Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Fear to perfect love to bold faith

MARK 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching — with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

I John 4:15-21
God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
Lord,
I think I know now why
the unclean spirit says with such boldness
"I know who you are, the Holy One of God!"
The unclean spirit has nothing to lose.
There's no where lower to descend.

But for me, Lord,
fear is real.
Fear of
what might happen to me,
what others might say,
what others might do to me and to my reputation.

I know "perfect love casts out fear..."
and "whoever fears has not reached perfection in love..."

Help me grow in love, perfect love,
so that I might not fear,
but rather be bold
to join in the confession
that even the unclean spirit claims:
"I know who you are, the Holy One of God!"

Amen.


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Break out of my heart!

MARK 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching — with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Lord Jesus,
I marvel when I read this passage.
Unclean spirits know exactly who you are.
Consistently throughout the Gospels,
the disciples (and we) struggle
to understand who you are.
But the evil spirits always know:
"You are the Holy One of God."
even they confess the truth.

Why is it that I am so slow to understand?
So slow to acknowledge boldly
"You are the Holy One of God!!"
I beleive it in my heart;
I believe it with ALL my heart.

Lord Jesus,
today
break out of my heart
and be on my lips
and be in my everyday acts.
Amen.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Proclaiming God's good news

MARK 1:14-15
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying,
“The time is fulfilled, and
the kingdom of God has come near; 
repent, and believe in the good news.”

Lord Jesus,
the Gospel of Mark begins
your ministry so simply:
Baptized by John,
with the blessing of the Holy Spirit,
you proclaim the good news of God:

"The time is fulfilled..."
The promises of God have come to pass.
The hope you have waited for is here!
God's redemption of the world has come.
NOW is the time.

That same news is the same
and still true today -- not just long ago.
The time is still now.
God's redemption of the world has come.
The promises of God have come to pass.
The time is fulfilled!

"The kingdom of God has come near!"
God's reign of peace is now.
God is in charge here;
although everything seems to the contrary, God IS in control.
Lord Jesus,
your birth, your life, your example,
your death, your ressurection, and your continued life with God
all demonstrate God's reign
is near and now, already and coming.

"repent, and believe in the good news."
Turn around, and trust.
Change, and obey.
Behave as a Child of God, and live into God's love.
Love your neighbor, and love your God.
Glorify God and enjoy God forever!

Lord Jesus,
this is the good news you proclaimed
with the words of teaching,
in how you greeted those you met along the way,
in your acts of compassion,
with the kindness of your presence,
in the ways you challenged,
held others accountable and
in invited us to follow you.

Jesus,
proclaim through us the fullness
of God's good news
in the ways we speak
to each other, to family, to strangers, to foreigners, and to guests
in how we behave
towards ourselves, our neighbors, our enemies
in what we say about You
in what we do with your love
in how we are the church,
your church,
the body of Christ in the world.
Amen.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

O Word of God

JOHN 1:1-5, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 

Light of the World,
your pierce the darkness
shattering gloom and doubt and despair.
It's a fact of science:
no matter how dark the darkness is
even the smallest light breaks the darkness.

Word of all Words,
you are the Word
made fresh and flesh among us.
God's living Word
speaking good news to all!
O Word of Grace
O Word of Comfort
O Word of Challenge
O Word of Peace
O Word of Hope
O Word of Life
O Eternal Word,
speak again into our world.
Speak through us to
the hopeless,
the grieving,
the dying,
the hungry,
the hurting,
the poor,
the lame,
the prisoner,
the rich,
the lonely,
the blessed,
the oppressed,
the widow,
the mother,
the father,
the child,
the powerful,
the ruler,
the lowly,
the servant,
the earth,
the cosmos,
the world!

Speak again, O Word,
for in you we find
grace,
and truth,
and life!
Amen.