Reflection: Messiah: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Why do you think we continue to ignore or hide our sins from ourselves despite the evidence of Jesus’ grace and forgiveness?

2.     What are some of your personal reasons not to acknowledge your sins to Him?

3.     What harm does hiding our sins do to our hearts? Our thoughts? Our souls?

4.     In what ways does our choice of ignorance affect those around us?

Share: How do you accept His daily grace?

Messiah: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:34-36

“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,  ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

“Whom you crucified.” It helps to put the burden on the people back then.

Until we remember that our Messiah died to remove all sin for all time and that includes us.

My personal sins contributed to His crucifixion.

I don’t want to think about that aspect or accept that responsibility. I want to concentrate only on His redeeming grace and my gratitude.

It’s so much easier to focus on our own successes and rest a little on His grace before admitting there is a whole lot more excavation to do inside our hearts than we would like to admit. Yet the hidden stuff can become like toxic black mold that insidiously corrupts. And keeps our relationship with the Lord at arms’ length.

Sometimes we’re just too busy to take time to notice, or don’t think of it as a sin, or think we are in control, or it’s so minor an attitude it can’t be all that bad. Or we’re not doing anything different from lots of others. Our excuses and denials can build into picture perfect reasoning. Or into a Pharisee.

Denying the reason Messiah came. To restore—to redeem. To rebuild the broken relationship with Him. To bring His light into the world’s darkness—into our darkness. But first we need to acknowledge our denials.

Lord, please help us to keep our hearts and minds and souls open before You.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:29

“God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.’”

Spirit: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

           

            Spirit

           

           

            Astonishment, ridicule

            disbelief often

            reactions towards

            unexpected

            especially when

            miracles are shared.

            And so, this time

            denial impossible

            rushing Spirit flows

            unhindered

            example concrete

            manifold witness.

Reflection: Manifold: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What keeps us from trusting the Holy Spirit even when we cannot deny words from the Lord?

2.     How do we stay open and at the same time be discerning for fraudulent mimics?

3.     Why are we tempted to ignore a clear witness?

Share: What helps you to discern the Spirit’s witness?

Manifold: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:32-33

“This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear.

Witness given.

Spirit poured out as both seen and heard.

No possibility of error or misunderstanding. Concrete evidence by multiple people across a wide spectrum of belief and unbelief, hope and critical. No movie cameras or cell phones to cut and paste, redesign, manufacture, or manipulate for market success.

Power undeniable.

Recognized.

Still present today to be both seen and heard except for the barriers we raise. Are we truly hearing the Spirit’s voice or making up our own version? Is that word from the Lord really meant for me now, or am I being presumptuous?

We manage to excuse and ignore even when we are sure we heard the word spoken. Why? Or make too much noise to hear the Spirit’s whisper.

Manifold witness continues despite our limitations.

His power pours out as promised. Delivered despite our doubts.

Lord, give us courage to listen and to trust and to receive.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:28

“God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’”

Image: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Image

            Cyclical nature images

            life’s beat

            birth—growth—decay

            rebirth.

            Nothing living can escape

            corruption of age

            death part of journey

            for some an end

            yet one alone opens

            new door.

            Creator designs

            another realm

            eternity invitation

            not escape,

            a new road to live

            life made whole by

            Carpenter’s sacrifice.

Reflection: Decay: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     When have you doubted God’s promise of eternity?

2.     Do you accept His design of each of us created in His image? Why? Or why not?

3.     Does the cycle of life give you hope or fear?

Share: What oath from God gives you the strength to hold on in times of  distress?