Compassionate heart

The 7th Sunday of Easter

But you see the trouble and the distress, and you will do something. ~ Psalm 10:14a (CEV)

But the crowds found out where Jesus was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick. ~ Luke 9:11 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

God acts with compassion.

PRAYER:

Merciful Father -- We are all in need of a touch from your Son Jesus. Thank you for being so compassionate. I am someone who has been taught about the Kingdom of God but I am slow to live compassionately. I'm still looking for recognition and honors -- things which get in the way of compassionate living. Free me to fully embrace your compassionate heart. I'm going to follow Jesus. Amen.

Sin

God said: "Never again will I punish the earth for the sinful things its people do. All of them have evil thoughts from the time they are young..." ~ Genesis 8:21 (CEV)

And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins... ~ 1 John 3:5a (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

God isn't interested in punishing people but in relieving them from the burden of sin.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, thank you for sending Jesus into the world to save us from the sin problem which haunts us from the day we are born. I still have not conquered sin but I know that you have. So I am going to let you live through me. Please help me because I can't even do that much on my own. Amen.

Worship God the Creator

No one helped God spread out the heavens or trample the sea monster's back. God hung the stars in the sky—the Dipper, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the south. ~ Job 9:8-9 (GNT)

… Worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water! ~ Revelation 14:7b (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

Only God the creator is worthy of worship.

PRAYER:

Creator God, you have placed us in a truly amazing world. I know that you did not create it all just for me, but I'm in total awe. And I know that we worship you when we do our job and take care of that which you have created. To care for the creation is to acknowledge the worth of the creator. But, like most people, I'm still pretty careless with creation. The earth is full of toxins. The skies are polluted. The salt water in the ocean has become acidic. And the fresh water streams are no longer clear. Forgive our recklessness. Help me to see the next step that I need to take to honor you as the creator. I'm going to worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water! Amen.

The least likely

Ascension Day

People will come from faraway places to pitch in and rebuild the Temple of God. ~ Zechariah 6:15a (MSG)

Ananias protested, “Master, you can’t be serious. Everybody’s talking about this man (Saul) and the terrible things he’s been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem!.. But the Master said, "Don’t argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to non-Jews and kings and Jews..." ~ Acts 9:13, 15

KEY IDEA:

God chooses to use the least likely to advance his agenda.

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm grateful that you have included me on your mission. But I'm confused at all those other people you have picked to serve you. Some of them are downright criminal. Many are haters -- bigots and racists. These are not my kind of people! Or are they? Save me from my smug arrogance. Please give me a heart for the least likely and a vision for the unusual way that you choose to do things. I'm not going to argue with you anymore. Amen.