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MEDITATION:

Written by Simon Tugwell a contemporary American Christian author. This is an excerpt from his book “Prayer.”

Before we get too carried away with thoughts of God’s power, we should listen attentively to what Paul says about the “weakness of God,” which is a vital part of God’s self-revelation. If we look at the way in which he discloses himself in Jesus Christ we have to acknowledge that he does not come into our world with a great display of superior power; in fact, this was one of the temptations which our Lord had to resist as being contrary to his mission, contrary to his true nature. He does not come in strength but in weakness, and he chooses the foolish and weak and unimportant things of the world, things that are nothing at all, to overthrow the strength and impressiveness of the world. He is like the judo expert who uses the strength of his opponent to bring him to the ground; it is the art of self-defense proper to the weak.  This is why, if we keep clamoring for things we want from God, we may often find ourselves disappointed, because we have forgotten the weakness of God and what we may call the poverty of God. We had thought of God as the dispenser of all good things we would possibly desire; but in a very real sense, God has nothing to give at all except himself.

PRAYER:

Written by Frank Borman, an American astronaut on the Apollo 8 and Gemini 7 launches.  This is a prayer written from Apollo 8.

Give us, O God, the vision which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure. Give us the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness. Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts. And show us what each one of us can do to set forward the coming of the day of universal peace. Amen

MEDITATION:

Written by R. C. Sproul (1939-2017), an American theologian and Presbyterian pastor. He was the founder of Ligonier Ministries and host of the Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast.

There is much similarity between the English term for the assembly of God’s people and the terms for the same concept in other languages. Church in English, kirke in Dutch, and kirche in German. All of these words find their origin in kuriake, which is itself Greek in origin. Literally, kuriake means “belonging to the Lord.” Kurios in the Greek language can also refer to the master of slaves or servants. This explains Paul’s emphasis that he is a “servant” of the Lord. If Christians, the kuriake, belong to a master, then we are the servants or slaves of that master. To be known as servants or slaves of Christ is not to imply that our master is cruel; by no means could Jesus ever mistreat us. Instead, we are the Lord’s possession because He has purchased us from slavery to sin and death and thus also from the righteous wrath of God. As such, He is worthy of our total allegiance.

Understanding that all followers of Christ are possessions of the Lord has important implications for how we treat other Christians. To do wrong to another believer is to do wrong to one of Jesus’ own beloved. Lest we miss the point, to mistreat another Christian is to mistreat Christ Himself. All believers are so closely united to Jesus that to treat people in the church poorly is to dishonor the Lord of the church. Therefore, we should be known as those who are kind to others in the body of Christ. As servants together in the kingdom of God we must be ever conscious that He takes our treatment of His people seriously; thus, we must do good to them just as we would do good to Him.

PRAYER:

Written by John Baillie (1886-1960), a Scottish theologian and a Church of Scotland minister.

Thank you, Lord, for this new day. For its gladness and brightness, for its many hours waiting to be filled with joyful and helpful labor; for its open doors of possibility; for its hope of new beginnings. Stir up in my heart the desire to make the very most of today’s opportunities. Do not let me break any of yesterday’s promises or leave unrepaired any of yesterday’s wrongs. Do not let me see anyone in distress and pass by on the other side. Give me the strength to confront any mountain of duty or bad habit. Where an action of mine can make the this world a better place, where a word of mine can cheer a sad heart or strengthen a weak will, where a prayer of mine can serve Christ’s kingdom, there let me act and speak and pray. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Dallas Willard (1935-2013), an American philosopher known for his writings on Christian spiritual formation. This is an excerpt from his book “The Allure of Gentleness: Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus.”

What God is going to bring out of human history in his people is going to be the greatest reflection of God’s own glory, wisdom, and love. That is what human history is about. It is to make a society of the redeemed that will be the crown jewel of creation. And when we look at all of the terrible things that happen in human history, when we look at the extent of human evil in it, we want to remember what would be lost if human history had not happened. What would be lost is precisely this crown jewel of creation, which consists of Christlike people living together with the kind of love that the members of the Trinity have for one another and enjoying that full, shared, self-subsistent being that characterizes God himself as God dwells in those people.

PRAYER:

A Puritan prayer from “The Valley of Vision.”

BLESSED GOD, ten thousand snares are mine without and within, defend  me when sloth and indolence seize me, give me views of heaven; when sinners entice me, give me disrelish of their ways; when sensual pleasures tempt me, purify and refine me; when I desire worldly possessions,  help me to be rich toward you; when the vanities of the world ensnare me, let me not plunge into new guilt and ruin.

May I remember the dignity of my spiritual release, never be too busy to attend to my soul, never be so engrossed with time that I neglect the things of eternity; thus may I not only live, but grow towards You.  Form my mind to right notions of religion, that I may not judge of grace by wrong conceptions, nor measure my spiritual advances by the efforts of my natural being.

May I seek after an increase of divine love to You after unreserved resignation to thy will, after extensive benevolence to my fellow creatures, after patience and fortitude of soul, after a heavenly disposition after a concern that I may please you  in public and private.

Draw on my soul the lineaments of Christ, in every trace and feature of which You take delight, for I am your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus,  your letter written with the Holy Spirit’s pen, your tilled soil ready for the sowing, then harvest.

MEDITATION:

Written by Tim Keller, a contemporary pastor at Redeemer Church in New York City.  This is an excerpt from his book “Generous Justice.”

The Hebrew word for “justice,” mishpat, occurs in its various forms more than 200 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. Its most basic meaning is to treat people equitably. It means acquitting or punishing every person on the merits of the case, regardless of race or social status. But mishpat means more than just the punishment of wrongdoing. It also means giving people their rights. It is giving people what they are due, whether punishment or protection or care. If you look at every place the word is used in the Old Testament, several classes of persons continually come up. Over and over again, mishpat describes taking up the care and cause of widows, orphans, immigrants, and the poor—those who have been called “the quartet of the vulnerable.” In premodern, agrarian societies, these four groups had no social power. They lived at subsistence level and were only days from starvation if there was any famine, invasion, or even minor social unrest. Today, this quartet would be expanded to include the refugee, the migrant worker, the homeless, and many single parents and elderly people. Any neglect shown to the needs of the members of this quartet is not called merely a lack of mercy or charity but a violation of justice, of mishpat. God loves and defends those with the least economic and social power, and so should we. That is what it means to “do justice.”

PRAYER:

Written by Alan Paton (1903-1988), a South African author and anti-apartheid activist.

God loves widows dearly. He talks about us a lot in the Bible…O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others

Open my ears that I may hear their cries;

Open my heart so that they need not be without succor;

Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong,

Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.

Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,

And use me to bring them to those places.

And so open my eyes and my ears

That I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee. Amen.

Meditation

Written by Rich Bimler, a contemporary Christian author and former president of Wheat Ridge Ministries.

Australia has a most significant annual holiday called “National Sorry Day” to remember the wrongs that they have done. Indeed, every country should do the same! As a matter of fact, all of us as God’s forgiven people observe, not an annual day, but every day as a “Daily Sorry Day!” The wrongs we have done, the hurst we have caused, the words that should not have been spoken are to be brought to the Lord daily. As we repent, we are also forgiven of these sins through Christ’s death and resurrection. As a banner states, “Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly.”  So, “celebrate” every day as a day that we are forgiven, in Christ!

Prayer

Written by John Chrysostom (AD 347-407), the archbishop of Constantinople and an early theologian of the church.

O Lord, accept me in penitence.

O Lord, leave me not.

O Lord, lead me not into temptation.

O Lord, grant me good thoughts.

O Lord, grant me tears and remembrance of death and compunction.

O Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my sins.

O Lord, grant me humility, chastity and obedience.

O Lord, grant me patience, courage and meekness.

O Lord, plant in me the root of all blessings, the fear of You in my heart.

O Lord, grant me to love You with all my mind and soul, and always to do Your will.

O Lord, protect me from certain people, and demons, and passions, and from every other harmful thing. O Lord, You know that You act as You will; may Your will be also in me, a sinner, for blessed art You forever. Amen.

Meditation

Written by Sarah Geringer, a contemporary Christian author, blogger, and speaker.

Have you ever performed a task you felt was beneath you? Jesus washed his disciples’ feet the night before he died. Though this was normally a job for the lowest of servants, it wasn’t beneath Jesus, the King of kings. Jesus directed his disciples to serve one another even in the smallest of ways. He promised blessings to those who serve in this manner. Though he stooped low enough to wash the feet of Judas, who betrayed him, he did not look back with regret.

Our small acts of service, especially the ones we’d rather avoid, will grow humility in our hearts. These acts of service will help us see others with compassion. By serving others with humility, we become more like Jesus. We won’t feel like we are stooping low with small tasks when Jesus is our example.

Prayer

Written by Ignatius of Antioch (?-108), an early Christian writer and Bishop of Antioch, who was martyred in Rome.

O, All-Ruler, Word of the Father, Jesus Christ, You who are perfect, never in your great mercy leave me, but ever abide in me, your servant.  O Jesus, Good Shepherd of Your sheep, deliver me not to the revolt of the serpent and leave me not to the will of Satan, for the seed of corruption is in me. Lord, adorable God, Holy King, Jesus Christ, guard me asleep by the unwaning light, your Holy Spirit, by whom you sanctified your disciples. O Lord, grant me, your unworthy servant, your salvation on my bed. Enlighten my mind with the light of understanding of your Holy Gospel. Enlighten my soul with the love of your Cross. Enlighten my heart with the purity of your Word. Enlighten my body with your passionless Passion. Keep my thoughts in your humility. And rouse me in good time to glorify you, for you are supremely glorified, with your eternal Father, and your most Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

Meditation

Written by Christopher Klofft, a contemporary Christian author. It is an excerpt from the devotional “From Suffering to Salvation.”

Henri Nouwen wrote: “Once all of our past is remembered in gratitude, we are free to be sent into the world to proclaim good news to others. Just as Peter’s denials didn’t paralyze him but, once forgiven, became a new source of his faithfulness, so can all our failures and betrayals be transformed into gratitude and enable us to become messengers of hope.”

Our culture today suffers from an incorrect and impoverished notion of freedom. We tend to think that freedom means freedom to do whatever we want. In truth, however, freedom is found in submitting our whole selves to the will of God.  Authentic freedom gives us the capacity to see our lives in a different way. It allows us to see our past with new eyes and to see how God has been present with us, inviting us toward our final happiness. This recognition should fill us with a sense of gratitude for what we have and empower us to continue the task of evangelization.

Prayer

Written by William Wilberforce (1759-1833), a British politician, philanthropist, and leader of the movement to stop the slave trade.

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and for ever. Amen.

Meditation

Written by Paul Scheidt, a contemporary Christian author. This is an excerpt from his publication “By His Wounds We Are Healed.”

The commandment is “Thou shall not murder [Exodus 20:13]. On the surface, it seems so simple. Most of us have never murdered anyone. There’s more to it, however. Jesus said if you are angry with someone, you are guilty. Luther said if you have harmed anyone or failed to help anyone in need, you are guilty. There is nothing we can say, no excuse or alibi to cover up our guilt. We are doomed.  Except…there is one way to satisfy God’s judgment. Jesus has done what we cannot do: He kept this commandment perfectly, even dying in love for the worst of sinners. His perfect life and sacrificial wounds cover our sins with life-giving grace and mercy. What a gift!  Accept his gracious gift and honor him with hymns of grateful praise. Honor him, too, by loving (that means helping, not harming) others as Christ has loved us. Keep your eyes open today for a target for your love.

Prayer

Written by Brigid of Kildare (451-525), one of Ireland’s patron saints, a nun and foundress of several monasteries of nuns.

I arise today through a mighty strength:

God’s power to guide me,

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s eyes to watch over me;

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to give me speech,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to shelter me, God’s host to secure me.  Amen.

Meditation

Written by John Ortberg, a contemporary pastor and author.  This is an excerpt from his book “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.”

As a result of seeing the wind and giving in to fear, Peter began to sink into the water. So here is the question: Did Peter fail? Failure is not an event, but rather a judgment about an event. Failure is not something that happens to us or a label we attach to things. It is a way we think about outcomes.  Before Jonas Salk developed a vaccine for polio that finally worked, he tried 200 unsuccessful ones. Somebody asked him, “How did it feel to fail 200 times?” Salk replay, “I never failed 200 times in my life. I was taught not to use the word ‘failure.’ I just discovered 200 ways how not to vaccinate for polio.” Was Jonas Salk a failure?  Did Peter fail? 

Well, I suppose in a way he did. His faith wasn’t strong enough. His doubts were stronger. He took his eyes off of where they should have been. He sank. He failed. But I think there were 11 bigger failures sitting in the boat. They failed quietly. They failed privately. Their failure went unnoticed, unobserved, uncriticized. Only Peter knew the shame of public failure. But only Peter knew two other things as well. Only Peter knew the glory of walking on water. He alone knew what it was to attempt to do what he was not capable of doing on his own, then feeling the euphoria of being empowered by God to actually do it. Once you walk on water, you never forget it—not for the rest of your life. I think Peter carried that joyous moment with him to his grave.  And only Peter knew the glory of being lifted up by Jesus in a moment of desperate need. Peter knew, in a way the others could not, that when he sank, Jesus would be wholly adequate to save him. He had a shared moment, a shared connection, a shared trust in Jesus that none of the others had. They couldn’t, because they didn’t even get out of the boat.

Prayer

Written by William Barclay (1907-1978), a Scottish author, radio and television presenter, professor of Divinity, and minister in the Church of Scotland.

God, keep us and strengthen us by your grace that no disobedience and no weakness and no failure may stop us from entering into the blessedness which awaits those who are faithful in all the changes and the chances of life down even to the gates of death; Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

Meditation

Written by Beth Moore, contemporary Christian speaker and author.  This is an excerpt from her book “Believing God.”

All human attempts to define God cannot help but minimize Him. We somehow want to neatly package God and make everything about Him explainable. We decide that what’s not explainable is not plausible. We try to make God behave and fit into our textbooks. We want Him to call down and not be so … God-ish. We decide we will only believe what we can humanly reconcile. Our pride and desperation to feel smart has made us unwilling to give the only human answer that exists to some theological questions: “I do not know. But I know that what He says is true even when I can’t explain it or reconcile it with what has happened.”

All attempts to take away the mystery and wonder that surround God leave Him something He is not. We cannot tame the Lion of Judah. There is a mystery, a wonder, and, yes, even a wildness about God we cannot take from Him. Nor would we want to if we could grasp the adventure of Him. If we can come up with a God we can fully explain, we have come up with a different God from the Bible’s. We must beware of recreating an image of God that makes us feel better. If in our pursuit of greater knowledge God seems to have gotten smaller, we have been deceived. I don’t care how intelligent the deceiver seems or how well-meaning and sincere his or her doctrine. We are wise to ask ourselves the question: Who do I say God is? Great wisdom is found in having the courage to take an inventory of how we have developed our present perceptions of God and how Biblically accurate they are.

Prayer

Written by Karen Moore, a contemporary author of books, poetry, and prayer.

Lord, for all those who don’t yet know Your mighty and powerful love, please help them find you. Pour out your mercy on their hearts and kindle the flame of faith in a new and passionate way into their spirits. As they walk toward You, Lord even a little bit, run toward them as the Father did in the story of the Prodigal son and bring them back home again to celebrate in great joy. May your light shine on in their hearts and minds forever. Amen.