THE JUDGE

PSALM 7:8 (GNT)
You are the judge of all people.

ACTS 17:31 (GNT)
For he has fixed a day in which he will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man he has chosen. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising that man from death!

THE ESSENCE
Jesus is the judge who will give justice to the world.

DAILY FODDER
Why is it significant to have a judge who has experienced and overcome death? 

PRAYER
Risen Lord, I'm glad you're the one who will judge the world. I know that you understand justice (and mercy) from every angle. Forgive me for allowing the injustices of the world to discourage me. Keep me ever aware of your justice. I can see what's coming and by the power of your Holy Spirit, I'm arranging my life accordingly. 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.

GLOBAL JESUS

All Saints Day

MICAH 5:4 (MSG)
...for the whole world will hold him in respect—Peacemaker of the world!

ACTS 1:8 (GNT)
When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

THE ESSENCE
The Jesus movement is a global movement. 

DAILY FODDER
How can you participate in the global Jesus movement from where you live right now?  

PRAYER
Merciful God, I'm grateful that you’re not a regional or national diety. Your interests extend beyond any boundaries or borders we create. Yet, we emphasize our tribe in such a way that it sounds like we think you belong to us. Help me to see and live into your grander global way of thinking. I'm going to start locally by getting to know someone from abroad, trusting that the love of Jesus will flow through my life and words. 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.

THE GOODNESS OF JESUS

Reformation Day

PROVERBS 10:2 (TCEB)
Getting rich by doing wrong produces a net loss.
Goodness, on the other hand, will save your life.

ROMANS 3:24 (MSG)
Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

THE ESSENCE
As it turned out, it is the goodness of Jesus Christ that saves our lives.

DAILY FODDER
To me, Romans 3:24 resonates the loudest when read in the context of vss 21-24. We're incapable of true goodness. But Jesus makes good for us. Here are the verses in the Message version by Eugene Peterson:

But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER
Generous Lord, your gifts to me are many, especially your robe of righteousness that covers me and shapes my heart. Remind me to put it on by faith when I am tempted to do anything that will harm me or someone else. In challenging moments, give me rightness of spirit and words that build up and not tear down. 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.

THE HUMBLE AND LOWLY

1 SAMUEL 2:8 (CEB)
God raises the poor from the dust,
lifts up the needy from the garbage pile.

LUKE 1:46-48 (NLT)
Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl...

THE ESSENCE
God chooses to work through the humble and lowly.

DAILY FODDER
Both passages today are taken from songs written by women who have received good news about pregnancy. Very few sections of the Bible are directly attributed to women, but these songs are sophisticated and they point to a God who chooses to use the humble and lowly. Why is this message so powerful coming from the mouths of women? 

PRAYER
Praise to you, Almighty God, for choosing to speak through the humble and lowly. Forgive me for tuning out such people in my quest to identify with the strongest and most powerful. Teach me to seek a spot where I can humbly serve. It's only then that I can become a channel of your wonder and grace. 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.