Merciful Savior

Ash Wednesday

Smile on me. Save me with your mercy. ~ Psalm 31:16

Mary responded, "Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed." ~ Luke 1:46-48 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus is the Savior -- the expression of God's mercy.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for being the reliable Savior. You sent Jesus to rescue us. I'm so eager to accept your mercy but am slow to let it define my life. Help me to join you in smiling. I am going to seize every opportunity to acknowledge your mercy. Amen.

Walking in the light

The way of the righteous is like morning light that gets brighter and brighter till it is full day. ~ Proverbs 4:18 (CEB)

Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” ~ John 8:12 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God's way of light gives us bright lives.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for a well-lit pathway. I too often stray from that walkway just to see what darkness is like. Continue to remind me of the many benefits of walking in your light and the dangers of stumbling along in the darkness. I am going to grow in light. Amen.

Lowering

There is absolutely no one in the same league as the Lord our God. His royal perch is so far above all he rules that God has to drop down to see the earth and sky. Yet, when he's down here he gives himself to lifting poor people up out of the dirt and squalor. ~ Psalm 113:5-7 (ABP)

Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us. ~ Philippians 2:6-7 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

The most awesome thing about God is that he lowers himself so he can lift us up.

PRAYER:

Lord God, you are awesome! I am so impressed by the depths of your humility. Yet, this kind of humility is still so foreign to my own life. Help me to lower my ambitions so that the poor are raised up. I want to be like Jesus. And I am hopeful that it can happen because he has lowered himself to live in me. Amen.

Empathy

Transfiguration Sunday

For he’s always at hand to take the side of the needy, to rescue a life from the unjust judge. ~ Psalm 109:31 (MSG)

They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” ~ John 8:7 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God is available to take the side of the victims of injustice.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for standing with us when we face injustice. I need my own attitude adjustment, though. I am pretty quick to make decisions about people on the limited information I have. Grant me a heart full of empathy. I am going to learn how to treat all people -- whether good or bad -- with the same grace that you extend and which is passed on to us through Jesus our Savior. Amen.