JESUS THE LIFE-GIVER

DEUTERONOMY 32:39 (CEB)
Now, look here: I myself, I’m the one;
there are no other gods with me.
I’m the one who deals death and gives life;
I’m the one who wounded, but now I will heal.
There’s no escaping my hand.

JOHN 17:1-2 (GNT)
After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you. For you gave him authority over all people, so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him."

THE ESSENCE
Jesus is the life-giver.  

DAILY FODDER
Eternal life isn't primarily about longevity — that is, living forever after we die. Yes, it includes that, but it is first and foremost a quality of life rooted in the eternal. It is so rich, because it flows from Jesus, that it never ends. Not even death can diminish it.

PRAYER
Eternal God, thank you for sending your Son into the world to establish a new regime based on eternal life. Forgive us for trying to live life apart from him. Help me to live into the gift of eternal life as you have given it. I'm going to honor Jesus with my life by allowing him and his eternal life to live through me. 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.

FORMED BY GOD'S WORD

PSALM 71:17-18 (MSG)
You got me when I was an unformed youth,
God, and taught me everything I know.
Now I’m telling the world your wonders;
I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.

2 TIMOTHY 3:15 (NLT)
You have been taught the holy scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

THE ESSENCE
Through the scriptures God forms us into wise and faithfilled people. 

DAILY FODDER
Since God's instruction is so powerful and life altering, it makes sense that we'd stick with it without wavering.  

PRAYER
Lord, your faithfulness to me from birth to death is too wonderful to wrap my mind around. Your deeds are the bedrock of my Christian faith. Open my ears to hear again your word rooted in the Bible. Build my faith on you, my solid rock, the Word made flesh. You are Christ, my Savior and Lord. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition, adapted)

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.

IN THE BEST OF HANDS

The Fourth Sunday in Lent

2 CHRONICLES 25:8 (NCB)
Remember that God has the power to help you or to cause your defeat.

MATTHEW 10:29, 31 (GNT)
For only a penny you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent... So do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows!

THE ESSENCE
God has the power to make or break you. Fortunately, you're incredibly valuable to him. 

DAILY FODDER
If we're so valuable to God, and he is so powerful, why is it that sometimes people break? 

PRAYER
God, I take comfort in Jesus' declaration that people are valuable. I confess, though, that sometimes I'm afaid because I've seen so many people crash and burn. I'm not sure that I'm so different. Help me to relax in your love and to realize that even if I "crash and burn" I'll still be alright in the overall scheme of things. I realize that you are in charge and that because of Christ I am in the best of hands. 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.

FREED!

EXODUS 20:2 (NLT)
I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

GALATIANS 5:13 (MSG)
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows.

THE ESSENCE
Through Christ, we're freed from serving the powers and impulses of evil so that we can lovingly serve one another. 

DAILY FODDER
Notice that in Christ, one form of slavery is replaced with another form of slavery. The irony, of course, is that we find freedom in the type of slavery associated with Christ Jesus. 

PRAYER
What a miracle that you, God, call me to rise up to live as your free child! Discipline me in the way I should live through love. Father, guide me by the liberating Spirit of Christ, to free me from slavery to myself. Help me to be enslaved to my neighbor in love. What a calling! What a Savior! 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.