Faith Focus

Greetings friends,

I ask that as we begin our spiritual journey together we begin to take some time daily (if you are not already) to read the Scripture and pray. I thought it would be beneficial for us to focus on the same passage of Scripture for the week. This week, we will focus on Sunday’s texts, of which there are many! (See below) If you were not in present on Sunday and have not yet watched it, I encourage you to do so. We are focusing on the part of the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.” Think kingdom, as in God’s reign. Think the Garden of Eden, before sin was unleashed. Think God dwelling in people’s hearts. There is SO much more to be said about this! Jesus spoke of the kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of God (synonymous) often, and it came with the presence of Jesus. For further study, I invite you to look up kingdom in your Bible. For a quick and easy way, go to biblegateway.com and look up kingdom. Reflect upon each story given as Jesus said, the kingdom is like…”

Format-this is a repeat from every week, and will be consistently present for anyone new and as a reminder for all. It is listed at the bottom for review and for anyone who is new to this exercise. Please remember that it is a suggestion. There is no pressure to do it in the format suggested, to do everything on the days that are listed, or to even to answer all the questions. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. If one question takes up the time because you are moved in your spirit, then stay with it. The idea of this it to spend some intentional time with the Scriptures, in the presence of God, and in prayer and reflection- in whatever way that works for you!

Scriptures– there were several used, so all will be given here. It’s a LOT of Scripture!!

Isaiah 1:12-17

12 When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.

Your hands are full of blood!

16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.

Revelation 21:3-4

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Luke 4:16-19

16 He (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (this is a quote from Isaiah 61:1,2; 58:6)

Luke 10:25-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan)

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

DAILY QUIET TIME WITH GOD:

Monday: Isaiah 1:12-15 is the voice of God speaking through the prophet Isaiah and expressing displeasure at the way the Israelites had been conducting worship, specifically the attitudes of their heart, soul, and mind when worshiping God. The people were going through the motions of worship only. What types of unhealthy attitudes and feelings could have been present that would cause the people to worship in such a way that was so displeasing? What do you think would have prompted that? Have you ever felt any of those feelings or held any of those attitudes? (most of us may have at some point in our life) Ask God to reveal to you if you are currently carrying any unhealthy attitudes and feelings about God and worshiping him. If something comes to mind, repent (which means to turn around), ask for forgiveness and begin a new journey of healthy expression of worship, not only at church but throughout your life.

Tuesday: God pronounces the desire for a healthy expression of worship in vs. 16-17. Note that the things listed have to do with other people, and caring actions toward them. In what way does this relate to what God says are the two greatest commandments, to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind, and with all of your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself? Why do you think God considers loving others so important? Ask God if there is any person, or group, that God would want you to do more to care for. Then pray for wisdom, discernment, and empowerment to reach out with God’s love in whatever way that God directed.

Wednesday: The passage from Revelation is often read at funerals with a message of hope and the goodness of God. Remember that with Jesus, God does dwell among us now! Read the Revelation passage again and consider what this may be calling you to do now for the advancement of God’s kingdom. How is evangelism (the sharing of your faith in God so that others may accept the saving grace of Christ) an important part of God’s kingdom? Consider your own “faith story,” the story of how you came to faith and/or experienced God. How could that be comforting to someone else? Ask God to reveal to you anyone that God would want you to share with. Ask God for an opportunity, and the courage, to share. How do you think your faith could be experienced with people who are hurting, even if you didn’t say a word about your faith? Ask God for strength of faith so that everything you say and do points to God.

Thursday: Jesus was quoting Isaiah in Luke 4, proclaiming his mission, the mission of the Messiah. We, as Christ followers, are called to that same mission- as it says, anointed to do it! How does that make you feel, and why? Jesus read, “to proclaim good news to the poor”- what do you think “good news” means, and how would it, could it, be proclaimed? Why would the poor need that message? In what ways can people be poor without being physically in poverty? How would good news being proclaimed to people in every sort of poverty bring hope? Jesus said, “he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” Consider here, too, other ways beyond the physical that people experience being a prisoner, or blindness, or oppression. Ask God to reveal to you if there is something you are being called to do. Pay attention to any images of people or circumstances that come to mind and ask God for guidance. With all the difficulties in the world, what does it mean to “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”? What does it have to do with Jesus? Reflect upon your own experience of the Lord’s favor in your life, and thank God!

Friday: In Luke 10, Jesus was asked the question, a test by the expert in the Law, about inheriting eternal life. The teacher, knowing the answer but not wanting to accept it completely asked, “who is my neighbor?” He was challenging the expectations of what God has called people to do, and hoping that Jesus would answer in a way that would discredit him. Have you ever done that- asked/challenged what God has said, maybe even wanting to discredit something, to justify your own thoughts and actions? Ask God to reveal a time when you struggled with something God said. Jesus chose the character of the Samaritan as the one who actually was a neighbor- the one who showed mercy. Samaritans were hated, considered half-breeds, and unclean. Why do you think Jesus chose the Samaritan for this- what was he trying to tell the teacher? If Jesus were to tell this story to you, what character would he choose and why? Ask God to reveal if any healing is needed in this area.

Saturday: In the parable of the Good Samaritan, both the Priest and the Levite walked by the wounded man and did not help. These were respected religious leaders. What do you think could have been the reasons or attitudes that made them choose not to help? Have you ever experienced those same reasons and attitudes? Ask God to reveal to you anything that may be keeping you from reaching out, helping, bringing healing. Are you in need of healing yourself? As you ask God for your own healing, for whatever way you may be wounded, reflect upon what actions you would consider helpful from the religious, worshipping, faith community. Ask God how you can go and do for others.

Format (this is a repeat from last week, and will be consistently present for anyone new and as a reminder for all):

Find a quiet place and time to focus on the Word, and to hear from God through it. It doesn’t have to be long, for some it will be longer than others. I encourage you, if possible, to do this practice in the morning. You will then find that God brings it to your mind throughout your day.

For greater impact I encourage you to get some paper and a pen and journal daily what thoughts and impressions God brings to mind. Write out also your own thoughts and your own prayers, making sure to leave space within your time for God’s response. Listen intently, and notice what rises up within you- what you are thinking, feeling, memories that arise and ideas that spring up. It may be something God would want you to address within yourself and/or with others. It may be something God is inspiring you to begin or end. God’s possibilities are infinite! After time, it is often beneficial to go back and read what you have written, and notice how God has been moving in your life (and praise God for it!).

Begin with prayer, quieting yourself within and opening up to hearing what God would like to reveal to you. Praise God for who he is, for loving you, being with you, and more. Then ask God to speak to you; to open your heart and mind to hear his message. (if you are journaling, you could write out the prayer)

Read the Scripture passage over twice; once as a read through, and the second time slowly, meditatively. Notice what God illuminates for you. Notice what words or ideas are “jumping off the page at you,” impacting you from the Scripture. Ask God why that is being highlighted for you. What is God saying to you? What is God asking you to say, do, change, pray about, etc.? What is the application for my life today? **Most importantly- what am I going to do about it? (If you are journaling you could write it all out, which reinforces it in a greater way)

I have put together some daily questions based upon the Scripture. You may use those, but also feel free to deviate away from it if God is leading you there. They are simply offered to prompt contemplation with God. There is much more in this passage, feel free to delve in more!

At the end of your time pray again. I recommend praying throughout, but the ending prayer would include praise, thanking God for revelation, and asking for the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal, bringing to mind God’s will. Ask God for the courage, empowerment, and opportunity to do what you have determined God is asking you to do.