Day 40.Empowered to Act
Level 1: (5 Minutes) Today is the last day of this 40-day journey. When you pause to breathe today, focus on any habits you may want to continue that help you to be present to others and prayerful.
Level 2: (10 minutes) Do Level 1. After Reading the scripture adaptation, take 5 minutes to highlight words or phrases.
Level 3: (15 minutes) After pausing to breathe and reading the Scripture prayer, take 5 minutes to write about who in your life has passed the Good News of the Gospel on to you?
Adapted from Ephesians 3:20-21. Now by You who are able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine, according to the power that works within me, to You be the glory in the church and in Jesus Christ to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Level 4: (30-60 minutes) You made it. Thank you for joining this Beloved Community. Tomorrow is truly the most important celebration for us as flowers of Jesus. For the past 40 days we have been remembering what Jesus did for us when he walked on this earth. One of the amazing things that I see from all of these Scripture adaptations is that no one doubts that Jesus actually existed.
Jesus’ work on earth was focused on bringing humanity back into alignment with God’s image and likeness. Today’s prayer begins with an acknowledgement that we can miss if we read it too quickly: Paul is saying Jesus is “able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than (Paul or we) could ever ask or imagine.” God has no limits. So if the image and likeness of God really does live in each of us—we can do more than we imagine when we live “according to the power (which is God’s power) that works within us.” As we approach the next 50 days after Easter—a time of celebration in the church, let us remember that we are empowered to bring the Good News on earth as in heaven—and it does not depend upon us alone.
I hope being a part of this Beloved Community has helped you to see the image and likeness of God in yourself and in others. I would love to continue exploring the Good News with you all. Let me know if there is any interest.