DOING GOOD FOR THE POWERLESS

GENESIS 37:22 (MSG)
Reuben heard the brothers talking and intervened to save him, "We’re not going to kill him. No murder."

1 THESSALONIANS 5:15 (CEB)
...always pursue the good for each other and everyone else.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Sometimes doing good involves intervening on behalf of the powerless.

DAILY FODDER
Who in your community is relatively powerless and in need of an advocate?

PRAYER
Gracious and forgiving God, you've shown us what is good. Too often, though, I struggle to get outside my personal world with my small problems to be there for the powerless. Open my eyes to the needs around me that I can do something about. And keep them open until I muster the energy to do the good and right thing. As Jesus instructed, I'm going to love my neighbor with the same energy that I put into loving myself. 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!

SAVE US

JOEL 2:17 (ABP)
GOD, have mercy on your people! Don't let these people, in whom you have invested so heavily over the generations, become the world's laughingstock.

TITUS 2:14 (ABP)
Our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, gave himself as a sacrifice to rescue us from all things evil. He purifies us to be 100% his own and totally into doing good.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Through Christ, we are rescued from all things bad to do all things good.

DAILY FODDER
If we're not totally rid of all the bad junk in our lives does that mean that Christ's rescue mission has been ineffective?

PRAYER
Great God and Savior, you gave up your life so that we might enter into new lives characterized by your goodness. Even though I see improvement, I admit that I'm not totally there, yet. The old defeated junk surfaces and tries to get re-established. Help me to stay the course and to focus on all that you consider good. By your grace, I'm going to be 100% yours today. 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!

WHATEVER YOU DO

ECCLESIASTES 3:22 (MSG)
So I made up my mind that there’s nothing better for us men and women than to have a good time in whatever we do—that’s our lot.

COLOSSIANS 3:17 (NLT)
And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Let the fact that you represent Christ in whatever you do or say shape how you approach your everyday activity.

DAILY FODDER
How does scripture blur the line between sacred and secular? What does it mean to represent Christ at your place of work?

PRAYER
Generous God, you've given me gifts, talents, and abilities so that I can serve you and my neighbors. I confess that I spend most of my time, energy, and worry trying to advance my own personal cause. Help me refocus on representing Christ in whatever place I'm planted and with whatever abilities I have. It's all a pleasure because it's all in your name. 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!

COME WORSHIP

PSALM 95:6 (MSG)
So come, let us worship: bow before him,
on your knees before God, who made us!

1 TIMOTHY 1:17 (NLT)
All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God alone is worthy of our worship. 

DAILY FODDER
What does worshipping God look like beyond attending a Sunday worship service?

PRAYER
All honor and glory belong to you, God, now and forever. It's easy to say that but I have difficulty practicing a type of worship that goes beyond giving you an hour for "church" each Sunday. Show me what it means to bow before you each moment and day. I am eager to join with all the saints who have made their lives about honoring you. 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!