Month: July 2019

Saturday Morning, 06 Jul 2019 – 1 Peter 1:13-25 ~ Be holy in all you do.

Saturday Morning

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:  (A Collect for Sabbath Rest – Saturday)

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and set aside a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared to meet you in worship, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________

Reading from the Book of 1 Peter 1:13-25 (NLT)

A Call to Holy Living

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:

“Be holy, because I am holy.”

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,

“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is the word that was preached to you.
__________

Morning Reflection:

Be holy in all you do.

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.
So you must live as God’s obedient children.
Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires.
You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
– 1 Peter 1:13-16 –

In the first half of this chapter, Peter reminded us of who we are as believers: we have been chosen by God, cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and made holy by the Spirit at work within us. In the second half of this chapter, Peter instructs us on holy living as God’s obedient children.

In essence, Peter is saying:

Pull yourself together and follow God’s Word and Spirit
in how you think, what you say, and what you do – after the example of Jesus.

It’s interesting to note that Peter wrote this letter in the mid 60s AD while imprisoned in Rome prior to his martyrdom. I mention this because the sober tone of this letter is quite different from the impulsive tone of Peter as depicted in the Gospels. Peter has changed – he has been transformed by the renewal of his mind. The Holy Spirit has brought to his memory all that Jesus taught him, and his life experiences of preaching, teaching, healing, and leading have proven the truth and power of God’s Word.

Questions for consideration:

  • How has your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus changed over the years? Do you feel closer to God, or more distant? Please explain.
  • Holiness has to do with being set apart to be used by God (consecrated). Do you view yourself a being set apart (a stranger) within the prevailing culture to be used by God? Please explain.
  • As a believer living a holy life in your culture, to what thoughts, words, or behavior do say, “No?” To what thoughts, words, or behavior do you say, “Yes?” Please explain.
  • The purpose of Bible study is to get to know God, and in the process to become more like him – to become more like Jesus, to grow in holiness. How is that working out for you? Are you involved in a Bible study? Are you becoming more Christ-like? Please explain.

__________

Morning Prayer:

Prayer for Holiness:

Holy God: By your grace you have chosen us and adopted us into your family through faith in your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Transform us by the power of your Word and Spirit to become more like him – to become holy as you are holy.

  • Breathe in me Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
  • Act in me Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
  • Draw my heart Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.
  • Strengthen me Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.
  • Guard me so Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy.

I ask this in Jesus’ name, that I might draw closer to you. Amen.
__________

“Be Holy, For I Am Holy” – A Cappella

__________

Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Friday Morning: 05 Jul 2019 – 1 Peter 1:1-12 ~ Live with Heaven in mind.

Friday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Endurance – Friday)

Almighty God, whose beloved Son first suffered pain and crucifixion before entering into glory: Mercifully grant that we, walking in his footsteps, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
__________

Morning Reading – 1 Peter 1:1-12 (NLT)

Greetings from Peter

This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

May God give you more and more grace and peace.

The Hope of Eternal Life

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
__________

Morning Reflection:

Live with Heaven in mind.

May God give you more and more grace and peace.
– 1 Peter 1:2 –

The Apostle Peter sent his letter to believers, mainly Gentiles, living as foreigners in the northern regions of Asia Minor (modern western Turkey). His purpose was to encourage those who were facing persecution for their faith to stand firm.

In today’s reading, Peter reminds us of our identity as believers: we have been chosen by God, cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and made holy by the Spirit at work within us.

+ In Christ, we have hope – because He lives, we shall live. Our new birth gave us this life. Consequently our hope is both alive within us and part of our new life in Christ.
+ In Christ, we have joy – even in our trials, because we have hope, faith, and love. Our present joy is infused with God’s glory; it’s a foretaste of the glory we will experience when Christ returns.
+ In Christ, we have a model of suffering in obedience to God. Both suffering and joy are normative aspects of Christian life.

Questions for consideration:

  • Do you see yourself as a foreigner in the place where you live? How does that affect your understanding of citizenship? Please explain.
  • When you think about who you are (your identity), how is your self-image shaped by what people say about you? How is your self-image shaped by what God says about you? Please explain.
  • Can you think of an example when faith in Jesus Christ changed your despair into hope, your sadness into joy? Please explain.
  • Do you view suffering as normative for Christians? Please explain.

_________

Morning Prayer: For Times of Suffering or Weakness

Dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: I hold up all my weakness to your strength, my failure to your faithfulness, my sinfulness to your perfection, my loneliness to your compassion, my little pains to your great agony on the Cross. I pray that you will cleanse me, strengthen me, guide me, so that in all ways my life may be lived as you would have it lived, without cowardice and for you alone. Show me how to live in true humility, true contrition, and true love. Amen.

__________

“This World is Not My Home” – Charity Youth Bible School

__________

Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Thursday Morning: 04 Jul 2019 – James 5:1-20 ~ Faith waits patiently and prays earnestly.

Thursday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: Guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our lives we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________

Morning Reading – James 5:1-20 (NLT)

Warning to the Rich

Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.

Patience and Endurance

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.

The Power of Prayer

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

Restore Wandering Believers

My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
__________

Morning Reflection:

Faith waits patiently and prays earnestly.

James has already warned us about friendship with the world. In today’s reading he zeroes in on those who live in luxury and rely on their wealth for security. More specifically, his warning is directed at those who have gotten rich by mistreating and cheating their employees. His warning: Your ill-gotten gains will testify against you on the coming Day of Judgement.

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return.
Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring.
They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.
You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
– James 5:7-8 –

Faith waits patiently: In the meantime, believers (especially those whom the rich have oppressed) are encouraged to wait patiently for the return of Jesus Christ. What does waiting patiently entail?

+ Self-restraint which doesn’t retaliate against wrongs suffered.
+ Confidence that justice will be served on the Day of Judgement.
+ Endurance during times of trouble and suffering.
+ Encouragement knowing that our reward lies ahead, as God has promised.
+ Trust in the kindness, tenderness, and mercy of God.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
– James 5:16 –

Faith prays earnestly: In light of the temptations and trials that believers face, James reminds us that prayer is the instrumental means for managing our troubles. How does that work?

+ Prayer is the means to express our feelings of fear, dismay, and distress in times of hardship.
+ Prayer, with the anointing of oil, is the means of healing our sicknesses – spiritual, emotional, and physical.
+ Prayer, with confession and repentance, is the means by which our sins are forgiven.
+ Prayer with other believers works wonders.

Questions for consideration:

  • Do you believe that on the Day of Judgement that justice will be served? Can you think of a particular wrong that you want to be made right? Please explain.
  • Where do you need patience and endurance to cope with the troubles that you face? Please explain.
  • If you were/are sick, upon whom would you call to pray for healing and anoint you with oil? Please explain.
  • Have you / do you pray with other believers? How has God responded to your prayers? Please explain.

_________

Morning Prayer: – For the Acceptance of Prayer

Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

__________

“King Of My Heart” – Kutless

__________

Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Wednesday Morning: 03 Jul 2019 – James 4:1-17 ~ Faith comes close to God.

Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Grace – Wednesday)

O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________

Morning Reading – James 4:1-17 (NLT)

Drawing Close to God

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Warning against Judging Others

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

Warning about Self-Confidence

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
__________

Morning Reflection:

Faith comes close to God.

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts,
for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
– James 4:8 –

What prevents us from coming close to God? Divided loyalty – we want to be friends with the world and with God at the same time. But that’s not possible, as James points out –

If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

So what should we avoid as believers living in the world?

+ Conflict and quarrels with other believers
+ Desiring personal pleasure over closeness with God
+ Praying to gratify our desires instead of aligning them with God’s will
+ Excluding God from our daily life, instead of relying on him in every aspect of our lives

God gives help (grace) to those who put God first in their lives. How do we do that?

+ Humble ourselves – Surrender of our will to God; ordering our priorities in harmony with his priorities.
+ Resist Satan – Refuse to give in to doubt, denial, disregard for God’s Word, and disobedience.
+ Purify ourselves – Confession and repentance removes our sins and cleanses our hearts so that we can live for God’s glory.

Questions for consideration:

  • In today’s reading, James assumes that believers have an ongoing battle with sin creeping into our lives. Is that true of you? Please explain.
  • We live in a time when “the world” with it’s values and priorities are paraded before us 24/7. Can you identify any “world values” that are preventing you from coming close to God? Please explain.
  • Where do you need God’s mercy and grace to resist the influence of Satan in your life? Please explain.
  • What role do confession and repentance have in your life? Please explain.

_________

Morning Prayer: Collect for Purity

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

__________

“Nearer, My God, to Thee” – Sharon Mennonite Bible Institute

__________

Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Tuesday Morning: 02 Jul 2019 – James 3:1-18 ~ Faith speaks words of blessing, wisdom and peace.

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________

Morning Reading – James 3:1-18 (NLT)

Controlling the Tongue

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

True Wisdom Comes from God

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
__________

Morning Reflection:

Faith speaks words of blessing, wisdom and peace.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit,
impartial and sincere. – James 3:17

A living faith produces good works and it also produces good words. How? By controlling what we say. Words matter – what we say to others reflects on our faith as much as what we do for others. Words can bless or curse.

Why the warning?

+ The tongue has as much destructive power as a spark in a forest. It is petite but powerful.
+ The tongue is the gate through which evil influences can spread like fire to inflame all the areas of life that we touch.
+ Apart from the Holy Spirit’s help no human being has ever been able to subdue his or her own tongue.

By way of contrast, a living faith speaks words of blessing, wisdom and peace.

+ Blessing:  words of God’s favor and protection; words of encouragement and approval; words that strengthen and build up.
+ Wisdom:  words that view life from God’s perspective and understanding; words that are gentle and gracious, spoken with humility and kindness.
+ Peace:  words that are open to reason, full of mercy, considerate of others, sympathetic to the needy, willing to yield to reasonable requests.

 Questions for consideration:

  • Can you think of a time when you were wounded by hurtful words? Please explain.
  • Can you think of a time when you spoke hurtful words to someone? Please explain.
  • Can you think of someone who needs a word of blessing from you? What would you say to them?  Please explain.
  • Can you think of someone who needs a word of wisdom from you? What would you say to them? Please explain.
  • Can you think of someone who needs you to be a peacemaker? What would that involve? Please explain.

_________

Morning Prayer:

Prayer of Blessing:

May the Lord bless you and protect you, and may he show you his mercy and loving-kindness. May the Lord be good to you and give you his peace through his Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

__________

“Christ Be All Around Me” – Leeland

__________

Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen