Prayer:
Almighty God, our redeemer, in our weakness we have failed to be your messengers of forgiveness and hope in the world. Renew us by your Holy Spirit, that we may follow your commands and proclaim your reign of love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Bible Reading:
John 12:1-8
Silence:
One to two minutes
Reflection:
Surveys cover nearly every subject under the sun. There are surveys of toothpaste use, soda drink consumption, preference for telephones, and on and on. Surveys have also become very much a topic for church planners to ponder, creators of religious merchandising, curriculum, and stewardship programs, attendance patterns, degree of belief. I am always humored by the way questions are posed. On a scale of one to five, one being very sure to five being not at all, questions about a person’s faith are quantified. Think about it, is it possible to believe in God, sort of, say a # 4? Or what would a # 3 mean if the question were “did Jesus save you from your sins?” How is it that our relationship with God can be a “maybe”? If you have it, then it’s a big yes; but if it’s a maybe…what is it? We have become wishy-washy about our faith, as if somehow we can avoid commitment, allegiance, taking a stand; we can be politically correct when someone wonders about our faith. I wonder how Mary Magdalene would have marked a survey’s question about whether she adored Jesus.
Action – Repentance and Creation:
Make list of three things that you do 100% because you believe in Jesus Christ. Then check back in a couple of hours and see if you still are at 100%.