Monday, May 28
Theme for the week:
Disciples Hear the Law under the Spirit

Matthew 5:48

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Wholly, totally, completely – without holding back… this is the meaning of the word translated as “perfect” in Matthew 5:48.

While we sometimes use “perfect” in church life to mean “without sin”, that is not the situation here. Think of it this way: The man who gives of himself “perfectly” to a task – gives his all – gives heart and soul, body and mind. That would constitute perfection here, particularly in regards to living and loving. In this sense, we are to aspire to be perfect or wholly invested.

Give yourself totally to what you are doing – for God’s glory no less. This is how Jesus gave – perfectly; it is how Jesus loved – perfectly; it is how Jesus and His Father (our Heavenly Father) still love – perfectly; and it is how we are called to love.

We love certain people perfectly (totally); but because of our inadequacies (by God's standards) we might love other people imperfectly.

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Prayer for the week

Father God, as I focus on a theme of being perfect as you my Heavenly Father are perfect, help me to grasp the meaning that you intend. May it be that I recognize how completely you love me, how completely you forgive me, how perfect is your love for me, lacking in no way. Out of this truth, let me learn to live and move and be, to show love (and service) perfectly – all in heart and soul, body and mind. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God

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This is our continuing 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. 

Psalm of Meditation for the Week:

Psalm 119:49-56 (Zayin)

ז

  1. Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
  2. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
  3. The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.
  4. I remember, LORD, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.
  5. Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law.
  6. Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.
  7. In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law.
  8. This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.

  • 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.

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Pondering Point

We’re often reminded to remember God’s Word for his people; here the Psalmist reverses that by calling on God to remember His Word for our good (verse 49).

Tuesday, May 29
God’s Mission Seen in 1 Corinthians 12:31

1 Corinthians 12:31

Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

~Apostle Paul

God’s mission is intended to be carried out through God's people. For that, he disperses gifts through his Holy Spirit, many of them enumerated at the end of 1st Corinthians 12. There St. Paul makes a point about the gifts and their best use (as part of God’s mission).

He begins with these words: Eagerly desire the greater gifts and follows up with this statement: I will show you the most excellent way. What is the most excellent way? Whatever you do, do it with love. Without love, all your gifts and all your efforts are of no value. Let that sink in; seriously... pause and let that sink in. From God's perspective whatever you do -- if it's done without love, it has no value.

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Prayer for the day

Father God, I appreciate that you acknowledge my desires. I want them to line up with yours. I want to eagerly desire gifts that are blessings to other people and that further your mission among your people. But above even that, I want a desire to love people so that your gifts in me find receptive hearts, souls and minds. Grant this prayer for Jesus' sake, amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:49-50

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

John 12:26

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 

The Promise:

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

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Pondering Point

In the final analysis of the situation: “God has my back!” So says the Psalmist. What say you?

Wednesday, May 30
Your Identity in Christ

In Christ, I am loved perfectly and empowered to love perfectly – totally, completely: Heart and soul, mind and body.

Today's devotion reminds us that in Jesus we have been loved perfectly. We have been loved totally. All of our sin has been forgiven completely.

God has not held his love back, he has not held his mercy back. In fact the only thing that is held back from us is punishment for our sin. That punishment he infamously placed upon his own son Jesus, leading to Jesus' death on the cross.

And there Jesus, 100% God and 100% man, laid out 100% of his heart and soul, mind and body for our benefit. The execution of love in a most perfect way. And he still loves us perfectly -- praise God!

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Daily Prayer

I praise you Father for a love that goes beyond measure. And I thank you Jesus for a life given, for taking on a punishment that is beyond comprehension. Help me to reflect your perfect love and action, imperfect as it may be at times. I want to be like my Heavenly Father and like my beloved Savior. Holy Spirit, may you make this possible by your inspiration and leadership. In Jesus' name I pray it, amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:51-52

The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law. I remember, LORD, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Deuteronomy 5:32-33

Do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. 

The Promise:

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. 

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Pondering Point

What’s your favorite verse for comfort in times of trouble? Psalm 46:1 (God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.)? Romans 8:37 (... in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.)? Others?

Thursday, May 31
Re-Center Around God

1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 
~Apostle. Paul

Review the week

While its likely that we would all want to be the embodiment of love as described in 1st Corinthians 13, that's not our current reality, is it? This could be said of Jesus; he could be the embodiment of love in that he is patient and kind, does not envy, and does not boast. As we review this week, we can ask, “am I being unloving?” Any time that we are being impatient or unkind, or are in a position of envy, we are -- at that time -- in the position of not loving. Any time that we act proudly, dishonor others, or seek first for ourselves, we are clearly not acting in love.

Repent (if necessary)

This is an opportunity for you to repent of being unloving in certain situations. Are you keeping a record of wrongs? then you're not acting in love. Use the list above from 1 Corinthians 13 to identify where you have lacked a loving attitude. Then, in conversation with your Father, repent of it.

Return (as necessary)

If you want to be more patient, pursue love – love is patient. Are you struggling with anger? Pursue love. As you return to God, you are returning to the God who is love, who is patient with you and kind to you. The more that you experience God, the more that you experience love. The more you experience such love, the more patient and kind you become, the less self-seeking and less easily angered you become. You will find that you rejoice with truth rather than delighting in evil befalling others.

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Daily Prayer

God of love, continue to pour your love into me that I might express a similar love through patience and kindness, that I might express such a love by withholding anger, swallowing pride, and squashing envy. Let me keep no record of wrongs. I want to reflect you. I pray this in the name of Jesus, the embodiment of love in this life; Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:53-54

Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law. Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes, 
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

The Promise:

Proverbs 3:33

The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.

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Pondering Point

“Your decrees are the theme of my song;” Is there a Christian song or hymn that you whistle while you work? Sing? Hum? Take a moment and share it with God.

Friday, June 1
Discipleship Point from John 13:35

John 13:35

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~ Jesus

Whatever gifts God gives to his myriad of disciples, there is one thing that is common to all. He gives equally in forgiveness and love. These are free gifts that come to us through Jesus Christ. As we love others with a love that comes from God, we display our discipleship to others in the world. This is what Jesus said would be evidence of our discipleship. Let’s learn to love totally, completely.

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Discipleship Prayer:

Father God, you have said that you do not play favorites, but accept all who come to you. I want to reflect that kind of love in my life and become a vessel through which others experience your love and forgiveness as I have. Let me become part of your plan to make disciples of all nations. I want to be one of those disciples that helps you make disciples of others. I pray this in the name of my discipler Jesus, amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:55-56

In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law. This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Romans 6:12

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

The Promise:

Psalm 103:17-18

From everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s
love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. 

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Pondering Point

How have you shown that you are God's disciple today?  See John 13:35 at the start of today's devotion.

Saturday, June 2
God’s Calling and Vision for Ezekiel

Ezekiel 3:1-15

1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”

10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.”

12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing. 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. 14 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me. 15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—deeply distressed.

If you can manage the time, I encourage you to read Ezekiel chapters 1 and 2 as well as taking in the story section of 3:1-15. There you’ll read about the vision Ezekiel receives and the call from God that comes along with it.

It’s quite an experience! When Jesus sent out his disciples, he said “those who accept you are accepting me, and those who reject you are rejecting me” (see Luke 10:16). This is what was happening with Ezekiel as God said, they will reject you but really they will be rejecting me. (see Ezekiel 3:7 above).

As disciples, we are in a similar position. It's important for us to remember that we don't speak or stand or live or even breathe our own, but we live, speak, stand, and breathe as representatives of God in this world, ambassadors for Christ as Paul says.

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Prayer

Father God, Ezekiel was overwhelmed by his vision and calling, spending an entire week just sitting and taking it in once it was over. Most of us don't receive such imposing visions. Yet you have called me too, as one of your disciples. Help me to be neither overwhelmed nor underwhelmed. Help me to realize the blessing and challenge of the calling I have received. Help me to celebrate that I am your child, part of your kingdom, and help me rise to the occasion to live as your child and your disciple. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Sunday, June 3
Call to Worship God, to Gather Together

God Bless You

Psalm 57:9

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 

We may be truly said to worship God, though we lack perfection; but we cannot be said to worship him if we lack sincerity.

~ Stephen Charnock
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Prayer

Father God, coming into worship this morning, I look forward to experiencing once again your unfailing love, your complete forgiveness. Your ways are perfect toward me, and I desire for my ways to reflect your ways. Let me be perfect as you are perfect, loving with all of who I am, regardless of who is in front of me. This I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

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