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Mini-Worship
July 23-28, 2024
Center yourself (take a few breaths and quiet down)
Enter to the presence of God
Psalm 145
13 The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and gracious in all his deeds.
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him.
Adoration:
God our strength, it is because of your loving kindness and faithfulness, we are sustained daily. Thank you. Your words remind us that you are near. As the week moves on, we ask you continue your guidance, leading, and blessings to us. Thanks, God, our strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture reading
Matthew 7:1-5
7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Thoughts to share:
Modern science has discovered that each of us as a human being possesses a unique living document. It simply means that each of us has the depth and width built up through long years of our life experiences. Each of us is not only a biological person, but also a social, cultural, psychological, social, economic, anthropological, historic, and spiritual person. Each of us has a very sophisticated world that is not clearly known to ourselves and to others. All of these together easily shaped our “planks” and “specks.” We carry them with us.
What Jesus here teaches: First, empty my own perceived ideas about a person. Secondly, create a clear and open space between me and others. Thirdly, enter a shared learning about each other through understanding and communication. Fourthly, grow and enrich each other.
How we relate to a person oftentimes corresponds to how we perceive the person. How we perceive a person is oftentimes tied to how our own life stories went. Ask ourselves: Do I have better lens to see people in the way as who they are? Do I know my own speck? Where does it come from? Am I willing to make a clear space to understand other’s “plank”? If we do, our relationship will be much smoother.
In God’s good news, we all can change. When the kingdom of God rules our person, he will do revealing, purging, transforming, replacing, and reconciling work in us. Are we willing to open to his grace?
Prayer suggestion:
Look into your own life stories. What messages do they send to you? Do they become your “plank” or “speck” in various life relation contexts sometimes? Confess that and invite God to remake you.
Our maker, our redeemer, and you will understand the guilt of our mouths and our narrow visions. We do need your saving grace. May you touch our lips with your live coal and clear the vision of our hearts. May you increase our willingness to give a clear space to others. May you give us the courage to enter a shared learning opportunity with all fellows around us. May you bless our relationship with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
5.Benedictions
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 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.
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