather in the evening, ask each person to share God’s gifts in their day. You can draw, make a list or create a collage of what your family experienced. Seek to become more aware of God’s goodness and blessings on a daily basis and thank God often. When you feel anxious, review your lists or look at your pictures and thank God for being present always.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Carol Owings and family on the death of her son Greg Owings, 2/5
•Naomi Mills and family on the death of her husband John Mills, 2/5
•Friends and family of Tim Clore on his death, 2/4
• Judy Lager and family on the death of her mother Jackie O’Keefe, 2/3
•Pam Earnest and family on the death of her mother Norma Elmore, 2/2
•Tom Galbraith and family on the death of his father Allen Galbraith, 1/31
•Rick Cooper and family on the death of his wife Judy Cooper, 1/30
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Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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