Sunday Morning Devotional: Week 22

Your Weekly Rest and Reset

Much of our praying is just asking God to bless some folks that are ill and to keep us plugging along. But prayer is not merely prattle: it is warfare. (Alan Redpath)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Deuteronomy 30:15-20
·         Psalm 119:1-8
·         1 Corinthians 3:1-9
·         Matthew 1:21-37

Adoration

Psalm 119:1-2
Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
    who seek him with their whole heart,

He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought (verse 1)
He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
(Joseph H. Gilmore)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.

Confession

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. (Deuteronomy 30:15-18)

Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary)

As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Thanksgiving

God of the harvest, you call some of us to plant the seeds of the Gospel of the kingdom. Others of us you move to water the seed to bring the increase. And still, you beckon others to nurture and cultivate that which is already growing. In and through this process, it is you who gives the growth. We give you thanks that you call us to be a part of bringing others to new life in Christ. Yet, we are reminded, O Lord, that it is you and you alone who are sovereign over such things. We are called to be faithful to the Great Commission, but always trusting in you to bring forth fruit. In Christ’s holy name we pray. Amen. (from 1 Corinthians 3:5-9)

Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life.

Supplication (Petition – prayers for yourself)

·         Help me to mature in my faith and to increasingly please God by my thoughts, words, and deeds.
·         Particular struggles in various relationships
·         My activities for this day
·         Other needs

Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)

·         My Family
·         My local church
·         My denomination
·         Para-church ministries, particularly Christian education and discipleship
·         Evangelistic ministries
·         Other needs
 
Lord we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same. (Thomas Cranmer)

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This We Believe

(from the Catechism of the Global Methodist Church)
Week 22

Question 35: What is our greatest hope? 

Answer: We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. (John 6:39-40; 11:25-26; Rom. 6:5-8; 8:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:20-23, 50-55; Phil. 3:10-12, 20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18.) 

Question 36: What are the two ultimate outcomes facing humanity? 

Answer: The righteous rise to eternal life and the wicked to eternal condemnation. (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43; 25:31-46; John 5:25-29; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-8; 22:1-5; CoF XII.) 

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