SEEING THE POOR

The 5th Sunday in Lent

ISAIAH 58:7 (MSG)
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes...

MATTHEW 25:40 (MSG)
Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

SUMMARY SENTENCE
To know God is to care in practical ways for the poor.

DAILY FODDER
What are you doing on behalf of the poor right now? 

PRAYER
Just and merciful God, I'm grateful for your ongoing care for the marginalized. Forgive me for living such an isolated life that I assume someone else is dealing with the issue of the poor. It's not intentional, but I've created walls to protect myself. Help me to open up, to see, and to respond to the needs of those around me. Grant me wisdom and creativity so I know the best ways to do that. I'm trusting you for the energy and resources to share with those in need. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

YOUR FATE

1 SAMUEL 2:7 (CEB)
The LORD!
He makes poor, gives wealth,
brings low, but also lifts up high!

ROMANS 12:3 (MSG)
I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The fate of each person rests in the hands of God.

DAILY FODDER
What is an appropriate response to the reality that our fates rest in God's hands?   

PRAYER
Sovereign Lord, you are powerful over great and small. You are the creator and judge of everything. I am sorry for my pride and self-importance. Open my eyes to consider the needs of the weaker ones around me. As I am humbled, lift me into those works that you would have me accomplish today. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

GOD IS FORGIVING

MICAH 7:19 (MSG)
And compassion is on its way to us.
You’ll stamp out our wrongdoing.
You’ll sink our sins
   to the bottom of the ocean.

1 JOHN 1:9 (MSG)
On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God is forgiving.  

DAILY FODDER
What is significant about God having a forgiving nature? How does that affect your relationship with him? With others? 

PRAYER
Gracious God, thank you for your commitment to forgivness—a commiment so great that you'd send Jesus to take our sin to the cross—exchanging it for his righteousness. That's forgivness! I regret that much of the time I'm pretty casual about my need for forgiveness. Make me aware! I want to live in the freedom that comes with awareness of my forgiveness—freedom to live into the righteousness that Christ has shared. Amen.  

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

LIFE-GIVING WATER

JEREMIAH 2:13 (MSG)
My people have committed a compound sin:
   they’ve walked out on me, the fountain
Of fresh flowing waters, and then dug cisterns—
   cisterns that leak, cisterns that are no better than sieves.

JOHN 4:14 (CEB)
Jesus: Whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
When it comes to the life-giving water of Jesus, accept no life-threatening substitutes.  

DAILY FODDER
How does one know that the water he or she drinks is the best water? How is Jesus' water received? 

PRAYER
Faithful God, you sent your Son into the world to refresh our lives with the water he gives. I'm grateful that it is so readily available. Forgive us for our feeble attempts to dig our own wells. Continue to send your water my way. I'm going to drink and bath in the life of Jesus until mine is forever saturated. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.