Friday November 3, 2023

Today is Friday, November 3 and we are learning what the Bible says about proclaiming.

As a new day dawns, I slow my breathing, focus my mind and turn my heart to the presence of the Holy One. I inhale his joy, peace and kindness as I exhale my burdens, worries and concerns.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord God, I come quietly to this sacred space before I embark on a busy day. Meet me here in the stillness. Remind me of your steadfast love and help me hear the message you have for me. Amen.

I praise God for his steadfast love and faithfulness with the words of Psalm 92.

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. Psalm 92:1-3

Pause and Pray

The letter called First John was written to an early Christian community. It was written in opposition to a movement that departed from the community’s traditional beliefs about Jesus. John wrote to warn the faithful about abandoning what they had been told and believed about Christ. The authors of the letter were obvious eye witnesses of Christ. They had seen Jesus with their own eyes, touched him with their own hands and heard his voice with their own ears. They proclaimed the good news of salvation that life in Jesus provides. They proclaimed this truth for one reason. So that the lost can come home. So that the truth is heard. So that people are restored to God and united with the faithful.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. 1 John 1:1-4

The early witnesses of Christ’s life, suffering, death and resurrection recorded the truth that has been handed down for generations in the scriptures. Their proclamation lives on in the words of my Bible ready to be read and reread. They testified to the Word of Life which brings me life – abundant and eternal here and now. Their proclamation reaches my ear and draws me into fellowship with Christ, with the ancient believers, and with faithful Christians today. Their proclamation makes my joy complete as their testimony lives on.

Ask: Who told me the truth about Jesus Christ? Who have I told?

Pause and Pray

Jesus, you are my Savior and Lord. Thank you for the faithful believers who proclaimed your love and grace to me over the years. I am grateful someone took the time to tell me the stories of Jesus. I pause to recall their names and give you thanks. Show me how you want me to proclaim the truth of your love to others. Who have you put in my life that needs to know the good news? How will your message reach the next generation of believers? I read the words from First John again and listen for the message you have for me.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. 1 John 1:1-4

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

As I ruminate on this passage of scripture, I consider what emotions this passage evokes in me. Do I feel energy, anticipation and excitement? Or do I feel the opposite? What specific situation in my life does this passage inform? I listen with the ear of my heart and repeat the word or phrase that stands out to me. I record it in my journal and plan to reflect on it throughout the day. Perhaps God wants me to speak and proclaim his love to another. Maybe God wants me to demonstrate his love with actions that speak louder than words. I keep in mind God may talk with me later throughout my day.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, thank you for your great love. You suffered on the cross for my sin, even mine. Through your great gift, my sorry soul has been redeemed. I have found salvation and eternal life. This good news is too awesome to comprehend. I am so grateful I shout it from the rooftops and proclaim the truth of who you are to everyone I meet. Amen.

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:14-16

I leave this time of prayer reminded of the amazing grace of Jesus Christ, I go to tell his story to others.

Amen