GOD'S STANDARD IS EXTREME GRACE

The 5th Sunday after Pentecost

PSALM 119:64 (ABP)
GOD, the world is full of your unfaltering love!
School me in your standards.

MATTHEW 7:12 (CEB)
Therefore, you should treat people in the same way that you want people to treat you; this is the Law and the Prophets.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
In a nutshell, God expects that we'll treat everyone in the same way we'd expect to be treated.

DAILY FODDER
Sometimes Matthew 7:12 is called "the golden rule." What makes it so valuable? What makes it so challenging to live by?

PRAYER
Jesus, we treated you worse than we're willing to own up to.  Yet, you treated us better than we deserve. Might your grace become a part of our DNA. I want to become like you, treating each individual and each group with extreme grace. Amen.  

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
We hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening there.

Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil.
Amen!

CLASH OF WILLS

JEREMIAH 11:20 (GNT)
I have placed my cause in your hands...

MATTHEW 6:10 (ABP)
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
so that everything that happens here will align
with what is happening there.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Place the issue in God's hands and let him work out his solution.

DAILY FODDER
Is God strongheaded? Why do you think that? How about you? Would you describe yourself as strongheaded? Who is more strongheaded? Who ultimately wins in a standoff of wills?

PRAYER
God, I'm glad that you have a plan. The world seems to spin aimlessly and I admit that I get caught up in the chaos. Assist me in releasing all my plans for handling the chaos into your hands. I know that ultimately I'll be better off if I trust you and go with your agenda for the world and my life. Amen.  

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
We hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening there.

Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil.
Amen!

CHANGING DIRECTION

JEREMIAH 8:4 (MSG)
Do people fall down and not get up?
Or take the wrong road and then just keep going?

LUKE 17:5 (MSG)
The apostles came up and said to the Master, “Give us more faith.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
If you want to develop your faith you need to be willing to change direction.

DAILY FODDER
Why is it so hard to change direction in life — even when we now that we'd benefit from doing so?

PRAYER
Thank you, Jesus, for establishing the new life into which you have invited us. I confess, though, that I struggle to leave some of the old things behind — my desires, my opinions, my habits... So, I am asking that you'd improve my faith (I certainly can't do it on my own.) and guide me away from that which I need to leave behind. I'm  going to trust you to reorient my life.  Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
We hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening there.

Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil.
Amen!

GOD'S STRENGTH

JEREMIAH 20:11 (CEV)
But you, LORD,
are a mighty soldier,
standing at my side.

1 TIMOTHY 1:12 (CEV)
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me the strength for my work because he knew he could trust me.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
It's the strength of God himself which strengthens us to carry out his assignments.

DAILY FODDER
If God gives us strength, how is it that we flounder about when it comes to acting on his assignments?

PRAYER
I praise you, Lord, for your strength during the days that aren't easy.  You are consistently mighty and awesome, but I fail to remember your power. Forgive me. Fortify my spiritual muscles with the protein of your word and the conditioning excercises of daily life in you. May my days be for your glory and for my good. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
We hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening there.

Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil.
Amen!