Weather Alert:
Church programs for Monday, Jan. 22 will resume their normal schedule at all locations this evening.
Programming Note:
Leawood’s Sunday night in-person worship has been moved to 4 pm for Sunday, February 11.
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April 21, 2024
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Daily Scripture
James 2:14-20 (CEB) and Ephesians 2:8-10 (NRSV)
My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity. Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action. It’s good that you believe that God is one. Ha! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble with fear. Are you so slow? Do you need to be shown that faith without actions has no value at all?
By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Do you ever look at accounts of Jesus ministry, like those we will follow in the GPS this week and think, “This is really hard! He reached out to everyone! He calls us to love the people who make us uncomfortable, the strangers, sick, the people who don’t look like us, or think like us, or share any of our experiences. Even people who are in power, like the tax collectors who got wealthy by burdening others! That seems difficult, and I don’t know where to start.”
This week, let’s start with prayer, just as Jesus did before he called the disciples and many other times throughout his ministry. It’s impossible to find the energy, motivation, and understanding necessary to reach out to others all on our own. Loving absolutely everyone doesn’t come naturally. We need the power, the vision, the focus that comes to us through the time we spend with Jesus in prayer.
Let’s find a time and place every day to sit in silence and let God fuel us up to do the things Jesus called us to do. When we are frustrated and want to walk away from that stranger, or judge that sinner, let’s pause and ask Jesus what to do. Prayer is how we come close to God and get the energy, motivation, and understanding we will need to reflect God’s love to the world.
Prayer
Lord, you came into this messed up, often cruel and frightening world and brought love and change. I want to be part of that change, but it’s overwhelming. Where do I start? How do I love someone who appears to me as unlovable? How do I find the focus to hear the individual voices calling out when the noise is so loud? How do I find your peace and healing, so that I can share it with others who need it so much? Show me, Lord of All. Open my heart to your perfect love for me so that I can share it with everyone I am near. Lead me again and again to your Word to show me the way. Open my eyes to see the people you want me to see. When I lack the energy to go on, give me the energy that comes from your own care for me, so that I can share that with others. Thank you for loving me and giving me everything I need to show your perfect love to this broken world, and for the joy of following you.Amen.
GPS Insights
Jennifer Creagar
This week's prayer tip is by Jennifer Creagar, who serves as the Community Assistance Coordination Director in Resurrection's Congregational Care Ministry. She is married and loves spending time with her family, and she enjoys writing and photography.
