PENTECOST • 6

Why does ‘Just Do It’ work for Christians?

Consider how true spirituality = identity in Christ + action for Christ.

SONGS FOR PRAYER

SET PRAYER

Psalm 25:1-10

(Pray this together as one voice to close your LG meeting this week)

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
    let me not be put to shame;
    let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long.

6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
    for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
    according to your steadfast love remember me,
    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

8 Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.


reading for: Tuesday Night, 5 July

Luke 10:25-37

“Go and do likewise”

  • READ

    The parable of the Good Samaritan is about a compassionate Samaritan and it teaches us about the two love commands found in verse 27. The first, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” is found in Deuteronomy 11:1. It is known to the Jews as the Shema and it is recited twice a day by every Jewish male. The second love command, “and (love) your neighbor as yourself” is found in Leviticus 19:34. The two love commands are at the heart of what it means to be a true son or daughter of God and serves as the and foundation of Jesus’ ministry and calling and the parable underscores that compassion (the turning point of the parable, v. 33), mercy, and love are the key factors in living for God (and therefore in discipleship to Jesus).

    The parable sits within a conversation between Jesus and a lawyer. It occurs immediately after a few sayings that emphasize the presence of the kingdom, that God’s rule has come to earth: the sending of the twelve, (chap 9), the sending of the seventy (10:1-16, especially v. 9 and 11), the return of the seventy and the announcement of Satan’s fall (10:17-20), praise for God’s revelation in the Son and the privilege the disciples have in witnessing this revelation (10:21-24). The lawyer’s question in v. 25 is asking “What must I do to be ready for the kingdom?”. This echoes the last words of 9:62.

    Jesus’ responds to the lawyer’s question with what he already knows and recites daily. There is no disagreement over the significance of the two love commands. The issue has to do with their application, extent and practice. So when the lawyer asks, “Who is my neighbour?” (v29) He is actually asking “How far does love of neighbour reach?” Jesus’ immediate reply to him points out that such a thought - that a human can be a non-neighbour should never be entertained in our minds. Jesus will not allow boundaries to be set so that we feel that we have completed our obligation to God. Love does not have a boundary where we can say we have loved enough, nor does it permit us to choose those we will love, those who are “our kind.” With the parable Jesus in effect says, “You should know already from Lev 19:34 that the love command extends to the stranger (or traveler) in your midst.” Hence at the core of this parable, Jesus teaches that love does not allow limits on the definition of neighbour and He further questions us about our own identity – “does love of God and love of neighbour define our being and existence? Does the love command override all other commands? Hearing the love command is authenticated by doing it. Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus a ‘practitioner’ of this. His identity as ‘Son’ of the Father (being) works itself out in loving actions (doing).  

  • REFLECT

    The question of identity is never merely a question of what we believe as fact, but what we are, particularly what we are in relation to God and what motivates us and controls our being. We have torn thinking from being and being from doing, but what we are cannot be torn from what we do. What counts as life with God — and gives hope of future life with God — is a relation of love with God that gives us our identity and reflects that love to others (see. John 17:3; 1 John 4:10-11). God is making people of knowledge into people of practice, where our sense of sonship and daughtership determines our actions. “do this, and you will live” (v28).

    Consider the arenas of your life – your workplace, your home, your leisure spaces. Are you growing in your sense of sonship and daughtership? Do you do your work or relate to others as a child of God, loving Him and others?  Do you set identity boundaries that close off compassion or that permit racism and attitudes of superiority toward others?

reading for: Wednesday Night, 6 July

Deuteronomy 30:9-14

“So that you can do it”

  • READ

    Our passage (30:9 – 14) occurs within Moses’ final instructions to the Israelites just before they enter the Promised Land of Canaan (Chap 29 – 30) and before he hands over leadership to Joshua (Chap 31).

    In his final instructions (29 – 30) He charges them to be faithful and obedient to the Covenant at Sinai (Exodus 19 – 24) that God made with them. Because this will bring blessing and preserve their identity as God’s chosen people, people who have been chosen to live as His model citizens in the midst of all the other nations. They will live so abundantly loving God and neighbour that all other nations will want to follow.

    He starts off (chap 29) by reviewing God’s faithfulness, how God rescued them from slavery in Egypt and brought them through safe passage to this point where they are about to enter the land (29:2-29). Then he leads them into renewing their commitment to the covenant, reminding them of their identity and lineage all the way to Abraham (29:9-15). There are curses and consequences for disobedience (29:16-29) but Israel’s repentance will bring God’s compassion and their restoration and they will have a new heart and abundant prosperity (30:1-10). This is why they must choose life and choosing life means being faithful to the Law from the heart (30:9 - 10) and with their hands (30:11-14).

  • REFLECT

    Have you ever studied the OT Law carefully? (Exodus 19 – 24). Many Christians wrongly believe that the OT Law is ‘bad’ and that Jesus has done away with the Law because He brings ‘grace’. Do a careful study and you will find that The Law is in-fact life-giving and life-protecting. Consider how the Psalmist felt about the Law (Psalm 119:97) Think about the traffic rules and other rules in society. What are they for? What do they do? God in his grace gave His people the Law so that they knew how to love Him and their fellow Israelites and neighbouring nations both in their hearts and actions. The Rhythm of Life, the journaling, the practices of personal disciplines (Waking Up Strong, Don’t Go to Bed Wrong, the Pausing to Pray). Are they life-robbing or life-giving for you? What about the corporate disciplines of participating in LG and at Sunday Services (Eat, Pray, Grow)? What does the flesh (in it’s weakness) want and what is the Spirit saying to you?

reading for: Thursday Night, 7 July

Colossians 1:1-14

“Live a life worthy of the Lord”

  • READ

    Who is Paul? What is he excited/passionate about? What kind of life does he have? Paul is clear about. his identity as one who is ‘sent’ (apostle), by Jesus. v1. He is attached to this news – Good News (Gospel).  (see. 1 Cor 15:1-2) Paul is clear who he is writing to and how he is connected to them(v2.) Although he does not know the Colossians personally, has heard stories about them. (v4). He has heard that not only do they have faith in Christ Jesus, they are doing things in love that comes out of a hope ‘laid out for you in heaven’(v5)

    So Paul prays for them and in his prayer we see his desires and what he wants God to bring forth. It is firstly that they to know the Lord and Father and secondly for them to become Spirit-led sons and daughters who share with Christ’s inheritance. (v9 – 14)

  • REFLECT

    1.       How can you work best in an environment if it is not supportive of quality work?

    2.       How to manage your own value, meaning and significance of your work without going overboard or when your work seems small or insignificant?

reading for: Friday Night, 8 July

Psalm 25:1-10

“In You I trust”

  • READ

    This psalm is a prayer for guidance and pardon. Here the psalmist is not ashamed to turn to the Lord for instruction and forgiveness for the sins of his youth (v. 7).

    In verses 1 – 3, David stresses his confidence in turning to the LORD. He lifts up his soul to the Lord without shame, for none who trust and hope (v. 5, 21) in the Lord will ... be put to shame (v. 20), he will have his prayers answered and his needs met. This contrasts with his enemies and the treacherous.

    Then in verses 4 – 7, David prays first for instruction (v. 4-5; v. 9, 12) and guidance (v. 5; v. 9). He desires that God would show him His ways, including truth, and teach him His paths. Then he prays for pardon (vv. 6-7). Based on God’s mercy and love, which had been known for ages, he prays that the sins of his youth not be held against him. (Three times he prays ‘remember’)

    In verses 8 – 10 the psalmist grounds his prayer on the revealed character of the Lord. He extols the nature of God: He is good and upright and loving and faithful. On the basis of these attributes, He teaches sinners and guides the humble. Sinful humans need the gracious guidance of the LORD.

  • REFLECT

    Reflect on God’s attributes of ‘goodness’ and ‘uprightness’. Take time to recall moments in your life where God has revealed these two attributes of his character to you. Respond to him in gratitude for those specific moments (name them in your prayer).

Season of PentecostCNL