ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
GOD IS PERFECT God completely possesses all excellent qualities. Additionally, there’s no quality of excellence that he does not have. He is “complete” or “perfect” in every way.
Jesus tells us, “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). And David says of God, “His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30).
Praise God that He is Perfect
Praise God that he is complete in his perfection. Praise God that he is excellent in every way. Nothing or no one is more excellent than God. Praise God that his plan for salvation is perfect. His actions are perfect.
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 Embrace. Ask God to use their staff and their volunteers to faithfully share the truth with women in need..
- Ask God to give you strength to live in line with the truth of the gospel.
- Ask God to speak to you as you read the scriptures.
SCRIPTURE READING:
2 Corinthians 6 English Standard Version
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
The Temple of the Living God
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
Paul urged the Corinthians to not receive God’s grace in vain. Interpreting these verses in line with the rest of Paul’s writing we know he is not referring to the possibility of “losing your salvation.” He could be speaking to the real need of examining your heart to ensure you have in fact believed the gospel. However it would be strange for Paul to refer to this as “having received God’s grace” if they had in fact not actually been saved. It most likely refers to the possibility that some at Corinth had believed the actual gospel but had their minds continually confused by false teachers. They knew the truth; they just didn’t have full operational confidence in the truth. Let’s say you were given a piece of lifesaving equipment, like a defibrillator. This device has the potential to save lives but perhaps you lack confidence in it and therefore never put it to use. You will have received this in vain. If your mind is continually clouded by all kinds of doubts and confusions put out by all the people with opinions about everything perhaps you should just step back from the rush of information. If the flood of data keeps you frozen in inaction then slow the flood. Feed your soul the truth of the gospel. Let truth lead to action rather than doubt to inaction. You do have a choice in this you know, please make that choice.