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Hope Springs Forth
Throughout the year, we have continued to celebrate the 90th anniversary of The Upper Room daily Read More
Gift & Mazvita Machinga | Read Romans 15:4-6
Breven became a refugee when he was very young. Violence forced him to flee his home country of Burundi for the Tongogara Refugee Camp in Zimbabwe. He recalls passing through four countries and spending days without food in the jungle. His whole family had been murdered. For years, Breven was...
Dear God, give me, those in my community, and all in the world a renewed sense of hope. Amen.
The scripture readings this week center on the anticipation for a righteous and just ruler, divinely appointed, who will bring prosperity, defend the afflicted, and crush oppression. The passages also touch upon the role of John the Baptist in heralding the coming of the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing repentance and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The broader context suggests a connection between the Hebrew Bible prophecies of a coming ruler and the arrival of John the Baptist. Additionally, there is an overarching call for repentance and the acknowledgment of God’s glory and marvelous deeds.
• Read Isaiah 11:1-10. Reflect on a time in your life when God brought transformation to a seemingly hopeless situation.
• Read Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19. Consider the ways you lead in your church or community. How can you better lead toward God’s righteousness, justice, and peace?
• Read Romans 15:4-13. Who needs to be welcomed and loved by you or your congregation? How have you closed doors to people seeking Jesus because of your judgment and unwelcoming environment?
• Read Matthew 3:1-12. What are you doing to make a clear pathway for Christ in your life?
Respond by posting a prayer.
