Monday, August 13
Theme for the week:
Disciples Practice Healthy Relationships by Refusing to Embrace Hatefulness

1 John 2:9-11

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumbles. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 

Hater-ade: It’s not an actual drink, but what people are described as being drunk on when they act with or persist in hateful or negative attitudes. It’s a dark place to be – and one God himself warns us about.

It’s not just a command of God not to hate (and positively to love); it’s also unhealthy to hate – for you personally and for those with whom you’re interacting while under the blight of hatred. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he expands the meaning of “You shall not murder” and its requisite judgment to include anger and coming judgment as well (Matthew 5:21-22). Anger, envy, and bitterness often lead to hatred. They are all areas of darkness that need the light of Christ revealing and healing those unhealthy places.

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Prayer for the Week

Jesus Christ, I claim to be in the light as you are in the light. I don’t want any darkness to exist in me. I claim you as Lord and Savior – and I pray that my life reflects your light, that my actions bring light rather than darkness. May hatred have no place in my life! To God be the glory, 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 119:137-144 (Tsadhe)

צ

  1. You are righteous, LORD, and your laws are right.
  2. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.
  3. My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words.
  4. Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.
  5. Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts.
  6. Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.
  7. Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.
  8. Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.

  • 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

The traditional sense of the Hebrew letter Tsadhe revolves around justice and righteousness, especially being so. This is seen readily in this section of Psalm 119.

Tuesday, August 14
God’s Mission

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
~ Jesus

Are you ready for some double-negative discourse? Here we go: It wasn’t enough for God to simply not kill everyone because of their evil ways. It wasn’t enough for God to merely not hate people because of their evil ways. It was only enough for when God could love people to death – and bring them to himself. This is WHY God sent His Son Jesus – out of love. This is HOW God sent His Son Jesus – in love. To perish. For our sins. So we would not perish. This is so far from merely not murdering (a form of hate), from merely not getting angry (another form of hate). It is loving deeply. It is acting in love. And it’s what we are called to do as children of the light. The ultimate goal is to actually love – deeply.

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Prayer

Father God, I want to demonstrate more than the minimum. I want to love deeply. When a reason to hate arises, let me meet it with love that conquers all. When a reason to love arises, let me rise to the occasion with love born of you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:137-138

You are righteous, LORD, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

1 Peter 2:1-3

Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 

The Promise:

John 14:6

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.

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Pondering Point

A thing can be trustworthy – say a bridge – and still not be trusted, left untested. God’s teachings are fully trustworthy. How are you trusting in them? using them?

Wednesday, August 15
Your Identity in Christ

• In Christ, I am a lover of people rather than a hater of people.

I’m a lover not a fighter the old saying goes. But an older adage might be I’m a lover not a hater. Proverbs 10:12 echoes this godly desire: Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. If love covers wrongs, could it be said that hatred points them out? Are you one who draws attention to people’s faults or helps cover them? Based on this verse, if friends had to identify you as one who loves or hates, what evidence might they use? What would you say? This is not saying we should ignore sin; Jesus never did that. But he managed to let people know they were loved even though they were sinners. This is a good example for us forgiven sinners as we seek to be lovers not haters.

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Prayer Prompt

Ask God to remove any lingering hatred in you.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:139-140

My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened… …and I will give you rest.

The Promise:

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… …for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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Pondering Point

What a picture – worn out from zeal for God and His Word! What are you zealous for? What does or what would zeal for God look like in your current life?

Thursday, August 16
Re-Center Around God

Genesis 37:4

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

You have likely heard the term “hater”. It is a disparaging label, intended to put down one person who is being critical of another’s actions, words, or choices. Nobody likes a hater, right!?! But a further trend has developed with the term hater. It seems that a person can dismissively refute another with the phrase ‘You’re just a hater” and then go on about whatever he or she was doing – as if the phrase in itself justifies their current actions.

Review the week

Have you become a hater, someone who envies other successes and joys? Or someone who likes to take people down a notch? Or -- are you dismissive of others’ criticisms, waving off their “hateful” perspective without consideration?

Repent (if necessary)

Repent over envy, jealousy, and bitterness toward others. Repent for tearing others down; God says to let only words that build up come out of your mouths (Ephesians 4:29). And repent for being dismissing of others’ viewpoints. God is known to speak through others – with or without their knowledge.

Return (as necessary)

This week calls for humbly approaching God, appreciating His long-lasting patience and enduring love, and letting him lift you up as James 4:10 says. Go humbly to your God.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.  James 4:10 NIV

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Prayer Prompt

Pray about what God has put upon your heart.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:141-142

Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

James 4:10a

Humble yourselves before the Lord…

The Promise:

James 4:10b

…and he will lift you up.

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Pondering Point

Part of not forgetting God’s precepts (Pslam 119 verse 141) is not despising those who despise you. How are you doing with this? How are you handling personal offenses?

Friday, August 17
Discipleship Point

2 Corinthians 13:14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship that is ours in the Holy Spirit be with you all!
~ Apostle Paul

God desires fellowship among his children, but hatred breaks that fellowship. Where God would have us resolve our differences, many of us have instead resolved to let those differences to get in the way of fellowship – and leave it that way. We don’t just follow Jesus solo, we follow Jesus alongside other disciples. Let’s not let envy, anger, bitterness or hatred destroy our fellowship in Christ.

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Discipleship Prayer

Holy Spirit, thank you for the godly fellowship that I share in You with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us all appreciate this unique fellowship that you form in connection with Jesus -- and to be driven to preserve and deepen it. I also pray that you help us to recognize Your desire that we enjoy fellowship with others as well – at work or with family. Expand our fellowship – in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:143-144

Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight. Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Psalm 50:15

Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. 

The Promise:

John 6:63

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you— they are full of the Spirit and life.

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Pondering Point

When the going gets tough, the tough get… delighted in God’s commands, says the Psalm writer.

Saturday, August 18

Genesis 37

Joseph's Dreams

1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.

2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Joseph Sold by His Brothers
12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.”

“Very well,” he replied.

14 So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.

When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”

17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’”

So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. 22 “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.

26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”

31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”

33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”

34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.

36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.

When dealing with the temptation to hate, the Old Testament character Joseph is a great example. We will be looking at him over the next two weeks.

We are introduced to Joseph as a teenager in chapter 37, where his brothers show an intense dislike for him. Of course, Joseph's father doesn’t help matters by treating Joseph as the favorite. Nor does Joseph help himself when he shares dreams in which his siblings and parents bow down to him.

But regardless of missteps by Joseph and his father Jacob, his brothers make a choice to respond in hatred. Chapter 37 captures the initial part of the story. You would be well-versed on the first half of Joseph’s life if you read chapters 39-41. It will also give you a greater appreciation for all that Joseph goes through while God prepares him to serve much of the known world in a powerful way.

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Prayer Prompt

Lord God, I'm willing to acknowledge that hatred is a choice – an ungodly and unhealthy choice. Regardless of the actions of those around me, help me choose to honor You rather than allow a lesser form of behavior and attitude to persist in me. I want to love you and love my fellow man as well. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Sunday, August 19
Call to Worship God, to Gather Together

God Bless You

Psalm 92:1-4

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. 

After learning to love God (worship), learning to love others is the second purpose of your life.
~ Rick Warren
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Prayer for Worship

Loving God, I'm so grateful that in your essence You are love and display love. Let your essence be so deeply ingrained in my heart that my spirit – born of You – begins to naturally love all people and naturally resist any hatred that seeks to arise in me toward any person. Let it be in Jesus’ name. Amen

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