The Sunday Lectionary Readings for SUNDAY, May 17, 2020 — Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Sunday Lectionary Readings

SUNDAY, May 17, 2020 — Sixth Sunday of Easter

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Community Advocate

Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21

Opening Statement

In Acts, Paul describes God as the source of all creation and the source of life for all humankind. More than this, “we live and move and have our being” in God. Indeed, how can this God be far from us when we are in God? First Peter speaks of our being brought to God by Jesus Christ and describes lives of integrity “in Christ.” John takes this human/divine spatial imagery the furthest in Jesus’ description of himself as in God, while we the disciples are in Christ and Christ is in us. More than this, the Spirit is with us and in us as well. These passages call us to recognize the mysterious interrelationship that undergirds our being; they challenge us to live lives of love and goodness, courage and hope.

Opening Prayer

(adapted from Acts 17, Psalm 66, John 14)

Source of all creation, maker of the world and everything in it, you are never far from each one of us. We come to you this day to learn of your will for our lives. Heal our wounds; lift our spirits. Reveal yourself to us; dwell with us; and abide in us. We live because of you. We hope because of you. In the name of Jesus Christ in whom we live, and the Spirit of Truth who abides in us, amen.

Prayer of Confession

(adapted from Acts 17, John 14)

Maker and giver of all, forgive us when we are too preoccupied to notice your presence in our lives: when we walk through this world and fail to see the wonder of you upholding our lives and all creation; when we walk through our lives and fail to see you abiding with, within, and around us; when we walk through holy moments and fail to savor your presence, instead feeling abandoned in the vast sweep of life as each day rushes at us with its demands. Open our eyes to your presence, God of love, that we may lean on you—for you uphold all of creation in tenderness and power. Amen.

Words of Assurance

(adapted from Acts 17, Psalm 66, John 14)

When Jesus left the disciples, he gave us a promise: “I will not leave you orphaned!” For we, his disciples, live in him and he in us—the presence of God within and around all. What a promise! Take courage! Take comfort! Blessed be God!

The Collect

(from the Book of Common Prayers)

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of the Day

Almighty and ever-living God, you hold together all things in heaven and on earth. In your great mercy receive the prayers of all your children, and give to all the world the Spirit of your truth and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Reading

Acts 17:22-31

Paul’s message to the Athenians

17:22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Psalm 66:8-20

Be joyful in God all you lands

8  Praise our God, all peoples,
     let the sound of his praise be heard;
9  he has preserved our lives
     and kept our feet from slipping.
10 For you, God, tested us;
     you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison
     and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;
     we went through fire and water,
     but you brought us to a place of abundance.

13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
     and fulfill my vows to you—
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
     when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
     and an offering of rams;
     I will offer bulls and goats.

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God;
     let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
     his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
     the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
     and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
     who has not rejected my prayer
     or withheld his love from me!

Second Reading

1 Peter 3:13-22

The days of Noah a sign of baptism

3:13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Gospel Acclamation

(John 14:23)

Alleluia. Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Alleluia.

The Gospel

John 14:15-21

Christ our advocate

14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Here end the Readings

Click HERE to read today’s Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Apostles’ Creed

• I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

• I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

• I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Holy Communion

A nondenominational serving of bread and wine

Many churches around the world are working hard to adapt to online worship, and one challenge is how our members can celebrate communion from home. Though no video can truly replace the experience of celebrating together in our places of worship, we know that where two or more are gathered, the Lord is present.

Benediction

Being washed in the love of Christ, now go into this world with the healing love of God to be given generously in peace and hope. God’s peace will always be with those who live in God’s love. Amen.

Christ’s death and resurrection mean that we are invited to join God in his plan to redeem this broken world. It’s not just a wishful idea; it’s a call to every follower of Jesus to change the world.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Daily Lectionary for SUNDAY, May 17, 2020
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21

“Does Anyone Know You Are A Christian?”

Our Gospel message comes to us today from the 14th chapter of John, beginning with the 15th verse, “Christ our advocate.”

14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:15-21)

“Does Anyone Know You are a Christian?”

One of my favorite cartoon characters is Charlie Brown of the Peanut’s family. He is, for me, the symbol of all human beings who face all the trails and trying circumstances of life. Charlie Brown is the one who knows what it is like to carry his own cross, to live in a world of brokenness, of failure, of trying and not succeeding and hearing, again and again, the good news of the gospel from his friend Linus to see him through the rough times. I would like to share one of Charlie Brown’s adventures with Lucy as she pretends to be a psychiatrist, and Charlie is coming to her for help.

Charlie Brown is shown visiting Lucy, who is at her psychiatric stand, offering her help for a nickel. Charlie says, “I need help—tell me a great truth. Tell me something about living that will help me.”

Lucy asks, “Do you ever wake up at night and want a drink of water?”

“Sure,” responds Charlie brown, “quite often.”

Lucy then says, “When you’re getting a drink of water in the dark, always rinse out the glass because there might be a bug in it. Five cents, please.”

Charlie walks away, saying, “Great truths are even more simple than I thought they were.”

Charlie Brown didn’t find the great truth he was looking for to help him make sense out of the bewildering life he has to live.

In our gospel lesson today, Jesus is talking about a great truth of life. In verses 15 and 21, Jesus is talking about if one is a follower of His, that person will keep His commandments. He says in verse 15, “If you love me, keep my commands.” And in verse 21 he says, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Sandwiched in between these two verses is John’s account of Jesus talking about the coming of the Spirit, but we will deal with that on Pentecost.

What we want to look at today is our actions as Christians. Can someone tell you are a Christian by your actions?

An example:

“I’m a gambler. Oh, not the kind that frequents places behind doors in some secluded spot. Nor, do I play the ponies, or bet on sporting football games.

You see, I gamble with my soul as the stake. I’m betting that I can live a life of indifference, a life of neglect of those things that are of the Lord, and still receive His blessings.

I’m gambling with the souls of my children as the stake. Although I neither live righteously nor influence them toward unrighteousness, I’m betting their souls on the hope that they will have wisdom to guide their own lives unto the Lord.

I’m betting that I can remain indifferent to Christ’s teachings, that I can fail to give as prospered, and that will still bless me eternally; I’m betting I can still have a nonchalant attitude toward the lost, and still please God. Yes, I’m a gambler—the most reckless type: I’m a lukewarm Christian!!!”

Jesus is asking for committed Christians in our text. Ones who show by the action of their lives that they are keeping His commandments. And those commandments can be summed up very quickly for Jesus only gave two commandments in the New Testament. One is to love the Lord Your God with all your mind and heart and soul, and the other is to love your neighbor as yourself.

So, can people tell if you are a Christian by your example? I don’t mean you have to quit your job and go to some foreign land as a missionary, but can they tell by the way you live your everyday life here and now?

What would you have done in the following:

When there was a USFL football league a long time ago, the following happened on live TV. The game was tied in the 4th quarter, so the captains met at the middle of the field to flip a coin to see who would get tie ball first in the overtime, which was very important, for the first one to score in the overtime period is the winner.

The official tossing the coin had a mike around his neck. The visitors called tails. The official flipped the coin, and it landed with the heads up. The official forgot what the visitors had called, so he said, “What did you call?”

Seeing the coin said heads, one of the captains said, “We called heads.” The other team tried to convince the official that the visitors had lied, and one of thee turned to the team running off the field, claiming they had the ball and screamed, “But I thought you were Christians.”

For the evening before, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes held a banquet, and many from that visiting team were in attendance, and many gave a witness about Christ. But I guess in sports, Christ is not as important as the saying of Vince Lombardi when he said, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.”

So would you have told the truth that you called tails, or would you have done what these self-proclaimed Christians did, lied to get ahead? What would you have done?

For you see, the way we live expresses who we are in Christ. If we leave our Christian faith at the steps of the church when we leave on Sunday, and pick it up again on the way in the next Sunday, then we are not following Jesus’ words in our gospel lesson, for He wants us to be a follower of his each day and each hour that we live.

A closing story sums up the kind of life Jesus is calling us to live:

A farmer raised sheep, but next to him was one who grew wheat, raised children, and large dogs. The dogs were always scaring the sheep and sometimes even eating the baby lambs.

The sheep farmer did not know what to do. He could shoot the dogs, or poison them, be nasty to his neighbor, or even take him to court.

He prayed about it. As soon as some new lambs were born, he gave one of the lambs to each of his neighbor’s children as a pet. They were thrilled.

Their father could no longer allow the dogs to run free, or they would kill the lambs, so the dogs were tied up. The two farmers became friends. Kindness and love made them winners.

Jesus says: “If you love me, keep my commands.”

Loving your neighbor is one of the commandments Jesus is talking about.

Living in Christ means living each day for Him and your neighbor.

Let us pray: Almighty God, our hope and strength, without you we falter. Help us to follow Christ and to live as Christians according to your will. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

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Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Sermon contributed by Tim Zingale.
Sharing faith

The Daily Prayer for SUNDAY, May 17, 2020

The Daily Prayer

SUNDAY, May 17, 2020

On May 17, 1968, the Catonsville Nine, which included two Catholic priests, went into the Selective Service offices in Catonsville, Maryland, and burned several hundred draft records in a direct action against the Vietnam War. They were arrested, tried, and found guilty of destroying government property. After the nine were sentenced, one of the priests, Dan Berrigan, asked the judge if the Lord’s Prayer could be recited. All in the courtroom, including the judge and prosecuting attorneys, rose and joined in the prayer.

Dan Berrigan has said, “If you’re going to follow Jesus, well, he got killed. That’s just part of the job description: making trouble for peace.”

Today we pray for courage to dig ourselves deeper into the good soil, so that your word may take root in us and bring forth fruit that nourishes those who hunger for freedom. Amen.

Verse of the Day SUNDAY, May 17, 2020

Romans 11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Read all of Romans 11

Listen to Romans 11

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Domingo 17 de mayo de 2020

Decepcionados

Bendeciré al Señor, que me aconseja; aun de noche me reprende mi conciencia. Siempre tengo presente al Señor; con él a mi derecha, nada me hará caer.

— Salmo 16:7-8, NVI

Hace unos meses, como casi todos los días, recibí una llamada de una oyente jovencita y muy desilusionada de su pareja. Vivió con él por catorce años, pero nunca llegaron a casarse. De esa relación quedaron tres hijos, uno de once años, otro de tres y el último de dieciocho meses.

Hace más de un año, se separó de él porque descubrió que la había engañado con varias mujeres y decidió pedirle que se fuera de la casa. A raíz de esa decisión, comenzó el calvario para esta joven madre. El padre de sus hijos no la volvió ayudar económicamente y la amenaza sin cesar con quitarle a los niños. Como si fuera poco, la está tratando de manipular diciéndole que la única manera en que la ayuda es si se va a vivir donde le diga, obligándola a vivir con la ex suegra. Además, le habla mal a los niños de ella tildándola de loca.

Nuestra oyente llamó desesperada porque no quería vivir bajo amenazas. Buscaba ayuda legal ya que, al no estar casada, no sabía si tenía algún derecho, al igual que sus hijos.

Esta pudo haber sido mi historia o tu historia, pero nos deja varias moralejas.

Debemos hacer las cosas legalmente ante Dios y ante los hombres. No por las amenazas de alguien debemos bloquearnos ni aterrorizarnos. Por el contrario, debemos resaltar quiénes somos en Jesucristo.

Hoy en día, ella y sus hijos están recibiendo consejería y asesoría legal. Así que poco a poco va recuperando su autoestima.

Por favor, todo lo que hagas consúltalo con Dios y recuerda que Él es el único que no falla ni te dejará.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Hace unos meses, como casi todos los días, recibí una llamada de una oyente jovencita y muy desilusionada de su pareja.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Sunday, May 17, 2020

MATERIALISM

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

— 1 Timothy 6:10, NIV

Satan subtly promotes the attitude that says money, property, possessions, physical comforts, as well as worldly fame and honor, are the most important things in life. While God created all things and is the source of all we have, He does not condone our allowing things and money to usurp His first place in our lives. The prosperity that He so freely gives us, and wants us to have, is indeed a blessing until it takes the place of God.

Materialism is thus the attitude that says money, property, possessions, physical comforts, as well as worldly fame and honor, are the most important things in life. Not to say, “There is no God,” but to say, “I don’t have any need for God!”

For Christians, materialism is much like the frog in a pan of water that is slowly being heated. He boils to death because he does not realize the danger quickly enough to jump out of the pot before it is too late.

A church leader from the country of Romania, which was once a communist-dominated land and is now free, commented, “In my experience, 95% of the believers who face the test of external persecution pass it, while 95% of those who face the test of prosperity fail it!”

Satan is ecstatic when he succeeds in luring us into this trap. This is the dark side to money and possessions that many Christians are either unaware of, or unwilling to face. As a result, the spiritual vitality of many has been sapped and the church as a whole has been weakened spiritually. Like fire, money is a good servant but a destructive master.

If the church is to survive this challenge, there is an urgent need to be aware of the true nature of materialism. Unfortunately, it has become such a vital part of our culture that Christians are often unaware of its control.

By the standard of the people around Jesus, many of today’s so-called poor are very rich as well as almost all those in free societies. In Jesus’ day, a rich person was one who had more food than needed for the day and who had more than one set of clothing.

RESPONSE: Today I will not be a frog in the boiling water. I will be alert to Satan’s attack on the materialism front.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for all the material blessings I have received from You. Help me to use them for Your glory and Your kingdom.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Daily Devotions - May 17, 2020 - "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"

May 17, 2020

♫ "All hail the pow'r of Jesus' Name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all, Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all.

"Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget the wormwood and the gall. Go, spread your trophies at His feet, And crown Him Lord of all. Go, spread your trophies at His feet, And crown Him Lord of all." ♫

On May 12, 1937, the coronation of George VI took place in London's Westminster Abbey. As the crown was placed on his head, the crowd shouted, "God save the King!" Forty days after Easter, the church will celebrate the coronation of our Lord as we remember Jesus' ascension to rule at the right hand of the Father. The angels rejoiced as the Lamb slain for our salvation was enthroned: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever" (Revelation 11:15b).

Before He was crowned with glory, the Lamb of God was crowned with thorns. Bearing our sins in His body, Jesus was nailed to a cross. A notice above His head declared the alleged "crime" for which He was condemned: "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (John 19:19b). The watching crowds mocked Him because Jesus, who had saved others, would not save Himself. No one cried out, "God save the King!" Instead, they shouted, "He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him" (Matthew 27:43a). But God did not save this King from death. We, the sinners for whom He died, cannot forget "the wormwood and the gall" or His desolate cry, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46b).

Jesus did not save Himself. By His suffering and death, the King saved us. His body was taken down from the cross and sealed in a tomb. But then, as foreknown before the foundation of the world, God did save the King. On the first Easter morning, "God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it" (Acts 2:24). Jesus, the thorn-crowned King, obeyed His Father, even to the point of death on a cross. "Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

With our sins washed away in His blood, we celebrate what our Lord did to save us. We could never do enough to be worthy of such a sacrifice. We take our own attempts to be righteous, our best works, and, in repentant humility, spread these trophies at the feet of Jesus. We hail the power of His exalted Name and acknowledge Him as Lord forevermore.

THE PRAYER: Jesus, King and Lord, You have created us anew as Your holy people. Lead us to live in love and service toward others so that we will bring honor to Your holy Name. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you spend much time reflecting on Jesus coming to earth in human form to save us from our sins?

2. What do you think it means to "Go, spread your trophies at His feet"?

3. How do you acknowledge Jesus as "Lord of all" in your daily life? Do you think others notice this about you?

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Do you spend much time reflecting on Jesus coming to earth in human form to save us from our sins?

Unser Täglich Brot - Was ist ein Name?

Was ist ein Name?

Lesung: Lukas 3,31; 1. Chronik 3,4-9 | Die Bibel in einem Jahr: 1. Chronik 1-3; Johannes 5,25-47

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Jesus war bekannt als der Sohn Josefs.

— Lukas 3,23

Unser Sohn Kofi wurde an einem Freitag geboren, und genau das bedeutet sein Name auch: Der Junge, der am Freitag geboren wurde. Wir haben ihn nach einem guten Freund in Ghana genannt, einem Pastor, dessen Sohn gestorben ist. Er betet regelmäßig für unseren Kofi.

Die Bedeutung eines Namens geht leicht unter, wenn man die Geschichte dahinter nicht kennt. In Lukas 3 finden wir ein interessantes Detail über den Namen eines Vorfahren von Josef. Der Stammbaum führt die Linie von Josef zurück bis auf Adam, ja sogar Gott (V. 38). In Vers 31 lesen wir: „Nathan war der Sohn von David.“ Nathan? Interessant. In 1. Chronik 3,5 erfahren wir, dass dieser Nathan ein Sohn von Batseba war.

Ist es Zufall, dass David das Kind Nathan nannte? Erinnern wir uns an die Geschichte. Batseba hätte niemals Davids Frau werden dürfen. Ein anderer Nathan, der Prophet, stellte David zur Rede, weil er seine Autorität missbraucht hatte, um Batseba auszunutzen und ihren Mann umzubringen (siehe 2. Samuel 12).

David nahm die Vorwürfe des Propheten an und bereute seine Tat. Später würde er seinen Sohn Nathan nennen. Dieser wurde einer der Vorfahren von Josef, Jesu irdischem Vater (Lukas 3,23).

In der Bibel finden wir immer wieder, wie Gottes Gnade mit allem verwoben ist—selbst einem eigentümlichen Namen in einer selten gelesenen Ahnentafel. Gottes Gnade ist überall.

Wo hast du Gottes Gnade in deinem Leben an ganz unerwarteten Stellen erfahren? Wie kann der Blick auf Gottes große Geschichte dir helfen, seine Gnade in deiner kleinen Geschichte zu erkennen?

Lieber Gott, hilf uns, überall deine Gnade zu erkennen.

Von Tim Gustafson

© 2020 Unser Täglich Brot
Die Bedeutung eines Namens geht leicht unter, wenn man die Geschichte dahinter nicht kennt.