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.

No comments:

Post a Comment