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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
Great is the mystery of faith: “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” These or similar words are spoken during the Communion liturgy in many churches. They serve to connect the worshipers’ experience at the Lord’s Table with the larger three-act narrative of Christ’s redeeming work, integrating...
Holy Jesus, who died, is risen, and will come again, because of you, I will not fear. Not now. Not ever. 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.
