Foreign: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:10

“Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,”

Friendly countries. Enemy countries.

Stronger countries.

Jews and Gentiles.

Seeking—waiting—worshipping.

Together despite their outer differences, culture, education, appearance, color, wealth, or style.

Together in heart intent. At great distance. Great trials endured for the privilege of celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem.

How often since do Your churches, houses of worship, separate and judge each other from eternal criteria. Anything that is ‘foreign’ to our gatherings.

How often do we as Your people reject or judge another without cause. Without truth-filled hearts.

Instead, Lord, help us to recognize Your invitation to come into our worship as fellow seekers, into our lives and homes as members of Your family.

Keep us from allowing prejudice to take root and instead open our hearts to receive and give in fellowship from all corners of Your created earth and from all corners within our cities.

You alone can judge each heart by Your word. May we remember and recognize fellow worshippers and offer hospitality. Let us not dismiss what You see as good.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:10

“God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.”

Common: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Common

            Languages completely

diverse in syntax,

style. Educated and common.

Countries near and far

united to worship

share the Passover.

Opposite of Babel’s

arrogant pride.

Now spoken

one to one invitation.

Of His Grace.

Diverse: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:9

“Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia.”

Countries near and far.

Languages completely diverse.

Not likely to know one another apart from their own travel companions.

Yet all gathered together seeking the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Not taking Him for granted. Not to build man-made towers like Babel but to kneel.

All gathering in worship to celebrate the Passover. All devout.

Despite borders and cultures and cuisine and status they made the long journey to the one place they trusted to find hope—to honor God—to perhaps hear His voice or experience His Presence.

We no longer need to travel long distances to be with God in one particular place. That Passover opened for us a new freedom of relationship, a continual space to worship, a daily conversation.

Yet, do we take our relationship for granted? What new barriers do we put up against others whose language and culture and style of worship differs from ours?

His words bless everyone from near and far with His Grace.

Lord, help us to listen and to walk in conversation with You and with each other. Thank you that Your invitation to worship includes all of us and at the same time You give to each heart a one-to one love. In His communion.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:9

“And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place and let the dry land appear.” And it was so.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:28, “By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.”

Moses trusted God. He had heard His voice and seen the unbelievable. Moses saw God work through tangible things—a burning bush, a shepherd’s staff, the river Nile. Even when Pharaoh’s sorcerers mimicked him, Moses could identify God’s power.

Now, in the face of the plagues, he was called to enact a ritual with no understanding of why or what or how.

Still he obeyed—knowing the one who spoke the words—even when they didn’t make any sense. Knowing only the Lord had the power to free them forever.

Neither Moses nor Israel knew this Passover would also become a sustaining ritual for their people. An ongoing picture book of hope and grace and redemption and restoration. A ritual so complex that theologians have wrestled with its meaning for centuries and still one that a young child could grasp its truth.

How often do we face a crisis, seek help through prayer, and receive an answer that seems to make no sense? Then think we misunderstood and find a different solution. Instead of embracing the unfathomable we accept only the measurable and concrete. And lose the opportunity to experience a rescue with story power. A story of meeting God that will last us our whole lives. A story that will sustain our faith throughout all the crises yet to come.

Lord, please give us eyes to see Your refuge and courage to trust in You alone.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 141:8-9

“For my eyes are toward Thee, O God, the Lord;

In Thee I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.

Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me,

And from the snares of those who do iniquity.”

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 12:3-4, …a lamb for each household. Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb.

A close friend often cooks and caters special gatherings. Her main measure is an anticipated number of participants. From that figure, regardless of menu, she calculates the quantities necessary to feed each guest plus a few last minute arrivals. Each person is fed. It is only necessary that they choose to participate.

God provided for Israel. He requested they prepare a lamb, which was readily available, share household to household, eat the meal. Not one person was to be exempt. Not by family size or social standing or economics. Infant to elderly, all were invited, to partake: by choice, by faith, by self, within community.

And we are still invited to the Lord’s table. He asks us to partake by faith, as individuals amidst congregations, choosing to affirm God’s Passover Lamb, Jesus.

Thank you Lord for Your personal invitation to Your family. Help me to remember that no one is excluded. Help me to remember that my neighbor is the one closest to me and that I am to share responsibly.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 22:26

The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;

Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.

Let your heart live forever!