ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
GOD IS JUST God always does what is right, and He is the final standard of what is right. Scripture attests to God’s righteousness and justice:
“All his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25).
“The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart” (Psalm 19:8).
“I the Lord speak the truth, I declare what is right” (Isaiah 45:19).
Paul says that when God sent Christ as a sacrifice to bear the punishment for sin, it “was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:25–26). When Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins it showed that God was both righteous and just, because he paid the wages of sin (Romans 6:23) and forgave his people.
Praise God that He is Just
Praise God that he does not overlook sin. Praise God that he always acts with perfect justice. Praise God that he has provided us forgiveness from sin.
CONFESSION: Confess your sins to God and receive his continued mercy.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
THANKSGIVING: Giving thanks to God for his specific blessings in our lives.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100
SUPPLICATION: Bringing our requests to God.
- Bring your personal prayer requests to God.
- Pray for Austin and Jenni as they serve overseas
- Pray for the seeds that Austin and Jenni are sowing to bear fruit.
- Pray for River. Pray that our church would grow and be strengthened.
- Ask God to speak to you and direct you as you read the scriptures.
SCRIPTURE READING:
1 Corinthians 5 New International Version
Dealing With a Case of Incest
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
Do you see the church as essential for the work of God in and through your life? Scripture portrays it this way. Much of our culture sees participation in a local church as “nice but unnecessary.” Some see it as downright foolish and a waste of time. Scripture says it is the body of Christ and we are the members of that body. Are you a detached or an attached member? Are you a fully functioning, healthy member…or have you allowed yourself to atrophy? If you are fully engaged…rejoice! If you are disconnected…repent, then engage and rejoice in the blessing of participation in the body of Christ.