Monday
And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ...we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only nine o'clock in the morning. (Acts 2:7-8, 12-15)
Heavenly Father:
We Christians have always been misunderstood
and your Word tells us we will always be.
Whether ancient Romans who thought our Eucharist was cannibalistic,
or critics today who accuse us of intolerance,
we are mislabeled and maligned,
portrayed as villains in media
as rubes in this brave new world.
Within our own number are those who have distorted your Gospel
into something unrecognizable,
into moralistic success therapy
rather than your agenda for a praying and prepared people.
Better that we be perceived as drunks,
carefree and bleary-eyed with tears of joy
than somber, silent sad-sacks
complaining of our mistreatment
to Him who hung on a cross.
Better to be out of step with the world
than marching lockstep with Satan's crowd.
Let our confidence be in you, Lord Jesus,
in the historical insistence of your resurrection,
in the confidence of your indwelling Spirit.
Forgive us for seeking acceptance from worldlings
while ignoring the riches of your grace
by which we might thrill to hear you say,
'Well done, good and faithful servant.'
Amen.
Tuesday
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them:
"Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only 9 am (the third hour of the day).
But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit,
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
(Acts 2:14-21)
Heavenly Father:
We thank you for the proclamation of your Word
by which we come to faith and are saved.
We turn to you now, from the hustle-bustle and anxiety
to call upon your name,
so that this ordinary day might become for us
and for all whom we encounter
the day of the Lord.
Continue to save us by overwhelming us with the work of your Holy Spirit
that we may faithfully prophesy,
not fore-telling, but forth-telling the mighty acts of God
in our Savior Jesus.
Amen.
Wednesday
(Child Protective Services abduct Paul and Val's CPS-adopted son, Shawn, citing their difficulty bonding with the boy.)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.
(Psalm 27:1-3)
Our prayers ascend today to Paul and Val Wielard whose adopted son, Shawn,
was literally abducted from day camp by a CPS worker and taken to a
foster home last night.
Paul and Val have a meeting late this morning with CPS. Rebecca Hutchens and
Julie will be there.
We ask everyone in our Gatherings to pray this morning for Paul and Val
in this terrible situation that threatens their family and, perhaps
more importantly,
threatens to be a terrible set-back for Shawn.
O God,
we come to you in behalf of Paul and Val and Shawn.
Surround them with your protection and comfort.
Mobilize the angels of heaven to come to their side.
Give them confidence and trust in you as they attend this meeting this morning.
May those who disagree with this terrible action hold sway today.
Return Shawn to his parents.
Protect him from discouragement and whatever awful things he must be feeling.
Cause the enemies of this family to stumble and fall.
Our confidence is only in you, Jesus, for in this situation there is
no one else to whom we can turn.
Let this be our strength and not our desperation.
Vindicate your precious children, O God,
for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
Thursday
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to
you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did
through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus,
delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God,
you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him
up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to
be held by it. (Acts 2:22-24)
Heavenly Father:
Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to show us the mighty works of Your love,
the signs and wonders of Your merciful grace.
We thank you that Jesus has borne our sufferings and anxiety to Your right hand
where he intercedes for us continually.
We are caught for now in this finite realm.
Things catch us off guard.
Events seem unfair.
Grief is our only coping mechanism against the ravages of time.
Our great comfort is that everything happens in Your foreknowledge and plan.
Our trust in You is grounded in Your sovereign power and ultimate
trustworthiness.
So even as we confess our frailty and finitude,
fortify us with Your Holy Spirit.
Refresh our lagging bodies and souls with the pure oxygen of the Word.
Hold us to Yourself, You who death could not hold.
Amen.
Friday
For David says,
"'I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
"Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
(Acts 2:25-30)
Heavenly Father:
We thank you that you give us the words of prophets and apostles to comfort us and to encourage us.
But help us know, like Peter, that the Gospel is not about us, it's not about our decision or experience.
If it were, then the Gospel is completely subjective.
What's true for you isn't necessarily true for me, say the skeptics.
No wonder atheists shrug.
Peter says this Psalm wasn't about David, but about Christ.
All the Old Testament is about Christ; all the New Testament is about Christ.
Help us read your Word aright.
It's not always about us, but about the all sufficient work of Jesus.
The Gospel isn't about improving my marriage or helping me succeed --
the Gospel is about a man who was crucified in 29AD and came back to life again
vindicated as God's true Earth King.
Forgive us for making the Gospel about us, even though it has deeply changed us.
Keep us rooted and grounded in the truth of your historical Word,
for this will truly keep make us full of gladness with your authentic presence.
Amen.
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