Daily Dose of the Word of God - Beyond Sunday Ep. 100

Jeff Klein, Pastor of Outreach

Transcript

Jeff Klein  0:06  

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's Daily Dose of the Word of God. It's Monday, October 13. This is Jeff Klein with your reminder that your faith goes Beyond Sunday and into the rest of your week.

Jeff Klein  0:20  

The Old Testament prophets wrote about their dream for a world where God would step in and put things right again - back to the way he originally designed it. "Imagine," they said. "Lions lying with lambs, swords put down and nations coming together. Could the crooked way be made straight? Could the rough way be made plain? Would the desert sprout with new life and become fruitful?" They had visions of a time when there would be no more weeping, sorrow or pain - when people's work would have great purpose. Most of all, the prophets envisioned life where people would walk with God, look to God and delight in God. They call this Shalom. Shalom is bigger than peace and has been described as a flourishing, wholeness, delight, meaning, fullness, purpose and abundance. The prophet Jeremiah says this to the people of God, living in a land of exile: "among people who do not know God like they do." In other words, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to us.

Jeff Klein  1:29  

We live in a land where people don't know God or Jesus like we do. He says this: "Build homes and plan to stay. Plant gardens and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply, do not dwindle away and work for the peace (shalom) and prosperity of the city where I sent you in exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare." When Jesus showed up, he came offering his shalom to anyone who would come to him and receive from him. Once you receive that shalom, you actually have the ability to bring it to others. You can help others (like Jeremiah says) find purpose, meaning, wholeness and abundance. People around us need us to be the ambassadors of shalom where we live, work and play. So who needs you this week to be an ambassador of shalom? What are some ways you can bring Shalom into the lives of the people where you live, work and play?

Jeff Klein  2:42

  
Let's pray. Lord Jesus, help us not just to hold the shalom we receive from you for ourselves while everybody else is living in exile and difficulty. Jesus, give us your heart for the people we see who are struggling so that we can step in and take the wholeness we receive from you and pass it to them. In your name Jesus we pray, amen.