All Welcome!
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord God, we all need a savior…rich and poor…man and woman…young and old, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23, NIV)
But concerning Israel he says,
“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Romans 10:21, NIV
REFLECT:
My daughters spent years in our backyard playing with friends on a jungle-gym swing set we bought when they were very young. Now they are full-fledged adults and there are no children in our home to use the equipment. However, we do happen to have a few younger families around us with children who enjoy playing on our swing set. The young girls in the house behind us were the first to come over, after I encouraged them to feel free to use it anytime. Then, as they got more comfortable, they had friends come over with them. Now it is not unusual to look in our backyard on any given evening and see 3 to four kids playing there. They affectionately call our backyard “the playground.” I think its cute and am glad that someone is getting good use from the play equipment. I am just glad they all feel welcome – boys and girls, black and white, they all come, and they are all welcome.
Our heavenly father made provision for all of us eternally too. Even though the Messiah was born through a Jewish lineage, Christ came to save us all. Colossians 3:11, NIV, says, “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” The path to salvation is available to all of us who call on the name of the Lord to be saved. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while were still sinners, Christ died for us,” (Romans 5:8, NIV).
APPLY:
Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for all sinners, regardless of how good or bad? Do you believe His mercy is greater than all our sin and shame? I certainly do and if you do as well, consider how you can invite others into the family of God today. Is there someone you can reach out to and offer to pray for them? Would you be able to greet someone with a warm plate of cookies in your hand? Especially if there were young children around? Could you do something as simple as pull your neighbors trash can back for them on trash pickup day? Are there other creative ideas to show kindness and acceptance you have? Let’s make of point of reaching out more this very day!
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, remind us to let our lives shine for you today! “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light,” (Luke 8:16, NIV).
WORSHIP: