Monday, April 16
Theme for the week:
Jesus' Disciples Put Faith into Action

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

This week's message is built around a truth that Jesus reflects in his Sermon on the Mount, that those who enter the Kingdom of Heaven are the ones who do the will of the Father (see Matthew 7:21-23).

A last-day judgment and separation based on doing the will of the Father serves as the story for this week, with a picture of distinguishing sheep from goats (see Matthew 25:31-46). This distinction between “sheep” and “goats” is one of faith, but not in the sense the one might first think.

Christians often draw the line of “faith in God” between those who confess Jesus as Lord and those who do not confess Jesus as Lord. That separation does exist and is real. But in this story, Jesus draws a separation between those who confess Him as Lord merely in word and those whose confession of Jesus as Lord includes a lifestyle reflective of such faith.

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Prayer for the Week

Jesus Christ, I do confess that you are Lord with my lips and believe in my heart that God raised you from the dead. I pray that my life reflects that faith as I live. You have pointed out that your sheep will care for other people as if we were taking care of you. Let my life display this truth as a reflection of my faith in you. I do pray this Lord in your name, amen.

Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God

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Welcome to an opportunity to encounter God through His Word in Psalm 119. Unique in the bible, Psalm 119 is fashioned around the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet (seen above). Each section contains eight verses, making it easily the longest psalm at 176 verses. 

This is a psalm that helps us learn the value of loving God’s Word, using nearly a dozen different words to describe it. You will often see the word “law”, but don’t let that throw you off. God’s law includes not just statutes and rules, but also his teachings and promises, guidance and principles, and ways of his heart. Here are the first eight verses:

Psalm of Meditation for the Week:

Psalms 119:1-8 (Aleph)

א

  1. Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
  2. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—
  3. they do no wrong but follow his ways.
  4. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
  5. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
  6. Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
  7. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
  8. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.

  • Read: the verses twice.

  • Mark: the words or phrases that catch your attention.

  • Meditate: talk (better yet write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect a response from the Lord.

Tuesday, April 17
God’s Mission Seen in Matthew 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21-23

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

~ Jesus

Matthew 7:21-23 reflects this idea of God’s mission: Jesus pointing out a truth about entering God’s kingdom, that it is not about what one says that shows faith; it is what one does that shows one's faith.

The follow-up: Not everyone who cries “Lord, Lord” enters the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father. God’s will is for people to be in His kingdom and the mission of God is to bring those people in through faith in the Shepherd Jesus Christ, who gave his life for his sheep. And his followers – disciples – participate in that mission with their lives also.

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Prayer Prompt

I do cry Lord Lord to you Jesus, for you are the Lord of my life and Lord of my heart. I pray in this moment that you are Lord over my lips -- what comes out of them -- and Lord of my actions which exhibit evidence of faith in my heart. May what I say and do reflect my gratitude for what You have said and done as my Shepherd and Savior. In your name, Lord Jesus, I pray; Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:1-2

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Joshua 22:5

Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

The Promise:

2 Corinthians 6:16

As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Wednesday, April 18
Your Identity in Christ

In Christ, I am a sheep of the great Shepherd who has given his life for me and all people. In the faces of those people, I look to see my Lord Jesus and treat them as I would treat him.

I imagine many of us can envision situations in life where supposedly needy people have manipulated, mistreated, or taken advantage of us. But as a general principle, one can't really go wrong by treating a person in need as if he or she were actually Jesus before us. Let me restate that: We can go wrong if we treat that person poorly – but most would not. How many of us would treat Jesus poorly if we saw him in need? That is Jesus’ point.

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Prayer

Lord, Lord, if you were standing in front of me in need, I would want to give you whatever I had at my disposal. At least I’d like to think I would. You know that I don't want to be taken advantage of. Help me to have a generous heart as well as a discerning heart. I want to have your Spirit Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of wanting to help others. That Spirit caused you to give your life. I want to have that kind of spirit too – in my life, in my lifestyle – not just in my words. I pray this in your name, Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:3-4

--- they do no wrong but follow his ways.
You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

John 14:15

If you love me, keep my commands.

The Promise:

John 14:21

The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.

Thursday, April 19
Re-Center Around God

In re-centering our lives around God in this week’s theme, we look at whether or not our actions are falling in line with Jesus’ teaching about our faith reflecting in our lifestyle and treatment of others.

Review my week

Father God, show me where I have been failing to love other people in a manner that you would have me do so. I want to practice my faith before all people. I want to honor you in all that I say and do. By your Spirit, show me where I have been faithful and honoring you so that I may rejoice where your Spirit is working well in my life.

Repent (if necessary)

Father God, forgive me for these sins which you have brought to my mind… (list them). Where I have failed to do as you desire, forgive me and help me to do better.

Return (as necessary)

Father God let the words of my mouth be matched with the actions in my life. I would love to see evidence of having been in Your presence God and having your holy presence influence my choices toward holy living. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:5-6

Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

2nd Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.

The Promise:

Romans 10:11

As Scripture says,  “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Friday, April 20
Discipleship Point from Matthew 25:31-46

Scripture

Matthew 25:31-46

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Taking from the Nicene Creed, disciples acknowledge:

... one Lord Jesus Christ, who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and made man; he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and buried. The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
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Discipleship Prayer:

Lord, Lord, ever since you re-commissioned Peter and told him "take care of my sheep", you have been looking for your disciples to do the will of the Father, caring for your sheep. Let me reflect the heart of You my shepherd, who gave your life for the sheep. While I am way more of a sheep than shepherd, let me be a blessing to the other sheep around me; in your name I pray Jesus, amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:7-8

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Hebrews 13:5a

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me...

The Promise:

Hebrews 13:5b

... because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. 

Saturday, April 21
The Sheep and the Goats

Matthew 25:31-46

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Our story from Matthew 25 speaks of a separation that, when considered, hurts the hearts of many, so much so that we often hope for, wish for, and maybe even believe this not to be true – that there will be no such separation on Judgment Day. Yet Jesus clearly teaches in this story that there is a separation, described as a dividing of the sheep and the goats. This is not ignoring the heart of God, who also wishes and hopes for all people to be saved. Let this teaching of Jesus be included in your view of God, of people, and of your own life.

We return to our prayer from Wednesday:

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Prayer Prompt

Lord, Lord, if you were standing in front of me in need, I would want to give you whatever I had at my disposal. At least I’d like to think I would. You know that I don't want to be taken advantage of. Help me to have a generous heart as well as a discerning heart. I want to have your Spirit Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of wanting to help others. That Spirit caused you to give your life. I want to have that kind of spirit too – in my life, in my lifestyle – not just in my words. I pray this in your name, Amen.

Sunday, April 22
Call to Worship God, to Gather Together

God Bless You

Psalm 63:3-4

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Worship is a verb.

~ Robert Webber
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Prayer Prompt

Father God, teach me to worship in all of life: Words from my lips, thoughts from my heart, imaginings from my mind, action from my body. I want to worship you with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Amen.

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