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Mini-Worship
March 5-10, 2024
Take a few deep breaths and center yourself and quiet down.
Entering the presence of God
1. O fear the LORD, you his holy ones,
for those who fear him have no want.
2. Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
1. When they call to me, I will answer them;
2. I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honor them.
1 & 2 . O taste and see that the LORD is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
Scripture Reading
Luke 13:1-5
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Thoughts to share and to ponder
It is true that oftentimes a tragedy stirs up a sense of fear in us and urges us to ask some deep questions such as: What's wrong with it? Is suffering a punishment for sin? What is sin? What is the relationship of suffering and sin? Why do good people suffer also? More importantly, what is righteousness? How to be considered as righteousness? Who is the righteous one? What is life?
There was a discussion about tragedy going on in this Scripture passage. People talked about two recent incidents. They puzzled. They questioned and explained. Jesus came and he was asked to help their confusion. Jesus did not go with them to identify who was sinner and who had more sins than others. He pointed it out -we all sinned somewhere and we all would perish. What we would really need was repentance. That meant, returning to a God who was righteous and who held life forever.
Many mysteries about sin, suffering, death, righteousness, life have been ultimately unlocked since the first Easter. Apostle Paul explained the mysteries clearly. He said, "God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Sin is defined as the short of God's glory. All humans are sinners. Though sin surely causes sufferings, not every suffering is the punishment of sin. Indeed, sinless Jesus came as a suffering servant to save us from sins and sufferings and to give us a new life to triumph over sin and suffering.
There are many sufferings in our world. God knew this reality from the very beginning of the world. He did not present a philosophy to us. He had very concrete plans for us. He has taught us wise ways of living- to obey his word, to believe in Jesus Christ, to receive the Holy Spirit, to be renewed and to be transformed, to do good and to bear good fruits in whatever we do. He has promised us to have redemption in sins, to have peace in tribulations, to have sustaining power in sufferings, and to have heavenly tent and more life in death. He has also invited us to co-work with him to research and manage his creation to serve us in good ways.
Return to God by putting faith in Jesus and living out with his vision for us is the way to go. Or we all will perish.
Prayer Suggestions:
Jesus our covenant, thank you. You have given us a new light to see sin, suffering and righteousness and life. Yes, we do need you. Please renew us daily and make us aware of the joy, strength, peace, and hope from you. Give us the opportunities sharing your good news to the people in sufferings around us. In your name, we pray, Amen.
Benediction
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer Request
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