New World Order

January is the month of establishing priorities.  New eating and exercise plans are made to "get healthy."  Some people are more determined than ever to get their spiritual lives "together," so they start attending church.  People are making plans on their calendars promising "not to let our schedules get too busy this year!"  Everyone's looking for a new order.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, when our lives feel like they're being spun in a blender, and we are gasping for a better order, give us grace to turn to you, to allow you to put our pieces back into the places where they belong, so that peace may reign within us and life may be at its fullest in you.  Amen.

Matthew 1: 14-15

Comments

Understanding that Jesus came to crash the Kingdom of God back into time on earth is essential for his followers. The life order of God broke fully into time and space in the person and life of Jesus! He came to reorder the lives of those who would follow him, live with him and in him and thus live in the Kingdom of God.

"Turn around and have faith and you can enter the Kingdom! Your life can be reorganized by the giver of life!" This is the great invitation! Who doesn't want messed up relationships to find health, joy, love and peace? Who doesn't want to find work that is satisfying, makes a difference, and provides sustenance for their families? Who doesn't want their ailing bodies to be made healthy again? Who doesn't want peace on earth, and end to war, greed, and suffering?  Good news, the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom of love, justice, and mercy is present in Jesus Christ.

Our work, the work of Jesus' followers is to assist God in advancing this Kingdom way of life on the earth, and we do that by living our lives in the grace of Jesus in the Kingdom order and by extending an invitation to others to enter this Kingdom through Jesus.

Life Questions

1.  What parts of my life are in need of reordering by the graceful touch of Jesus?

2.  How can I point others to Jesus who need to find life and health and peace?

Prayer

Gracious Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you invite us into your Kingdom by the graceful love of Christ through his life, death, and resurrection.  Give us courage to give up our disorders so that we may boldly live in your new order.  Forgive our sins, heal our brokeness, give us power to show others the life-giving ways of Jesus!  Amen.