Roots and fruits

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. ~ Isaiah 1:17a (NLT)

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father... then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ~ Ephesians 3:14, 17 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

God expects us to learn how to treat the disadvantaged well. As Christ is welcomed into our lives he will develop us so we can do that.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am thankful for your ongoing investment in my life. I know what you want me to become and do. I know that you care about the poor and hurting. I confess that I don't care so much for broken people. They make me uncomfortable. So I ask that you would come make yourself at home in my life in order that as my roots sink into your love the fruit of my life would be extreme love and care for the broken. Amen.

God at Work

As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. ~ Jeremiah 18:6 (NLT)

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. ~ Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) 

KEY IDEA:

We are the in-process work of God.

PRAYER:

Creative Father, you are the one who has shaped us into what we are; and you are still busy forming us into an elaborate mosaic of diverse Jesus-loving people. I resist this a bit because in my nearsightedness, I'm at times inclined to want to shape everything myself. I have incredible ideas of what the church should be. But whoever heard of a pot that shaped itself or a masterpiece of a painting that painted itself. Grant me the wisdom to accept my limitations and to give you, the artist, free reign. It will be beautiful! Amen.

If the Son sets you free...

The 3rd Sunday in Eastertide

God remembered us when we were down. His love never quits. ~ Psalm 136:23 (MSG)

If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free. ~ John 8:36 (GNT)

KEY IDEA:

The freedom that God's love generates is very thorough.

PRAYER:

Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son into the world to set us free. We were in a bad way and you did not give up on us. Sometimes I give up. But you don't. Help me to plug into your love and faithfulness. I'd like to see it rub off on me so that I can be that way, too. Amen.

The mystery of Christ

Who believes what we’ve heard and seen? Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this? ~ Isaiah 53:1 (MSG)

Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ... ~ Colossians 4:3 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

Christ and how he does things is a mystery to much of the world -- be ready to tell about him anyway.

PRAYER:

Lord God, thank you for sharing the mystery of Christ with us -- that you would become a man, die a sacrificial death to reconcile us to you, and then rise from the dead. All of that is very mysterious -- even to me. And I admit that I am slow to share what I do not fully understand. Help me to realize that the enigma is an asset to the message and grant me wisdom to share it appropriately. I'm eager to share the mystery of Christ, Amen.

CHALLENGING WORD:

• enigma -- deep mystery, hard to understand. The more you examine an enigma the more you realize that it is beyond understanding.