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Mini-Worship
March 19-24, 2024
Take a few deep breaths and center yourself and quiet down.
Entering the presence of God
Hebrews 10: 19-22 (NIV)
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through hi s flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Adoration:
God of hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we sense the overflowing of a hope, which leads us into peace and joy beyond ourselves and our circumstances. O, God, we praise you. We know from our hearts that nothing is too difficult for you. All things are possible with you. You will accomplish the promise you made to us and you will fulfill the purpose concerning us. You are working on our behalf. Thank you for the faith you granted us. We are strengthened. It is a new day. We can move on with joy and confidence. We praise you in the name of Jesus Christ.
Scripture Reading
John 12:23-28a (NIV)
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Thoughts to share and to ponder
According to the Gospel of John, the Scripture passage was the last speech Jesus gave to the public in his final week before he went to cross. Jesus was very emotional. But He was very sure that his being put on the cross would be the pinnacle of his mission. The Father God would be glorified. One of the arguments that Jesus had with the public was what kind of Christ they were looking for. The popular tradition said that Christ would live forever. He would never suffer. He would never die. But Jesus knew he would be a suffering servant. He must be put to death. Then he would live forever. Why did Jesus has to go through death? Jesus explained it here.
He likened his own life as a seed of wheat. If the wheat seed did not fall to ground, it would be still a seed. But if the seed fell to the ground and died, it would yield many seeds and fruits. In the same way, if Jesus did not go through death and the burial and he simply went to heaven directly, he would not produce many new lives. To die was to give more lives. To die was essential to live. God chose a hard way for our best benefits.
How would Jesus give more lives? Later, he explained it further with the bread and wine in the last supper with his disciples. He would be taken, broke, and given. All God's highest love for us would be in these acts with the highlight of his being broken. Through those acts, we would receive the blessings of salvation. Our sin would be forgiven. We would be reborn and receive new life. We would become the children of God.
Jesus told what he would like his disciples to follow. He expected them to follow His way: be taken, be broken, and be given. This would be a formation of God’s servants. This would be the process of becoming a blessing for others. “Brokenness” is a way of “thy will be done, not mine.” Through the brokenness, our old self is transformed into a self after God’s image. A new life is emerged. A new vision for life purpose is formed. A new life mission is given. A new kind of life fruit is produced.
Where are we in our life journey with Jesus? Have we fallen to the ground and died? Have we been taken? Be broken? Be given? Are we a blessing to others? Let us accept Jesus' invitation to embrace His brokenness, to enter His love, to receive His life, to walk in His light, and to be shaped in His way, so that we can become a blessing to others.
Prayer Suggestions:
Think about different contexts of our life- personal life, marriage, family, workplace, relationships, church, mission field,... Is there anything or anywhere you sense that maybe Holy Spirit is asking you to follow Jesus' way: to fall to ground and to die? to be broken? to bless others?
Jesus Christ our Lord, thank you for the new vision and new mission for our life. We confess that oftentimes we are so stubborn with our own immediate interests and we fail to consider the interests of others. We struggle with the death and brokenness of our own interests. Yes, we need to turn around to follow your heart and your way. Help us discover the joy and life in identifying with your death and brokenness.
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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