Week 36 Day 3
I. Prayer to enter the Lord’s presence:
Be still for a moment. “Lord, I give the day that is now past to you. It is yours. I give the day that is to come to you; help me to see where you are working and to join you there. Speak to me during these moments. I commit them and myself to you.”
II. Prayer of Confession:
“Lord, you are faithful to forgive me and cleanse me of my sin when I confess it to you. I confess my sin(s) of ______________. Thank you for forgiveness.” (1 John 1:9)
III. Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Choose to be thankful, speak out loud of what God has done.
“Thank you, Father, for _________________. Fill my heart and my mouth with gratitude throughout this day.”
IV. Scripture Reflection
Read
Rom. 14:1-8 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Reflect
Paul frequently dealt with the question of what part of the Old Testament laws still applied to Christians. The Law consisted of things that were moral, ceremonial, and civil in nature. Israel was a nation with laws given directly by God to govern them. In addition there were ceremonial laws that set them apart from other nations and pointed forward to the gospel of Jesus. Then there were moral laws that are universal in scope and application like “do not kill or steal.” The ceremonial laws were not intended to be ongoing means of “getting grace” from God. Unfortunately they often became the focal point of relationship with God rather than celebrating and pointing to more important matters such as Love for God and love for others. In Romans 14 Paul addresses two forms of the ceremonial law that caused people confusion…certain foods and special days. Paul makes it clear that Christians are free to eat all foods and that no one day is more special than another. He also makes it clear that there will be differences of conviction on these things and that in the midst of these differences Christians are to “accept one another” especially the one that is less mature in their faith and struggling to understand what God’s freedom looks like for them.
Respond
Spend some time contemplating verse one, “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.” Think through some things that are disputable and others that are not open for dispute. Engage this important principal with all your mind.
V. Prayer for others:
Pray specifically for the concerns of your life and the lives of others.
VI. Prayer of commitment:
“Lord God, I commit to love you with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength and with all my mind and to love my neighbor as myself. Empower me today to love you and others with everything that I am.” (Luke 10:27)
This Month’s Scripture Memory:
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.