[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Tuesday March 14, 2006

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotions Tuesday  March 14, 2006

The Daily Devotions are this week are written by Pastor Dave Hendricks.
During the season of Lent, the theme of Zion's Wednesday services (5 & 7pm)
is based upon our congregational set of values. Those values flow from the
person and name of Jesus (Justice, Energy to witness, Spiritual maturity,
Understanding the radical nature of Grace, Service to those in need). This
week we explore Energy to Witness.

 

Matthew 28:16-20 (NRSV)

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had
directed them.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with
you always, to the end of the age." 

 

Thought

This commissioning of the disciples is no little thing.  It is a really
great commission that calls for the followers of Jesus "to proclaim the good
news of God in Christ through word and deed". We gather together to worship
our Lord and Savior, but we are always sent back into the world to make
disciples, to baptize in God's name, and to teach the way of Jesus.  

 

I love the symbolism of the processional cross being carried to the front of
the worship space when the worship service begins.  We physically move our
bodies from the outside entrance to the place where the good news will be
proclaimed and the sacraments will be administered to the worshiping
community. I love even more the symbolism of this processional cross taking
us back to the entrance that goes into the world.  It reminds me that if
this is where God's feet are then our feet should be in the world as well.
(See Isaiah 66:1-2 or Matthew 5:34-35) We are meant to be walking in the
world "to serve all people, following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ".

 

Prayer

You love the world so much that you have us stop worshiping you and start
serving others.  Such knowledge only makes me want to praise you even more
and serve others as you have served us.  Keep my eyes on the cross so that I
may truly follow you and you alone wherever the cross may lead me.  Amen.

 

 

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