1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Questions for Reflection:
Do you think we are now living in the "time to come when people will not put up with sound doctrine?
How is Jesus calling us to respond to a culture that "turns its ears from the truth?"
What are some ways that we can guard from falling into the pressure and demands of an idolatrous culture?
What are some ways that we can support and encourage our pastor, who is called to faithfully administer God's Word and Sacraments among the people of Point of Grace?
Prayer of the Week:
Jesus, I come to You now to be restored in my relationship with You today. Thank You Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank You Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.
Jesus, today I praise You for Your amazing grace towards me – Your unmerited favor that You continue to show me day in and day out. Your grace blows me away. Thank you! I specifically praise You for patience with me. You patiently love me when I act unlovable, You wait for me when I stray to other gods, You pursue me when I stand You up repeatedly, You keep calling me when I ignore You, choosing other interests over shared moments with You. I am so sorry and yet so thankful for Your patience with me. I now receive Your deep, personal and patient love for me. I love you Jesus ... thank You!
In this moment I rest in You and intentionally allow Your patient love to touch my soul, heal my heart, extinguish my rebellion, soften pride’s hardness, soak my lifelessness into living. Thank You for being compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness and for maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34).
Jesus, I am the daily recipient of the blessings of Your Open Hearted love. I join You in the mission of revealing Your Open Heart to the world. I join You as Your missionary in my little part of the world making a “salt and light” difference in the lives of the people around me.
Jesus with an open heart towards others I ask You to live through me;
- so that I see people , really see them with grace filled eyes,
- so that I am present, fully present with people ushering in a sense of Your presence with them,
- so that I show compassion in real and tangible ways,
- so that I give away patience today generously and abundantly.
I expectantly pray for You to do this in me and through me today!
Amen
