Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 3; Isaiah 44:24-45:7; John 1:43-51; 1 Corinthians 2:1-9; Psalm 73
Each Tuesday evening, a group of friends and members of the church I serve gather in a local coffee shop to talk about the following Sunday’s lectionary readings. The conversation is free flowing and looks nothing like a traditional Bible study (by the way, consider yourself invited to the group that meets each Tuesday evening from 6:30-7:30 PM at Panera Bread at 12293 E Iliff Ave in Aurora, CO). One of the major topics of conversation last Tuesday was how we respond to God’s call. This is because we were looking at the story of Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John’s call in Matthew 4:18-22. What caught our attention was the assertion that each of these disciples responded to their call right away. We wrestled with several aspects of the story (i.e. how could they just walk away from family without notifying them) and ultimately examined the question, “Could I have done that?” A tough question indeed – especially those of us who are Type A personalities whose natural response is, “I better rush home, notify my loved ones, stop delivery of the paper, pay the bills ahead, pack…” Today’s passage from the Gospel of John gives us another experience of call. When Philip received his call and ran to tell Nathanael about this Promised One from Nazareth, Nathanael responds in a way that many of us might: with skepticism. More specifically, he says: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46 – NIV). What I appreciate about the story of Nathanael’s call is that Jesus didn’t get overly upset at Nathanael and rebuke him for his slow response; instead, Jesus took him where he was at. Of course he didn’t leave him there – but that’s fodder for another day’s entry. Anyway, today I invite you to reconnect with your own early experiences of Jesus’ claim upon you. How did you react? How did the Spirit of God react to your reaction? Then give thanks for the One whose grace and mercy reaches out to each of us – not at a place where God would like us to be, but the place where we actually are. Til next time…
Each Tuesday evening, a group of friends and members of the church I serve gather in a local coffee shop to talk about the following Sunday’s lectionary readings. The conversation is free flowing and looks nothing like a traditional Bible study (by the way, consider yourself invited to the group that meets each Tuesday evening from 6:30-7:30 PM at Panera Bread at 12293 E Iliff Ave in Aurora, CO). One of the major topics of conversation last Tuesday was how we respond to God’s call. This is because we were looking at the story of Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John’s call in Matthew 4:18-22. What caught our attention was the assertion that each of these disciples responded to their call right away. We wrestled with several aspects of the story (i.e. how could they just walk away from family without notifying them) and ultimately examined the question, “Could I have done that?” A tough question indeed – especially those of us who are Type A personalities whose natural response is, “I better rush home, notify my loved ones, stop delivery of the paper, pay the bills ahead, pack…” Today’s passage from the Gospel of John gives us another experience of call. When Philip received his call and ran to tell Nathanael about this Promised One from Nazareth, Nathanael responds in a way that many of us might: with skepticism. More specifically, he says: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46 – NIV). What I appreciate about the story of Nathanael’s call is that Jesus didn’t get overly upset at Nathanael and rebuke him for his slow response; instead, Jesus took him where he was at. Of course he didn’t leave him there – but that’s fodder for another day’s entry. Anyway, today I invite you to reconnect with your own early experiences of Jesus’ claim upon you. How did you react? How did the Spirit of God react to your reaction? Then give thanks for the One whose grace and mercy reaches out to each of us – not at a place where God would like us to be, but the place where we actually are. Til next time…
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