Show Notes
This tenth week of Ordinary Time brings us encouragement: when God calls us to step out in faith, He never sends us alone. Be strengthened by the reminder of God’s presence and provision wherever He leads.
Nuance’s Formed for Formation is a weekly liturgy to encourage all of us to be faithful to Christ in the public square. Join Case Thorp as he follows the Church calendar through the reading of Scripture, prayer, and short reflections on faith in all facets of public life.
For more on being faithful in the public square, make sure to subscribe for Nuance’s bi-weekly interviews with Christian leaders as they discuss everything from policy making to difficult conversations across worldviews at work to Christian art-creation.
Nuance’s podcasts are presented by The Collaborative, which provides diverse Christian media and collaboration services to equip industry/sector Christian leaders for effective contribution to the common good.
Learn more about The Collaborative:
Website: https://wecolabor.com/
Get to know Case: https://wecolabor.com/team/
Episode Transcript
Let us pause to ask God to give us the courage we need to follow Him wherever He may be leading us, knowing that His grace is sufficient.
A reading from the book of Hebrews, chapter 11, beginning in verse 29, through Hebrews 12: 2.
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Maybe you know that God is nudging you to stand for him more clearly in some manner in the public square. Perhaps you’re sensing you need to run for public office or just go and speak up at the city council meeting. It could be you’re simply feeling compelled in some way to be more open about your faith at work, but you’re holding back because you don’t feel up to the task. If that’s the case, let me encourage you to spend some time visiting the Heroes of Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11. That may sound counterintuitive at first because after all, the likes of Moses and Joshua, David and Samuel mentioned there were men of such great stature. Isn’t their example actually kind of discouraging in a way? Because we feel so unlike them? Well, I’m not thinking of these figures so much as several others mentioned in this chapter of champions. There’s Gideon, whose inadequacy prompted him to keep asking God for reassurance. There’s Barak, whose insecurity caused him to miss out on the more God had for him. There’s Sampson, who struggled with impurity. There’s Jephthah, whose impulsivity was costly. These seemingly flaky four were far from the other great examples they are named alongside, and yet God still worked with and through each of them to bring about His purposes, and despite their flaws, they are cited as examples of faith. So don’t let a sense of insufficiency deter you from stepping out. If you know God has spoken to you to do something that you aren’t up to it isn’t for him. It’s been said that courage isn’t a lack of fear. It’s being scared, but doing it anyway. Similarly, faith doesn’t mean you may not doubt your abilities to do something. It just means that you trust God more in his capacity to provide you what you lack.
The 82nd Psalm, a Psalm of Asaph.
God presides in the great assembly;
he renders judgment among the “gods”:
“How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
“I said, ‘You are “gods”;
you are all sons of the Most High.’
But you will die like mere mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler.”
Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance.
Let us pray with Heather Barr.
Father, as I face my fears, when I’m feeling afraid, when I’m feeling timid, remind me of who you are and who I am in you. You are strong and courageous, the almighty King and loving Father. You have said in your word that as I wait upon you, I can take courage because I know you are with me. You are for me and you will empower me with the courage and the strength I need for whatever is placed before me. Remind me of who you have created me to be and what you have empowered me to do. Lord, you are the courageous one. And so right now, as I wait upon you, as I face fear and intimidation, I trust that you will keep your promise. I trust that I am who you say that I am. I trust that you will give me the strength and courage I need to face this circumstance. And I trust that victory is on the other side. I boldly declare that I will not let fear or intimidation stop me from being obedient. Help me to endure, Lord. Give me grace. You’re a good father and you are faithful. I trust you. Thank you, Father. Amen.
And finally, a reading from the prophet Jeremiah chapter 23 verses 23 to 29.
“Am I only a God nearby,”
declares the Lord,
“and not a God far away?
Who can hide in secret places
so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the Lord.
“I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship. Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
