Day 43 Jesus on serving two masters Matthew 6: 24; Luke 16:13

Guided reflection:

What a powerful verse!   When Jesus is talking about two masters, he is not talking about two priorities or two goals, but two different things that control you… drive you… have your loyalty.   “Mammon” can be defined as material world… the things of this world.   Jesus says you cannot serve God’s agenda and the material world’s agenda – they oppose each other!  You have to make a decision:  what is going to control you - God’s will or the things of this world?  Consider a time when you had to decide what was going to be more important.  How did you make that decision?

Guided Prayer:

“The prayer Jesus taught us to pray requires our heart to ask that your will be done in our lives like your will is done in heaven.  Loving Lord, show me where my loyalty to you is divided.   Forgive me and help me surrender my agenda into your hands.  Amen”

Day 42: Jesus on your eyes Matthew 6: 22-23; Luke 11: 34-36

Guided reflection:

Have you ever looked at a friend and it seemed like the lights had gone out… it is like their depressed spirit showed through their eyes!   Have you also seen someone with really good news and their eyes just sparkled?  This is what Jesus is saying; your eyes are the window to your soul.  Jesus wants you to make sure that what comes out of your eyes is not darkness, hopelessness; but instead, hope and joy and love!   Allow your “spiritual doctor” to give you an eye exam!    Do you have your Father’s eyes?

Guided prayer:

“Light of the world, light up my heart and my soul with your hope, your joy, your love.  May all who look me in the eye see your light reflected in them..  Amen”

Day 41: Jesus on material things Matthew 6: 19-21; Luke 12: 33-34

Guided reflection:

Think of vs 21… your heart and mind are usually focused on where your treasures are placed.   Right now, what are you working for – retirement?  New house? New car?  To impress someone?  If we place our attention on these things, how long will the new house/car be new?   What if the person you are trying to impress needs more?  What if you do not live to retirement?   These things are fleeting. Jesus is not saying these cannot be a part of your life, but asks us to invest in the “real future”.   How are you “investing” in your life after death?  Of what that you care about will still be a part of your “other life” when this life is over?   The only thing that will last for eternity is relationship with Christ, what you have done for the cause of Christ, your loved ones, God’s word.  What would it mean to invest in these?    Make a list of what counts in your life!

Guided prayer:

“Loving God, I am side tracked by the stuff of this world.  My heart does get so attached to things.  Forgive me and help me find ways to invest in what really counts in life.  Amen”  

Day 40 Jesus on Fasting Matt 6: 16-18

Guided reflection:

Fasting is the spiritual discipline of not eating food for a designated period of time as a sign to God that we are earnest about a prayer… about a deepening our relationships with God.  The fasting is to be between us and God… not a sign to everyone else to know that we are trying to be spiritual!

Have you ever fasted?  Again, Jesus wants us to get off doing religions rituals and focus on being in relationships with God.   Our religious activity is for God, not for others to see us.  Are there spiritual practices (like prayers, going to worship, giving an offering) that you do to look good to others?

Guided Prayer:

“Holy and awesome God, I humble myself before you and say I want to know you.  Help me let go of the things that make me focus on looking good to others.  I would rather “look good” in your eyes.  Help me see myself from your point of view.  Amen” 

Day 39 The Lord’s Prayer Matt 6: 9-15, 11:25,26; Luke 11: 2-4

Guided reflection:

Jesus just said in yesterday’s reading that we are not to recite empty words or phrases… yet we repeat the same words every Sunday – why?  I think this prayer is a formula… and our praying it in worship is our pact with God that we want to pray like Jesus did… but then we need to just do it:  

Guided prayer – conversation with God – be honest, come clean like Jesus says:

“Loving God: Do I speak your name like it is holy?   Do I really want your will in my house like Jesus wants it?    Do I have what I need for today – am I thankful or worrying about tomorrow?

Do I have things that need forgiveness- things that stand in the way between me and you, God?

Are there people in my life with whom I have unfinished business – can I at least be open to consider forgiving them?  Am I enjoying my temptations… or do I want God’s help in facing them?  Where do I need to be delivered from evil?  What is in my power to resist? … Now, we’re talking, God!  Amen!”

Day 38 Jesus on Prayer Matt 6:5-8

Guided reflections:

1. Jesus teaches real, gut level praying – alone, with just you and God… drop the showy stuff!   In the past, I have prayed for my food in public because I know that folks might see that I am a minister and did not do my Christian duty to thank God for my food.  So, to not make my gratitude look like I am praying in public for others… I raise my glass, clink it with my friends and say, “Dear ones, are you thankful?  I am!  Yeah, God!”  How do you balance being a good witness with doing your praying in private?
2. Empty phrases – do you have a litany of words you say to God in every prayer – what do they mean?  Jesus says prayer is that “real, authentic, gut level telling God like it is” stuff!

Guided prayer:

“Dear God, I do not always know how to pray honestly.  I am not always sure what is the right thing to say to the Almighty, but if I could just sit down and have lunch with Jesus, this is what I would say…. (say what is on your mind – forget the “these and thous” – just be you!)  Amen!” 

Day 37 Jesus on doing things for show Matt 6: 1-4

Guided reflections:

1. In Jesus’ day, the temple folks made a big deal about showing how “good” they were – how they gave, prayed, tithed, yada yada yada….it made them feel good to know they did all the right things, but Jesus is more interested in us BEING right in our hearts, then DOING right things for everyone to see us.   Of course we are to feel good when we give, but have you ever tried to give so others will be impressed?
2. Imagine doing acts of kindness and giving gifts that blow people away without knowing you did them… imagine you and God creating a secret box in heaven where your good deeds are hiding… think of something today to do for someone and do not let them know it…

Guided prayer:

“Giving God, you get a kick out of blessing us… teach me how to be in an adventure with you where you and I, together, get some kicks out of be secret agents of your love.  What can I do right now?  Amen” (Now, do it!) 

Day 36 Jesus on loving our enemies Matt 5: 43-48; Luke 6:27-28, 32-36

Guided reflections:

1.              Jesus stretches us in how we treat those who persecute us.  He says, it is easy to love and pray for those who are your friends, but my love, AGAPE love, makes you stretch that love.  My love not only loves you, but the stranger and even the one who is making your life miserable!  Who fits in that category in your life?

2.              Love does not mean that anything goes,,, that you just let others hurt you, but I think Jesus is saying for us to look at others as persons for whom Christ died – Jesus died for them as well.  Pray for their forgiveness…. Their wholeness..  Their brokenness to be healed.

Guided prayer:

“Loving God, this is where the rubber hits the road in our walk with you.  Do we have to love our enemies… but then, we know you sent your son to die on the cross for ALL – not just me… help me see those who mistreat me from your eyes.  Right now, I pray for your love to touch and make whole these persons that I do not like:  _________(list their names to God… and pray for GOD to love them.) 

Day 35 Jesus on Getting Even Matt 5: 38-42; Luke 6:29-30

Jesus keeps taking the “letter of the law” and putting the “spirit to the law”..

Guided reflections:

1. Does this scripture mean that if we follow Jesus, people can do anything they want to us, and we will not be able to be Christ like if we “get ‘em back”?
2. Could it mean that what another does has nothing to do with you – it is their own issue, and if you respond on their level it now becomes our issue?  How do you live out this passage?

Guided Prayer:

“Lord, I am so tied to what others say and do that I feel a need to react and set them straight.  I know it is up to you to judge, but it is hard to not take things personally!  Continue to teach me your ways of peace and love.  Amen”

Day 34 Jesus on Swearing Matthew 5:33-37

Guided reflection:

1. Jesus makes it clear that we should mean what we say and say what we mean.   We say “I swear on a stack of Bibles”…meaning, I am telling the truth… or I am pledging my oath to you?   Do you swear?  Do you make one promise and do another?
2. Let your “YES” mean yes, and your “NO” mean no… I recall a friend stubbed her toe late at night when a guest at my house – she screamed “YEAH!  NAY”.  I asked her why she did that – she said because the Bible said not to swear, instead let your “yeah be yeah, and your nay be nay and she really wanted to swear!  What are you teaching your children by your actions?

Guided Prayer:

“O God of the universe, teach me how to be authentic and real in my conversations.  Help me not to just give the answer another wants at the moment when I know I cannot deliver… but help me be honest and true.  May others know they can count on my word.  Amen”