Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read Luke 3:1-9.
TEXT: And he went into all the region around the
Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3).

Luke anchors John's ministry in human history by
listing the Roman emperor, the governor of Judea,
and the ruler of the northern province of Galilee
where Jesus is living. John preaches in the region
near the Jordan River. Huge crowds come out to
him, but he is aware that some are here for the
wrong reasons. Some are merely curious; others
don't recognize any sins in themselves that need
to be washed away. John boldly challenges them,
"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
from the wrath to come?"These strong words
challenge us to look deep within our hearts. John
has come to prepare the way for God's mighty Son.
He calls us to recognize our faults and failings and
humble ourselves before our God. This baptism is
not an empty, meaningless ceremony. It is God's
solution to the deadly poison of our sin. Through
water and the Word God washes away our sins,
delivering us from death and hell, and saving us
from His destructive wrath. On the Last Day, Jesus
will return to earth to execute God's judgment. He
will cast into the eternal fires of hell all who refuse to
accept the forgiveness and salvation He came to win
for them. Today is the day for you to escape God's
wrath and find peace and eternal salvation in Jesus
your Savior.

THE PRAYER:

Almighty God, You sent John to prepare the people of
Israel for the coming of Your Son Jesus. Through the
powerful words spoken by John prepare me for Jesus'
second coming, that I may escape Your fiery wrath. I
pray this in Jesus' Name Amen

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Scripture:

Read Luke 2:41-52.
TEXT: The boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem. His parents did not know it
(see Luke 2:43).


If you were a 12-year-old, left alone in a
huge capital city, where would you go?
Mary and Joseph spent three frantic days
trying to answer that question, as they
searched for 12-year-old Jesus. Would
they find Him roaming though the market
place, staring up at one of Herod the Great's
three spectacular towers, or would
He be gazing at his opulent palace in the
north end of town? Was He watching
the Roman soldiers practicing their military
formations and running their drills in
the Antonia Fortress? Would He be cheering
along with the chariot races in the
Jerusalem hippodrome-that same horse
track featured in the movie Ben Hur?
The truth is none of these places held the
biggest attraction for Jesus. He was in
the last place most of us would ever expect a
pre-teen to be. On the third day they found Him
in the temple courts, asking questions of the
religious leaders. His greatest thrill was to be at
His Father's house fulfilling His great mission.
When His mother asked why He had treated
them that way, Jesus' answer confused both
Mary and Joseph: "Did you not know that I must
be in My Father's house?" Jesus had important
work to do, and He knew it. Everything was riding on
it: His great mission and our eternal future. To
open heaven to us He had to live a perfect life, with
absolute obedience and perfection. He had to learn,
understand and memorize God's Word; He had to
know it inside and out. He was a singleminded
Savior on a single-minded mission.


THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your single-minded
dedication to our salvation. Give me a similar hunger
for Your Word too. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

As pastors and faith leaders, we see the tragic
effects of gun violence firsthand. We are the ones
who comfort grieving families and conduct the
funerals of innocent victims. It is pastors who
faced the daunting challenge of preaching a
message of hope after the national despair created
by the shooting in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

As a faith leader, your voice is critical in this debate.
Will you join with others to demand that leaders in
Washington address gun violence in a sensible way?

Ending gun violence is a moral and religious issue.
But far too often this basic fact is ignored. Instead,
pundits focus on legal debates or ideological arguments.
Washington will only pass sensible restrictions to
reduce the tragedies caused by gun violence IF our
leaders understand that this is about protecting our
children and keeping our communities safe.

Only pastors, priests, nuns, and ministers like us can
change the national debate about gun violence. We’re
looking for 1,000 faith leaders to speak out on gun
violence. Will you be one of them?

God calls us to imagine a world where swords are
beaten into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4). Pastors and faith
leaders can remind our nation of this vision. Together
we must encourage our leaders to take action.

In faith,

Rev. Beau Underwood and the entire Sojourners team