God does not reject his people

I created you to be my servant, and I will never forget you. ~ Isaiah 44:21b (GNT)

So I ask you, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! ~ Romans 11:1 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God does not reject his people

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, that we never have to worry about you forgetting us or rejecting us. As it turns out we are the ones who reject you. And I know from my own life that we often do it in subtle ways. With our words, we acknowledge that we serve you. But with our actions, we serve ourselves, our cultures, our families, our desires... Forgive us and please continue to remind us of why you created us. And so by your grace, we are freed from worry. Amen.

Guides into the mystery of Christ

Enable me to speak the truth at all times, because my hope is in your judgments. ~ Psalm 119:43a (GNT)

Don’t imagine us leaders to be something we aren’t. We are servants of Christ, not his masters. We are guides into God’s most sublime secrets, not security guards posted to protect them. The requirements for a good guide are reliability and accurate knowledge. ~ 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

Our assignment is to guide people deeper into God's truth.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for entrusting your church with the wonderful mystery of Christ -- that he is God among us living with real flesh and bones, that he came to establish his own kingdom where even the poor are treated well, that he suffered and died on our behalf, relieving us of the burden of sin, that he rose from the dead and established the new life which we all embrace by faith in Christ's faithfulness. This is such a great life changing truth. Forgive me for twisting this mystery so that it gives me some kind of power and control over others. I like to be in charge. So, I am asking that you enable me to speak the truth at all times -- as a servant. I'm eager to guide many more people to know Christ -- and to know him well. Amen.

Defeating evil

The 3rd Sunday after Pentecost

Don’t be afraid! I will take care of you and your children.” After Joseph said this, his brothers felt much better. ~ Genesis 50:21b

Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good. ~ Romans 12:21 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Evil is defeated when we act graciously toward those who have harmed us.

PRAYER:

Gracious Father, thank you for taking care of us, even though we don't deserve it. You are full of grace. I'm inclined to hold onto grudges when people are mean to me. Save me from that way of acting and thinking. I want to be the person who defeats evil with good -- following in the footsteps of Jesus my Savior. Amen.

Enemies and hope

God, don’t shut me out; don’t give me the silent treatment, O God. Your enemies are out there whooping it up, the God-haters are living it up... ~ Psalm 83:1-2 (MSG)

Zechariah said: With a solemn oath to our ancestor Abraham he promised to rescue us from our enemies and allow us to serve him without fear... all the days of our life. ~ Luke 1:73-75 (GNT)

KEY IDEA:

We expect God to rescue us from our enemies.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for being here for us. It does not make sense, then, that I get so upset over the enemies to goodness that have become so important in the news. Thre are so many haters out there living it up like they are in power, that I lose perspective and start to think that things have become hopeless. Help me to trust that you are still at work rescuing us from the enemies. I have faith that you are stronger than them. Amen.