Epiphany
God says, "I wish my people would listen to me..." ~ Psalm 81:13 (NCV)
God has shown us how kind he is by coming to save all people. He taught us to give up our wicked ways and our worldly desires and to live decent and honest lives in this world. ~ Titus 2:11-12 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
God is the ONE to whom it is worth listening.
PRAYER:
God, you have revealed your kindness by sending your Son to save us all. But we don't give you the attention you deserve and which would benefit us. We are inclined to listen to all kinds of strange voices. It sure is good that Jesus came to save us. Grant me the gift of selective listening. I want to give him my full and undivided attention. Amen.
I have made a solemn promise,
one that won’t be broken:
Everyone will bow down
and worship me.
They will admit that I alone
can bring about justice.
Everyone who is angry with me
will be terribly ashamed
and will turn to me. ~ Isaiah 45:23-24 (CEV)
The Master declares, “I’m A to Z. I’m The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive. I’m the Sovereign-Strong.” ~ Revelation 1:8 (MSG)
KEY IDEA:
It's time to admit that God alone is worthy of recognition.
PRAYER:
You, God, are the A to Z. You are the beginning and the end. It is all about you! Of course, I'm like all the others who want to make life all about me. Help me to embrace reality so that I can give you appropriate recognition with both my words and actions. Amen!
You expected much, but received only a little. And when you brought it home, I made that little disappear. Why have I done this? It’s because you hurry off to build your own houses while my temple is still in ruins. ~ Haggai 1:9 (CEV)
Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. ~ Romans 12:11 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
When it comes to serving the Lord don't slack off.
PRAYER:
Creator God, you have called us all to a beautiful and expansive life of grace, fellowship, and service. I confess I sometimes prefer a narrower, more comfortable life. Open my heart to enter the spacious realm for which you called me into being -- the fullness of life in Christ's amazing love. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
God raises the poor from the dust. ~ 1 Samuel 2:8a (CEB)
When the shepherd finds his lost sheep, he is elated and carries it home on his shoulders. ~ Luke 15:5 (ABP)
KEY IDEA:
God cares immensely about those who are on the outs.
PRAYER:
Dear God, you are amazing. You care about us when we're lost or down and out. I don't even begin to grasp how amazing that is. Perhaps that's because I allow my troubles to swallow me. Free me to enjoy the ride home on your shoulders. I'm going to celebrate your amazing care. Amen.
*ABOUT THE
DAILY TEXTS
The Daily Texts have been published by the Moravian Church since 1731. In 2011 I started posting these Bible verses for my spiritual formation students at Pacific Islands University. In the process of responding to the verses, I found the rhythm of looking for a common thread and writing a prayer based on that key idea to be helpful for my own soul. The prayers are more or less modeled on the TRIP method, which is what I ask my students to do in their journaling. ~ Brad Boydston
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase -- a freestyle biblical adaptation -- somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
