Being Open to the Unexpected
Readings for this week April 15 - 20
Click here for a pdf of this week’s readings
Day 1 – Being Open to the Unexpected
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Luke 18:31-34
Often hindsight is a great thing. 2000 years after the gospel events, it can be easy to look at the disciples and the warnings Jesus gave them about what was coming and wonder how they could possibly be so blind to his meaning. Sometimes the disciples look very ordinary and human, especially about the impending fate of Jesus. To us it seems obvious: it was always part of God’s plan for Him to send His Son to die for us and bring about reconciliation with God. The Old Testament is full of prophecies and warnings about what would happen. They just didn’t get it.
But we tend to forget that many of those Old Testament passages were obscure, or ambiguous, or just didn’t fit into the story of God’s glorious return and vindication of His people that Israel was telling itself. It was only after the crucifixion and resurrection that Jesus’ followers went back through the scriptures and suddenly understood exactly what was going on, suddenly had revealed to them the true focus of the story of God and His relationship with the world, Israel, and each individual person. Often, we think we know the story of our lives – or the lives of others – and we think that, based on what we know of events and people, we know exactly what will happen. But God knows best. God can move in unexpected ways and surprise even the very people He calls His own. What is required is that we remain open to what God does and, like Jesus towards Jerusalem, set our faces obediently in the direction He would have us go.
Question to Consider
What is the most unexpected thing God has done in your life recently? How do you remain open to God’s unexpected movement in your life
Prayer
Heavenly Father, may I remain open to the unexpected turnings of your story and never limit your power by assuming I know what will happen or what you will do. May my openness match up to my faithfulness. Amen
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 2 – An Extraordinary Call to Ordinary People
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Luke 6:12-16
Before every important event in his life, Jesus took some time to be alone with God and pray about the decision or event that was to come. Today’s passage isn’t the only time Jesus did this: Luke records other occasions when Jesus prayed along (e.g. 5:16 and 9:18), and it is also recorded in other gospels, such as Matthew 14:23 and Mark 1:35. These twelve men were not the only disciples Jesus had. There were many other disciples, many other followers, both men and women, but these twelve that Jesus chose were to be his inner circle, his apostles, the ones who would receive special teaching and training from him. Jesus chose ordinary people to be his close disciples. He wasn’t necessarily too worried how society viewed them; he was more interested in who they could become.
We can often let our upbringing or our background, or the past events of our lives overly determine who we are and, more importantly from God’s point of view, who we can become in His service under the transforming power of His spirit. Jesus chose ordinary people, and sometimes those ordinary people did well, and sometimes they messed up. They didn’t always have it together, but as time went on and the power of God grew in their lives, they more and more began to take on the image of Jesus. The father-heart of God began to grow in them. But it took time, and it took the willingness to answer the call, to take that first step on the road of following Jesus. Wherever we start from, God can take us further.
Question to Consider
What issues needed facing when you heard God’s call? How did God show you that you were important to him and that his call was for you?
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for my ordinariness. Thank you that you have called me, not because of whatever skills or talents I may think I have, but because of your loving grace. May I use what I must honour you. Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 3 – The Power of Testimony
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Acts 22:6-21
Paul was never backwards in telling people about his past, where he was from and, more importantly, who he now was in Christ. He had come a long way from the fanatic who had persecuted the first followers of Jesus. He was the classic poacher turned gamekeeper, the prime example of the power of God to fundamentally change a person: their character, their outlook, their reason for living. Paul tells his story, his testimony, some of which people may have already heard and may have already been familiar with, but some of which others might find surprising, especially considering Paul’s rather bumpy road with God up to this point. He may have always been zealous, but he did not always go the way God wanted him to. But he’s not afraid to tell his story.
And what we see is Paul’s testimony of God’s work in his life. There is power in his testimony – in anyone’s testimony – because he himself is testifying to God’s power to change him and the ways in which he sees God anew though the workings of his own life. He’s excited by what has happened to him and wants to share it with others. Our sharing with others what God has done – and is doing, let’s not forget that! – in our lives is a powerful sign of the power of God in our lives and the love that God has for each one of us. Meeting Jesus and sharing him – and our story with him – with others is a vital part in bringing God’s kingdom to this lost and hurting world.
Question to Consider
What is your testimony? How would the power of God to change lives be shown in your story?
Prayer
Lord God, thank you for changing me, transforming me from someone who didn’t know you into someone who lives for you and others. Thank you that no one remains beyond your power to change us. Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 4 – Hopeful, Promising Glimpses
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Ephesians 1:18
We cannot always see the good thing coming. Sometimes the road ahead is murky, perhaps dimly lit, maybe occluded by hills or mountains. Or perhaps there are obstacles in the way, objects blocking the path that cannot be detoured around but must be overcome for the way ahead to become clear. We cannot always see the good thing, the saving grace, the happy ending. We start on the path of discipleship not necessarily knowing where the path will take us – only that the God who loves us will be with us the entire way.
That is why He is a God of promise, of hope. That is why He does not abandon us or leave us to fend for ourselves. And that is why He not only gives us the promise of new, transformed, eternal life in the kingdom, but also shows us glimpses of that promised reality here and now. All around us are miraculous signs of the kingdom love of God. We see it in the restoration and healing that Jesus brings to so many people. We see it in the blind receiving sight, the damaged receiving healing, and the dead being brought back to life. Even though these instances are ultimately only temporary restorations (at least this side of the consummation of the kingdom of God), they do foreshadow that final glorious day when all things are made new, all relationships are repaired, all things are restored to God, and when all things and all people find their true being together in the eternal love of God. Our lives are places where Jesus works miracles.
Question to Consider
What promises of God do you cling to? What hopes to keep you moving forward? What promises are you still waiting to see fulfilled?
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for your promises to us and for the hope that you have planted within me. Give me courage when I falter and start to lose hope. And make me a source of hope for others who stumble. Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 5 – The Road Ahead
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Luke 13:35
Sometimes we can clearly see the way ahead: we know where we are going, we know the path we must take to get there and what the terrain is like, and we can see the possible pitfalls on the way. At other times, though we know the general direction we are travelling, the way is dark, the terrain invisible, and though we imagine we can foresee what may happen upon the road, we just don’t know what will really happen to us on the way, or when we reach our destination. The imagery Jesus has used in this week’s passage shows that, though the details may not be set in stone yet, he knows what awaits him in Jerusalem. He is astute enough to understand the probable consequences lying in wait for him should he continue to proclaim the message he has been proclaiming, should he continue speaking God’s truth to the centres of power arrayed around him.
And yet he continues to preach his message, and he continues to offer the chance to repent and turn back to God. Not knowing the way ahead and not being able to see what may befall us need not be barriers to walking the path Jesus calls us to walk, wherever that path may lead. Yes, we will need the constant guidance, strength, and encouragement of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we will need to keep our eyes open and our wits about us. But it can be done, and Jesus shows us how.
Question to Consider
As you look back over your walk with God, what do you notice about the road you have travelled? What do you see as you look ahead?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, though we don’t know what our road ahead holds, we know you have walked it already, and that you walk again with us as we go. May we be bold and have the courage and grace to always keep walking. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)