Weekday Devotional - Week 19 Family (Day 5) - We will Serve the Lord

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

We will Serve the Lord

Scripture Reading: Joshua 24:15; Matthew 18:1-10; Galatians 6:7-10

Reflection:

Joshua declared that his household would serve God.  Does your family have such a declaration?  Why or why not?

Describe the lifestyle of a family who has God as its head, based on all you've read about family.  How does your family compare?  What changes might you need to make?

Prayer:  Lord, come and be the center of my life and of my family.  Rid me of sin and help me guard against anything that isn't from you.  You are my God and I am your child.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 19 Family (Day 4) - Family of God

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Family of God

Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:46-50, 10:32-39; 1 John 3:7-10; Ephesians 2:19-22

Reflection:

Who does Jesus say is his family?

How can you love Jesus more than your parent or your child?

What does it mean to be a part of the family of God?

Prayer:  Father God, thank you for making me part of your family, for claiming me as your own.  Make me worthy to be called your child and give me the courage to leave everything behind to follow you.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 19 Family (Day 3) - Different Kinds of Family

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Different Kinds of Family

Scripture Reading: Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 68:5-6

Reflection:

What promise from God did Hagar receive?

What do these passages teach you about how God feels about family?

How can you trust in God as a good and loving Father, even when your earthly family may have let you down?

Prayer:  God, I know that no family has it all together.  Thank you for restoring the broken places and help me trust you when it feels like my family is falling apart.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 19 Family (Day 2) - Honoring Elders

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Honoring Elders

Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-4; Titus 2:1-15

Reflection:

Why do you think honoring your mother and father made it in the Ten Commandments?

What does it mean to honor your parents?

What does family look like according to Titus 2:1-15?

Prayer:  Lord, I know that you will call me to honor and respect my parents and elders.  Forgive me for the arrogance that tells me I know better.  Make me humble and help me seek out the wisdom of my family.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 19 Family (Day 1) Teaching Children

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Teaching Children

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:41-52; Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Reflection:

What do these passages say about the role of family in a child's faith journey?

What should we teach our children?  How do we teach them?

How did Jesus' family live out the instructions in Deuteronomy 6?

How did you learn from your family about who God is and what God has done for you?

Prayer:  Lord, help me to pass on your love and hope to my children.  Make me a worthy example of a devoted life.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 18 Communion (Day 5) - The Right Attitude

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

The Right Attitude

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, 5:6-8

Reflection:

What is the proper heart-attitude when taking Communion?

How can God examine our hearts and our lives and open us up to receive God fully?

What message do we proclaim every time we take Communion?

Prayer:  Jesus, thank you for the gift of Holy Communion, for becoming the broken body and blood that made a way of life with the Father.  Test my heart and make me worthy of your great and mighty works.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 18 Communion (Day 4) - The Cup of Salvation

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

The Cup of Salvation

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 9:1-28, 10:19-22

Reflection:

What does the Hebrews passage say that the blood of Christ does for us?

What is the connection between Old Testament sacrifice and the cup of the new covenant?

What does it mean to you to be forgiven for your sins?

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for inviting me into a new covenant.  Help me live confidently in your salvation.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 18 Communion (Day 3) - The Bread of Life

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

The Bread of Life

Scripture Reading: John 6:26-59; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Reflection:

What does it mean to you that Jesus is the bread of life?

What do those who believe and eat of the bread of life receive?

What is symbolized by the one loaf mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17?

Prayer:  Bread of Life, that you for meeting all my needs.  Help me depend on your.  Sustain me as I seek you.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 18 Communion (Day 2) - Holy Communion

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Holy Communion

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:7-23

Reflection:

What is the new covenant described in Jeremiah?  Why does God want a new covenant?

What does Christ deliver us from a represented in the act of Communion?

How do you make sacrifices in your walk with God?

Prayer:  Lord, forgive me when I take Communion as though it were an empty ritual.  Thank you for extending your great covenant to me.  Find me faithful as I participate in that covenant and live it out.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 18 Communion (Day 1) - Passover

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Passover

Scripture Reading: Exodus 12:1-30

Reflection:

What do you more fully understand about he Passover after reading today's scriptures?

How can we teach our children about what God has done?

Have you ever needed deliverance?  How did you experience God's deliverance?


Prayer:  God I wasn't there to be rescued when you delivered the Israelites.  But you have delivered me from sin and freed me for a relationship and life with you.  As I participate in Holy Communion, may I remember your mighty acts from the first Passover to the cross.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 17 Worship (Day 5) - Keep God First

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Keep God First

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 23

Reflection:

What are these festival instructions all about?

What is the underlying them in all of the festivals?

What kinds of offerings does God want from us?

Why should we leave the edges of the field un-harvested?  What does that say about what God expects of our worship?

Prayer:  God, you've brought me through so much.  Everything I have is by your hand.  Fill me with the proper perspective and praise for all you've done.  give me a heart to worship you and put you first above all other things.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 17 Worship (Day 4) - A New Song

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

A New Song

Scripture Reading: Psalms 96-99; Revelation 4:11

Reflection:

Choose one of the psalms today's reading and write it in your own words.  How would you write a worship poem or song to praise God for all that God has done in your life?

How does the image of nature rising up to praise inspire you to worship?

What do the various postures of worship mentioned in today's readings teach you about how to worship?

Prayer:  God who made the heavens and the earth, I give you praise for your mighty works.  But even apart from your great works, I praise you because you are my God.  Give me a heart to worship you.  Let me join with all creation to sing your praise with my very life. Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 17 Worship (Day 3) - Worship and Justice

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Worship and Justice

Scripture Reading: Amos 5:21-24; Isaiah 58:1-14

Reflection:

What was God displeased with the people's acts of worship in today's readings?

What is the connection between worship and acts of justice?

How is worship expressed in justice?

Prayer:  Lord, forgive me for failing to loose the chains of injustice and care for the needs of the poor.  Forgive me when I come to worship you one day a week but ignore you the other six.  Help me to worship you by seeking justice and meeting the needs of the most vulnerable.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 17 Worship (Day 2) - In Spirit and Truth

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

In Spirit and Truth

Scripture Reading: John 4:1-42

Reflection:

What was the significant of Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman?

How can we keep our eyes open to recognize God's gift?


How did Jesus' naming the woman's past free her to worship him?

What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth?

Prayer:  Lord, free me from my past and lead me to worship you with my whole self.   Inspire within me a desire to run and tell everyone the good things you've done.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 17 Worship (Day 1) - Undignified

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Undignified

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 6:12-23; Psalm 100

Reflection:

Why was David leaping and dancing?

How does the psalm encourage you to worship?


Who or what is currently the object of your worship?  What would cause you to leap and dance before the Lord?

Prayer:  Lord, your faithfulness and love inspire worship that makes me want to get up and dance.  Thank you for choosing me, loving me, calling me your own.  Let my whole life be like worship.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 16 Reconciliation (Day 5) - Overcoming Anger

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Overcoming Anger

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:21-26; Ephesians 4:21-27

Reflection:

What does Jesus say about the relationship between worship and anger?

Why is our ability to worship inhibited by our grudges?

What does Paul mean when he says not to let the sun set our our anger?



Why is our refusal to reconcile an opportunity for evil?


Prayer:  Lord, when I am offended my natural response is to be angry.  Reconciling with others often gets shoved to the bottom of my list even when I long to worship you.  Help me be reconciled with others so that I can worship you with my whole heart. Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 16 Reconciliation (Day 4) - Joseph the Reconciler

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Joseph the Reconciler?

Scripture Reading: Genesis 45:1-28

Reflection:

How did Joseph find the strength to forgive his brothers?

Would you be able to reconcile with your brothers if you were Joseph?  Why?

Do you have any situations in your life that require the same level of grace that Joseph gave?


Prayer:  God, I can't imagine how Joseph refrained from seeking revenge and harboring anger all those years.  It is so hard to be slow to anger.  Thank you for the example of Joseph and his witness of reconciliation.  Help me take the hard road when I need to. Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 16 Reconciliation (Day 3) - Ministry of Harmony

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Ministry of Harmony

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12-15

Reflection:

What do these verses say about living a life of reconciliation? 

Memorize this passage today.  How does it help you seek peace?

What is the most important thing we need to put on? Why?

Prayer: Lord, live in me richly as I seek to forgive as you have forgiven me.  Control my heart with your peace, and give me courage to walk the road of reconciliation.   Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 16 Reconciliation (Day 2) - Odd Pairings

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

Odd Pairings

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10, 65:17-25

Reflection:

What are some descriptors from these passages of God's plans to reconcile with humanity? 

How does imaging a new heaven and new earth help us understand reconciliation with God?

What do the odd pairing represent (the leopard lying down with the goat, etc.)?

What does it mean to you that God provided a way of reconciliation for you?


Prayer:  God, thank you for your vast love for me.  Help me to be a person of reconciliation.  Amen.

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Weekday Devotional - Week 16 Reconciliation (Day 1) - What Does it Mean?

The Daily Devotional comes from the Common English Bible (The Daily Companion).   This is a 52 week 5 day a week daily devotional.

What Does it Mean?

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18, 3:16-18

Reflection:

How do these passages define reconciliation with Christ?

Why did God want to be reconciled with us?

What good comes from being reconciled to God in Jesus Christ?

Write John 3:16-18 in your own words.  What do these verses mean to you?


Prayer:  Thank you, God , for choosing me, for making a way to be in relationship with you.  Thank you for choosing to reconcile me to your side.  Help me live in your light. Amen.

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