Simply Soul Searching
HOW IS GOD LOVING ME – AND WHERE IS GOD LEADING ME?
Promises of Hope- Friday, December 6th
YOU AND I: PROPHETS
All of the prophets were courageous, dramatic and vocal, delivering bold messages of criticism, correction, and concern. Several of the prophets were also quite theatrical. John the Baptist wore camel’s hair. Jeremiah wore a wooden yoke for a while. Hosea used the image of a prophet married to a prostitute to compare Israel’s relationship to God. The prophets were all different and yet one-of-a-kind.
We are called to share the truths of God’s merciful love for everyone, the joy of living as a servant of Christ, the peace of being beloved and never alone, the hope that comes from knowing we are already part of eternity. How would we compare to these remarkable, courageous people? How might we serve as faithful prophets? What would be our unique characteristic or quality that would motivate people to pay attention?
Light the Prophecy Candle.
Ephesians 4: 11-16, 25 (NRSV)
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.
What do you and I have that these prophets didn’t have? We actually have what they could only promise- the reality of our Savior, our Messiah, Jesus Christ, who lives within and among us now! We have the reality of the promise. We have the awareness and the very presence of God’s unconditional, merciful, gracious love. We have everything we need to share the truth, the Good News about Jesus Christ.
We have Jesus himself.
Prayer: God, in this Advent time, we want to become fully open to receive Jesus, to be fully aware of his presence, and to fully share your love with everyone. Open our hearts, open our eyes, and open our spirits, so that we may fully do your will. Amen.
Simply Soul Searching 
I love your “word pictures” of our early prophets! Your last paragraph brought it all home! We have what the early prophets were looking forward too! We are so Beyond Blessed to have him leading and guiding us when we need it. He is just a prayer away❣️ Blessings❣️❣️🙏🙏❤️💕💖
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