Grace Abounds

The Christmas Story (Luke 2:1-20) is the story of God showing up in a most unexpected way - in the flesh, in the person of Jesus Christ, a baby conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born to his mother Mary. Luke begins his Gospel narrative by preparing the way for the birth of Jesus with the birth of John the Baptist - and how God shows up for John’s parents, Elizabeth and Zachariah (Luke 1:1-25). In this Advent Season, how are you preparing for God to show up in your life?

“What is truth?” The question Pilate asked Jesus (John 18:33-38) seems especially difficult to answer in our contemporary moment of social media misinformation, competing cable news pundits, and advertising filled with false promises. While it may be difficult to know what is truth, we can know who is Truth - as the Truth, Jesus Christ, explains to Pilate (though Pilate, tragically, does not listen). Are we listening to the Truth who sets us free?

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says to his listeners “do not worry” (Matt 6:25-31) - which may feel easier said than done in these worrying times. But Jesus himself embodies the reason not to worry - God our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer is with us and for us forever. God knows our needs and cares for us. God will provide for us as he provides for the sparrows and lilies.  How might you express gratitude for God’s good gifts in this Thanksgiving season?

All Saints Sunday is a time to remember those who have gone before us into glory. As we remember the saints in our lives, may we remember that we too are saints. We called by our Savior to share the truly good news that Christ has swallowed up death forever, he is making all things new and, one day, he will welcome us home with all the saints of God.

On Reformation Sunday, we celebrate the work of Martin Luther and other reformers who transformed the church and the world with the gospel truth we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ has set us free from sin and death and worries over our own salvation, and free for life and love and service to God and others. How might you embrace your freedom in Jesus Christ?

As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem (Mark 10:32-45), he teaches his quarreling disciples that true and lasting power is not power over others, but power for others. True and lasting greatness is found not in being served, but in serving. We are not to ‘lord it over’ others, but to care for each other as beloved children of our one gracious Lord. What does this teaching of Jesus mean for you today?

It is because Jesus loves the rich man (Mark 10:17-31) that he calls the rich man to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor and come and follow Jesus. It is because Jesus loves us that he calls us to come and follow him, love God and our neighbors, and embrace generosity. How might we give of our time and talents and treasures to the work of the Lord today?

In Mark 10:2-16, Jesus affirms the dignity of women and children in a society that often disregarded them. He reminds his critics and disciples that each and every human being is made in the image of God and welcomed with open arms by our compassionate Creator. How might we bring this Gospel truth into all of our relationships?

Joshua wants Moses to stop two elders who are speaking the word of the Lord outside the Tabernacle (Numbers 11). John wants Jesus to stop a stranger from healing people in Jesus’ name (Mark 9). Both Moses and Jesus reply that God can and does speak and act through people outside our particular faith communities. Are we listening to these prophets of the Lord?

Jesus teaches that wisdom from above is welcoming and serving the least of these (Mark 9:30-37). James writes that wisdom from above is pure and peaceable, kind and reasonable, lovingly active, impartial and authentic (James 3:13-4:3). How might we live in this wisdom from above today?