The Third Week of January
We Read…
What does it mean for God’s love to be loyal and faithful? Why is this good news for us today? In the Old Testament, we see this promise that God will redeem and save God’s people. God is committed to God’s people, even when they haven’t earned it. God is faithful and loyal, even when we don’t uphold our end of the relationship. Our passage in Psalm 36 praises God for this as well! God’s abundance has been given to us, not out of anything we could do to earn it but out of God’s loyal and faithful love for us.
When we find ourselves trying to compare or check the right boxes to make God like us more, we can turn to these passages and remember that God has already chosen us, loved us, and given us gifts of the Spirit—and we didn’t do anything to earn them. This is good news!
Isaiah 62:1-5
For Zion’s sake I won’t keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake
I won’t sit still
until her righteousness
shines out like a light,
and her salvation blazes like a torch.
2 Nations will see your righteousness,
all kings your glory.
You will be called by a new name,
which the Lord’s own mouth
will determine.
3 You will be a splendid garland
in the Lord’s hand,
a royal turban in the palm of God’s hand.
4 You will no longer be called Abandoned,
and your land will no longer be called Deserted.
Instead, you will be called
My Delight Is in Her,
and your land, Married.
Because the Lord delights in you,
your land will be cared for once again.
5 As a young man marries a young woman,
so your sons will marry you.
With the joy of a bridegroom
because of his bride,
so your God will rejoice because of you.
Psalm 36:5-10
5 But your loyal love, Lord,
extends to the skies;
your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is
like the strongest mountains;
your justice is like the deepest sea.
Lord, you save both humans
and animals.
7 Your faithful love is priceless, God!
Humanity finds refuge
in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the bounty
of your house;
you let them drink
from your river of pure joy.
9 Within you is the spring of life.
In your light, we see light.
10 Extend your faithful love
to those who know you;
extend your righteousness
to those whose heart is right.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to be ignorant about spiritual gifts. 2 You know that when you were Gentiles you were often misled by false gods that can’t even speak. 3 So I want to make it clear to you that no one says, “Jesus is cursed!” when speaking by God’s Spirit, and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; 5 and there are different ministries and the same Lord; 6 and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7 A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good. 8 A word of wisdom is given by the Spirit to one person, a word of knowledge to another according to the same Spirit, 9 faith to still another by the same Spirit, gifts of healing to another in the one Spirit, 10 performance of miracles to another, prophecy to another, the ability to tell spirits apart to another, different kinds of tongues to another, and the interpretation of the tongues to another. 11 All these things are produced by the one and same Spirit who gives what he wants to each person.
John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and 2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They don’t have any wine.”
4 Jesus replied, “Woman, what does that have to do with me? My time hasn’t come yet.”
5 His mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby were six stone water jars used for the Jewish cleansing ritual, each able to hold about twenty or thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water,” and they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some from them and take it to the headwaiter,” and they did. 9 The headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine. He didn’t know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.
The headwaiter called the groom 10 and said, “Everyone serves the good wine first. They bring out the second-rate wine only when the guests are drinking freely. You kept the good wine until now.” 11 This was the first miraculous sign that Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
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?
Why is it important to remember that our spiritual gifts all come from the same place?
Why did Jesus want to avoid helping his mom?
Why do you think his mom still pushed him to help?
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?
What gifts do you think God has given you to use in the church and world?
We Believe…
Like our passage from 1 Corinthians 12 shares, spiritual gifts all come from the same Spirit. Some of us are great at leading in front of groups, while others would rather eat a worm than public speaking! Some of us feel passionate about serving specific groups of people (like children or the elderly), while others of us are basically allergic to small humans. We don’t all have the same gifts, which makes us a great team that fills the gaps, but all of our gifts come from the same place - God! We don’t get to measure our gifts against others or think one is more important than the other. The same God gives us different passions and talents so that we can all work together in God’s kingdom!
Comments