In a spirited debate with a Samaritan woman, Jesus tells us that the place to worship is not as important as worshipping in “spirit and truth” (John 4:3-30; 39-42). We can worship God anywhere, even on White Top Mountain sitting high above the valley below looking into North Carolina, and as you may guess I […]
Let us pray that God move our hearts and wills to follow Christ: Loving God, we thank you for all who walk by faith. There is always spiritual light for those who wish to see. As we pause and revere you, stabilize our faith and give us strength. Amen. (B. D. Prewer)
To be “born from above” emphasizes a spiritual renewal beyond ourselves from God through the Holy Spirit, and when we are born from above it is may be experienced as being born anew or again (John 3:1-8). We are constantly born anew from above. Do not limit it to a one-time experience. When we are […]
The first coming of Jesus Christ was a dawning whose brightness only grows until Christ comes again (2 Peter 1:16-19). This dawning brightness grows in the sense that the message of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ has gone beyond Galilee and Judea unto the ends of the earth, including where you are. This dawning […]
Let us pray that the light of Christ shine upon us: Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is wonderful to worship in the presence of your beloved Son. May his radiant face give us light and peace. May sin neither disfigure us further nor divide us. May the light of his transfigured face shine […]
Jesus says that using words to put someone down or insult them puts the person speaking the insulting words in danger of judgment from God (Matthew 5:21-22). Although there are legitimate reasons to get angry, there is no legitimate reason to get mean and ugly when we are angry. Jesus is fairly serious about deliberately […]
Let us pray for obedience to God: Thank you, Jesus our Savior, for keeping God’s law perfectly for us. Teach us through your Spirit to follow you, and fulfill the law by a life of love. Amen. (LCA)
To be salt and light is who we are by God’s grace, and that grace flows from us to others. Although we may have to grit our teeth sharing grace, I hope we do good as a response God’s grace bestowed upon us . Like salt, we may be invisible to the world at large […]
Let us pray that we be light to those around us: Faithful God, you have called us to be a light shining in the world. May we reflect the light of Christ, so that people see your love and goodness in our words and actions. We ask this through your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. […]
Let us pray to God who has revealed the divine kingdom in Christ: God, in Christ, you declared what is blessed and proclaimed that our joy is to be found in your kingdom. Your kingdom honors what the word despises: Weakness, poverty, mourning, mercy, pity, meekness, purity, peace. May Christ’s Church and our lives reveal […]
