Category: Be Inspired

During this season of Epiphany, we’ve seen in our readings in Mark’s Gospel the unfolding of a primary Epiphany theme—the revealing of Jesus’ identity. In 1:1-11, Mark declares Jesus to be the Messiah, God’s Son, by offering testimonies from John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit and God the Father. In 1:12-45, Mark then offers tangible proof of Jesus’ identity in several mighty acts (signs) performed by Jesus—ones that befit God’s Messiah. The first sign involves conquering Satan in the wilderness (v. 12). This is followed by multiple signs in which Jesus conquers Satan in everyday life: driving out an evil spirit (vv. 21-18); healing Peter’s mother-in-law (vv. 29-34); and healing a leper (vv. 40-45).

In 2:1-12, Mark adds the sign of Jesus healing a paralytic. Not only does Jesus heal the man of his disability, but seeing the man’s faith declares that his sins are forgiven. To the Jewish religious authorities, this is blasphemy. Nevertheless, Jesus declares that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (v.10), thus declaring himself equal with God.

To this list of messianic signs, Mark adds in 2:13-17 the calling of Levi (Matthew). Not only does Jesus cast out demons and heal sick bodies, but he also heals sick souls—even the soul of a tax collector, a person despised by Jews as traitorous, greedy, dishonest and immoral. Not only does Jesus call Levi to follow him—he has the audacity to go to dinner at Levi’s home where the guests include multiple tax collectors and assorted other sinners. To the religious authorities, Jesus has gone way too far! They ask his disciples why Jesus is behaving this way. Jesus overhears and answers by saying that just as it is expected that a doctor will associate with sick people, so it is appropriate (even necessary) for him to associate with sinners. After all, the whole purpose of his coming, in accordance with his true identity, is to call sinners to a new life with him (v. 17).

In this short, power-packed section of Mark we find multiple signs of the kingdom of God evident in Jesus’ person, words and actions. We might ask, are these signs seen in our churches? Do cheats, prostitutes and the lame flock to our churches and there find Jesus’ healing touch? Or do we react like the teachers of the law and shun such folks? Something to think about.

Prayer:

Our Father, today we proclaim again that Jesus is the Messiah, he is the Son of God our Savior. We are reminded of our calling to follow him—to be with him, sharing in what he is doing in his ongoing ministry of healing, restoring, blessing. We know that he is Messiah, not us, nevertheless, we are mindful that we are his disciples. Help us look to Jesus, follow where he leads, share in what he is doing in the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

 

 

by Ted Johnston

“But when he saw the crowds he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed, and cast away as sheep not having a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36 – Darby Bible Translation)

The Greek word here for compassion is “splanchnizomai”. The word literally means to “be moved in the bowel.” When Jesus saw the crowds, he noticed and felt their pain and suffering deep within his gut. He “experienced” their trouble and helplessness and he was stirred with profound, intense emotion to do something about it. He gathered his disciples and empowered them with authority to cast out demons and to heal every disease and sickness.

Have you ever encountered others who seemed abused or abandoned? What about the young man begging for money on your way to work? What about your neighbor who is a single mom? What about your family member who just needs you to sit down and listen with an open heart? How can we show compassion to those around us? First…stop and take notice. It is so easy in our busy lives to rush on by without a second glance for those who are lost and hurting. Second, ask God if there is a way for you to truly help them. God might say “no” but he also might say “yes.” He might tell you to give the young man the money in your pocket or buy him a sandwich. He might tell you to ask your neighbor if you can babysit a few hours her. He might tell you to share some encouragement and pray for someone. The important thing is to stop, notice, pray and do something.

Prayer: Lord, help us notice and see others as you see them. Help us feel what you feel about them. Help us take appropriate action as we are led by the Holy Spirit. Lord, give us your compassion for those around us.

 

By Davina Winn, Assistant Pastor
Hanover, VA

“[Leading GCI Canada] is one of the greatest challenges and blessings in my life. I have the opportunity to help shape the future of GCI in Canada in partnership with our pastors, membership, and the Holy Spirit.” Check out this month’s GCI Profile to get to know Bill Hall, National Director of GCI Canada. To read his full profile, click the image below.

“The church is a hospital—a place where sick, broken, wounded, flawed people are made new by Jesus.” ― John Mark Comer

Join us in prayer as we come together this new year asking for renewal and thanking Christ for new mercies each day. Click the image below to download and print the January Prayer Guide, as we celebrate how God is working in and among our congregations.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2

Have you ever been at the end of flight, airport in sight, and then instead of descending to land, the plane begins to fly in circles? The repetition of a flight path is called a “holding pattern”. When we are not present and intentional in our daily lives, we can fall into holding patterns of our own. Small and seemingly insignificant habits can seem harmless, but over time our habits form our life. For example, trading out 30 minutes of TV time each day for a walk can drastically improve our health. This same principle applies to our spiritual life.

It is easy for the values and lifestyle of the world around us to shape us; shifting the focus of our identity from a beloved child who belongs to God, to comparing ourselves to the people around us and where we fall in the hierarchy of society. The transformation starts not with our behavior but by presenting ourselves before our merciful Father. As we experience being held by our gracious God, holding patterns are broken and we are transformed. He renews our minds and reveals the way forward. Take some time in worship today, presenting yourself before the Lord in worship. May he renew your mind and show you his perfect will for the patterns in your life.

Prayer:
Gracious God, thank you for loving me into who you made me to be.
Reveal the patterns in my life that are shaping me to reflect the world instead of you.
Transform me by renewing my mind by your Spirit. In my mind and life, may you be glorified.

 

By Michelle Fleming

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Click on the image below to download the December Prayer Guide and join us in knocking with the assurance that our God is for us, even now.

Psalm 70: Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me! 2 Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me. 3 Let those who say, “Aha, Aha!” turn back because of their shame. 4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” 5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

Psalm 70 is one of those Psalms that expresses a longing for God to act. It’s an urgent prayer for help. It expresses a feeling of being short on time and long on need. In a few short words it expresses a plethora of feelings.

There are many moments in the life of every Christian where this Psalm sums up our deepest need. We want God to act and we want it now! Yet we are asked to wait. We feel the need to be vindicated. We want those who have hurt us exposed, to have justice done. In those moments, Psalm 70 provides us with a scriptural basis for lament, for airing our grievances, and for asking for help, for acknowledging that life is not always warm and fuzzy. Psalm 70 in its brevity expresses our expectation that God must hear and act! It’s is also a reminder that we might not receive an immediate answer.

But there are also times in our lives where the urgency of Psalm 70 is not our own. There are moments when our days are easy, when we are in a wide place. We may hear Psalm 70 but not really feel connected in the daily routine. We may be more interested in “what’s for lunch?” or the next big game. Our days may simply not have room for lament.

Yet it is perhaps on those days that we might benefit most from hearing this Psalm 70. After all, the urgent cry of the psalmist (“O LORD, make haste to help me!”) is someone else’s cry. The psalm can serve as a powerful reminder that even while our own lives might be rolling regularly along, that is not necessarily the case for everyone. Others might be hurting, calling out for help, awaiting deliverance. Others might be crying out but hearing no response.

This Psalm calls us to stop and listen. Who around us is living in the reality of this Psalm? Who is desperate for help but waiting for God to intervene? Who might be crying, even though there are no visible tears? Who needs our love and reassurance while they wait upon the Lord?

Prayer: Father, this Psalm has the capacity to say so much in such a few words. Keep my ears and heart open not only to my own cries but also to the cry of others who long for your deliverance and await your salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

By Gill Khoury
Pastor, South Africa

Sitting beside the pond the day after my son’s wedding, I was thinking about how beautiful the wedding was, how thankful I am for our new daughter-in-law, and what a blessing it was that God brought them together. While praising God I saw this reflection and told God I wanted to be the perfect reflection of Christ—living as he lived and loving as he loved. And then I noticed the ripples.

The ripples were caused by a stream cascading down the hillside and entering the pond. The stream prevents the pond from becoming stagnant and potentially lifeless. My mind whirled with spiritual lessons from this image and those ripples. Let me share a couple of them.

• If I want to reflect Jesus, I need to walk as he walked—1 John 2:6. I will never perfectly reflect him; my life will always have ripples.
• I don’t need to be discouraged by the ripples. They are part of growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord—2 Peter 3:18.
• The source of those ripples is the Holy Spirit convicting me of sin, righteousness and judgment—John 16:8. He continually points me to the source of the streams of living water—John 15:26.
• The stream of living water that gives me life and prevents me from becoming stagnant comes from believing in Jesus—John 7:38-39.
• The stream is something to thirst for—Revelation 21:6-8.

I realized that I often focus on the ripples in my life as a negative—a constant reminder that I don’t reflect Jesus perfectly. But that day on that hillside, looking at this scene, I believe God wanted to show me a different view. I do reflect Jesus, even with the ripples. My reflection may not be a perfect reflection, but it is still beautiful. I am a work in progress as God makes me one of his masterpieces. And maybe, just maybe, the ripples are caused by the Holy Spirit convicting me so I continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for including me in your work and allowing me to reflect your beauty – ripples and all. Amen.

 

Lord, bring on the ripples,

 

Rick Shallenberger
Regional Director USA, North Central

 

 

Click the image below to view and download the Prayer Guide PDF.

…is the Father, Son and Spirit’s decision to elect, or choose, humanity to be included in his relationship forever in Jesus!

In Jesus, you and every other person you know, including all presidential candidates that are and ever will be, have been elected or chosen to be at the highest place of honor and privilege possible for a human being – in Christ. All of what it means to be fully human is seated, truly but mysteriously, in that relationship of privilege right now, in the person of Jesus Christ, who represents and substitutes for all of us before the Father. (See Ephesians 1:3-6.)

That is who we humans are, fundamentally, and where your personal human identity is. That is the identity of all members of all political parties everywhere. That is who the presidential candidates in this year’s election in the U.S. really are, too, in Christ (not in and of themselves but in Christ). That is the reason why no matter which candidate has been elected as President of the United States, and no matter how much more difficult or good our political, social, and economical times may get, we all still have a reason for a greater and more REAL hope in the Lord Jesus Christ! Having overcome our evil, sin, and death (which still hinders every human being and political party on earth), Jesus ascended into glory as the God-Man, solidifying the fact that he can still be more faithful than we are (1 Timothy 2:13)

As we live in the Holy Spirit, this is this kind of hope that that will be fueling the thoughts and prayers of us who trust Jesus, the Father’s Son, no matter who we decided to vote for, or decided not to vote for. Hopefully, and appropriately, the decisions you made about your voting came out of a relationship you received from the Father, through Jesus, and in the Spirit. All of what I am describing is not just a static or generic reality but rather a dynamic and relational reality as revealed by Jesus (John 14:12-17) — a relationship in which we ask and seek, and our Father hears and gives (Matthew 7:7-12). In this worshipful and relational way, we who believe and have received Jesus and his Father’s Spirit are participants in having the mind of Christ, even in our voting, and even if we voted differently than other believers might have (1 Cor. 2:16).

Fundamentally, in Christ, all of humanity is still selected and elected to be with him. This is so not because of us but because of Jesus, who sustains everything as the powerful Word of God, now in his human and glorious person (Hebrews 1:3). The sooner we come to embrace this gospel truth by God’s grace, the more we can experience and begin to be who we are in him right now!

Prayer: Please let us fully experience our unity and inclusion in you, Lord. May we see past earthly circumstances to the truth of our identity and belonging in you first and forever.

 

Tim Brassell
Pastor, Baltimore, MD