You people are precious to me, and when I come to bring justice, I will protect you, just as parents protect an obedient child. ~ Malachi 3:17 (CEV)
Yet some people accepted him
and put their faith in him.
So he gave them the right
to be the children of God. ~ John 1:12 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Those who put their faith in God are cared for by him as his children.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, thank you for accepting me -- even though my faith is weak and broken. Yet you still care for me as one of your children. Please strengthen my faith so that I can act more like your child. I want to be involved in all your activities and to advance your interests in the world. Amen.
Do not crave your neighbor’s house, field, male or female servant, ox, donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor. ~ Deuteronomy 5:21 (CEB)
Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions, even when someone is very wealthy.” ~ Luke 12:15 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
Greed will destroy your life.
PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you for providing everything that I need. I don't know why it is that in spite of your generosity I still pursue more -- sometimes even things which are harmful to me and others. I am in need of your intervention to calm my desires for that which is unhealthy. I'm going to trust you to get involved. Amen.
Just fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Look at what great things he has done for you! ~ 1 Samuel 12:24 (CEB)
He shows mercy to everyone,
from one generation to the next,
who honors him as God. ~ Luke 1:50 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord is especially kind to those who whole-heartedly serve him.
PRAYER:
Lord, you are worthy of all honor, recognition, and whole-hearted service. I know, though,
that my worship and service to you is often half-hearted. Yet, you are still kind to me. You have done a lot for me.
And I really do want to serve you better. Help me to do that. I want to be a part of the unbroken generational chain that lives to honor you -- and only you. Amen.
The 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
The Lord was with Joseph and made him successful in all that he did. ~ Genesis 39:23 (CEV)
We don’t have the right to claim that we have done anything on our own. God gives us what it takes to do all that we do. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:5 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord is behind all that is going well for us.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for being here for me. I am too eager, though, to take credit for all that is working out in my life. Even if I don't say anything I am inclined to think that I'm very clever and wiser than the average person. I make the most of the opportunities that come my way. Yet, you are the one behind the opportunities.
You are the one who gives me the energy to respond to them. You are the one who is behind all that is successful in my life.
Grant me the humility to recognize this. I want to honor you for all that you do for me. In the name of Jesus Christ my Savior, I pray, 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 -- a 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)
