OUR POINT OF UNITY

ZECHARIAH 8:23 (MSG)
“At that time, ten men speaking a variety of languages will grab the sleeve of one Jew, hold tight, and say, ‘Let us go with you. We’ve heard that God is with you.’”

1 CORINTHIANS 12:13 (GNT)
In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink.

THE ESSENCE
Regardless of our backgrounds, we all grab onto the sleeve of the same divine Jew, to walk with him. 

DAILY FODDER
A lot of the New Testament is written to address the tensions between various ethnic groups and cultures within the church. What does that tell us about the magnitude of this challange? It seems to me that when we're facing such challenges, we're doing the right things because we're taking the gospel to people unlike us. This forces us to find our point of unity in the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit, rather than in familiar and comfortable practices. 

PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for the way you have drawn so many different kinds of people into your church. Forgive us for our intolerance of those whose cultures lead them to do things differently. Expand our vision beyond "separate but equal" so that we can through the power and wisdom that comes through the Holy Spirit live together as loving siblings. I want to experience unity that transcends culture — even if it means giving up some of the ways I do things. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

WORSHIP

PSALM 95:1 (MSG)
Come, let’s shout praises to GOD,
raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!

REVELATION 15:4 (ABP)
As they see your justice in action, all the peoples of the world will come together to worship you.

THE ESSENCE
In the future we'll all join together to worship the Lord.  

DAILY FODDER
The worship we do now is a warm-up for what's coming. 

PRAYER
Glorious yet approachable God, you alone are worthy of all our praise and honor. We can see that ultimately the world will join together to express praise. But we confess that we are currently divided in the way that we worship. It's not that worship needs to be uniform but that we make it more about our personal preferences than about corporately acknowledging you as Savior. Save us from our selfish obsessions with form and style. Prepare us now for the worship to come. We need the practice. 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

ANGEL ON GUARD

PSALM 34:7 (ABP)
His angel is guarding and protecting all those whom honor GOD.

ACTS 5:19-20 (GNT)
But that night an angel of the Lord opened the prison gates, led the apostles out, and said to them, “Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new life.”

THE ESSENCE
Even though we're usually unaware, God has an angelic detail protecting his people.  

DAILY FODDER
What is one situation in your personal history when you were close to death? Were you aware of God's protective detail watching out for you? How many other times do you think you were protected even when you didn't realize that you were in danger? 

PRAYER
Mighty God, commander of angels, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude when I realize how you've been looking out for me. Forgive my timidity when it comes to risk taking on your behalf. Prompt me through the Holy Spirit to speak up about this wonderful new life in Christ. I'm going to pay more attention to your leading because I know that you have my 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

HONORS

1 SAMUEL 2:30 (ABP)
God declares, "I'll honor those who honor me and despise those who despise me."

JOHN 14:23 (GNT)
Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them."

THE ESSENCE
The greatest honors belong to those who honor God with their love and their lives. 

DAILY FODDER
How important to you is it to be honored by God? What might be the benefits of such recognition? 

PRAYER
Great God, I'm grateful for your instructions. I admit that my obedience and love of you can at times be half-hearted. Help me to give serious attention to your direction. I want to be with Jesus in all that I am, all that I say, and in all that I do. My affections belong to you and I look forward to the recognition that can only flow from 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 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 will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.