ORDINARY PEOPLE

The 21st Sunday after Pentecost

AMOS 7:14-15 (MSG)
Amos stood up to Amaziah: "I never set up to be a preacher, never had plans to be a preacher. I raised cattle and I pruned trees. Then GOD took me off the farm and said, ‘Go preach to my people Israel.’"

MARK 1:16-17 (CEV)
As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen and were casting their nets into the lake. Jesus said to them, “Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God uses ordinary people for his extraordinary assignments.

PRAYER
Wow, God, you gift ordinary people -- people like me. I feel important to you. But I get distracted from your assignments. Instead of trusting you, I slide back to the old agenda when things get stressful. Keep me focused on what I'm called to do to advance your kingdom. I'm going to go fishing -- for people. Amen.

THE GIFTS

HAGGAI 1:14 (CEV)
So the Lord God All-Powerful made everyone eager to work on his temple, especially Zerubbabel and Joshua.

1 TIMOTHY 4:14 (CEV)
Use the gift you were given...

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Use the gifts you've been given by God to serve him.

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for the gifts that you have given to me so that I can serve you. It feels good to be included in what you are doing. I confess, though, that too much of me gets channeled into my own agenda. I end up using my gifts for my own goals. Realign my agenda so that it looks exactly like your agenda. Then stir within me the enthusiasm needed to use the talents, skills, and gifts in me to advance our common agenda. I'm going to work on your temple. Amen.

LASTING

ISAIAH 55:3 (MSG)
I’m making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.

HEBREWS 13:20-21 (MSG)
May God, who puts all things together,
     makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
      the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd,
      up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you
      with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure,
      by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
What God does has a lasting quality to it.

PRAYER
Lord God, today I am so pleased that you keep your word. It lasts without expiration -- forever. I confess that so much of what I put my energy into is for short-term pleasure and satisfaction. Yet, you call us to live eternal lives. Realign my focus so that the eternal seeps into every aspect of my life. I'm going to live for your pleasure and satisfaction. Amen.

Death defeated

PSALM 39:5 (NLT)
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

2 TIMOTHY 1.10 (CEB)
Now his grace is revealed through the appearance of our savior, Christ Jesus. He destroyed death and brought life and immortality into clear focus through the good news.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God has extended our lives eternally through Christ Jesus.

PRAYER
God, today I celebrate the victory of Christ which has defeated death and brought to us full and unending lives. Forgive me for living like everything is all about what I can accomplish in the here and now. Free me from my short-sightedness and release me to share this good news with everyone I meet. Amen.