Tag: faith

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Galatians 2. 16, 19-21 ESV – living by faith

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The Crucifixion
Jativa Master, late 1400s, Valencia

Reading: Galatians 2:16, 19-21 ESV

We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified….

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – There is nothing I can do to make you love me more than you do right now… it’s all about you, Lord. By your grace through faith… I am included in your family. Live your life in me and through me… help me to do the right things no matter how hard they may be at the time. And may I never shy away from taking up my cross… and following you. To you be all the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “In the Cross of Christ I Glory” – John Bowring (1825)
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Morning Reading: Acts 6.1-7 NLT – set apart to serve

Reading: Acts 6:1-7 NLT

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent.

The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

"Ordination of St. Stephen by St. Peter" Fra Angelico, 1449 Capella Nicolina, Vaticano, Rome
“Ordination of St. Stephen by St. Peter”
Fra Angelico, 1449
Capella Nicolina, Vaticano, Rome

So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers.

They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – You have made us all different – different talents, abilities, personalities and spiritual gifts. And all of us have a purpose and place to serve you – to build up the Church and reach out to the people around us. Lord Jesus – Renew, remold, remake us into people who bring honor to you – “well respected and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.” Holy Spirit – Empower us to serve others after the example of Jesus. In His name I ask it. Amen.

Hymn: “Ye Servants of God” – Charles Wesley (1744)
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Morning Reading: Acts 5. 33-42 NLT – suffering disgrace

Reading: Acts 5:33-42 NLT

When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them.

Rabbis-Gamaliel-Saul-PaulBut one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while.

Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.

“So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.  And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Help me to discern what is right and true. May I be obedient to the leading of your Spirit… and may I be faithful to your Word. To the end that, one day, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess – “Jesus is Lord!” Amen.

Spiritual Song: “None But Jesus” – Brooke Fraser
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Morning Reading: Acts 5.12-16 NLT – signs and wonders

Reading: Acts 5:12-16 NLT

The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people.

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Apostles Peter and John
Pieter Aertsen, 1575

And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.

Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women.

As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.

Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Advance your Kingdom purposes in our time. Fill your people with your Spirit… heal the sick and demonized… and expand /and enlarge your family into every tribe and nation throughout the world. To you be all the honor and glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Spirit Song” – John Wimber

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Galatians 1.11-19 ESV – direct revelation

Reading: Galatians 1:11-19 ESV

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.  For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

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The Conversion of St. Paul, 1767
by Nicolas-Bernard Lepicie

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;  nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the wisdom to think before I speak… to study before I teach…. to be quiet long enough to hear you. Knock me off my “high horse”… if that’s what it takes to get my attention. And reveal your words of mercy, grace and healing to me… and through me. To God be the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “To God be the Glory” – Fanny J. Crosby (1875)