PEACE. RECONCILIATION, AND HOPE

JEREMIAH 29:11 (MSG)
I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

COLOSSIANS 1:19-20 (CEV)
God himself was pleased
to live fully in his Son.
And God was pleased
for him to make peace
by sacrificing his blood
on the cross,
so that all beings in heaven
and on earth
would be brought back to God.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God's plan is that the peace established by Christ would bring all creation together and back to God.

PRAYER
Thank you, great God, for sending your Son into the midst of our chaos in order to reestablish peace. I apologize for trying to make peace in other less than peaceful ways. Draw me back to the cross and resurrection where I am going to find my hope. Amen.

NOT ALONE

GENESIS 2:18 (CEV)
The LORD God said, “It isn’t good for the man to live alone. I need to make a suitable partner for him.”

JOHN 19:26-27 (CEV)
When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with her, he said to his mother, “This man is now your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From then on, that disciple took her into his own home.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We're healthiest when we're not so alone.

PRAYER
Lord God, you have created us to live in community. We are grateful for this because we need one another, but we confess that our compassion and hospitality are pitiful. We need your eyes to see. Forgive us and teach us to love one another as you have loved us. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

LIVE WISELY

PSALM 119:66 (CEV)
Give me wisdom and good sense.
I trust your commands.

JAMES 3:13 (MSG)
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Build your reputation on wise actions.

PRAYER
Generous God, thank you for the direction you have provided for us -- direction that leads us into full and wise lives. I confess, though, that I'm more concerned about the appearance of wisdom than about living wisely. Give me more than words. Set me up for success in wise living. Through your intervention in my life, I'm going to walk the talk. Amen.

FOR OTHERS

GENESIS 37:14 (CEB)
Jacob said to Joseph, “Go! Find out how your brothers are and how the flock is, and report back to me.”

PHILIPPIANS 2:4 (CEB)
Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Just as God looks out for us he expects us to make looking out for others a priority.

PRAYER
God our caregiver, thank you for you sending Jesus, who set aside his assets in order to come to look out for us. I want to live that way, too, but it's so hard to let go of my own interests. Give me a heart for others and help me to learn how to set aside my self-interests so that I can serve Christ through others. I'm going to allow his presence in my life to propel me in that direction. Amen.