We are on the cutting edge of a long line of faithful people. We are not the first generation to do this. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have faced the trials of the world by loving God.

The Gospel of Luke says that blessed are those who are poor, hungry and weep on this earth. God help us to love our enemies and bless those who curse us; to turn the other cheek.

We’re on the current page of the long story of the faithful. May we make those proud who came before us and walk in love, doing to others as we would have them do to us.

Oh God, you have bound us together in a common light. Help us amid our struggles for justice and truth to confront one another without hatred and with respect.

Amen

Our lives together mean we struggle together. We are asking God to help us not become the injustice we confront.

God doesn’t give up on any of us.

We aren’t perfect, but Jesus is. Jesus asks, when the son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?

Yes, He will. Persistent prayer and unwavering faith will help us see clearly the difference between what is true and what is false. Jesus helps us stay focused on God’s grace.

In this world there are threats, insecurities and fears. There are times when evil presents itself as truth. When the noise of life becomes too much, remember the good news. God stands ready to provide justice.

Consider God’s people in exile. The worst had happened as Jeremiah had warned. The people are shunned and the temple in ruins. They can only hope for a reversal, an escape hatch.

But God through Jeremiah tells His people to build houses, plant gardens and grow families. To continue to live faithful lives.

When our world feels helpless, we cannot pause and wait for deliverance. We still have work to do and can serve others to create prosperity not defined by wealth and power.

If you don’t particularly like where you are in life or the world you find yourself in, there is no escape hatch. We can’t sit on our hands and wait for God’s kingdom, we work for his people today. We follow Jesus’ example of living with a purpose to seek and save the lost on the way and in between.

The parable of the mustard seed illustrates the power of faith. Jesus taught that having faith "as a grain of mustard seed" is enough to accomplish the impossible.

To strengthen our relationship with God we must have faith, steadfastness, courage and obedience.

We must not be clouded by our worldly surroundings and allow faith to activate our life of service. Serving others furthers the kingdom of God.

Exercising our faith in God allows us to live boldly using our time, talent and treasures to serve. We can also exercise our faith by humbly seeing ourselves and our neighbors as God sees us.

We must focus on the work to be done and what we are called to do. How do we put this into action? “Go wash some feet.”

There is no barrier that can prevent us from experiencing God's love; however, it is essential that our hearts remain open. How we utilize our time, talents, and resources reflects the true state of our hearts.

God is endlessly patient with humanity; yet, it is important to understand that patience does not equate to tolerance. The message of God's word is a profound love story — He is actively pursuing you, His cherished one. God extends mercy to the oppressed, the poor, and all those in need. We have received all the necessary warnings; may we recognize that pride has the power to lead to our downfall. In our pride, we may gain the world but ultimately lose our souls.

In the Old Testament, Jeramiah tells of a society in crisis; a world full of violence and filled with greed. Jesus comes 600 years later, and the world remains in a state of crisis filled with murder, oppression, neglect, lies, brokenness and wickedness.

Where do we as Christians look when our world is fractured? We look to God. God is relying on hope and perseverance to bring all people into the heart and family of God. The answer is not in vengeance. Jesus calls out to the lost. He came to seek and save what was lost…sinners and tax collectors alike. The church must remain with Jesus, on the move. Not on the left or on the right but serving from the bottom.

These are horrible times. We grieve but not without hope. We must follow Jesus more closely and proclaim the good news of the love of God more boldly.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

What if poverty and wealth were honest with each other? Could they find riches in one another? Poverty has bounty in community while wealth has bounty in gifts and talents. Jesus lacked nothing in life, but he did not possess worldly wealth.

In honesty with one another, we find a space of transformation. The space in between is a place where we grow. We must allow our Lord to navigate us to a transformative life of purpose.

False evidence appearing real…FEAR. The world bombards us constantly with negativity. We are challenged by fear morally, ethically and spiritually. Fear will attempt to control our thoughts, words and emotions. Proverbs tells us not to lean on our own understanding. But to trust in the Lord. In all our ways, acknowledge him. The word of the Lord must stay in our mind and serve as a compass to guide us.

In the Gospel of Luke we see Jesus heal a severely crimpled woman. Often chronic illness hinders us from engaging and seeing one another. Leaving us feeling left out, oppressed and unvalued. Jesus sees through that and restores our identity and community.

As God's people and a body of believers, we are called to remember not only whose we are but also that our neighbors are His as well.

Prayer: Dear Lord,

We turn to you in our need. You are worthy of our complete trust. When our lives are filled with confusion and angst, fill our souls with hope and belief.

Amen

Before he dies, Jesus asks for unity among all people. This is usually how we see Him in hymns and stories—a peacemaker, gentle, meek and mild. While his heart remains pure, we see a different side of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel. Here Jesus yearns for fire on earth and embraces division among people.

While we aren’t called to set fires of destruction or glorify division between neighbors, we are called to recognize oppression and cruelty that have no place in God’s kingdom. The fire we desire is the cleansing fire of repentance fueled by love. The unity Jesus is looking for requires us to roll up our sleeves and aid the hungry, the sick, the lonely and the outcast.

Prayer: Lord, give us humility to see our faults and the grace to forgive one another. Unite us in love through the cleansing flame of your mercy. Amen