The grace of Christ

Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets... ~ Psalm 119:37 (MSG)

Don’t be lured away from him by the latest speculations about him. The grace of Christ is the only good ground for life. Products named after Christ don’t seem to do much for those who buy them. ~ Hebrews 13:9 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

Don't get sucked in by anything but the grace of Christ.

PRAYER:

Lord, your grace is enough. But I still get distracted by the toys and trinkets which claim to be about you. Yet they really have nothing to do with you. I guess that I'm afraid that I might miss out on some bonus experience. Use your grace to flush that way of thinking from my life. I'm going to live an undistracted life. That's my goal and it is doable if I can keep things centered on Christ and his unending generosity. Amen.

God's Word

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. ~ Joshua 1:8 (NLT)

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” ~ Luke 11:28 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

We thrive when we put God's word into practice.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, both for your Son Jesus, who is the living word and for written word in the Bible. Help me to attend more to what you have to say. For me your word has become perfunctory. I suppose that is inevitable when I study it continually. So I am going to trust that you make the word alive and active in my life. Through the guidance of your word I want to become a person of Godly practice. Amen.

Be encouraged

The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Our God has said: "Encourage my people! Give them comfort." ~ Isaiah 40:1 (CEV)

The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost. ~ Luke 19:10 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Be encouraged because Jesus is looking out for you!

PRAYER:

Lord, I've heard so much bad preaching that I'm afraid of Jesus a lot of the time. I'm afraid that I'm going to offend him. I'm afraid that he is like a traffic cop looking for any way that I might be violating your laws. I need to repent of that way of thinking. Help me to see Jesus as the one who is seeking to help me and care for me. I know that you love me. Help me to let the knowledge of your love define the way that I live. Amen.

The company of Jesus

Your faithful love is priceless, God! Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings. ~ Psalm 36:7 (CEB)

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! ~ Hebrews 10:35 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

We need to find our home place in the safe company of Jesus.

PRAYER:

This world seems so cruel, Lord God. Health and strength are such fleeting treasures. Then I consider my Savior. I remember his call to follow and fear not. I remember that Jesus' confidence in your power to redeem also frees us to give ourselves away in love -- hoarding nothing. In the company of Jesus, I fear nothing. Hallelujah! Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition, altered)