“We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.  For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me” (Colossians 1:28-29).

What is the goal of your faith?  Is this not it?  To be presented to Christ complete?  Remember that the word for complete is the same word we sometimes translate as perfect.  The object of our faith is to be like Christ.  It is in His image that we were created.  What does this mean?  That we are to live in the power He gives to become children of God.  See that Christ is working in you.

Lord, when I hear this it sounds so simple.  Yet each day I struggle to be my own person.  Help me by killing the old Adam.  Or should I say, “Slay the old Adam.”  Even in this I am confused, but You are not the author of confusion.  Lord, I must follow You for You alone know the path I must travel to accomplish these things.  Lead me Lord and teach me how to follow You in all  Your ways.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way.  You have come not only to lead the way but are the demonstration of the godly life and the goal of that life.  Lord You know all that is needed.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may follow where You lead, doing all that You give me to do.  In You alone do I have hope and an eternal and glorious future in all that You have accomplished.  Amen.

“To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

What is your hope?  Is it in what you can do? Is it in what you will accomplish?  These things are fine as far as they go, but they are not life.  Life is in the One who gives life.  Things come and go, but the Lord is forever.  Live then in the presence of the Lord and abide in Him knowing that He abides in You.  The mystery is deep, but the life is readily available to be lived.

Lord, You have promised the abundant life.  Guide me in the change of heart that faith brings so that I would live the abundant life.  Help me now and always to see that in You is all hope and glory.  You are the past, present, and future.  You have come in order that we may join You in eternal life.  Lead me, for I do not know the way.  Sustain me when I doubt.  Guide me always to be with You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, no one can ascend except the One who has descended.  You have come to lead the way home.  In You is all hope.  Guide me this day Lord so that I may do those things You know I will do, doing them with You as the One leading me.  Through all things, help me see that faith alone in You alone is the hope You have caused to richly dwell in me.  Lead me always, my Lord and Savior.  Amen.

“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints” (Colossians 1:25-26).

Made a minister according to the stewardship of God: it does not belong to us, but it is a gift that God gives when He gives it.  This applies to everything.  Everything is a gift of God, given that we might have life and have it abundantly in Him.  Come into the life He gives and live as He would have You live.  Give thanks for the stewardship He gives You and know that He has manifested these things to you.

Lord, You know all that is needed and provide for me even before I ask.  Guide me in Your provision so that I would not worry about the things of this age but live into the promise You give in faith.  Lead me to know these things in my heart and abide in them as You give me strength.  In You Lord I have hope.  May Your Word be on my mouth, in my heart, and a large part of what I think about.

Word made flesh who has dwelt among us, You have come to bring light and life to those who believe.  Count me among believers so that in Your countenance I may have my being.  Lead me to be of use to the Kingdom in order that I may share with others as You have shared with me through others.  In the stewardship You give, guide me to live out the life of faith in the grace that You give.  Amen.

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Colossians 1:24).

Will suffering come your way?  Perhaps and probably.  This age is filled with suffering and it has increased.  Many fall away because they want a good-time god who will make them feel good.  Our Lord suffered and called us into a path of suffering for His name’s sake.  Come then and live into the eternal life promised not on your terms, but in the truth of the Gospel revealed once for all.

Lord, may I be of sound mind – the mind that You have put in me – that I may understand these things with greater clarity each day.  You have called me into eternal life.  You have given me the way of life.  You have made these things possible.  Lead me, O Lord, and teach me to follow.  No matter what may come, let me not be one who falls away.  Guide me according to Your purpose.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to suffer.  You took upon Yourself all of our sins and bore them on the cross.  Seeing Your example, let me never give in to the temptation to think that I would be exempt from suffering.  Help me now and always to abide richly and deeply in You knowing that You are the One who is leading me.  Abide in me Lord and guide me according to the Father’s will now and forever.  Amen.

“If indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister” (Colossians 1:23).

Are you standing firm in the faith given throughout the ages?  The world hammers against the truth and we veer away.  One must hold fast.  To what do you cling?  Where is your hope?  Are you living in the goodness of the Lord and living according to the Word you have received?  Live then in the promise the Lord gives and do not move away from the faith to which You have been called.

Lord, help me see where I am called by the world so that I would not go there.  Help me to see where the pollution comes in and help me avoid it.  Open my ears to hear the pure gospel so that I would cling to Your promise alone.  Let me never mix in those things which are not true.  Keep me close to Your Word so that I may now and always abide in You and You in me until we meet face to face.

Lord Jesus, Your Word is truth.  You have come to lead the way, for You are truth.  Guide me now and always in the true gospel way so that I would look to You knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.  Lead me this day where You know I need to go.  Guide me in the will of the Father and show me how to listen, hear, understand, and obey all that is good and in accordance with Your will.  Amen.

July 25: 9^th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 12

Genesis 9:8-17 (God makes rainbow a sign of his covenant with Noah)           

     RCL/ELW: 2 Kings 4:42-44 (Elisha feeds 100)

Psalm 136:1-9 (Give thanks to God; he is good; his steadfast love endures forever)        

     RCL/ELW: Psalm 145:10-18 (All eyes look to you, you give food in due season)

Ephesians 3:14-21 (Be strengthened by Spirit, rooted and grounded in Christ)

Mark 6:45-56 (Jesus walks on water, heals many in Gennesaret)

        RCL/ELW: John 6:1-21 (Feeding of 5000, walking on water)

THE PRAYERS 

Let us pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Dear Father, thank you for our Good Shepherd! Thank you for his compassion and mercy. Thank you for the peace he gives through the blood of his Cross. Thank you. We adore and bless you for your overflowing loving-kindness to sinners like us.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most holy God, you have rooted and grounded the Church in the life-giving body of your dear Son. Use it to feed, heal, teach, and draw many people to the foot of Jesus’ Cross.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Shelter and bless all who suffer greatly for naming Jesus as Lord. By their faithful endurance and charity, soften the hearts of their enemies. Bring many to repentance and salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Nourish the people of this congregation with the living Bread of heaven. Heal us with your compassion and forgiveness. Give us boldness to proclaim your saving love to those around us who need to hear it most.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless our young adults with strength of character, to resist the follies of the culture. Channel their energy and idealism into deeds of mercy and words of wisdom. Use them to introduce skeptical friends and cynical co-workers to you, the source of all goodness, truth, and beauty.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give upright hearts to those entrusted with leadership in government, education, industry, or the arts. Teach them to love wisdom, justice, and mercy. Grant that, through their proper use of authority, all people receive the blessings of food, health, safety, opportunity, and peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who risk their lives on behalf of liberty, justice, safety, and health. Equip them with every virtue they need to do their jobs faithfully and well. Help us to honor their service and sacrifice. Help them use their skills in new ways when their duties are completed.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bestow your Holy Spirit upon all who cry out to you, especially: {List}. Graciously heal, restore, and strengthen them. Bless everyone who assists them in their time of need. Increase their trust in you, their Strength and their Redeemer.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Keep in your tender care, dear Father, all who have died trusting in your promises. Heal our grief, strengthen our faith, and forgive our sins of doubt, despair, or bitterness. Nourish us with the Bread of Life and refresh us with your Holy Spirit. And lead us into your heavenly Kingdom, where with all the redeemed, we shall rejoice in your goodness forever.

Hear and graciously answer our prayers, dear Lord, as it is best for us and most glorifies your holy name. Amen.

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (Colossians 1:21-22)

The world hates God.  They may not say that this is what it is, but the world hates God.  You were born alienated from God and Christ has come so that you might be reconciled to Him.  But here is the problem: you want it on your terms.  That is not how it works.  It is on Christ’s terms.  Come then and surrender to the One who is able to make of you more than you can ever hope to be on your own.

Lord, You have come in order that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, O Lord, to walk humbly in Your presence, knowing that even though I want to do this, I cannot do this on my own.  Amidst the struggle of daily life, lead me in the way I need to go and then help me go that way.  You, Lord, know all that I need.  You, Lord, know all that is before me.  You know.  Help me to follow You.

Lord Jesus, You know me better than I know myself.  Your Spirit searches my heart and sifts it.  Continue sifting and do not give up on me.  Lead me where I need to go, not where I want to go.  Guide me along paths of Your choosing and ignore my pleas to follow other paths.  You are the author and finisher of my faith.  Use me as You will and lead me where You will, for I am Yours.  Amen.

“For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:19-20).

We sometimes wonder how all of this happens.  Through Christ, is the best answer.  Where?  In all places.  Now, if through Christ all things are reconciled in all places, is there any worry for you?  Trust in the One through whom all things not only have their being, but through whom all things are reconciled through Him on the cross.  Christ has come to reconcile those who will be reconciled.

Lord, I believe I sometimes make this more difficult than it needs to be.  You are God and You have done and are doing what You have done and are doing.  You have come so that we may see You, the God who is above and through all.  Help me to turn to You, the Visible God so that I may turn to You, the Invisible God.  Lead me the way I need to be led and help me learn to follow.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh who has shown us the Father, You know all that is needed.  You have spoken and called for me to follow You.  That’s it.  Follow You.  Help me to do this, Jesus.  You know how often I want something else.  You alone know all that I need.  You know how I need to be reconciled.  Lead me, Lord, in order that I may learn to follow, and guide me along the path You have set before me.  Amen.

“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (Colossians 1:17-18).

Have you ever thought about these things?  Maybe all of this thing we call creation was made specifically for the purpose of giving you the opportunity to be eternally united with Him as a child of the Heavenly Father.  Jesus is the Firstborn.  Now if He is first, it means there are others who will follow.  Not being God, for He told us equality with God is not to be grasped, but a child of God.

Lord, help me think more deeply and to realize what You are doing through this thing called salvation.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may walk in the light of Your salvation and live as You would have me live.  Help me now and always to look to You, my Lord and God.  You are my Savior and in You are all things held together.  Lead me, O Lord, and I will follow.  Teach me and I will learn.

My Lord and God, “God’s Salvation,” as your name means, guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may now and always go where You send me.  Help me to better understand the gift of life which You have given me.  Help me to better understand the direction of salvation that You have provided.  Through all things, lead me in the way of everlasting life so that I may now and always be guided by You.  Amen.

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).

Who is Jesus?  This is a question that those who do not know ask over and over again.  The cults prey upon the ignorance of those in darkness and offer all kinds of answers.  Jesus is the Word who is God.  The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  Through Him all things have come into being and apart from Him nothing came into being that has being.  Christ is the invisible God made visible.

Have you taken in what the Word says?  It is clear and there is no room for negotiation.  I know there is a cult that denies Jesus is God in the flesh, but even Scripture gives explicit warning about this.  Jesus is God in the flesh and it is God who is your Savior.  He has come that You may be eternally connected with Him.  Come into the eternal relationship prepared before the foundation of the world.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, the One through whom all things have been created, You are my King and Savior.  Lead me always in the way of life that You alone know fully.  Help me to see that in You alone is there all hope and the glory of all ages.  Guide me ever deeper into the life of a disciple so that I may now and always humbly abide with You and through You in the Father’s presence.  Amen.