Week of May 21, 2023

Oil

Olive oil had many uses in the ancient world … from cooking to cosmetics, from the flame of a lamp to the flame of God’s calling.  Three particular groups were anointed with oil in Israel’s history:  prophets, priests and kings.  Jesus himself was anointed with the Holy Spirit to fulfill those callings as the divine-human Messiah.  But we too are anointed by God to be his witnesses, his ambassadors, and his steward/leaders. 

May 22           Psalm 23

This passage is a call to rest, to rest in the presence of God, knowing His great love and provision for us. Read this passage three times, each time, listen, and look for the ways God shows His care for us. After each reading, sit in silence for one minute, resting in the presence of your Almighty Father.

May 23           Isaiah 61:1-3

Pick out one phrase from this passage. How has God anointed you to carry out this task: bring good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, comfort those who mourn, etc? Conversely, which phrase applies to the care you have received from God most recently?

May 24           Acts 10:34-40 

How incredible that God chose us to partner with Him, and Christ Jesus in the sharing of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. What does it say about us that God trusts us to carry out His mission on earth? Are you comforted by this or intimidated? How does this change knowing that the Holy Spirit is with us, equipping us for every interaction we have?

May 25           2 Corinthians 1:21-22

God sent us His Holy Spirit to walk alongside us throughout our lives. How can we lean more fully on the Holy Spirit in our daily walks? What does dependence on the Holy Spirit practically look like in your life?

May 26           1 Corinthians 1:7-11

Paul writes about the unity of the followers of Jesus – and a call not to quarrel or be divided. Is this what we see in the Christian church today? Why or why not? What can we actively do to promote unity amongst all who believe and follow Jesus?