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MEDITATION:

Written by D. James Kennedy (1930-2007) an American pastor, broadcaster, and author.

William Wilberforce was at a crossroads. Young, wealthy, well-educated, a member of Parliament, and a much-in-demand man about town, Wilberforce was in the throes of what he later came to call his “great change”—his conversion to Christianity. Elected to Parliament in 1780 at age 21, Wilberforce had pursued his own political ambition with little thought for God or the Gospel. At age 26, this promising, talent-laden member of Parliament had been persuaded to trust Christ after reading a famous devotional classic and the Greek New Testament… Should he leave politics? … Politics, was, as many evangelicals then thought, a “worldly” pursuit. It was an endeavor fraught with moral compromise and the corrupting quest for power. Something, in short, in which no truly “spiritual” believer could take part…Wilberforce put the question to John Newton, the former slave trader turned minister who is best known today for writing the famous hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Newton’s answer amazed Wilberforce. He advised him not to leave his post. That would be tantamount to desertion from the position to which God had called him. Instead, he should serve Christ in the political arena….Wilberforce embraced two great goals: the abolition of the slave trade and the reformation of manners (moral standards)… He largely succeeded. Twenty years after Wilberforce took up the cause of abolition, Parliament passed in 1807 a measure ending the horrid British traffic in slaves. Then, in 1833, just three days before his death, the House of Commons approved a bill for the abolition of slavery throughout the British colonies—an act that, according to Wilberforce biographer Kevin Belmonte, brought freedom to some 800,000 slaves. The impact of Wilberforce was equally profound on the moral climate of Britain … Under his leadership, a Christian social conscience attacked prevalent social ills while at the same time seeking to better the lives of those affected by them. … The life of William Wilberforce is a powerful, stirring, and instructive example that we, as Christians, can bring moral renewal to our culture. It won’t happen through government alone, as Wilberforce well recognized, but it can happen if we answer the summons to be salt and light for Christ in every area of life—including the political arena.

PRAYER:

Written by William Wilberforce (1759-1833), a British politician, and leader of the movement to stop the slave trade.

Lord God, Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength and forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will: through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Amazing Grace Performed by Home Free

The hymn was written by former slave trader John Newton in 1772 and was published in 1779. It is based on his life and conversion.  

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MEDITATION:

Written by Terri Dickson.

The spring of 2020 was an ominous time, as Covid was first spreading around the globe.  In those early moments, when we were all scared for our lives, and somewhat frozen in place by lockdowns and restrictions, I witnessed Christ working miracles every day in the hearts and deeds of my friends, neighbors, and church family. When a friend heard that I was taking cookies to my daughter, who works in the ER, and leaving them at the curb where she could come out and pick them up to share with the hospital staff, that friend then organized a weekly drop off of baked goods at the hospital that went on for months.  My neighbors started reaching out in text chains when they were going to the store or getting food delivered to see what others needed. They opened their pantries to each other to cover for the things we couldn’t buy. And they checked on people they knew were less able to procure food and other necessities. Friends from all over the country started sending daily little jokes that brought a much-needed burst of laughter when all around us the news was oppressively grim. Our Village Church performed a miracle by moving everything online overnight and the choirs learned how to create music virtually. Blankets were made for the homeless, food was collected for the hungry, donations were offered for those in need.  Christ’s work in this world is real and present every day. Sometimes it takes a crisis for us to actually see it.

PRAYER:

This prayer is from the General Synod of the Church of England in Australia.

Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed: guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and live this day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Send the Light Performed by the Altar of Praise Men’s Chorale

Written by Charles Gabriel (1856-1932), a music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in San Francisco. It was composed as a missionary hymn for Easter Sunday and was first sung on March 6, 1890.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Dr. O. S. Hawkins, a contemporary author, retired pastor, and finance professional. This is an excerpt from his work “What Does the Lord Require of You?”ritten by Steve and Deb Koster, contemporary ministers and authors.

God requires us as Christ-followers to “love mercy,” and the emphasis continues to be on action, not thought. We are not simply to show mercy to others but to passionately “love mercy.” Mercy is best defined as “not getting what we deserve,” whereas grace is “getting what we don’t deserve.” Micah’s instruction means that we are required to give people what they don’t always deserve; we are to cut them some slack and show them some mercy. When we see someone in a difficult situation, though, some of us tend to immediately think, Guilty… until proven innocent! We take the seat of the judge when our “love” for mercy should be compelling us to be Christ’s hand extended to someone in need, whether or not that person deserves it. Susie, my wife, is one who truly “loves mercy,” and she has always reminded me that our children most need our love and encouragement when they least deserve it. The one who truly loves God, doing justly, and loving mercy are as natural as water running downhill.

PRAYER:

Written by Kurt Struckmeyer, a contemporary artist, writer, and theologian.

God of love, source of mercy and compassion, weave your dream for the world into the fabric of our lives.  Remove the scales from our eyes and lift the indifference from our hearts, so that we may see your vision – a new reign of justice and compassion that will renew the earth. Transform our lives, so that we may accomplish your purpose. Anoint us with your spirit of love that we might bring good news to the oppressed, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim release to the captive. Give us a new urgency and a new commitment to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and visit those who live in isolation. Help us to reach out to those whom no one else will touch, to accept the unacceptable, and to embrace the enemy. Surround us with your love, fill us with your grace, and strengthen us for your service. Empower us to respond to the call of Jesus – to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses, and to follow. Make us your disciples. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

My Song is Love Unknown  Performed by Sylvia Burnside accompanied by the New Irish Orchestra

The hymn was written by Samuel Crossman in 1664 and is usually sung today to a tune called Love Unknown by John Ireland (1879-1962).

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MEDITATION:

Written by Steve and Deb Koster, contemporary ministers and authors.

In girls’ club, the leader asked the question from Micah 6:8: “What does the LORD require of you?” In unison the girls responded with the next part of the verse: “To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.” They had memorized this as their theme verse. Justice, mercy, and walking with humility are the behaviors that God is looking for in all of us. It’s a deeply biblical theme.

God calls us, as a matter of worship, to act justly in our day-to-day lives, not being swayed by who has power and who does not. We honor God by showing not only impartial justice but also mercy and compassion. God himself clarifies that we are to seek justice for those who are not socially powerful—the single mother, foster children, immigrants, the poor. God declares, in effect, through Zechariah: “I don’t even want your worship if you are taking advantage of and not defending the weakest among you. You’re worshiping only to make yourselves feel better, not to honor me.” Those are strong words. The suffering of people in another neighborhood—much less others around the globe—can be invisible. Enacting justice and showing mercy requires us to care for our brothers and sisters. Ask God to show you ways to care for the marginalized. What acts of mercy are you doing for your family and community?

PRAYER:

Written by Steve and Deb Koster, authors of today’s meditation.

Lord, help us to show mercy, and make us lovers of justice, so that we can make an impact in this world for you. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

God of Justice (We Must Go):  Performed by Tim Hughes.

This worship song was written in 2007 by Tim Hughes, a contemporary worship leader in London.  It was written for a Tearfund’s  “Make Poverty History” campaign.

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MEDITATION:

Written by David Kool and Andrew Ryskamp, contemporary leaders of the “Faithward” mission. This is an excerpt from their article “How to Apply Micah 6:8 to Your Life.”

To “walk humbly with God” is the basis for loving mercy and doing justice. Because of what God has done, we fully invest in healing the world around us through mercy and justice. Cultivating our walk with God provides the power and passion for us to fully engage—it grounds everything else we do. The “walk” metaphor is used often in Scripture to describe the overall direction one’s life is heading. In Deuteronomy, there are a number of references to walking in the way of the Lord, several psalms refer to a walk being blameless, and 1 John encourages us to walk in the light. This poetic picture envisions a comfortable relationship of presence with God and a life that fits into that path.  The adverb “humbly” moves us away from arrogance and the egocentric need to always be better than others, to the simple acceptance of the gifts that God has placed within us. The hymn “Trust and Obey” might come to mind: “When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his goodwill, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.” 

PRAYER:

Written by Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498), an Italian Dominican friar and preacher active in Florence. He was known for his prophecies of civic glory, the destruction of secular art and culture and his calls for Christian renewal.

Create a clean heart in me, O God: a humble heart, a meek heart, a peaceful heart, a benevolent heart, a devout heart which does evil to no one, which does not repay evil for evil, but overcomes evil with good, which loves you above all things, thinks always about you, speaks about you, gives you thanks, delights in hymns and spiritual songs, and has its citizenship in heaven. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Trust and Obey:  Performed by The Vagle Brothers.  This hymn was written by the music director of the Moody Bible Institute, Professor Daniel B Towner in 1887. A young man had just given his life to the Lord Jesus at one of Dwight D. Moody’s revival meetings when Towner overheard him saying “I am not quite sure—I am going to trust and obey.”

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MEDITATION:

Written by Arlene Stamper.

Do you ever wonder if you have made a difference in someone’s life because you are a Christian?  I can tell you firsthand that being a Christian and sharing your faith with others can change a life. It changed mine. I grew up with parents that did not go to church or profess faith in God. My father was born in 1907 in a German town in Europe.  He experienced cruel behavior from the priests in his town and he wanted nothing to do with the church.  My mother took me to the Presbyterian Church because I begged her to take me. I was baptized when I was nine. But still…it was an uphill battle to be Christian in my family. And somehow, I felt I was disappointing them. It was just easier to not go to church. And I lost my way. I had doubts. But God placed many Christians in my path. Thank you, Lord!  One of my friends displayed such a strong faith and I marveled at her belief. I wished I could be like that. Another good friend when I shared my doubts, she gave me a beautifully framed biblical quote “Doubting Thomas” which I kept by my bedside for years. My mother-in-law who was a devout Baptist would serve up big mugs of hot tea when I visited, then she read from her bible and answered my many questions. They all shared their faith with me.  And encouraged me. I have experienced the love of many Christians …even when I resisted His love and didn’t think I could have that kind of faith. I thank them all and I thank God for them…and for not ever giving up on me. Now I try to share my faith with others whenever the opportunity arises. You just never know who may be waiting for that right word of encouragement for them to take that step of faith. 

PRAYER:

Written by Emily Rose Massey, a contemporary writer, storyteller, and disciple of Jesus.

Father, I thank You for calling me to Yourself and making me Your child through what Jesus did for me on the cross. In Him, I am now able to be called righteous, not for anything I have done, but because of His sacrifice. You have called us as believers to go into the world and make disciples of every nation. I ask that You give me a courage and boldness to share Your truth and Your Gospel with those around me, whether that is online or with another person face to face.  I pray that those you place in my path would see Your great love for them in the truth that I share. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Were I the Perfect Child of God: Performed by Tony Alonso. Contemporary songwriter and pastor for the Church of Scotland, John Bell, wrote the text to accompany this traditional Scottish melody in 2004.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Timothy Keller, a contemporary pastor and author. This is an excerpt from his book “Generous Justice.”

When I was a professor at a theological seminary in the mid-eighties, one of my students was a young man named Mark Gornik. One day we were standing at the copier, and he told me that he was about to move into Sandtown, one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in Baltimore. I remember being quite surprised. When I asked him why, he said simply, “to do justice.” It had been decades since any white people had moved into Sandtown. For the first couple of years there, it was touch and go. Mark told a reporter, “The police thought I was a drug dealer, and the drug dealers thought I was a police officer. So, for a while there, I didn’t know who was going to shoot me first.” Yet over the years Mark, along with leaders in the community, established a church and a comprehensive set of ministries that have slowly transformed the neighborhood…The problems of the poor are so much more complex than any one theory can accommodate. What it takes to rebuild a poor neighborhood goes well beyond public policy or social programs. It takes the rebuilding of families and communities and individual lives. This is why Gornik not only established programs of social service but also began a church that called people to spiritual conversion…the weak educational system that society provides for inner-city youth sets them up for failure. But when we add personal wrongdoing and crime to the larger forces of exclusion and oppression, we have a potent mixture that locks people into poverty. Taken in isolation no one factor – government programs, public policy, calls to personal responsibility, or private charity—is sufficient to address the problem.

PRAYER:

This prayer is from the Byzantine rite for the evening vespers service.

While fasting with the body, brothers and sisters, let us also fast in spirit. Let us lose every bond of iniquity; let us undo the knots of every contact made by violence; let us tear up all unjust agreements; let us give bread to the hungry and welcome to our house the poor who have no roof to cover them, that we may receive mercy from Christ our God.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Beauty for Brokenness Performed by Graham Kendrick. This song was written by contemporary British singer-songwriter Graham Kendrick and was originally recorded in 1993.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Ruth Grendell.

I recently received a memorial article about a former faculty friend.  Victor Heasley taught undergraduate chemistry courses for 48 years at Point Loma Nazarene University. He, also, founded a summer research program that provided the opportunity for students to gain additional research experience and to participate as co-authors of articles for scientific journals. Vic continued his own research and authored a chemistry book and many scholarly articles.  When asked why he taught for so many years, his answers were: “Students were exciting to be around; they were filled with new ideas and thoughts which brought meaning to my life. The education setting is a place of dreams—a place of hoping, planning, reaching, succeeding.  Each student meant a new and different relationship—these relationships and friendships kept me going for so many years!”  He was authentic in his concern that the students have a faith, a foundation beneath their learning; remembering honesty, faithfulness to others, compassion for those who are hurting and alone, and a relationship with the eternal God.”

It was a privilege to work with Vic on the faculty council and to learn from him—for modeling his approach with my students when he taught our nursing students to understand the research process and how to apply the information in their clinical healthcare settings.  He was a great mentor when I conducted my own research study for the advanced degree. Now, I have become a mentor to several nursing graduates. What a privilege!  As I reflect on my contacts with Vic, I think about the people who have benefited from their skills of hoping, planning, reaching, succeeding, as well as demonstrating their faith that the graduates have applied in their careers. 

PRAYER:

This prayer is from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979, of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA.

O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Take My Life and Let It Be: Performed by Chris Tomlin. The hymn was written by Frances Havergal in 1874.

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MEDITATION:

Written by N. T. Wright, a contemporary Biblical scholar, theologian, and former Anglican bishop. This is an excerpt from his book “Broken Signposts.”

John’s gospel depicts a God who cares deeply about justice. This point is fundamental: although we humans have within ourselves a strong echo of this longing for justice, in God himself that longing is complete and perfected. Part of the hope the Christian faith offers is the knowledge that God will not allow injustice to be the last word. That is a central element in the good news of the gospel. It is vital, then, to remember that John’s gospel is a book about how the whole world is being put right at last. It is a book about justice. It tells the story of how the creator God himself is passionate about things being sorted out, straightened out. And it tells us what he has done to bring it about. Unless we read the book with this larger story in mind, we won’t understand the teaching about love and comfort that we are (rightly and properly) wanting and expecting. The ultimate truth is important for us to remember as we encounter two dark realities in John’s gospel: the fact that Jesus himself is seemingly a victim of injustice and the power of the Adversary to create and exacerbate injustice in this world.

PRAYER:

Written by Brian Heasley, a contemporary author and International Prayer Director for 24-7 Prayer.

Written by Kirstyn Mayden, a contemporary Christian author.

Dear God, we look for Your guidance and wisdom to restore and heal systems of injustice that continue to permeate our country and the world. Amidst racism, educational disparities, and healthcare inequalities, remind us of Your sovereignty. Unify where there is division and help us to view each other in the image of You. Forgive us for times that we have played any role in perpetuating systems of injustice and soften our hearts to listen and hear from those who are different than us. Thank you for Your restorative power that can heal broken hearts, systems, and indifference. Teach how to continue to glorify You in our actions, attitudes, and minds.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

My Anchor Holds: Performed by Golden State Baptist College Choir. The hymn was written by William Clark Martin (1864-1914), a Baptist pastor and hymn writer in 1902. Music was composed by Daniel Brink Towner (1850-1919).

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MEDITATION:

Written by Celeste Bailey.

When my family and I came to the US, my twin sister and I were 17 and just graduated from high school in Beirut, Lebanon. We came in January and tried to apply to Columbia University (our brother lived a few blocks away from the university), but we were told that we had to wait until September.

We prayed that God would open a path for us, so we won’t have to lose the academic year. Our dear Egyptian family friend, who emigrated with his wife and daughter to the US years earlier than us, suggested we try a junior college near where they lived. They knew the Dean of the college quite well and asked him for help. Without hesitation, the Dean accepted us to attend the college right away.

With trepidation, my sister and I moved into the college’s dorm, which was about one and a half hours north of Manhattan. We became quite a ‘celebrity’ in this quiet small town. A reporter came to take our photo and asked us questions regarding our escape from the civil war in Lebanon. However, the article was really about a Muslim American (our friend) and a Jewish American (the Dean) coming together to help two Christian girls in time of need! Because of the kindness of two people, we were able to finish Freshman year and we are so ever grateful to them and to the Lord who works all things together for good to those who love Him.

I should not forget to mention that my first-time meetings with dormmates were a bit comical. When they saw my sister and me, their mouths dropped with astonishment and quickly inquired why we are not wearing a ‘hijab’ and asked us if we rode ‘camels’. The look on their faces was priceless. I think we disappointed them, but we did have a good laugh!

PRAYER:

Written by Brian Heasley, a contemporary author and International Prayer Director for 24-7 Prayer.

Father, I want to fight for the things that You care about. I want to finish the race that You’ve set before me. I want to keep the faith, continuing to move and grow no matter my age or stage of life. Thank You for the call and the challenge of this. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

In the Garden: Performed by Rosemary Siemens. The hymn was written in 1912 by C. Austin Miles (1868-1946) based on a vision he saw while reading his favorite Bible chapter, John 20.

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