Today is Monday the 1st of January. Happy New Year! Together, at the start of the year, we are recommitting ourselves to a daily pursuit of Jesus, by reflecting on, and shaping our lives around, the three loves at the heart of Christianity – to love God with everything in us, to love others as we love ourselves, and to love the world generously, outrageously, and joyfully.
These three loves are best shown to us in the life and person of Jesus, and expressed in the six practices, or holy habits, at the heart of Lectio 365. These are: mission, justice, hospitality, creativity, learning, and prayer. Each day this week, we will consider one of these practices, starting today with mission.
Pause
As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.
Holy Spirit, You make all things new. Awaken my heart to dream new dreams in this new year. I set aside any baggage or worries I have been carrying, releasing my heavy load, and finding home in Your presence. I breathe in Your pursuing love towards me.
I choose to rejoice in God’s constantly loving presence today, joining with the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 139…
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
Today I am reflecting on the way Jesus invited His followers to participate in the daily mission of bringing God’s light to a world in darkness by choosing those who would be with Him:
And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Ministry flows from intimacy. Before any tasks or work, Jesus chooses these twelve to be with him. And what a collection of personalities He chose to become part of His intimate circle! Fishermen, lawyers, tax collectors, and even a future betrayer are among those chosen to participate in demonstrating and announcing the Kingdom of God. I am struck today by the broad diversity of who Jesus calls to join Him in daily pursuit of His mission.
What does it look like for me to simply be with Jesus today? Have I been distracted or discouraged from the simple joy of presence?
Jesus, I pray that You would be the first love of my life.
I pray for those who are being sent out on mission to show the world that God is love, and I think of a missionary or full-time Christian worker I know. Will You renew their faith and courageous creativity for the year ahead.
As I return to the passage I listen for a particular word or phrase that the Holy Spirit is highlighting to me today…
And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
The mission of these first followers was shown in word and action, preaching and authority. Twentieth century Welsh minister Martyn Lloyd-Jones said that all ‘preaching is truth coming through a man on fire.’* I think of this list of companions: ordinary men and women sent out on mission to unsettle the places of darkness in their world. I long to proclaim the fiery hope of the gospel and cast out fear, darkness, oppression, and pain from my community.
Yielding Prayer
Holy Spirit, will You burn in my heart and soul?
Give me the words to preach Your truth
and the authority to unsettle realms of spiritual darkness.
In this new year, may my life be a witness to Your power.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I prepare to take this time of prayer into the coming day, the Lord who loves me says in John:
‘As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.’
Father, help me to live this day to the full,
being true to You, in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,
being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost,
proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Amen.
* https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2001/dr-lloyd-jones-and-authority-in-preaching/
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