The 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
The Lord said to Abram: I will bless you ... so that you will be a blessing. ~ Genesis 12:2 (parts)
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. ~ 1 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
Our purpose is to bless those around us.
PRAYER:
God, we have been extremely blessed by you. But we -- and I in particular -- have somehow missed the point of it all. I'm eager to keep as much blessing to myself as I can. Help me to turn my blessings into blessings for others. I'm going to join you in making sure that your blessings are spread to all creation. Amen.
So don’t make me angry by worshiping idols and other gods. ~ Jeremiah 25:6 (CEV)
Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne! ~ Hebrews 12:1-2 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Stay focused on Jesus alone.
PRAYER:
Once again, Lord, thank you for your ongoing love for us -- for me. I know that it makes little sense that I am so easily distracted by lesser things -- immitation gods -- fake fulfillment. Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus. I'm going to finish my race well so that I can join the crowd of cheering witnesses. Amen.
My body and mind may fail,
but you are my strength
and my choice forever. ~ Psalm 73:26 (CEV)
That night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, “Don’t worry! ~ Acts 23:11a (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Trust in the Lord no matter what happens.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for standing by us even when life is difficult. Sometimes I forget that you're there and I try to carry on like I have to get through it all on my own. Gently remind me of your powerful presence. I'm not going to worry. Amen.
But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. ~ Psalm 77:11-12 (NLT)
Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. ~ Luke 2:19 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
When we ponder what God has done our relational connection with him is stregthened.
PRAYER:
Dear God, there is so much to remember. Your activity in the world has been great and awesome. Help me to think often on what you've done. As things are, I fill my mind with unhealthy distractions that keep me from deep thinking and deeper appreciation of you. I'm going to pour myself into thinking about you. 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)
