Choose good

The 18th Sunday after Pentecost

Choose good instead of evil! See that justice is done. Maybe I, the Lord All-Powerful, will be kind to what’s left of your people. ~ Amos 5:15 (CEV)

But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices. ~ Colossians 3:8-9 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Quit doing all the things associated with the old way of life and choose good.

PRAYER:

Lord All-Powerful, thank you for your outrageous undeserved kindness. I need help living the new way. The old way still tugs at me and I give into it at times. You tell me to set aside the old way of life. But I find that hard. It's a challenge. I need a powerful helper if I'm going to follow through on what I need to do. And I can't think of anyone or anything more powerful than you. So I am looking to you. Amen.

Future healing

Then the Lord will bandage his people’s injuries and heal the wounds he has caused. The moon will shine as bright as the sun, and the sun will shine seven times brighter than usual. It will be like the light of seven days all at once. ~ Isaiah 30:26 (CEV)

“Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:3-4 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

The future is bright with God living among his people and healing all their hurts.

PRAYER:

Kind God, thank you for the promise of healing. It means a lot to me because some of my friends are really sick. It is easy for me to get swallowed by pain and grief -- to forget that you are in the process of healing. Help me to keep the future in my mind. I'm going to trust what you are doing through Christ Jesus to heal the world. Amen.

Jesus shows up when we need him

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. ~ Psalm 143:8 (NLT)

So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach... ~ John 21:3-4 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus shows up when we need him.

PRAYER:

Lord, just when I realize that I need you, you're already there. Help me to trust you even more -- especially when I'm out fishing all night and catching nothing. You're there for me. Amen.

God will help me

The Lord God will help me and prove I am innocent. ~ Isaiah 50:9 (CEV)

And not only that: we even take pride in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the one through whom we now have a restored relationship with God. ~ Romans 5:11 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Through Christ Jesus our relationship with God is restored.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for making a relationship with you possible. In spite of my silly efforts to appear worthy it is all about you and your kindness. Continue to protect me from all the forces that want to undermine my relationship with you. I am going to take pride in you and what you have done for us -- for me. Amen.