The Upper Room devotional reflection for Monday, May 2, 2022 comes to us from Cletus L. Hull III of Pennsylvania.
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly." 7 Jesus said to him, "Shall I come and heal him?" 8 The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that moment. Matthew 8:5-13 NIV
“No Distance in Prayer”
When I served as a pastor at a church in Pennsylvania, someone called me with a personal concern. As the conversation ended, I asked if I could pray with him. Sounding surprised, he asked, “Can we do that over the phone?” Praying over the phone was new for him. Maybe it doesn’t sound strange to us today, but it’s easy to resist at first that which is different, But we prayed, and God did the rest.
Every generation creates new ways of expressing love for Christ. As a pastor, I am always searching for innovative ways to reach people. Social media has become the new way to proclaim the same message: Jesus and his redeeming love for us on the cross. We hear this word from Matthew’s Gospel: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Christ is the glue that binds us even through our new technologies. Years ago, I heard another phrase that stuck with me, and I think about it when I pray with people over the phone or on social media: “There is no distance in prayer.” Because of Christ, we have a strong connection holding us together!
Friends –
Christ is always present with each and all of us, and Cletus Hill reminds us that this is especially true when we are together. When we gather, the presence of Christ can make our witness and ministry far greater than the sum of our individual efforts. The Beloved Community can be the earthly expression of Christ in our world, making the Love of God known to others who are around us.
--Pastor bea
Prayer:
Dear Lord, remind us that you can draw us together in community no matter the physical distance between us. In your holy name we pray. Amen.
--Cletus L. Hull III
Prayer Focus:
Churches working with new Technology
Thought for the Day:
There is no distance in prayer
Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Matthew 18:20 (NRSV)