GOD’S CHILDREN

JEREMIAH 3:14 (CEB)
Return, rebellious children,
declares the Lord,
for I’m your husband.
I’ll gather you —
one from a city and two from a tribe —
and bring you back to Zion.

EPHESIANS 5:1-2 (GNT)
Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him. Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.

THE ESSENCE
We can live as either rebellious and distant children of God or as close children, who act just like him.

DAILY FODDER
Our status as children of God seems unaffected by our response to him. His love does not depend on us. But our ability to thrive as his children is definitely affected by our eagerness to embrace his loving agenda and lifestyle.  

PRAYER
Our Father in Heaven, thank you for welcoming me into your family. Forgive me for distancing myself from you so that I can do my own thing. But, frankly, a distant relationship never seems to work so well. Help me to stay close to you. Gently remind me when I step away that I want to be close. I want to live a Christ-like life — loving and sacrifical.  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.

PARTNERS IN GOOD

AMOS 5:15 (NLT)
Hate evil and love what is good;
turn your courts into true halls of justice.
Perhaps even yet the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies
will have mercy on the remnant of his people.

2 CORINTHIANS 6:14 (MSG)
Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark?

THE ESSENCE
Restrict your partnerships to those who are on the same godly page. 

DAILY FODDER
If your primary purpose is to partner with God to carry out his good, what happens if you add a partnership with different priorities or values? Why does it make practical sense to restrict your partnerships to those who accept God's agenda? What kinds of partnerships might this affect? Are there any exceptions? 

PRAYER
Lord of justice, thank you for sending the Spirit to advocate on behalf of those who are oppressed. I have not done enough to speak out for those without a voice or to seek justice for the poor. Forgive me! Equip me with the light of your love to dispel the darkness surrounding myself and my neighbors. 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.

GET MOVING

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

2 SAMUEL 22:37 (TCEB)
You’ve given me freedom to go where I want,
And there’s nothing to get in my way.

ACTS 3:6 (ABP)
Peter replied to the disabled begger, “I haven't a penny, but I've got something else to give. By the authority of Jesus the Messiah from Nazareth, stand up and start walking!”

THE ESSENCE
When Jesus sends us on our way, there is nothing powerful enough to block us. 

DAILY FODDER
If going where Jesus wants you to go is where you want to go, there is no stopping you.  

PRAYER
All-Powerful God, thank you for disrupting the unhealthy status quo and putting us on our feet to carry your loving message to the next point. Forgive me for being slow to rise. Give me exceptional confidence in my restored legs and the authoritative name of Jesus. I'm going to get moving. 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.

DISPLACING EVIL

PSALM 141:4 (ABP)
Keep my heart and mind from being sucked into evil.

EPHESIANS 5:8 (TCEB)
You used to live in spiritual darkness. Not anymore. You live in the light that the Lord shines on you. Own it. Embrace it. Then shine as children of light.

THE ESSENCE
Let the light of Christ so thoroughly saturate your life that you can’t do anything but shine. 

DAILY FODDER
The only way to avoid evil is to allow Christ full immersive access to your life. When he and his light are living in us, via the Holy Spirit, evil can’t get a foothold. It is displaced everytime it attempts to set up camp in or near us.  

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for your active presence in my life. I confess that I don't always make the right choices and that I occasionally entertain the dark thoughts that somehow show up in my head. Continue to evict those temptations. I'm trusting that the Holy Spirit will displace all such thoughts before they can take root. I'm giving him permission to turn up the light of Christ in my life. 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.