The love

The 3rd Sunday after Epiphany

I worship at your holy temple and praise you for your love and your faithfulness. You were true to your word and made yourself more famous than ever before. ~ Psalm 138:2 (CEV)

I told them what you are like, and I will tell them even more. Then the love that you have for me will become part of them, and I will be one with them. ~ John 17:26 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God's famous love holds us together.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord. I feel loved. Like the psalmist, I want to praise you for your love and faithfulness. I want to worship you even more than I do already. I realize that we love better together -- when we let you fill us with your love -- when together we are one with you. Save us from trying to love on our own. That just seems impossible. So I pray for growing unity with you, Christ Jesus, and all your people. Amen.

Shining light

God said, “I command light to shine!” And light started shining. ~ Genesis 1:3 (CEV)

The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:6 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God is shining the light of Christ into our hearts.

PRAYER:

God, I am really happy that you have focused the light of Christ so that it shines right into the core of who I am -- my heart. Thank you for this light that is a gift not only to me but to all the world. Yet, we still play with darkness at times. Personally, I think we enjoy the sense of fear. It makes us feel alive. Yet it is the light of Christ that truly makes us alive. Keep shining your light until it completely pulverizes* any of the fears that we're holding onto. Christ is the light of the world and I'm going to thrive as a living witness of the light. Amen.

* pulverize -- to blast something into such tiny pieces that it cannot be recognized 

The message that gives life

The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver that’s been refined in an oven, purified seven times over! ~ Psalm 12:6 (CEB)

Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life. ~ Philippians 2:15-16 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Stick with God's message and you will shine!

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for your message that gives me life. I confess, though, that at times I am pretty casual about your written message. Yet I am going to trust that what gets through to me will be transformative. I'm going to trust you to use your word to change me. Amen.

Peace

You give hope to people everywhere on earth, even those across the sea. ~ Psalm 65:5 (CEV)

So Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all -- to you Gentiles, who were far away from God, and to the Jews, who were near to him. ~ Ephesians 2:17 (GNT)

KEY IDEA:

Christ came to bring peace to all people.

PRAYER:

Lord, you are the Prince of Peace. Your agenda is peace for all people. My agenda is peace for me. And I admit that my agenda usually takes priority over your agenda. I need you to help me see how your agenda is the key to my peace. I know that it will only come into focus as I center my attention on Christ himself. So please help me to do that. I'm going to become an operative for the Price of Peace. Amen.