UNWORTHY BUT...

Reformation Day

ISAIAH 64:6 (CEV)

We are unfit to worship you;

each of our good deeds

is merely a filthy rag.

LUKE 15:21-22 (NLT)
   His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.
   “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him.'

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The sooner we recognize our unworthiness to relate to God, the sooner we're in a healthy relationship with him.

DAILY FODDER
Notice the paradox. It's only as we recognize how unworthy we are to be in a relationship with God that we can be in relationship with him. Why is that? What does this tell us about God?

PRAYER
Loving God, in spite of our unworthiness you run to us and embrace us. Forgive my hesitation to return your embrace. It doesn't feel right until it does. Help me to fully embrace the mystery of your grace. I'm going to live a life defined by your mercy. 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! 

CHRIST IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

ISAIAH 32:17 (CEB)
The fruit of righteousness will be peace,
and the outcome of righteousness,
calm and security forever.

1 JOHN 2:29 (NET)
If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Since Christ Jesus is the embodiment of righteousness, all who are related to him practice his righteousness.

DAILY FODDER
Since it's the life of Christ flowing through us, we are trusting that life to flower as righteousness in our lives. This frees us from trying to come up with right living on our own but it also means that it won't happen if we drift from him.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, you are our "go to man" for righteousness and justice. Please forgive me for trying to make it all happen apart from you. There is no way to live right apart from you. Draw me closer so that your righteousness flows freely through me. I'm eager to experience and share the peace that comes from living out your righteousness. 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! 

ADOPTED

The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost

ISAIAH 57:11 (MSG)
“Who talked you into the pursuit of this nonsense,
leaving me high and dry,
forgetting you ever knew me?
Because I don’t yell and make a scene,
do you think I don’t exist?

ROMANS 8:15 (NLT)
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Live as an adopted child of God.

DAILY FODDER
What difference does having God as your father make in your daily life?

PRAYER
Our Father, thank you for including me in your family. I didn't even have to do anything to impress you or gain your attention. Help me to live as an adopted child. I'm going to allow you to build me a new identity around the family 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 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! 

SHUT DOWN

ISAIAH 38:17 (MSG)
It seems it was good for me to go through all those troubles.
Throughout them all you held tight to my lifeline.
You never let me tumble over the edge into nothing.
But my sins you let go of,
threw them over your shoulder—good riddance!

1 JOHN 3:18-20 (MSG)
My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Through Christ God shuts down the negatives that hold us back from godly living.

DAILY FODDER
What are the negatives that hold you back from becoming the person God is calling you to be? How is he shutting them down?

PRAYER
Thank you, God, that you don't hold my sins against me. I admit that I don't easily let go of the negatives. I let old sins haunt me and stress over my short-comings. Help me to see my life as you see it. I'm going to trust in your wisdom to make all things right—even me. 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!