Focus
Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for a peace at this time.
Read
Acts 13:16-25 (NRSV)
So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak:
“You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.’ Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised; before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.’
Reflect
The message that Paul, the first great Christian missionary, brought to people throughout the Greek and Roman world was rooted in the history of the people of Israel. This history was rich with stories of God’s intervention into human affairs, God’s justice, judgment and mercy, and God’s ultimate dream to redeem all creation.
God’s dream reaches its fulfillment in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His way, his truth, his teaching, are far above all others, because they are rooted completely in love and grace, which is freely given but cannot be earned. From these roots of love and grace, the teachings of Jesus Christ have gone out into the world, spreading into every nation. The world has been changed forever by the life of Jesus as that life has been communicated through the words and deeds of people who have allowed their lives to be changed by his love and grace.
None of us are “worthy to untie the thong of his sandals.” None of us could ever fully reflect the love and the message of Jesus, but all of us are invited to respond as he reaches out and touches the world.
Pray
O God, may we accept the invitation of your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Go with God.
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.