Reading With the People of God #13 Nicene Creed預覽

Focus of the Month: Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Beyond Our Mentors

Yoda, Mary Poppins, Gandalf, Anne Sullivan, and Coach Herman Boone are all recognizable mentors in literature and history. While mentors are the ones living in exemplary ways, it is the responsibility of the mentee to follow and learn not just while the mentor is with them, but beyond their time with them.

Jehoash had a good prophet/mentor in Jehoida. He recognized that as the king, he needed to repair the house of the Lord and bring people back to following God. His acts while Jehoida was advising him were commendable. However, once he was challenged, without his advisor to lean on, he caved in and became an easy target. Was his heart really in it in the first place?

Fast forward to Jesus’ day, and we read about a father begging for the mercy and power of Christ in the rescue of his son. This would be understandable except for the fact that the disciples had already tried. Jesus had already mentored them and given them the knowledge that they could have the faith and power to rely on God to heal. Was this too hard? Were they trying to DO something rather than have faith in God to do the work?

When this happened, Jesus had just come from the Mount of Transfiguration, where the few who were with Him witnessed God’s glory upon Him and a great revelation of His true relationship with God. The other disciples who did not attend that event were still ministering even to this family in crisis. Jesus uses this moment to teach that as His disciples, we all are to depend on Him, including to learn and grow when He is no longer physically present. He expects a responsibility in His followers to increase in faith and let God work beyond what is thought to be possible.

This is great news for believers today because we already believe without the physical presence of Christ. However, are we learning beyond what we think we are capable of? What is God expecting us to use our faith to accomplish for His glory? Are we waiting for God to do it for us?

Lord, let us understand the faith we need to participate in those things we find difficult in the work You have called us to do. Help us to understand how to go “beyond” in obedience and write a continuing story of Your great work in the world around us.

* Primer contributed by Gaylyn Mott, Teacher, Musician, Yarn Artist, Member of Cornerstone Community Church