Servanthood: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Servanthood

Unhewn stone

untouched by iron

not shaped by man’s hand

nor human purpose

instead an offering

imbued with obedience

regardless of cost

relinquished grasp

willing to accept

without dissent

God’s chosen path

grace extended to all

sin destroyed

sanctification begins.

Reflection Unhewn: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What might be the equivalent of an unhewn stone for us in worship today?

2.     Do you think it’s possible to experience this or have we made our worship too man-shaped?

3.     Are there barriers towards hearing God’s word spoken that we resist them for ourselves. Or for others?

4.     Even the small children were included in the reading. How do we tend to filter theology according to age, whether literally or as new believers?

Share: What word have you heard spoken to you this week that caused you to worship?

Unhewn: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 8

“All Israel, alien as well as citizen, …. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the aliens who resided among them.” Joshua 8: 33 & 35

Once again Israel went into a terrible battle under God’s orders, but this time no one lied, or stole, or disobeyed, despite the challenge and destruction. They did exactly as the Lord had ordered and as a result the whole of Israel received a blessing.

First worship—an unhewn stone—untouched by iron—a pure altar. Then a community side-by-side, that encompassed women and children and foreigners—no one present excluded—all given as equals. Then the full reading of the Law—all the words God had given Moses now given to Israel. God’s gift of identity, of relationship, of covenant.

I can’t help but wonder how willing am I to completely destroy all the false in me that still resists obedience to God’s redeeming power. Am I truly willing to open up to His redemptive grace or too willing to settle for easy and familiar?

Lord, please help us to be shaped by Your hand and not by our own man-made imitations. Give us Your strength to stand before You in complete obedience to all Your words—at Your altar—with courage to receive Your blessings and then to share them.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 128: 2

“You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be happy and it shall go well with you.”