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Ears to Hear: A Litany for Listening One to the Other
I am a person of strong conviction and intense moral righteousness. I have a lot of Read More
Ruth L. Boling | Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
A heartfelt, compassionate letter from Paul to the Thessalonians takes an apocalyptic turn in this passage, looking ahead to the end times. Through Paul’s eyes we see bodies, dead and alive, floating upward as Christ floats downward for a forever-family reunion in the clouds. The passage strains the credulity of...
Merciful Jesus, thank you that I need not worry, but need only love and serve you, here, now. Amen.
On a “Now” clock, the word “now” is repeated around the perimeter where numbers would normally be. As the clock hands rotate throughout the day, the time is always “now.” Each passage this week emerges from a particular “now” moment in God’s story. In Joshua, the Israelites must choose whom they will serve. For the psalmist, the time has come to tell the story of God’s faithfulness in the past to encourage us in the present. Paul assuages the Thessalonians’ concerns and reminds them to encourage one another. Jesus’ parable teaches that his return will be unexpected, so we should always be ready. Like the hands on a “Now” clock, each passage points to the present moment, summoning us to mindful, wholehearted, unwaveringly joyful service to God and neighbor, now.
Read Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25. What gets more attention in churches today, belief or service?
Read Psalm 78:1-7. Try writing a psalm or prayer about God’s faithfulness to you despite your failures and shortcomings.
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Paul’s description of Christ’s return is meant to be encouraging. Do you find it so? Why or why not?
Read Matthew 25:1-13. Who do you identify with in this story? What challenges you? How would this parable read differently if the gender roles were reversed?
Respond by posting a prayer.
