The 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
Don’t hold grudges. On the other hand, it’s wrong not to correct someone who needs correcting. ~ Leviticus 19:17 (CEV)
Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
It's important to say something to those who are struggling.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for refusing to hold grudges against us -- even when we continually insult you through the way we disregard your instructions. Forgive us and send people along the way to encourage us and correct us.
Help me to be open to correction and willing to gently say something to those who are struggling. I'm going to say something. Amen.
The Lord has promised that he himself will be a wall of fire around the city to protect it and that he will live there in all his glory. ~ Zechariah 2:5 (GNT)
...I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. ~ Matthew 16:18 (GNT)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord protects his assets.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for being the protector. But I'm overwhelmed by fear a lot. So many bad things happen and I'm prone to panic. Reassure me of the reliability of the protective wall that you put around your people.
I need to trust you even more. Amen.
My people are crushed,
and so is my heart.
I am horrified and mourn.
If medicine and doctors
may be found in Gilead,
why aren’t my people healed? ~ Jeremiah 8:21-22 (CEV)
Jesus answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn’t come to invite good people to turn to God. I came to invite sinners.” ~ Luke 5:31-32 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Jesus is the doctor who heals so we should look to him.
PRAYER:
Lord, since you are the great healer we should constantly turn to you so that we can stay healthy. But I have this thing about doctors. I continually put off going to see one. It's not that I'm afraid but it's a hassle to have all that poking and prodding. I just hope that if I leave things alone they will get better. But sometimes I need serious intervention so that I can make necessary changes. I'm going to rely on you for healing. Amen.
He has sent me to proclaim
That the time has come
When the Lord will save his people
And defeat their enemies. ~ Isaiah 61:2 (GNT)
Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news! ~ Mark 1:15 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
Since God's kingdom is close by we need to change our lives so that we fit in.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for the good news that the day of justice is close. I want to more fully align my life with your kingdom -- your regime of righteousness and justice that has come with Jesus and which is more fully coming. I know that I can't make such a big change on my own. I need your ongoing input into my life and the transforming action of your Holy Spirit. I'm going to stay aware of my need and of your salvation. Amen.
*ABOUT THE
DAILY TEXTS
The Daily Texts have been published by the Moravian Church since 1731. In 2015 I started posting these Bible verses for my spiritual formation students at Pacific Islands University. In the process of responding to the verses, I found the rhythm of looking for a common thread and writing a prayer based on that key idea to be helpful for my own soul. The prayers are more or less modeled on the TRIP method, which is what I ask my students to do in their journaling. ~ Brad Boydston
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
