Monday, April 30
Theme for the week:
Disciples Live Out the Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

  • You have timed the traffic stoplight and know you have a good chance of finally making it through the light. Instead you allow a person on the side street to enter traffic ahead of you. They wave and are grateful. You’re grateful too -- while you sit idle for 2 more minutes :-).
  • A snide remark pops into your mind that would put a fellow coworker in a poor light, but you pause just enough to weigh the negative impact of your quick wit and hold your tongue. You overcome the temptation and smile with the Lord rather than with your fellow employees.

This week we are reminded that disciples follow the Golden Rule. It is a basic way to love your neighbor as you love yourself. It is faith expressing itself in love, as Paul says in Galatians 5:6.

Many opportunities for sharing your faith arise because of the way that we live, such as determining which actions you follow through with and which actions you hold back on; which thoughts you allow expression and which thoughts you withhold for the sake of others.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord Jesus, many philosophers have espoused the value of the Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. One does not need to be a disciple of Yours to live out such a rule. But as your disciple, I want to live it out in order to follow you, to honor you, and to bring glory to my father - our Father - in heaven. Bless my devotions this week that I am drawn deeper into seeing the opportunities to carry out this truth and acting upon it. Amen

Disciple of Jesus Task

As a basic blessing go and do something for someone else that you wish would be done for you.

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 119:17-24 (Gimel)

ג

  1. Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word.
  2. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
  3. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.
  4. My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
  5. You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands.
  6. Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes.
  7. Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees.
  8. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.

  • 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, May 1
God’s Mission Seen in Galatians 5:6

Galatians 5:6

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.

As Christians, we often think (rightly) that loving others may open doors for the message of Christ and his mercy and grace in our lives.

The reverse also stands to reason, that a lack of love shuts doors or makes them harder to open.

While tackling the place of circumcision for New Testament Christians, the Apostle Paul coined a great phrase for us: The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love (Galatians 5:6). James would say faith without works – hear “love” – is empty (James 2:17).

God's Kingdom is expanded only through Jesus’ death and resurrection. But that death and resurrection were born out of the heart of a Father's love and the depth of a Son's love. It is that love of God, Father, Son and Spirit, that motivates us to pay our debt of love to our fellow man.

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Prayer Prompt

Father God, thank you for loving the world enough to send your Son. Jesus, thank you for loving us in this world enough to give up your life to save us from our sin. Holy Spirit, empower us with such love for the world that we may truly do unto others as you would have us do unto them.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:17-18

Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Proverbs 3:7

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 

The Promise:

Psalm 34:15

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;

Wednesday, May 2
Your Identity in Christ

In Christ I am a debtor to my fellow man, and will seek to "pay off" that debt until the day I die, fulfilling God's law of love.

Financial Peace radio host Dave Ramsey talks about working your tail off to become debt free. But as a man of God who respects and shares the Word of God, he would likely agree that this debt is one to never get rid of. His advice to "work your tail off" to pay this debt would still be in order, but you'll be paying it until you are called home. In doing so, you will be living out the will of God in your life everyday.

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Prayer

Father God, I ask for the outpouring of your Holy Spirit that empowers me to "do unto others" not just as I would have it done to me, but as you would have me do regardless of how I am treated in return. Remind me that my life is in your hands, not other people's – and that you will take care of me. Let me honor the debt honored to owed to my fellow man and love those that you place in front of me. So I pray, Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:19-20

I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

1 Chronicles 22:19

Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. 

The Promise:

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

Thursday, May 3
Re-Center Around God

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
~ Jesus, Matthew 7:12

Review my week

Have you been carrying out the Golden Rule? Rather than simply ask it once overall, ask it in relation to different environments, like -- have you been carrying out at home? At work, if applicable? at school maybe? While running errands?

Repent (if necessary)

At the risk of being obnoxiously obvious, now repent of your failures to love by not doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Return (as necessary)

True power to carry out the Golden Rule as a disciple of Jesus is from God. So the best way to carry out this rule day-to-day is to stay close to God, or in Jesus the Vine. Let God’s love inspire you.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:21-22

You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands. Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

John 14:15

If you love me, keep my commands.

The Promise:

Revelation 3:19

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.

Friday, May 4
Discipleship Point from Matthew 7:12

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
~ Jesus, Matthew 7:12

The point is to do unto others as you would have done to you. Having this come from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount further encourages us to hear his conclusion to that sermon in which we are told to be like the wise man and put these words into practice. The wise man is the one who built his house on the rock, and whose house stood under the battering of storms.

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Discipleship Prayer:

Father God, I want to put into practice all the teachings of Jesus, but particularly this one to do unto others as I would have it done to me; let nothing dissuade me from being a wise follower of your Son, my Lord Jesus Christ; in his name I pray amen

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:23-24

Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Deuteronomy 6:13

Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

The Promise:

Psalm 34:7

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

Saturday, May 5
Story of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

The Rick Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Today's story comes from Jesus and follows up on his teaching about a healthy attitude toward possessions. In our story, he contrasts the lives of two men - one rich, one poor – in this world and later in eternity. It is interesting to note that the rich man knows the poor man by name, but doesn’t seem stirred to help, neither by human compassion nor godly code of behavior. We find Jesus highlighting the rich man’s ungodly view of possessions, of people, and God's ways in the Word.

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Prayer Prompt

Lord Jesus, I'm not sure how one may categorize me in terms of parallels to the rich man or poor Lazarus. From a simple food angle, it sure seems that I have more than enough food available – like the rich man. But I know this story isn't about food or even possessions; it's about attitude. Help me to have an attitude of gratefulness for whatever I have as being from you, of generosity to use whatever I have to help others, and of humility toward you and your word, hearing and responding to the message of your scriptures. Amen.

Sunday, May 6
Call to Worship God, to Gather Together

God Bless You

Hebrews 13:15

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise
to God that is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Worship is simply glorifying God; this means there is nothing required of us that cannot be done as an act of worship.

~ John MacArthur
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Prayer Prompt

Father God, I want to glorify you in worship – every day – in response to your kindness poured out to me in Jesus.

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