OBEDIENCE

JEREMIAH 7:23 (CEV)
If you listen to me and do what I tell you, I will be your God, you will be my people...

JOHN 8:31 (MSG)
If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
True discipleship has little to do with wearing the right symbols, using Christianese language, or attending Christian events; but it has everything to do with actually doing what Jesus says to do.

DAILY FODDER
Have you heard the Texas expression, "He's all hat and no horse"? What do you think it means? How is the expression related to what Jesus is saying?

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for calling me to be one of your followers. Forgive me for latching onto peripheral Christian things while ignoring the core aspect of obedience. Guide me along a pathway devoted to obedience. I want my life to be about living according to the radical way of Jesus. 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 in heaven.

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! 

RE-ESTABLISHED

ISAIAH 44:22 (MSG)
I’ve wiped the slate of all your wrongdoings.
There’s nothing left of your sins.
Come back to me, come back.
I’ve redeemed you.”

COLOSSIANS 2:14 (ABP)
God erased the record of our offenses, canceling out the legal consequences. It's all gone — nailed to the cross with Jesus.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Turn your life back to living the God-defined way because through Jesus he has re-established us as good-standing citizens in his realm.

DAILY FODDER
List all the benefits of what Jesus has done for us.

PRAYER
I'm grateful, Jesus, that you have nailed the record of all my sin to the cross and it is no longer in the way of living a free life. Forgive me for allowing the ghosts of long-canceled personal debts to haunt me. Help me to fully embrace your forgiveness and freedom. I'm not going to allow canceled warrants to hold me back. 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 in heaven.

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! 

NEVER ABANDONED

PSALM 42:6 (MSG)
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
everything I know of you...

JOHN 14:18 (MSG)
I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back...

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Just because things are a bit discouraging that doesn't mean that Jesus has abandoned us.

DAILY FODDER
How do you go about tuning into the presence of God when things aren't going so well?

PRAYER
O living God, Lord of my life, you have given me the gift of memory. Though today my soul is forlorn and I live without hope, I know that you will never abandon me. You will come to me in my time of need and bring me back into your loving and forgiving embrace. 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 in heaven.

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! 

LIVING WITH ANTICIPATION

The 14th Sunday after Pentecost

ISAIAH 63:15 (MSG)
Look down from heaven, look at us!
Look out the window of your holy and magnificent house!
Whatever happened to your passion,
your famous mighty acts,
Your heartfelt pity, your compassion?

GALATIANS 5:5 (NLT)
But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
By faith we continually put one foot in front of the other, trusting that God is going to act in accordance with his promises.

DAILY FODDER
What are you expecting God to do with his world? With you?

PRAYER
From your glorious perch, O God, look down upon us with your mercy. Your world is a mess, having rejected both your direction and your grace. Please don't crush us! We're trusting that Christ will return and set things right. Help me to live according to that promise and without angst. Gently restrain my impulses to fix everything myself. I'm going to eagerly wait for your justice to mercifully reshape the world and your righteousness to bloom in 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 in heaven.

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!