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Mini-Worship
Dec. 3-8, 2024
Take a few deep breaths and center yourself and quiet down
Entering the presence of God
(M) O God, according to your unfailing love;
cleanse me from my sin.
(W) O God, create in me a pure heart
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
(All) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
(Selection from Psalm 51, NIV)
Confession :
The living and gracious God, we praise you that you had delivered us from the deadly peril through Jesus Christ despite many hardship in our lives. Now you are still delivering us. And we set our hope on that you will continue to deliver us. We praise your working might and loving faithfulness. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Scripture Reading
Luke: 67, 76-79; Matthew 3: 1-3, 11-12; John 3:15-18; Matthew 24:14 (NIV)
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:...76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death ,to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke: 67, 76-79)
3: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.11 “I baptize you with[a] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3: 1-3, 11-12)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:15-18)
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
Thoughts to share and to ponder
By God extraordinary favor and mercy, the old priest Zechariah was given a son named John. This John would have a special mission- to prepare the way of the Lord's coming by calling people for repentance and receiving the forgiveness of the sin.
Sin is a reality in our existence. It blocks the glory of the life. Sin fools one's heart and confuses one's minds. It alters one's emotions. It finds ways through one's body parts to accomplish its goals. It crashes one's spirit. It shakes one's soul. It disturbs one's life normalcy and changes one's course of life. It puts one living in darkness and under the shadow of death. Its destruction is almost irreparable and irreversible. A sinner cannot save himself or herself. He or she cannot see wisdom, light, freedom, hope and peace because of bondage of foolishness, wounds, despair and conflicts. Where there is sin, there is the presence of pain, sorrow, tears, cry, disappointment, darkness, discord and restlessness. Where is sin from? How to solve the deep sin in human nature?
John the Baptist came. He pointed out a way: return to God, get rid of evil works, change behaviors, and receive baptism. People came with a sense of fear of the imminent wrath of God's judgment. John understood that such a baptism would not be deep and effective enough. So, He also pointed to a better way: receive the coming one Lord Jesus Christ who would give baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. At John's time, it was still a mystery "how" God would save people from sin.
Later, we know that God has postponed his wrath. Jesus came. He became the way for people to return to God. He provided a fundamental answer where human sin comes from and how to resolve it. He showed them the way of peace and life. He instructed a new baptism in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Christ's baptism would have much fundamental and permanent change on people. People would come with the sense of God's holy love, receiving forgiveness of sin and the power of living out a new life. In New Testament churches, we saw that believers from all over the Roman Empire testified all goodness through believing in Jesus Christ and the obedience of triune baptism. Such testimonies continue among contemporary believers.
Yes, the world we live in is still waiting for redemption. We are still in the unfinished redemptive process. We are facing many trials, challenges and hardships in our daily living. We are expecting the peace in the new earth and new heaven in which there is no more tears, death grief, cry, and pains. God Himself will be with us eternally. Now we are waiting for the mighty and glorious son of man Jesus' coming again.
During this waiting period, we are already given the Prince of Peace-Jesus Christ. Through Him, we are already brought out of darkness and into the light of his reign. We are cleansed. We are liberated from the accusations, temptations and marching of sin. We are given hope and wisdom walking in the way of peace. In His infinitive wisdom and love, God can reconcile all things in our lives in the work of Jesus Christ. By all things, I mean all -joy, grief, loss, gain, our own faults, other's schemes, twists and turns, past, present and future. With that profound reconciliation work, we can experience divine healing, divine reorganization and divine reconstruction. We will be able to find wholeness and peace even in this unredeemed world. He knows to lead us into a new dream and new path and gives us a new tent in this life journey. We will be able to sing a new song of life in this strange land.
There is an incredibly good news for the world in this season. Much like the Baptist John, today's every believer is entrusted a mission of "make Christ known." Do we accept this mission?
Prayer Suggestions:
Do you need peace? Is it possible to find peace in a world of discord and brokenness? Fix your eyes on God. He has a plan. He is the one who will guide us though this life journey and he will accomplish what concerns us.
God of salvation, thank you for the precious peace in Christ to us. Thank for your son who died on the cross for our sin and reconciled entire us with you. Thank for this gift of peace we cannot buy with our money. As we are waiting for your come back again, let us tell your good news and love news to the many hurting and confusing people around us. May your perfect love will come near to us, we will cast out all fears and doubts and joyfully come to you and walk on the way of peace and life. May your peace dwell within us. In the name of Jesus Christ. 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.
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