ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
GOD IS COMPLETELY FREE The freedom of God, is also called divine freedom. God is not constrained by anyone other than himself. He does what he pleases and therefore he is always free. He is not bound to the dictates of anyone else. He does make promises which obligate him to do certain things, but he makes those promises voluntarily.
Psalm 135:6 The Lord does whatever He pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.
Praise God for His Divine Freedom
Praise God that he cannot be manipulated. Praise God that he always acts according to his good, just, wise, and loving nature. Praise God for the specific ways that he has freely acted in your life.
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 Christian Challenge students who may not know Christ. Pray they would be saved.
- Today is the last worship meeting for Christian Challenge. Ask God to reveal himself to students tonight.
- Ask God to speak as you read and meditate.
SCRIPTURE READING:
1 Corinthians 16 The Message
Coming to See You
1-4 Regarding the relief offering for poor Christians that is being collected, you get the same instructions I gave the churches in Galatia. Every Sunday each of you make an offering and put it in safekeeping. Be as generous as you can. When I get there you’ll have it ready, and I won’t have to make a special appeal. Then after I arrive, I’ll write letters authorizing whomever you delegate, and send them off to Jerusalem to deliver your gift. If you think it best that I go along, I’ll be glad to travel with them.
5-9 I plan to visit you after passing through northern Greece. I won’t be staying long there, but maybe I can stay awhile with you—maybe even spend the winter? Then you could give me a good send-off, wherever I may be headed next. I don’t want to just drop by in between other “primary” destinations. I want a good, long, leisurely visit. If the Master agrees, we’ll have it! For the present, I’m staying right here in Ephesus. A huge door of opportunity for good work has opened up here. (There is also mushrooming opposition.)
10-11 If Timothy shows up, take good care of him. Make him feel completely at home among you. He works so hard for the Master, just as I do. Don’t let anyone disparage him. After a while, send him on to me with your blessing. Tell him I’m expecting him, and any friends he has with him.
12 About our friend Apollos, I’ve done my best to get him to pay you a visit, but haven’t talked him into it yet. He doesn’t think this is the right time. But there will be a “right time.”
13-14 Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
15-16 Would you do me a favor, friends, and give special recognition to the family of Stephanas? You know, they were among the first converts in Greece, and they’ve put themselves out, serving Christians ever since then. I want you to honor and look up to people like that: companions and workers who show us how to do it, giving us something to aspire to.
17-18 I want you to know how delighted I am to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus here with me. They partially make up for your absence! They’ve refreshed me by keeping me in touch with you. Be proud that you have people like this among you.
19 The churches here in western Asia send greetings.
Aquila, Priscilla, and the church that meets in their house say hello.
20 All the friends here say hello.
Pass the greetings around with holy hugs!
21 And I, Paul—in my own handwriting!—send you my regards.
22 If anyone won’t love the Master, throw him out. Make room for the Master!
23 Our Master Jesus has his arms wide open for you.
24 And I love all of you in the Messiah, in Jesus.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
Culture is set by what leaders communicate, demonstrate and celebrate. Paul communicated the Christ-like value of service, he demonstrated sacrificial service by his life, and he celebrated those who served others with their actions. You are or you will be in a position to help set culture. It may be culture in your home, your workplace, your small group, or in your community at large. When you consider the words that most frequently come from your mouth, the actions of your life and who you hold up as most worthy of imitation, what does that look like? Do you speak words that indicate you are hurt and offended when people dare treat you as a servant? Do you get in a huff when people under appreciate you or over demand from you? Do you defer to people who are more like demanding dictators than humble servants? You can have a large role in setting or re-setting the culture you live and work in. It will take a clear vision of what that culture should look like and consistent choices that bring that vision to pass. You may think that you could have very little impact on the people around you but that is simply not true. You will have an impact, everyone does, but what kind of impact you have is yours to decide.