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MEDITATION:

Written by C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), a British writer and theologian. This is an excerpt from his autobiography “Surprised by Joy.”

There are men, far better men than I, who have made immortality almost the central doctrine of their religion; but for my own part, I have never seen how a preoccupation with that subject at the outset could fail to corrupt the whole thing. I had been brought up to believe that goodness was goodness only if it were disinterested and that any hope of reward or fear of punishment contaminated the will. If I was wrong in this (the question is really much more complicated than I then perceived) my error was most tenderly allowed for. I was afraid that threats or promises would demoralize me; no threats or promises were made. The commands were inexorable, but they were backed by no “sanctions.” God was to be obeyed simply because he was God. Long since, through the gods of Asgard, and later through the notion of the Absolute, He had taught me how a thing can be revered not for what it can do to us but for what it is in itself. That is why, though it was a terror, it was no surprise to learn that God is to be obeyed because of what He is in Himself. If you ask why we should obey God, in the last resort the answer is, “I am.”

To know God is to know that our obedience is due to Him. In his nature, His sovereignty de jure is revealed. Of course, as I have said, the matter is more complicated than that. The primal and necessary Being, the Creator, has sovereignty de facto as well as de jure. He has the power as well as the kingdom and the glory. But the de jure sovereignty was made known to me before the power, the right before the might. And for this I am thankful. I think it is well, even now, sometimes to say to ourselves, “God is such that if (per impossible) his power could vanish and His other attributes remain so that the supreme right was forever robbed of the supreme might, we should still owe Him precisely the same kind and degree of allegiance as we now do.

PRAYER:

Written by Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed, give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments and also that by thee we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), a German pastor, theologian, author, anti-Nazi dissident and founding member of the Confessing Church. This is an excerpt from his book “Life Together.”

In the Christian community, thankfulness is just what it is anywhere else in the Christian life. Only he who gives thanks for little things receives the big things. We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts. We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward eagerly for the highest good. Then we deplore the fact that we lack the deep certainty, the strong faith, and the rich experience that God has given to others, and we consider this lament to be pious. We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?

PRAYER:

Written by Colleen Hanycz, a contemporary academic, lawyer, and President of Xavier University.

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
Loving Creator,
We asked for strength, and you gave us difficulties to make us strong.
We asked for wisdom, and you gave us problems to solve.
We asked for prosperity, and you gave us purpose and brains to use.
We asked for courage, and you gave us fears to overcome.
We asked for patience, and you gave us situations where we were forced to wait.
We asked for love, and you gave us troubled people to help.
We asked for justice, and you called us to be just and to lead with integrity.
Lord, we have received nothing that we asked for or wanted.
And yet, we received everything that we needed.
For this, we give thanks. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Stephen Macchia, a contemporary leader of spiritual formation and author. This is an excerpt from his book “Crafting a Rule of Life.”

Fix your attention on God and you’ll be changed from the inside out. God is the one who brings out the best of you. That’s a truth worth pursuing with our whole hearts. God lovingly invites us to pursue our shared calling as a Christian community and our unique vocation as individual disciples. There is only one Moses, one Ruth, one Peter, one James, one John—and only one you. We are all on a common pursuit of loving God, loving one another, and loving others in Jesus’ name. We do so in slightly different ways—reflected in the tens of thousands of denominational niches worldwide—but more importantly, we call ourselves Christian and mean it from the bottom of our hearts. Our commonality is a beautiful gift to reflect on and is our delightful inheritance. We are set apart and called to be the people of God, “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that we may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). But even though we all live our lives in a wider community, we also find ourselves in daily pursuit of a life that’s uniquely set apart for God’s distinct purposes—evidenced in our personal rule of life…A rule of life allows us to clarify our deepest values, our most important relationships, our most authentic hopes and dreams, our most meaningful work, our highest priorities. It allows us to live with intention and purpose in the present moment. All of us have an unwritten personal rule of life that we are following, some with great clarity, others unknowingly. We wake at certain times, get ready for our days in particular ways, use our free time for assorted purposes, and practice rhythms of work, hobbies, worship, vacation, and so on. There is already a rule in place that you are following today. Isn’t it time to give up our unwritten rule and prayerfully write one that more closely matches the heartbeat of God?

PRAYER:

Written by Roy E. Dickerson (1886-1965), an author.

Who am I really? What do you see in me that you would move heaven and earth to capture my heart? My life feels like a collection of other people’s expectations and disappointments. I do not even know anymore who I truly am. Reveal to me my true identity, my true place in your story. Give me grace to hear your voice; shut out all other voices, and let me hear from you alone. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Rich Villodas, a contemporary pastor and author. This is an excerpt from his book “The Deeply Formed Life.”

God is for the world, period. This truth makes or breaks our understanding of mission. To deny this assertion is to see God in a fundamentally different light than the light revealed in Jesus. Yet that different light is the default mode of much of Christianity. We are often known for what we are against rather than what we are for…But any conversation regarding the nature of God must begin with him being for all. Mission for a Christian must begin not with human fallenness but with God’s posture toward the world. When we see people with a “Make America Great Again” hat, we can see them from a posture of God’s commitment toward them or from the perspective of our own boundary making. When we see a woman of color with a #blacklivesmatter T-shirt, we can see her through the lens of God’s heart of mercy toward her or reduce her entire humanity to a hashtag. When we see an immigrant, we can see him through the lens of God’s tender love or through the lens of fearful scapegoating. God’s posture toward the world is always for us: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). This is the definitive Bible verse declaring God’s committed love toward us. By entering into human history, God made a very clear declaration, saying in effect, “I don’t want to exist without you.” Does God exist without us? Of course. Does God want to exist without us? Not a chance. God is for us. This is the foundation of mission. How can mission that is consistent with Jesus be established on the grounds of judgment, disgust, and “othering”? Actually it can’t. Missional presence takes on the posture of the God and Father revealed in Jesus. God didn’t need creation or company, but out of divine generosity, he brought creation into existence not to subject it to bondage but to have it feast at the table of goodness. To affirm that God is for “us” is to confess with clarity who is “us”. If by “us” we mean fellow Christians—especially those who believe as we do—then that “us” is much too confined. The “us” that God is for always extends to all people and to the entirety of creation.

PRAYER:

Written by Leslie White, a contemporary author.

Dear Lord, today may I be a faithful light that points the way to You, the true light of the world. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Max Lucado, a contemporary pastor, speaker, and author. This is an excerpt from his book “Life Lessons from Romans.”

Henry Drummond writes, “You will find, if you think for a moment, that the people who influence you are the people who believe in you. In an atmosphere of suspicion men shrivel up; but in that atmosphere, they expand and find encouragement and educative fellowship. It is a wonderful thing that here and there in this hard uncharitable world there should still be left a few rare souls who think no evil. This is the great unworldliness. Love sees the bright side, puts the best construction on every action. What a delightful state of mind to live in! What a stimulus and benediction even to meet with it for a day! To be trusted is to be saved. And if we try to influence or elevate others, we shall soon see that success is in proportion to their belief of our belief in them. For the respect of another is the first restoration of the self-respect a man has lost; our ideal of what he is becomes to him the hope and pattern of what he may become.”

This faith moves mountains of inertia in other people. It pulverizes prejudices and impossibilities. This faith is the fruit of God’s gracious spirit that sweetens a sour world. It replaces suspicion and distrust with friendship and hope and good cheer. It makes our friends, family, and casual acquaintances stand tall. Faith of this caliber comes from God. If we lack it, we must ask for it. He urges us to come boldly requesting good gifts from Him. He does bestow His gracious Spirit on those who request His presence and are prepared to cooperate wholeheartedly with His commands. He will not withhold any good thing from those who seek His faith in sincerity. He is faithful.

PRAYER:

Written by Neil T. Anderson, a contemporary author.

Lord, forgive me for my rebellious spirit. Teach me to be submissive and respectful to those in authority over me. Help me be a light in our dark world; let Christ shine through me. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear those around me who need Your gospel truth. Thank You for Your great love and tender mercy toward me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Christopher D. Hudson, a contemporary teacher and author. This is an excerpt from his book “Following Jesus.”

The word “repent” is a hope-filled term. Biblically it means to “change your mind” and “to turn around.” In other words, you’re headed down a path that you wrongly believe leads somewhere good. But then God graciously opens your eyes, and you see the foolishness of your way. This divine insight causes you to alter your thinking and go a different direction. Jesus began his public ministry with a call to repentance. “Rethink your life!” he was essentially saying. “Stop trusting in other people or things to rescue you and give you meaning and joy. Believe the good news about me.”  Martin Luther said that Jesus “willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” In other words, we come to Christ by an initial act of repentance, and we walk with him via an ongoing lifestyle of repentance.

PRAYER:

Today’s prayer is an ancient collect from the 6^th century.

Almighty God, we beseech You to hear our prayers for all who sin against You, or neglect to serve You, all who forget You, all who leave You out of their lives. O Lord, have mercy upon them; bestow upon us all true repentance and an earnest longing for Yourself. Promise, we ask You, O Lord, to strengthen and confirm all Your faithful people, and to lift up the light of Your Face upon them, giving them continually heavenly desires; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Shirley C. Guthrie, Jr., (1927-2004), a Presbyterian minister and professor of Systematic Theology. This is an excerpt from his book “Christian Doctrine.”

In the past the church often made the cross the center of its faith. Calvin and the Westminster Confession, for instance, gave careful attention to the meaning of Jesus’ reconciling death for us, but only very briefly discussed the resurrection. Having for a time rejected such a one-sided emphasis on Jesus’ death, contemporary theology has “rediscovered” a theology of the cross and found new meaning in it. In face of the tragic suffering of so many people in the modern world, especially those who are poor and oppressed, the gospel is the good news of a suffering, crucified Jesus—and therefore a suffering, crucified God—who is present in self-giving love with suffering people to stand with and for and by them in their suffering. Both the classical and contemporary emphases on the significance of Jesus’ suffering and death are indispensable for a genuinely biblical and realistic understanding of the Christian faith. But the cross is an appropriate symbol for Christians only if it is an empty cross. The foundation, center, and goal of Christian faith is not suffering and death but new life, not tragedy but victory beyond tragedy. Christian faith is faith in a Suffering Servant who is and will be risen Lord. The God we meet in Christ is indeed a God of self-giving, suffering love, but also a God of powerful, liberating love. To be a Christian is not just to experience the forgiving grace of God for sinful people; it is to experience the renewing grace of God that empowers them to get up and move out of their sinfulness into active, joyful service of God and fellow human beings. To be a Christian is not just to expect the presence of God in the depths of our own and other’s suffering; it is to expect the active work of God in our individual lives, in the church, and in the world to create a new humanity in a new world in which the life, justice, and peace of the kingdom will finally triumph over the powers of sin, evil, suffering, injustice, and death. Why is this so? He is risen! That is the first and last word about what it means to believe and live as Christians. The resurrection of Christ is the one event in history that gives meaning to all of history, including our own.

PRAYER:

Written by Rachel Olsen, a contemporary author.

Dear Lord, may I realize afresh today what Your death and resurrection mean for me. Forgiveness, freedom, and the ability to walk with You through this fallen world into eternity. May I always find my satisfaction in You and Your willingness to offer Yourself to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Albert Mohler, a contemporary theologian and educator. This is an excerpt from his work “Globalization and the Christian Mission.”

The church, when it is faithful, always thinks in global terms. The world now thinks of globalization as a great economic, technological, and political fact. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ understands global mission as a command and as a mandate from the Lord. While the world may debate globalization in terms of its economic and sociological effects, the church must see globalization as an unprecedented opportunity. Globalization may be a surprise to sociologists, politicians, and businessmen, but it comes as great promise to followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The current generation of Christians has unprecedented opportunities to proclaim the name of Jesus in all of the world and to see people of all tribes, tongues, and nations bow the knee to the king.

PRAYER:

This is a Trisagion Prayer, a Greek Orthadox prayer to the Trinity.

Creator God, give us a heart and mind for peace. Jesus, brother and teacher, help us to make whole that which is now broken. Holy Spirit, burn in our hearts that we might  set the world on fire with Your love.  Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Brennan Manning (1934-2013), an American author, laicized priest, and public speaker. This is an excerpt from his book “Reflections for Ragamuffins.”

Every time the Gospels mention that Jesus was moved with the deepest emotions or felt sorry for people, it led to his doing something—physical or inner healing, deliverance or exorcism, feeding the hungry crowd, or praying for others. The Good Samaritan was commended precisely because he acted. The priest and Levite, paragons of Jewish virtue, flunked the test because they didn’t do anything. “Which of these three in your opinion, was neighbor to the man who fell in with the robbers?” The answer came, “The one who treated him with compassion.” Jesus said to them, “Then go and do the same.”

PRAYER:

Written by Ray Pritchard, a contemporary author and president of Keep Believing Ministries.

Lord, grant me tenacious winsome courage as I go through this day. When I am tempted to give up, help me to keep going. Grant me a cheerful spirit when things don’t go my way. And give me the courage to do whatever needs to be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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MEDITATION:

Written by Kent Ira Groff, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “Journeyman.”

Without the discipline of community, solitude degenerates into self-absorption and isolation; without the discipline of solitude, community degenerates into codependency and enmeshment…The community of faith is where we learn the language of love. And the church uses two kinds of language—the verbal language of liturgy, scripture, and sermon, and the body language of sacraments, gestures, and social outreach…Being a part of a life-giving faith community is like a healthy foot getting directional signals from the rest of the body. A life-giving church is one where human brokenness is lifted up like bread and wine to be held, and touched, and blessed – to heal the world.

PRAYER:

Written by Jennie McChargue, a contemporary teacher and author.

 Thank you, God, for the body of believers who are called to serve you, who are proclaiming the Good News to all who will hear. From those who minister across the country to the men, women, and youth here at home, send us out to be a light in the dark. Send us out to speak life. Send us out to extend grace and mercy. Send us out to feed the hungry, to befriend the lonely, to find the lost. Open the doors of this church and fill it with the broken, the angry, the hurting. Let them find forgiveness and comfort here in the presence of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

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