ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
SPIRITUAL God isn’t made of matter, has no parts or dimensions, cannot be perceived by our bodily senses, and is more excellent than any other kind of existence. He doesn’t have a physical body, nor is he merely energy, thought, or some other element of creation. God is spirit.
John 4:24 God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
Praise God that He is Spirit
Praise God that he is alive. Praise him that he is personal. Praise him that he is more than a force or energy. Praise him that he has revealed himself to us.
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.
- This week there are a group of college students in Salina training to serve overseas this summer.
- Pray for the students that they would engage in the training and pray for those leading the training to have courage and wisdom.
- Ask God to speak to you as you read the scriptures.
SCRIPTURE READING:
2 Corinthians 3 New International Version
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The Greater Glory of the New Covenant
7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
A Curriculum Vitae or “CV” is a comprehensive type of “Resume.” It is Latin for “Course of Life.” It lists your life accomplishments, education, experiences, etc. Paul had an impressive CV but what he delighted in the most was his part in seeing the gospel change lives at the heart level. He told the church at Corinth that they were his letters of recommendation written by God on their hearts. He did not believe he was instrumental in this life impact but that he was privileged to be a partner with God in what he was doing. You and I have the opportunity to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of people. In the end, our career accomplishments will pale in comparison to being used by God to live and speak the gospel to others in ways that draw them to Christ. For all of us, at different times, this opportunity to partner with God in the gospel can lose its place as an essential life focus. If you are there now, ask God to re-ignite your heart for the gospel. Ask him to give you opportunity and courage to speak the gospel to others.