Don’t delay justice; don’t show favoritism. Don’t take bribes because bribery blinds the vision of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. ~ Deuteronomy 16:19 (CEB)
Everyone who confesses the Lord’s name must avoid wickedness... ~ 2 Timothy 2:19b (CEB)
KEY THOUGHT:
It is impossible to be in a relationship with God while filling your life with things that are contrary to what he likes.
PRAYER:
Dear God, I realize that you are strongly opinionsted about what's right and what's wrong. In some ways I'm more hang loose and tolerant. Help me to realign my ways with your ways so that we're all on the same page. Amen.
All sunshine and sovereign is God... ~ Psalm 84:11a (MSG)
Paul wrote: My God will meet your every need out of his riches in the glory that is found in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:19 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
God is the source of all that we actually need.
PRAYER:
Generous God, thank you for providing everything I really need to live a full life. Forgive me for thinking I need more than I do -- some of which is actually unhealthy for me. Help me to trust that in your wisdom you are not providing too much nor too little. I am going to be content in all that Christ provides. Amen.
Dear people, how have I done you wrong?
Have I burdened you, worn you out? Answer! ~ Micah 6:3 (MSG)
“His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’” ~ Luke 15:31-32 (MSG)
KEY IDEA:
How God does things is offensive to our unconverted sensibilties.
PRAYER:
Lord, there is so much about you that I don't understand. You're too kind to undeserving people -- the people who have offended me. I know that I get too caught up in making sure that people only get what they deserve -- nothing more, nothing less. Free me from such narrowness so that I can live a life defined by your mercy and grace. Amen.
The 13th Sunday after Pentecost
I’ve put my spirit upon him;
he will bring justice to the nations. ~ Isaiah 42:1 (CEB)
I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice. ~ John 18:37 (MSG)
KEY THOUGHT:
Jesus is the source of life-changing truth.
PRAYER:
God of creation, thank you for your servant, Jesus. Help me to remember your justice and truth born into this world through a cradle and the cross. When I see a child today, help me listen for wisdom. When I see a neighbor suffering, help me to see Jesus in them and testify with word and deed. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
*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 — my own 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)
