Carl DeLine

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)   Psalm 30   Revelation 5:11-14   John 21:1-19

Coached by Grace encourages you to read each of the scriptures during this week. As you read them, connect your search for God to where God is revealed in the scriptures. As you seek spirituality, you will find it as the knowledge about God introduces you to a place in you soul being filled.

Call to Worship: Psalm 30:11. You have turned my mourning into dancing, you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy; 30:12 so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

A moment of Joy (play as much as you are comfortable with – if you find yourself standing and moving with the music, be blessed, be anointed by the Spirit of God.

Prayer: This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let us see joy in those around us, let us see joy in the way creation sings of its beauty, in the way God has worked out the gift of salvation. Let us know the simplicity of God’s activity, the doors and windows that open before us. Let us then share these gifts with those who touch our lives. And then may we rejoice to see how they then touch the lives of others with the joy of God. Amen.

Invitation hymn.

In one of the churches I was the interim pastor in I was asked not to give an alter call. It was perceived as being manipulative. I had experienced many of those types of situations, but I had also been touched by other special alter moments. One morning, the children story simply asked: is there someone you would like to have sit next to you here? Each child said who it was. They were then asked to go get that person. Then each of those people were asked the same question. Within a few short moments the entire congregation was at the alter. People were asked to hug each other and know how God loves them. A closing benediction was given to the moment. People continued to smile and laugh as they went back to their seats. There was a spontaneous happening simply because joy happened.

An invitation had been given! An invitation had been received. An invitation had created a special experience. A response gave depth to the invitation.

In Acts the story of Paul’s response to an invitation by Ananias reveals the desire by God that all should have scales dropped from their eyes. They should have the freedom to speak of what gives them their sense of Joy. Once again we hear of how God moves us to understand His life to us through His revelation in the person of Jesus.

The Revelation text “revels” in the unlimited numbers of creatures and elders who join together in an ultimate expression of joy. Just what does God want? The concept of want seems to be removed and replaced with the integrity of a natural happening. As people participate in worship they are stunned in such a way they are overwhelmed and experience a sense of holiness.

The Gospel text ends on a somewhat strange thought. Jesus simply encourages the disciples to now take what they had been given and “get on with their new life.”

Joy touches us not because we can conjure it up, but because it is real, and as a part of the personality of God it fills us to enjoy it and give it away.

Once again we are reminded the joy from God is revealed as we see God work through Jesus.