Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Matthew 4:23-25

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.  News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.  Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across Jordan followed him.”

Reflection

This section of scripture comes right on the heels of Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him.  Jesus began his public ministry in earnest.  Can you imagine what these disciples were able to witness?  The scripture tells us that Jesus healed diseases and cast out demons.  People who were suffering from paralysis and seizures were instantly cured of their afflictions.  Large crowds began to gather and they followed Jesus wherever he went.

The disciples gave up a lot to follow Jesus but they were given the fantastic opportunity to witness the

very works of the Son of God.  What an exciting thing

it must have been for those disciples to be a part of Jesus’ incredible ministry.  We often forget that Jesus has given us the same opportunity.  We have been invited to follow Jesus and be a part of the amazing ministry that he works in us and through us.  Often times we don’t feel like Jesus is doing much in the ministry of which we are a part.  Maybe we think that because we haven’t taken the time to notice all the wonderful things that Jesus is doing through us and

the church.  Take a few moments to reflect how you see Jesus at work in your life and in the life of others.

Monday, June 8, 2015

Matthew 4:21-22

Going on from there, he saw two older brothers, James son of Zebedee, and his brother John.  They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.  Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

Reflection

Yesterday we read about Jesus calling Peter and Simon to follow him.  They responded “at once.”  Today we learn that Jesus went on and called James and John, the sons of Zebedee to follow him.  The scripture says that they responded “immediately.”  When James and John left to follow Jesus what did they leave behind?  They left their livelihood, their means of making a living.  They walked away from the family fishing business.  They left their family.  The scripture clearly mentions that they left their father behind.

There were ramifications when the disciples decided to follow Jesus.  They had to give up a lot.  Take some time to ponder what you have been willing to leave behind when you responded to Jesus calling you to follow him.  Did you leave behind a sin?  Did you leave behind a past way of life?  Did you have to walk away from certain relationships?  What were the ramifications for you when you decided to follow Jesus?

Weekly Theme June 7 -13

Following Jesus:  Whenever

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he

saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.  They were casting a net into the lake, for

they were fishermen.  ‘Come follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’  At once they left their nets and followed him.”

          

The call to follow Jesus is now.  Jesus doesn’t want a delay in our decision to follow him.  When Peter and Andrew were called to follow Jesus their response was immediate.  The scripture says “at once” they stopped what they were doing and they followed Jesus.  That means they didn’t ask for a “think it over period” they just walked away from everything that was familiar to them and began a new life following this itinerant preacher whose name was Jesus.

This week we will learn that Jesus wants each of us to be equally decisive in our decision to follow Jesus. 

Following Jesus is not about tomorrow or next week or next year.  It is about right now.  It is about today.

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Ephesians 3:14-21

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts

through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

A Prayer of John Wesley

We offer up again our souls and bodies

to you to be governed, not by our will, but yours.
O let it be ever the ease and joy of our hearts,
to be under the conduct of your unerring wisdom,
to follow your counsels,

and to be ruled in all things by your holy will.
And let us never distrust your abundant kindness and tender care over us;
whatsoever it is you would have us to do
or to suffer in this world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reflection

Reread the verse from Ephesians and this time underline every time the word “power” appears and circle every

occurrence of the word love. These words are crucial to this prayer and our prayer life. Pastor Mark told us that there is no power in the words that we pray. The truth is that the power in prayer comes from the power of the Holy Spirit that comes through our faith in Christ’s love.  And we have access to that power when like Wesley’s prayer we turn

control over our lives to God and trust God. 

Friday, June 5, 2015

Philippians 1:3-11

³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 

⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to

completion until the day of Christ Jesus.⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

A Prayer of St. Patrick

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit,

Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, Lord, be ever with us.

Reflection

Reread the prayer of St. Patrick. It talks about Christ being in everything. If we are serious about our intimacy with God we need to remain this close to the love of God in

Jesus Christ. Prayer keeps us rooted in the source of all that we have, which is the life that has been given to us through the work of Jesus Christ. The verse from Philippians

explains that when we build and nurture this relationship with God,  we will bear the fruit of righteousness. How are you growing in your relationship with God so that Christ is the center of all that you do?