Stress versus opportunity

Acts 3

I am beginning to realize that I need to see the responsibilities of
my job, not as weights or expectations that tax me with stress, but as
opportunities or avenues to show the love of Christ. I need to see my
work each day as a vocation, not a chore. I need to see it from God's
perspective.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to work. Thank you for
the skills that you gave me so that I can work with others who need to
see your love through me. Please give me your perspective so that I
can have your joy and peace. I love you, Lord. I pray in the name of
Jesus Christ.

--
W. Shane Walker, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering
The University of Texas at El Paso
500 W. University Ave.
Civil Engineering A-246
El Paso, TX 79968
(915) 747-8729
wswalker2@utep.edu

simple Church formula

Acts 2

⁴²And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Over the last two years, this verse has become so important to me.  I feel like this verse is descriptive of the Early Church, as well as prescriptive for the Global and Local Church today.  Unfortunately, I think we Americans are so individualized that we miss out on the joy of practicing this simple "formula" for Church.

WE NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH OTHER PEOPLE!

We need to spend more time with our families, we need to spend more time with Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and we need to spend more time with our neighbors.  We need to study the Word (i.e., the Apostles' teaching), hang out, share meals and the Lord's Supper, and pray together.  We need to invite more people over to our house for dinner throughout the week.  We need to meet people for coffee/tea and prayer.  The crazy thing to me is that this formula is not really that complicated; we only have to devote ourselves by making it a priority by making time in our schedules to implement it.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Eternal Life.  Lord, I want to participate in your Kingdom and Family.  I want to be involved in dwelling with you and helping others dwell with you.  Lord Jesus, I want to walk with you, and I want to be integrated in your Body.  Lord, show me how I can lead my family, and how our family should be involved in the Church.  Holy Spirit, please anoint us to fulfill the objective of being witnesses of Christ.  I love you, Lord, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is alive!

John 20:1-18

⁸ Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—⁹ for until then they still hadn't understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.

It is critical that we believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and that He is alive!  Of course, we much preach the Cross, but we must experience Jesus's death and resurrection in our own personal lives.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your incredible love for us that you would send your own Son to die in place of me.  Father, thank you for raising Jesus from the dead and proving that you have conquered sin and death and that I do not have to live in fear any longer.  Lord, please break the chains of fear and despair in my life because Jesus paid all my debts, and I can live in victory because He has won it!  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the Resurrection.

to fulfill Scripture

John 19:17-42

Several times, Jesus said or did specific things in order to fulfill specific Scriptural prophecies about the Messiah.  I was thinking that it might make my life easier if there were specific details that I knew that I needed to fulfill, but somehow, I don't think it would really make my life easier.  While Jesus had some very specific prophecies to fulfill, he still had the Big 10 and many other spiritual principles to guide His life.

Similarly, we have the New Testament to guide and instruct our daily and long-term living.  So, like Jesus, I need to make sure that I am speaking and doing in order to fulfill Scripture.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus's example of living righteously and fulfilling Scripture.  Jesus, thank you for your guiding principles and prophecies about us, which can help us if we pay attention to them.  Lord, I want to love you with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength.  And I want to love my neighbor as myself.  I want to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything that you have commanded us.  I want to be salt and light in this community and around the world.  I want to be holy as you are holy.  I want to keep my eyes on you and run this race with perseverance.  I want to cooperate with you as you produce the Fruit of the Spirit in me.  Lord, please use me to advance your Kingdom, and draw me close to you.  I want to know you and walk with you.  Please help me see you and know what you want me to do and say to honor you.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

he went voluntarily

John 19:1-16

 

It continues to impress me that Jesus went to the cross voluntarily.  He could have appealed the unjust judgement against Him, or He could have escaped.  But, as Phil. 2 says,

⁸ he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal's death on a cross.

 

Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing love for us.  Thank you for loving us so much that you would send your only begotten Son to die for us.  Lord, it should have been me.  I should have received that brutal treatment for my sin, but Jesus took it all away so that I could be your adopted son.  Thank you, Lord Jesus.  I want my life to be spent for your service in response to the love that you showed me.  I want to be obedient to the will of God and live humbly before you.  Please help me see how you want me to live.  Please live your life in me.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

 

how He died

John 18:19-40

 

³¹ So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death," ³² to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

 

I am sure that there are details here that I am not aware of, but it seems odd to me that the Jews, who were commanded by God to stone people who committed heinous crimes, told Pilot that they couldn't put anyone to death.  It is especially fascinating because they had already attempted to stone Him a few times before this occasion.  Instead of death by stoning, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the bronze serpent on a pole by being crucified.

 

Heavenly Father, I praise you because you are in control.  Jesus did not die by accident.  He was falsely accused and unjustly tried, but He gave Himself up for us so that we could know you.  Thank you, Jesus, for enduring the unjust judgements, mockery, and insults.  Thank you for loving us so much that you would give your life up for us.  May we respond with such devotion that we give you our lives.  Lord Jesus, please live through me today!  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

in the name of Jesus

John 16:17-33

²³ At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. ²⁴ You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. ... ²⁶ Then you will ask in my name. I'm not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, ²⁷ for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to pray to you directly.  Lord, thank you for adopting me as your son through the work of your Only Begotten Son.  Father, I am not sure that I really understand what it means to as using the name of Jesus.  I don't want to turn the name of Jesus into a charm, password, or magic spell.  I want to pray the way that you want me to.  I know that you love me because you sent Jesus to die for me, and I believe that Jesus came from you.  I love you, and I want to know you, walk with you, and serve you.  Please draw me closer.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus.  (Please teach me if this is not what it means to pray in the name of Jesus.)