Ephesus: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Revelation 2: 1-7

“I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. But…you have abandoned the love you had at first."

"Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

Historically lighthouses are known for saving many ships and lives due to their light in the storm. But history also has several stories of  “wreckers” who deliberately lured ships to crash on reefs so as to plunder them.

Listen! The warning comes to this Ephesus church—this lampstand of truth–so it can conquer any rot or decay before it can destroy.

This warning, and those to follow to the other early churches, are spoken in love and not punishment, in truth and not deceit, in hope and not destruction. The purpose is to restore broken worship and relationships within their communities before failure.

And these concerns are being given to the early churches—the ones who had first hand witnesses of Jesus’ life and sacrifice and grace. The ones who began in joy of life and beauty, in joy of hope and compassion, in joy of His redeeming grace that they couldn’t wait to share with others.

Where does our witness from our church communities today convey joy? To each other, or to other denominations, or to nonbelievers? How much do we need to hear the same warnings?

How do we not become like the Pharisees of Jesus’ time so diligent to protect God’s words that they became blind to the needs of their people? So determined to hang on to their definition of power that they crucified their own Messiah.

“You have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Lord, please renew our hearts to be able to sing as the psalmist, “give praise, O servants of the Lord, you that stand in the house of the Lord,….sing to His name for He is gracious.” (Psalm 135) Show us how we share Your hope in all circumstances.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27:10

“If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.”

Entrust: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

                        Entrust

                        Truth, righteousness

                        speaks without words

                        like a sunrise or sunset

                        captures awed silence.

                        Trust His words

                        to speak  beyond our ignorance

                        a pause to reflect

                        notice new possibilities.

                        Only One can judge

                        with justice

                        see heart’s response

                        with clarity.

                        Only One able to

                        turn abuse into forgiveness

                        anger into peace

                        trials into hope.

Reflection: Beloved: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you accept the name “beloved” for yourself from the Lord? Why or why not?

2.     Looking at the list in this passage of conditions we are to accept, which do you think is the most difficult in our culture today?

3.     Which is most difficult for you personally?

4.     How do you think that by doing right the “ignorance of the foolish” can be silenced?

Share: How have you entrusted yourself to God’s justice this week?

Beloved: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 2: 11-25

“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. ……When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.”

“Beloved.” Is it harder to accept warnings or suggestions when we know they come from a heart of love, or does it make the decisions to agree or disagree more difficult?

These conditions do not change even if the actual methods change. And there are so many more added to this list as history produces more and more ways to exercise war: physically, emotionally, financially, politically, mentally and spiritually.

“Wage war against the soul.” A different perspective. We are asked to accept?

Accept the “authority of every human institution,” the “authority of your masters with deference…but also to those who are harsh.”  Honor everyone?

No retaliation—yet no compromise either. We are to live honorably, doing good deeds, respecting the aliens and exiles, sharing our lives, becoming a stark contrast to whatever strain of abuse and evil lives among us by using different methods. Methods that will not break souls.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.”

Lord, please keep us bound to you, heart to heart, soul to soul, Your words to our walk. Build us into your foundation.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27: 9

“Do not hide your face from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help.

Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,

O God of my salvation.”

Mercy: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

            Mercy

            Mercy freely given

            shatters cement hearts

            mirrors love’s power

            beyond understanding

            mends fractured lives

            into a new people.

Reflection: Chosen: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you think of yourself or others as chosen, or a royal priesthood? Why or why not?

2.     What does that look like to us as ‘common’ people without degrees in ministry?

3.     Can even the quiet ones among us proclaim? How?

4.     What are some ways we can keep “seeking His face”?

Share: What mercy have you been given this week?

Chosen: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 2: 9-10

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you might proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Do you remember times on the playground in school or camp where teams were chosen? Were you quietly thinking ‘pick me, pick me’, or ‘don’t pick me’? What about now at home or work or organizations?

Being chosen for any task implies a responsibility. And even when we deeply desire the opportunity we don’t always feel capable. Or qualified. Or confident we won’t fail.

Yet here the Lord calls His people not only chosen but priests and holy. So far beyond our deepest desires or strengths—even those with some pastoral training. Chosen by the Lord Himself—why—how—for what purpose—here—now—in my family—my work—my community?

Is it not as staggering a concept for us today as it was then?

And yet, we have been called out of darkness. We have received His mercy. We have been gifted with His light and His Spirit. We have been given truth to share.

Chosen to pass it on. Chosen to encourage hope. Chosen to love others as He has loved us. In His strength, not ours. So any act of mercy is possible. Proclaim.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27: 8

“’Come’, my heart says, ‘Seek his face!’

Your face Lord so I seek.”