Monday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 5:31-47 (NLT)

Witnesses to Jesus

“If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

“Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

“Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”
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Morning Reflection:

Information vs Transformation

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life.
But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.”
– John 5:39-40

Is it possible for Bible Study to lead us away from a personal relationship with Jesus? Apparently that was true of the religious leaders that Jesus addressed in today’s reading – they diligently studied the Scriptures, but rejected the one to whom the Scriptures pointed.

Or, to put it another way, they were more interested in information than transformation. They would rather study about Jesus, than leave everything and go with Jesus. Why? Because Jesus challenged their status and security, and offered them instead a guided road trip to the cross.

But isn’t that the choice before us today? The eternal life that Jesus offers is received through a life-changing journey with him to the cross, and beyond. Every morning begins a new adventure that requires the humility and vulnerability to say: “I love you, Lord. Where are we going today?”

Questions for consideration:

+ Are you involved in daily reading / study of the Bible? Do you have a plan? How’s it going?
+ Does your reading / study of the Bible result in learning more about Jesus, or becoming more like Jesus? In what way?
+ Does your reading / study of the Bible result in growing humility and vulnerability? In what way?
+ Does your reading / study of the Bible result in loving God more – Father, Son and Spirit? Does it result in loving others more? In what way?

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Speak to me in the reading and study of your Word. Continue the life-changing work that your Spirit has begun within me – my complete makeover into a new creation through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Secure me in your loving-kindness, and fill me with joy-filled anticipation as I awake each day to a new adventure with Jesus – a journey that leads to the cross and beyond, to eternal life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“Word Of God Speak” – MercyMe

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen