The Second Week of July
We Read…
What are we promised when we say yes to living our life with God at the center? Does this mean we will only receive good things? We’ll get everything we’ve ever wanted? We’ll never struggle again? When we read any of the gospels, letters from Paul, or pretty much any other big story in scripture, we see that life doesn’t automatically become flawless when we say yes to God. John the Baptist would back that up. In Mark 6, we read a gruesome and tragic story about John. It can be hard to reconcile our feelings about God’s love with sad stories like this or even sad stories from our own lives.
John’s death, though, was a result of sin in the world. Because the leaders feared Jesus and John, they acted out in awful ways. Even amid this violence and tragedy, we know that God was with them. We know that God was suffering right beside John. This wasn’t good; it broke God’s heart, and God never abandoned John. Even when things don’t go our way or when we’re faced with trials and troubles, we know that God is with us, we know that God hears us, and we know that God will not abandon us.
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
1 Once again David assembled the select warriors of Israel, thirty thousand strong. 2 David and all the troops who were with him set out for Baalah, which is Kiriath-jearim of Judah, to bring God’s chest up from there—the chest that is called by the name of the Lord of heavenly forces, who sits enthroned on the winged creatures. 3 They loaded God’s chest on a new cart and carried it from Abinadab’s house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were driving the new cart. 4 Uzzah was beside God’s chest while Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 Meanwhile, David and the entire house of Israel celebrated in the Lord’s presence with all their strength, with songs, zithers, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.
So David went and brought God’s chest up from Obed-edom’s house to David’s City with celebration. 13 Whenever those bearing the chest advanced six steps, David sacrificed an ox and a fatling calf. 14 David, dressed in a linen priestly vest, danced with all his strength before the Lord. 15 This is how David and the entire house of Israel brought up the Lord’s chest with shouts and trumpet blasts. 16 As the Lord’s chest entered David’s City, Saul’s daughter Michal was watching from a window. She saw King David jumping and dancing before the Lord, and she lost all respect for him. 17 The Lord’s chest was brought in and put in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered entirely burned offerings in the Lord’s presence in addition to well-being sacrifices. 18 When David finished offering the entirely burned offerings and the well-being sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of heavenly forces. 19 He distributed food among all the people of Israel—to the whole crowd, male and female—each receiving a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went back to their homes.
Psalm 24
1 The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants too. 2 Because God is the one who established it on the seas; God set it firmly on the waters. 3 Who can ascend the Lord’s mountain? Who can stand in his holy sanctuary? 4 Only the one with clean hands and a pure heart; the one who hasn’t made false promises, the one who hasn’t sworn dishonestly. 5 That kind of person receives blessings from the Lord and righteousness from the God who saves. 6 And that’s how things are with the generation that seeks him— that seeks the face of Jacob’s God. Selah 7 Mighty gates: lift up your heads! Ancient doors: rise up high! So the glorious king can enter! 8 Who is this glorious king? The Lord—strong and powerful! The Lord—powerful in battle! 9 Mighty gates: lift up your heads! Ancient doors: rise up high! So the glorious king can enter! 10 Who is this glorious king? The Lord of heavenly forces— he is the glorious king! Selah
Ephesians 1:3-14
3 Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven. 4 God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world. 5 God destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his love. This was according to his goodwill and plan 6 and to honor his glorious grace that he has given to us freely through the Son whom he loves. 7 We have been ransomed through his Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures based on his overflowing grace, 8 which he poured over us with wisdom and understanding. 9 God revealed his hidden design to us, which is according to his goodwill and the plan that he intended to accomplish through his Son. 10 This is what God planned for the climax of all times: to bring all things together in Christ, the things in heaven along with the things on earth. 11 We have also received an inheritance in Christ. We were destined by the plan of God, who accomplishes everything according to his design. 12 We are called to be an honor to God’s glory because we were the first to hope in Christ. 13 You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honor of God’s glory.
Mark 6:14-29
14 Herod the king heard about these things, because the name of Jesus had become well-known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and this is why miraculous powers are at work through him.” 15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah.” Still others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the ancient prophets.” 16 But when Herod heard these rumors, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised to life.” 17 He said this because Herod himself had arranged to have John arrested and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. Herod had married her, 18 but John told Herod, “It’s against the law for you to marry your brother’s wife!” 19 So Herodias had it in for John. She wanted to kill him, but she couldn’t. 20 This was because Herod respected John. He regarded him as a righteous and holy person, so he protected him. John’s words greatly confused Herod, yet he enjoyed listening to him. 21 Finally, the time was right. It was on one of Herod’s birthdays, when he had prepared a feast for his high-ranking officials and military officers and Galilee’s leading residents. 22 Herod’s daughter Herodias came in and danced, thrilling Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the young woman, “Ask me whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 Then he swore to her, “Whatever you ask I will give to you, even as much as half of my kingdom.” 24 She left the banquet hall and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” Herodias replied. 25 Hurrying back to the ruler, she made her request: “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a plate, right this minute.” 26 Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. 27 So he ordered a guard to bring John’s head. The guard went to the prison, cut off John’s head, 28 brought his head on a plate, and gave it to the young woman, and she gave it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came and took his dead body and laid it in a tomb.
We Think…
• What stands out to you in these verses? Does anything confuse you or not make sense?
• How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind?
• If all of the earth is God’s, how should that change the way we treat the earth?
We Feel…
• What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?
• Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, a friend or adult that cares for you)?
• What has God made new in your life? In your heart?
• How does Mark’s story make you feel?
• Have you ever felt so overwhelmed with joy like David?
We Believe…
How does it make you feel to know that you have been brought into the family of God? In Ephesians 1:5, we read that we are God’s children. We believe that God loves us and has called to us, and when we say yes to this family, God welcomes us in immediately. Some of us have really amazing families, which is a great reflection of God's love and care for us. Some of us do not have amazing families, and it can be hard to trust that God is a good and loving parent. Even when our families fail us, we know that God sticks by us. We have been brought in and adopted, and God cares deeply about us.
We Practice…
How do you respond to God’s blessings/goodness/presence in your life? Maybe it’s through dancing, or singing, or talking about God. Just like David in 2 Samuel, connecting our bodies to our faith is important.
Take time this week to respond to God’s presence in your life in a physical way. Do something you enjoy and frame it as worship. How does it make you feel? When we are creative, we connect with God's creative heart. When we connect our bodies to our faith, we remind ourselves that God has created us as physical beings, and bringing every part of ourselves into our faith is good!
Comentários