Be the branch.
Catch the wind.
Wreck the roof.
Grip the plow.
Empty the Jar.
These have been the sermons in the “Words that Stick” series. As we have discussed, they can also function as breath prayer mantras to help us stay centered on God throughout the day. Is there one that God seems to be inviting you to adopt and apply in your life? Breath prayers are a way to “pray without ceasing” and intentionally take a deep breath in and a long breath out, as you say the words for prayer. Which words will “stick” with you in your life? Or, will you simply ignore them and continue trying to remain in control of your own life and circumstances, only being reminded of God’s activity in your life when your own way doesn’t work? Is there one of these phrases that you can adopt that might be helpful as you seek to live for God in the moments, days and weeks to come? Breath prayers are a powerful way to keep God in the forefront of your mind and emotions as your days and circumstances unfold around you. Could this be a spiritual practice that might be beneficial in your life with God moving forward from this series? If not, what spiritual practices are you cultivating to help you grow in your trust and faithfulness? What habits are you cultivating in order to live against the “flesh” and culture, and FOR Jesus? The Christian life is a counter intuitive and counter cultural lifestyle and spiritual disciplines and practices can help you live that life more faithfully. The “words that stick” teaching series has provided some good tools for your prayer life. How can you take them and apply them?
INVITATION: This is the last week from the series “Words that Stick” teaching series. “Empty the jar” is the breath prayer mantra for this week. Join in as we enter the scene of Jesus having dinner with Simon the Pharisee and other leaders in the community. And “watch” as a surprise visitor enters the scene.
MONDAY: Luke 7: 36: There were customs in place in this day and time that Simon obviously did not follow when Jesus arrived at his home for dinner. Simon did none of the common polite cultural rituals of greeting (such as washing feet) when Jesus came to his home. He seems to have done the bare minimum to fulfill his “religious duty” in simply asking Jesus to dinner. His failure to have a servant wash Jesus’ feet was actually disrespectful to Jesus. Simon was going through only the minimum requirements he thought were necessary. How is your relationship with Jesus? Do you do the bare minimum simply to fulfill your “religious duties” but are actually missing relationship with the Messiah? What would it be like for you to fall madly in love with Jesus and make living for Him a passion and desire in your life from the inside out? Have you ever thought to pray about something like that? Maybe now is a good time to begin such prayers? Consider beginning to pray for Jesus to capture your heart, mind and soul. He will be pleased to answer such a prayer. Are you willing to pray this type of prayer? If not, what is holding you back? Maybe you can pray about your resistance?
TUESDAY: Luke 7:37: This unnamed woman must have heard about Jesus. Most of the commentaries say this woman “made her living by sinning.” She was a prostitute. Simon could easily meet and converse with Jesus, but for this woman, getting close to Jesus was no easy matter. Her sinful life, known to all who lived in the town and by all who were at this dinner, made it difficult for her to seek out Jesus. She was DRAWN to Jesus. What about you? Are you drawn to Jesus from the depths of your being and from your love and passion, or are you DRIVEN to perform and learn and only have the external behavior for others to notice and see? Drawn vs. driven. Which best describes your attraction to life with God?
WEDNESDAY: I Cor. 8:1-2: Simon was a Pharisee and as such, had a lot of knowledge. What do these verses say about knowledge? How much do you value knowledge vs. love? What about in regard to your Christian journey - do you seek and obtain knowledge more than you seek to submit and surrender your heart and life over to Jesus and his love? What practices do you have in place in your life to help you grow and develop your love for Jesus?
THURSDAY: Luke 7:38-39: This woman was willing to take a risk to express her love to Jesus. She wore her perfume, which was very expensive, around her neck and she took her hair down. This was, at the time, considered offensive and intimate. Anyone in the room was probably thinking how inappropriate it all was and wondering when Jesus might say something. This sinner, whose name is withheld in what probably is a gracious act, began worshiping, weeping and honoring Jesus. She emptied her jar on the dirty feet of Jesus. The feet which had not been washed by the host, as was the custom at that time. She certainly could not ask for a towel, so she proceeded to dry the feet of Jesus with her hair.
Verse 39 lets us into the thoughts of host and we can only imagine his indignation and embarrassment at this scene. Simon was not only judging this woman, but also judging Jesus and thinking that if he were in fact a prophet, he would know who was sitting at his feet (a known sinner) and would do something about it. When is the last time you sat at the feet of Jesus in honor and worship, feeling overwhelmed - perhaps even to the point of tears - by his love and grace in your life? Do you ever slow down long enough to enter into such moments or do you avoid them? How might you cultivate some stillness and quiet into your life in order to sit at the feet of Jesus? Perhaps only symbolically, or perhaps you might try praying in different positions in order to try and honor and worship Jesus by using your body? Some people find kneeling helpful, or even bowing in submission prior to prayer. How can you use your body in embodied prayer today?
FRIDAY: Luke 7:40-50: Simon is “religious” yet does not get it. Jesus teaches dying to ourselves. He teaches picking up our cross. He teaches surrender and pouring out our life just as this prostitute poured out her perfume for Jesus. She emptied her jar for Jesus. Verse 47 says “He who has been forgiven little loves little.” Somehow this sinful woman recognized the love and grace of Jesus IN SPITE of her sins. This verse seems to indicate that it might be a realization she had BECAUSE of her sins. I would imagine Simon the Pharisee saw her life as MUCH more sinful than his own. Don’t we all do that sometimes? . What about you? Do you more often look at the “speck” in the eyes of your brothers and sisters rather than the “log” in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3). Are you willing to pray today for Jesus to reveal your sins to you that need to be confessed? Could it be that such realization of sins and confession of same will result in more love in your life? Have you been hiding or sweeping sin under the rug or are you ready to take a chance with Jesus? He is standing ready to forgive and restore you and lead you into a life of more love. Are you ready?
SATURDAY: Luke 7:36-50: Today you are invited into what is known as imaginative prayer. Read this entire encounter slowly….perhaps more than once. Now insert yourself into the story. Are you Simon the Pharisee? Are you the brave woman who was a notorious sinner? Are you some other attendee at the dinner, or perhaps you are Jesus? May you are a servant or other person in the home at the time? Maybe even insert yourself as someone NOT mentioned in the story. A bystander? Imagine the entire scene playing out like a movie in your mind. Imagine where you are. What else do you notice in this scene? Try to engage your senses: what do you hear? What do you feel? What might you smell? Imagine where Jesus is and what his body position is. Does he see you? Does Jesus speak to you? If so, what does he say? How does he say it; what is his tone? Do you sense anything from Jesus from this prayer exercise? Perhaps something for you to know, to be or to understand?