The poor

The 8th Sunday after Pentecost

Those who exploit the powerless anger their maker,
while those who are kind to the poor honor God. ~ Proverbs 14:31 (CEB)

Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ ~ Matthew 25:40 (MSG)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

One of the most important ways that we worship/honor God is by showing extreme kindness to those living on the margins.

PRAYER

Master, Jesus, thank you for coming to address our poverty through the incarnation, the cross, and the resurrection. I confess that I've been inclined to see your actions as merely having spiritual implications. That's wrong. Give me a passion for the whole gospel -- a gospel which deals with our spiritual, physical, and emotional poverty. I'm going to get my head out of the clouds and live as your agent of reconcilation -- partnering with you as you address the needs of all creation. Amen.

Do right

Always do the right thing,
     and you will live;
     keep on doing wrong,
     and you will die.
~ Proverbs 11:19 (CEV)

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
     for they will be satisfied. ~ Matthew 5:6 (NLT)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Do right and experience God's favor.

PRAYER

God, I know that my relationship with you is totally dependent on your grace. But I also know that some of the things I think and do seem to disrupt that experience. I want my life to be all -- 100% -- about hungering and thirsting for your ways. I can't make that happen on my own, so I throw myself on your mercy. And I ask that you would continue to shape my life so that I am longing for the things which you desire. May your justice and righteousness flow freely through me so that I'm not only blessed, but so that I am also a blessing to those around me. Amen.

God rescues

Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! ~ Isaiah 64:1 (NLT)

Rescue us from the evil one. ~ Matthew 6:13

SUMMARY SENTENCE

God rescues.

PRAYER

God, thank you for rescuing your people. You've done it over and over again throughout the ages. You rescued Noah from the flood. You rescued the Hebrew people from slavery. And you sent Jesus from heaven to come down and rescue us from the powers of sin and death. I admit that I'm still in need of daily rescuing because I lean away from your agenda and into accomplishing the things which feel most important to me. Rescue me from myself. Transform my life so that it is in sync with your life. I'm going to live as someone who has been rescued from certain death. Amen.

Say something

You are my witnesses, says the Lord... ~ Isaiah 43:10 (CEB)

Then he said, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all." ~ Mark 16:15 (MSG)

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Through your words and actions say something about God's good news.

PRAYER

Lord, I know that I am a witness to one thing or another at every moment. I regret witnessing to the power of fear or greed. By your word and Spirit, re-create my heart today so that I may bear witness to your love for the person in front of me. Help me delight in those you have made. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)