Show respect to the aged; honor the presence of an elder... ~ Leviticus 19:32 (MSG)
When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. ~ Philippians 2:3 (NCV)
KEY IDEA:
Give more honor to others than yourself.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, you are the most honorable of all. Yet, you humbled yourself and became one of us. Free me from trying to claim the honor that is rightfully mine. Lead me along the path of humility which you have established. I'm going to become an expert at honoring others. Amen.
So I perceived that there was nothing better for human beings but to enjoy what they do because that’s what they’re allotted in life. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:22 (CEB)
I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. ~ Colossians l:12 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Whatever it is, revel in the part God has given to you.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for including me. I confess, though, that I go through periods of dissatisfaction with what I'm doing. I want a better position or more control over the situation. Help me to relax and enjoy my role in your work. Amen.
I am the Lord your God, so obey me and don’t cheat anyone. ~ Leviticus 25:17 (CEV)
Jesus said: I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you. ~ John 13:15 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Follow the example of Jesus.
PRAYER:
These words humble me as I strive to get the best deal at all costs. Forgive me, Jesus! Your commands are clear: put the best construction on the acts of others and pour love even on our enemies. Help me fulfill these commands, not by my will but by the gift and direction of your Spirit. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. ~ Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NLT)
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God. ~ Matthew 5:8 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
God judges even our internal secrets that no one else knows.
PRAYER:
God, I'm so grateful that you fully know me. That frees me from feeling like I need to impress you. There's nothing to hide. Yet, it is a wake-up call to attend to aspects of my life which I treat as secret. Motivate me to pay attention so that what I do in public lines up with my private life. I am going to look forward to judgement day. 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)
