Honor

The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings..." ~ Daniel 2:47 (NLT)

So at the name of Jesus
     everyone will bow down,
          those in heaven, on earth,
               and under the earth.
~ Philippians 2:10 (CEV)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Honor Jesus above all.

PRAYER
Jesus, you are awesome -- turning the world upside down -- dying and rising to save us -- plotting a new course for all creation. Yet, we still give too much honor to the minor powers who are desperate for our adulation. Even, I, aware of their fallacies, still get sucked into enabling their pathologies. Guide me through this difficult terrain so that it is clear that I honor you -- and you alone. I bow before you. Amen.

Experts

You are weary from all your consultations... ~ Isaiah 47:13 (CEB)

About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called a child over and had the child stand near him. Then he said:
     I promise you this. If you don’t change
    and become like a child, you will never
    get into the kingdom of heaven.
~ Matthew 18:1-3 (CEV)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Consult the humble if you want to know what God is up to.

PRAYER

Gracious God, you are worthy of all praise, for you sent your Son into the world, setting aside his position of power, to serve and die among us -- and for us. I confess that I revere the opinions of the world "experts" -- of which there seems to be no end -- rather than looking to the humble for direction. I, too, am weary of all these pundit consultations. Help me to focus on Jesus and the people he is drawing to his side. I'm going to let you shape my perspective on the situation. Amen.

Love

Hatred stirs up trouble;
     love overlooks the wrongs
          that others do.
~ Proverbs 10:12 (CEV)

If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples. ~ John 13:35 (CEV)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Loving actions, words, and attitudes characterize the true follower of Christ Jesus.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for leading the way with your love -- for sending your Son into the world to save us and to draw us into your plan to transform the world through your love. Forgive me for the half-hearted and hit-miss way in which I go about loving others. I'm not really loving others in the way that you love us. But I'm teachable -- I hope -- and I'm counting on you to complete the transformation in my life so that I'm more fully aligned with your love agenda. Amen.

Special

Moses said to the Lord, "Don’t forget, this is your people, your responsibility." ~ Exodus 33:13 (MSG)

God called all of you through our good news so you could possess the honor of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:14 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We're called out to find our purpose in Christ rather than the agenda of the world.

PRAYER
Holy God, you have called me to be your special child, but sometimes I just want to blend in with the rest of the world. I am sorry I don't always consider this chosen status as a blessing. Draw me back to you. Wash me clean. Make me wholly yours to live now and forever in Christ our Lord. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)