Good Morning Friends,
Over the last week I have been following the lectionary and the story of the power of the Holy Spirit that would give birth to the Church and the missionary journeys of faithful followers of Jesus. Today we also include a Gospel reading that reminds us of what happened in the upper room before the crucifixion. And in the scripture and in the lives of the characters I desire for you to see that God is at work in our world and in each of us. Friends, God is always busy, choosing people and protecting those he has chosen and patiently leading them while judging all people. Our job is to passionately seek God as God seeks us in love as well. But sometimes we must face evil and our own shortcomings. We have a choice. So, Are You Trusting In The Lord To Change The World Through You?
Scripture: Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem; but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it.” So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak: “You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.’ Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised; before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.”
Acts 13:13-25 (NRSV)
Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
John 13:10-15 (NRSV)
Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”
John 13:16-20 (NRSV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NRSV)
Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:14-18 (NRSV)
Message: Trusting in God can transform our lives. It is the way we grow in faith. But we must listen to the Spirit, and we must know who Jesus is. This reality was of utmost importance for the disciples in the upper room before the crucifixion as is shared in today’s Gospel reading. Jesus had just washed the disciple’s feet and it made an impression on Peter but for Judas it did not take. For he was not listening, and he was not trusting. So too that is what Paul is telling the men of Israel in today’s scripture from Acts regarding the growth of Christianity and putting on the full armor of God in his letter to the Ephesians. We must listen and fear God in the war with the world. We must prepare for battle. And make no mistake, listening and hearing may be the hardest work of all. Think for a moment if Judas had been listening. Jesus Christ knew that the betrayal was coming, and he knew that this would come as a crushing blow to His disciples if he did not prepare them. Jesus knew that they might lose hope. Our Lord Jesus wanted them therefore to be aware that He knew beforehand about His coming betrayal. And certainly, Jesus had wanted Judas to realize that there was still an opportunity for him not to go ahead with his betrayal. He had offered him every opportunity. Look at the Parables of our Lord and you can see that Jesus was telling Judas and others that He was aware of what was happening. Think of the Parables of The Weeds among the Wheat, The Unforgiving Servant, The Rich Fool, The Barren Fig Tree, The Lost Coin, and Lazarus and the Rich Man. Certainly they have applications for us today and the context in which they were shared, but the point is that if Judas had been listening, his spirit would have heard. There is a time and an opportunity for things in life, so we must listen to them in the Spirit and respond before the opening door is closed. Friends, there is so much turmoil in life and we can spend our time upset about things we cannot do anything about. We can experience feelings of guilt and condemnation and be robbed of the peace that helps us to enjoy life or we can trust in the transformative power of the Spirit of God. Listen to it and respond out of love.
And So, we are to trust who Jesus says he is and the way he shares for us to have abundant life through service that comes alive in the Spirit. We are to trust that God will change the world by changing us. It is not about gaining power, for people in power often use power to serve themselves. Once a person gets to the top of the pyramid, those who are underneath must serve the person at the top. But after Jesus began his public ministry, he eventually claimed not only to be powerful, but to be all-powerful, not only to be a man, but to be God and man in one person. So, it is fascinating to see how Jesus used power. On the night of his betrayal, Jesus gathered with his friends to eat the Feast of the Passover, the most important Jewish feast on the calendar. It was a very festive occasion, something like Thanksgiving. Family and friends would gather for this most special meal. But there was a problem. There was no slave to wash the feet of the guests. Remember that people in those days walked wherever they went, and there was dust, dirt, droppings, and dung everywhere. People wore sandals or no shoes at all. And so, when they arrived at their destination, there was usually a slave to wash the feet of the arriving guests. Washing feet was the lowest job imaginable. It was so low on the scale of jobs that slaves who had Jewish blood were not required to do it. Only foreign slaves washed guests’ feet. Washing people’s feet indicated that you were the lowest person in the room. So, Jesus’ followers sat down to eat. No slave had washed their feet. Suddenly, Jesus rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments. Taking a towel, tied it around his waist, he began to wash the disciple’s feet. Astonished, Jesus’ followers watched as he poured water into a basin and began with great love to wash their feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Pray our trusting of God inspires us. Pray we stop worrying and begin trusting God. Pray we realize that God’s ways and thoughts are infinitely greater than ours. Pray God not allow us to be tempted above what we are able to resist. Pray that we not become lovers of self, unholy, proud, unloving, and without self-control. Pray we not be heartless lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God and His ways. Pray we listen for the opportunities the Spirit of God is sharing to guide us in service. Pray we trust in God’s conviction and comfort experienced in the Spirit. Pray that the power of Jesus’ ministry be carried on in our lives. Pray we really come to know who Jesus is. Pray for people who have been so badly beaten and abused during their lives, that they have limited ability to trust anyone. Pray we trust God to help us do our best and trust God to do the rest. Pray we use God’s Word to separate us from our anxiety.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 