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A Ministry of Inclusion

5/13/2022

Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

We Christians can be snobbish. When Simon Peter preached God’s Word to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) and they “accepted God’s message,” (Acts 11:1) several Jewish believers were angry with him that he mingled with people who were not circumcised (a custom that was practiced as a sign of the covenant between the Jewish people and God). Their accusatory tone was not lost on Peter. “You stayed in the homes of Gentiles, and you even ate with them!” (v.3) they argued.

Have you ever experienced similar snobbish attitudes from church folk, family, or co-workers when you “mingled” with others whom they believed were beneath you? Or different from you?

“Oh, she’s Catholic/Pentecostal/Jewish/black. Why would you hang out with her?”

Or, “He’s Asian/Latino/African/white. Why would you include “those” people in our lunch plans?

Or perhaps your coworkers have chided you with, “You shouldn’t engage with workers in the mailroom, or the factory, or the housekeeping staff.”

These behaviors are not only divisive, but they are a far cry from what Jesus expects of us as Christians.

As we read the account that led to Peter sharing the gospel with those who were not of the Jewish faith (Acts 1:1-11), we find that God welcomes all people. The gospel of Jesus Christ is that which levels the playing field. It can unite us, no matter our ethnic, social or religious background.

Indeed, God has imminent domain over our lives. He can knock down walls of confused exclusivity and make “plenty good room” for the peace that comes to us when we make Jesus Lord of our lives.

Are there people with whom you would never share the gospel simply because they are of a different faith, sexual orientation, or speak a different language? Think about it. The Good News is not for you only, but for all people! So go ahead and share!

When Peter shared the gospel, not only did the Gentiles get saved, but they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as the Jewish believers did, on the day of Pentecost.

We must be careful not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think (Romans 12:3), or assume we have a monopoly on the Word of God. The Scriptures tell us that the Word of God is “alive and powerful! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts” (Hebrew 4:12, CEV). So, we share the Word with others and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.

Look around you for opportunities to include others, who people sometimes exclude, in fellowship, study, worship. You’ll be amazed at the difference it will make in your life and theirs!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you are always looking out for those who are poor, lonely, marginalized, “other.” Help us to seek them out and share your glorious gospel of salvation with them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©Medytations 2022

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Need Voice Lessons?

5/5/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
By Dorette Saunders

When I was growing up my mother’s aunt gave me voice lessons. As part of the training, there were vocal exercises in which I would first listen to her sing, then begin singing up and down the scale. It was grueling at first, considering I was only six. But it grew easier with time as I grew accustomed to hearing the sounds of my great aunt’s voice.

In John’s Gospel, the people attending a Temple Festival in Jerusalem continue to harass Jesus about his claim to be the Messiah. Over and over, in word and in deed, Jesus proves that he is. Yet here, the people demand that he tell them “plainly.” So Jesus tells them:

“I have told you, and you refused to believe me. The things I do by my Father's authority show who I am. But since you are not my sheep, you don't believe me. My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost...” (John 10:25-28, CEV).

Did you get that? Jesus says, “My sheep know my voice, and I know them.” Jesus’ reply here is packed with meaning and message for us right now.

Are we Jesus’ sheep? Are we willing to be humble, docile, like sheep and allow Jesus, the Shepherd, to lead us? David, considered a man after God’s own heart declares, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1, KJV). We become sheep by yielding to the Shepherd and allowing him to lead us.

Everyone who follows needs directions. These directions come from the leader. Yet, what good are the directions if those who follow can’t hear them, if they are muffled, or drowned out by the cacophony of competing voices or interests?

That’s when it gets interesting. “My sheep know my voice, and I know them.” How do we discern Jesus’ voice among the many voices competing for our attention? We do so by staying in his Word. By reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God in the Scriptures. The more we get to know Jesus, and give ourselves to his safe-keeping, the more he will reveal himself and his “voice” to us.

Do you know Jesus’ voice? Are you engaging in those things that would allow you to hear Jesus better? Do you pray with the expectation that Jesus’ “voice” will provide direction? These are questions for self-reflection.

So we get voice lessons directly from the Word of God with Jesus as our teacher. Sometimes the lessons are grueling at first, but with practice and prayer, each of us will begin to discern Jesus’ voice.

What is exciting is that the voice lessons are not a one-way affair, but a two-way harmonious exchange as indeed all communication should be. Jesus says that he knows your voice! Out of all the sounds that hit his ear, he knows your voice. What an awesome God! What a great vocal coach who knows our voice, he knows our name, and he even knows who we are when no one is looking.

Take time today to look around at the things that show you who Jesus is. Where do you see his hand and his authority on your life? Let’s use our voices to proclaim Jesus as Messiah, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and the Shepherd of our lives!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, our Messiah and Shepherd of our lives, we thank you that we can be assured that you know each of our voices. Help us to take time to know you more intimately through your Word so that we, your sheep, we can discern your voice and your call. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©Medytations 2022

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"What We Have Is Enough"

4/28/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

It’s amazing how a change of perspective changes everything! Prior to the pandemic, even in the trendiest stores there was always a bevy of ladies in the fitting rooms, arms laden with must-have ensembles. Now, those cubicles are a virtual ghost town, an echo chamber where if you speak, there’s no there one to hear you.

Where have all the shoppers gone? On line perhaps, but if the truth be told, most women realize that they don’t really need any more clothes. What they have is enough. The same can apply to all the bells and whistles that we got accustomed to during worship. If we have been fortunate, much of that has been peeled away during this time of testing. And what we have left is pure, authentic worship where the heart is exposed, and flashing lights and blaring music dare not interfere.

What we have is enough…to do the work we have been called to do. Enough to offer blessings and love to those who have not yet met our Father. Enough to speak with resurrection confidence, and authority that because Jesus lives, a whole new realm of miracles are opened up to us. It is enough!

We have new marching orders to look at God in all his glory in all the everyday corners. We have the opportunity to seek and discover just how awesome God truly is. We have a new command to love despite past hurts, and fear, and shame.

If we listen closely, God reminds us that he doesn’t need the trappings, the fluff that sometimes lulls us into foolishly thinking that we can continue to worship on autopilot.

“We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness” (2 Peter 1:3, CEV).

Look closely, the hands of time are moving at a frenetic pace as prophecy after prophecy is being fulfilled. Our time is limited to share the gospel, to tell someone that Jesus loves them, and that he cares. It seems like we won’t enough time, but truly it is enough!

PRAYER: God, help us to turn away from those things which are but a façade of true, authentic worship and look to you to fill our hearts with gratitude and our lips with praise. Remind us that what we have is enough, and as we use it, it multiplies exponentially. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©Medytations 2022

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The Courage to Believe

4/20/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

Have you ever watched a television game show in which a contestant is stumped for the answer (which you know), and you found yourself shouting it at the television screen? You are all worked up because you know for sure you have the correct response.

Using that analogy, Jesus’ disciple Thomas gets a bad rap (Read John 20:24-29). The other disciples who have seen the risen Jesus attempt to engage Thomas in their joy. They know the answer to the crucifixion, and they are shouting, hoping that Thomas will get it. But Thomas is not buying their account because he does not know, he was not present when Jesus appeared to the others. So Thomas balks at being happy. He’s fearful of taking another hit, another disappointment. After all, he thought that Jesus, the Messiah, would free Israel from Roman rule, and now the Jesus he loved and trusted, was dead!

Before we hang the traditional sign, “Doubtful Thomas” around his neck, aren’t we, at times, just like Thomas? Not so much doubtful, but rather lacking courage to believe what we know to be God’s truth? Of course, Thomas heard all of Jesus’ claims of rising from death in three days (Matthew 20:17-19). Of course, Thomas heard Jesus say that he was telling the disciples what would happen so they would not be fearful.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.” … ” I am telling you this before I leave, so when it does happen, you will have faith in me” (John 14:1;29, CEV).

And…?

Thomas faltered, just like Peter faltered after he started to walk on water toward Jesus. Both lacked the courage to believe what Jesus promised or said, would happen.

Thomas’ hesitancy started with, “Unless….” (John 20:25) How does ours start? Thomas needed a physical sign. Jesus, who understands our every weakness, does not condemn his disciple, but rather invites Thomas to overcome his fear, his lack of courage, his doubts, by touching him.

Sometimes, we also need to touch Jesus, again. Our courage will get a re-boot when we have a fresh encounter with the Risen Lord. Such an encounter may manifest through reading the Scriptures, praying, fasting, or by inviting the Holy Spirit to minister to us in his own way.

And while we may experience a momentary lapse of courage to believe, let’s remember Jesus’ words that those who believe without seeing in the natural, are those who are truly blessed (John 20:29).

So then, friends, “let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” (Hebrews 10:23, KJV).

PRAYER: Our Lord and our God, we thank you for dying for us, and being raised to life so we, too, one day will be raised to life, eternal life. Catch us, Lord, when we fail to have the courage to believe all that you have told us in your Word. Your Word is truth, and we believe! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©Medytations 2022

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Surveying the Cross

4/14/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

It seems that “survey” is not a word that we would use in conjunction with the cross of Christ. Typically, we use the word in association with polls to gauge people’s opinions and behaviors. We also use it to valuate real property before purchase and investment. Yet, the title of Isaac Watts’ hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” is packed with more meaning than meets the eye.

As we sing of Jesus’ sacrifice, it may be easy to gloss over the word “survey” in the hymn. But, the Scriptures ask us to take time to survey our Lord’s cross. To do so requires that we ask several questions: “Why did Jesus have to die?” “Why would Jesus die for me?” “What is the significance of the cross?”

Anticipating our questions, God in his infinite wisdom, provided answers:

He was wounded and crushed
    because of our sins;
by taking our punishment,
    he made us completely well.
All of us were like sheep
    that had wandered off.
We had each gone our own way,
but the Lord gave him
    the punishment we deserved.
                           (Isaiah 53:5,6, CEV)

And again:

“All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins” (Romans 3:23,24, CEV).

Still, the Scriptures show that it was Christ’s great love for us that made him lay his divinity aside:

Christ was truly God.
But he did not try to remain
    equal with God.
Instead he gave up everything
    and became a slave,
when he became
    like one of us.
Christ was humble.
He obeyed God and even died
    on a cross.
            (Philippians 2:6-8, CEV)

Perhaps those Scriptures give us a glimpse of what was on the mind of God when he sent his only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Perhaps, it gives us a glimpse of what was on Jesus’ mind when he agreed.

Yet, as we survey the cross, we should fix our gaze on it and think deeply about its importance to our lives. If we do that, we cannot help but see the huge investment that Jesus places in us. We cannot ignore the fact that despite what others thought about him, Jesus went to the cross, suffered a horrendous death for each of us—to reconcile us back to the Father and to give us eternal life.

But our survey goes even further. We discover that the Christ of the cross has resurrection power which enables us to proclaim “…Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me” (Galatians 2:20, CEV).

PRAYER: Life-giving Lord Jesus, we look to you and survey your cross, made all the more precious because it is we who deserved death and not you. Help us to embrace such undeserved love and to share its powerful witness with those around us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©Medytations 2022

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A Ministry of Inclusion

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