Worship God the Creator

No one helped God spread out the heavens or trample the sea monster's back. God hung the stars in the sky—the Dipper, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the south. ~ Job 9:8-9 (GNT)

… Worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water! ~ Revelation 14:7b (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

Only God the creator is worthy of worship.

PRAYER:

Creator God, you have placed us in a truly amazing world. I know that you did not create it all just for me, but I'm in total awe. And I know that we worship you when we do our job and take care of that which you have created. To care for the creation is to acknowledge the worth of the creator. But, like most people, I'm still pretty careless with creation. The earth is full of toxins. The skies are polluted. The salt water in the ocean has become acidic. And the fresh water streams are no longer clear. Forgive our recklessness. Help me to see the next step that I need to take to honor you as the creator. I'm going to worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water! Amen.

The least likely

Ascension Day

People will come from faraway places to pitch in and rebuild the Temple of God. ~ Zechariah 6:15a (MSG)

Ananias protested, “Master, you can’t be serious. Everybody’s talking about this man (Saul) and the terrible things he’s been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem!.. But the Master said, "Don’t argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to non-Jews and kings and Jews..." ~ Acts 9:13, 15

KEY IDEA:

God chooses to use the least likely to advance his agenda.

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm grateful that you have included me on your mission. But I'm confused at all those other people you have picked to serve you. Some of them are downright criminal. Many are haters -- bigots and racists. These are not my kind of people! Or are they? Save me from my smug arrogance. Please give me a heart for the least likely and a vision for the unusual way that you choose to do things. I'm not going to argue with you anymore. Amen.

Eternal life and know the only true God

Know now then that the Lord your God is the only true God! He is the faithful God, who keeps the covenant and proves loyal to everyone who loves him and keeps his commands—even to the thousandth generation! ~ Deuteronomy 7:9 (CEB)

Jesus prays: This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent. ~ John 17:3 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

The only way to really live is to know the only true God.

PRAYER:

Lord, you are the only true God. And you sent your son Jesus Christ into the world to demonstrate how deeply true you are. I'm grateful for the new life that I have because of him. I want to tell everyone about how true and faithful you are -- about how Christ died to save us -- and rose from the dead to start the new creation. But I am afraid that people won't understand -- that they will think I'm weird. Help me to get past that fear so I can enjoy the eternal life that is already mine. Amen.

Radical grace

It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor—what a blessing! ~ Proverbs 14:21 (MSG)

Make sure no one repays a wrong with a wrong, but always pursue the good for each other and everyone else. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God is calling us to pursue the well being of everyone -- especially the poor and those who have harmed us.

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm grateful that you have taken such good care of me. I confess that it is hard to care for others -- especially those who have been mean to me and those who are always needing help because they are lazy. But your message is clear. Your grace is bigger than all of the shortcomings of people. Help me to accept your radical message of pursing good even for bad people. I know that it will have to be Christ living in me to make that happen. Amen.