Day 8

Shake it up

Ps Allyson Parker

One of the worst things about lockdown is the sense of 'groundhog day'; there's nowhere to go, no one to see and nothing to do. I lost sense of time and day of the week!

Religion can be like that. Same routines. Same rituals. Nothing changes. But when Jesus entered the temple or synagogue, then things certainly got shaken up. He was, and is, all about freedom.

Jesus:

• Challenged ritual and rules (Mat 12:9-13)
• Healed the sick (Mat 21:14)
• Taught in ways that challenged hearts and changed lives (Mat 13:54, Mat 21:23-23:39, Mk 11:27-12:43, Lk 6:6-11)
• Shifted the focus to worship and prayer (Mt 21:12-13, John 2:13-17))
• Redefined generosity (Luke 21:1-4)
• Revealed the Father (John 7:14-18, 8:12-20, 10:22-38)
• Revealed life (John 7:37-38)

Every time we gather together at Church, Jesus is in our midst. When we come with open hearts and open lives, His power, His presence and His word can shake up our world too. It is always something that will transform our lives and bring us 'out of lockdown to freedom.'

John 8:31-32 The Message
Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."

Prayer:

Father, shake me up spiritually. Teach me. Hold me. Heal me. Free me. Already my heart is expectant. Amen.