Sore Knees: “loved by Yahweh”
Join us for our third sore knees challenge, a week before the throne, starting today and ending next Wednesday, May 11.
Our focus this week is on the “loved by Yahweh” we encounter in our classrooms and lives. They may be the marginalized, those labeled “outsider” or “unsafe,” or ones without advocate or Advocate. Whoever they are, Yahweh loves them, and so we love them too, intentionally, personally, and before the Throne.
What you see below is an entry in our teacher lectionary. Each entry lists ideas and passages to inspire your lifting. The four sections of our lectionary include:
- Entering the Throne Room: a call to worship
- Seeking Mercy: confession, repentance, and forgiveness
- Advocating: mediating between Yahweh and our students (and their families), colleagues, and schools
- Going Forth: leaving the throne room blessed to be a blessing
References are linked to passages. Other links will take you to songs.
Entering the Throne Room
Your glorious riches supply all our needs. (Philippians 4:19)
- Advocate, I was once far away from you, but Your blood has brought me near. You have made peace between us, between peoples, and between people and Yahweh. (Ephesians 2:13-18)
- Friend of sinners, I am a sinner, and so You are my friend. I once was Your enemy, but now I am Your friend. (Romans 5:6-11)
- Lover of the unlovely, we are unlovely, and yet You love us. Once our well-deserved labels read unclean, unworthy, outsider. But now, You have marked us “loved by Yahweh.” Newly made, fully loved, we are Your masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Seeking Mercy
Be merciful to me a sinner. (Matthew 9:9-13)
- When I label others with uns and outs rather than “loved by Yahweh”.
- When I marginalize rather than advocate for others.
- When I fail to understand what this means: “I love mercy not sacrifice.”
Remember that I am but dust.
- Open my eyes so that I see others as You see them, and love them like You love them. (Matthew 5:43-48)
- With voice, mind, and heart, may I bless all around me. For they are made in the image of Yahweh. (James 3:7-12; Matthew 12:35-37)
- Help me to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner, invite in the stranger, welcome the refugee, go the extra mile for the marginalized, touch the untouchable, break bread with the “unsafe”and “outsider,” and befriend even those I consider the worst of sinners. (Matthew 25:34-40)
You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.
Advocating
I intercede for my students and colleagues. May they know that they are “loved by Yahweh” as You:
- Feed their empty stomachs. Their minds. And souls. (Mark 6:34-44)
- Remove their filthy rags and clothe them with righteousness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
- Touch them like you touched the blind, ill, bleeding, lepers, and those who were afraid. (Matthew)
- Like the children, pull them onto your lap and wrap Your arms of blessing around them. (Mark 10:13-15)
- Knock until they hear, call until they open, and then break bread together with them. (Revelation 3:20)
Remember that they are but dust. Be gracious toward them and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.
Going Forth
I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me
against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices,
against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in my classrooms, Christ at my desk,
Christ in my planned speech, Christ in my idle talk,
Christ in the heart of every student who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every colleague who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of all creation.[1]
[1]From what is known as “The Prayer of St. Patrick” adpated from worldprayers.org and beliefnet.com.
Photo Credit: Noodle_Do via Compfight cc
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