Good morning everyone. What a wonderful day this is. Soon daylight will be breaking but the day has already presented us with great opportunities. As I sit here I think about the power of spoken words in our Christian lives and some very important scriptures presented themselves so here it goes. Today’s prayer comes from my dealings with people of all age groups.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help us to think about Ruth Brown’s observation that: “We should resolve to be more understanding of the very young, the old, the weak, and the sick. Sometime in life we will each have been all of these.” Help us to understand our generational differences. Young people have new ideas, new ways to do things, energy, and enthusiasm to offer. Older people have wisdom, learned from years of trial and error. It is hard for older people to stand by and be ignored, and see the next generation make the same mistakes rather than building on knowledge already gained. Help us to learn to respect each other’s gifts and achievements. If we can’t do this, why would anyone want to exercise and take vitamins in order to become healthy “senior citizens?” Oh Lord, help us each to realize that life is Your precious gift for each of us to live wisely, with Your help and within Your will. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Let’s eat.
First and Last Words of Jesus
“I must be about My Father’s business”
Luke 2:41-52
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he meant. Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
“It is finished”
John 19:16-30
So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did. Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
*** The first words were uttered in the Temple at the beginning of His ministry; the last on the Cross at the end of His first Life. Let all that you just read give you a new revelation. ***
Quote of the Day
Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God’s holiness and sovereignty… acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours.
James I (J. I.) Packer
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REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION & THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY