HOW DO YOU USE FREEDOM?

JEREMIAH 2:17 (MSG)
And why do you think all this has happened?
Isn’t it because you walked out on your God
just as he was beginning to lead you in the right way?

GALATIANS 5:13 (CEB)
You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love.

SUMMARY SENTENCE

You can use your God-given freedom to indulge yourself or to serve others. Choose wisely.

DAILY FODDER
Galatians 5:13 was the theme verse at our wedding 43 years ago. "Serve one another in love." It's a good starting point for marriage and life.

PRAYER
O Savior, you have given me the precious gift of Christian community. This is where I find true freedom. Protect our fellowship from the evil one's snare. Keep us from competition and gossip. Enslave us to your leading and bind us together in freedom. We rejoice in your saving help, Jesus. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

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.

RESPONSIVENESS

Reign of Christ Sunday

MICAH 6:3 (NLT)
O my people, what have I done to you?
   What have I done to make you tired of me?
   Answer me!

ROMANS 2:4 (CEV)
You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?

SUMMARY SENTENCE

We insult God when we ignore his kindness.

DAILY FODDER
Have you ever gone out of the way to be kind to someone, only to have them ignore you? How did that feel? How is God's response to indifference different?

PRAYER
Loving God, thank you for your ongoing kindness. I regret that my response to what you do is usually weak. But you understand my weakness and I'm counting on your gracious patience. I want to be responsive. 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.

THE HOLINESS OF LIFE

DEUTERONOMY 18:10-12 (NLT)
And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:34 (MSG)
Think straight. Awaken to the holiness of life. No more playing fast and loose with resurrection facts. Ignorance of God is a luxury you can’t afford in times like these. Aren’t you embarrassed that you’ve let this kind of thing go on as long as you have?

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Awaken to the holiness of life!

DAILY FODDER
God is annoyed by the things that dilute the holiness of life.

PRAYER
Living Bread, you nourish my body and my soul daily. I know that without you I am nothing. But I confess that I fall astray by listening to other voices that betray you and hinder my walk with you. Forgive me. Give me sober thoughts that lead to humility and will change my ways. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

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.

EXPERIENCING TRUTH AND FREEDOM

PSALM 86:11 (NLT)
Teach me your ways, O LORD,
that I may live according to your truth!

JOHN 8:31b-32 (MSG)
Jesus told them, "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."

SUMMARY SENTENCE

If we stick with the truth as taught by Jesus then we'll experience real freedom.

DAILY FODDER
What does freedom rooted in Jesus' truth actually mean?

PRAYER
I'm grateful, Lord, that you so freely share truth with us. I admit that I don't always take it seriously but I'm still thankful and I'm looking to you to teach me. I want to experience the freedom that comes with walking with you—the way, the truth, and the life. 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.