ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
MAJESTY OF GOD Sovereign power, authority, or dignity. It is also a reference to greatness or splendor of quality or character.
Psalm 8:1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory in the heavens.
Praise God for His Majesty
God is the Majestic King of the Universe. As you praise him, consider changing your posture (kneel, stand in reverence, or bow). Think about the splendor of the heavens, the sun, the moon and stars. Praise God that his splendor surpasses the majestic heavens.
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 Afghanistan – Pray for planted Gospel seeds to take root and grow in this dark time. Pray for Afghani refugees to hear and receive the truth of the Gospel.
SCRIPTURE READING:
Galatians 6 New International Version
Doing Good to All
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Not Circumcision but the New Creation
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
The pendulum error is where we over compensate for an imbalance by swinging past center to an opposite imbalance. Paul frequently combated two errors in his letters. One was legalism, the attempt to earn God’s favor through our own efforts. The other was antinomianism, presuming on God’s favor and willfully doing whatever we want. The truth of the gospel is that we cannot earn what God has given and at the same time we do reap what we sow in terms of personal actions. This is no contradiction, it is a balance. We will not “reap” eternal separation from God if we have truly trusted Christ to save us. We will, however, reap a destructive harvest of bad results in this life if we fail to discipline ourselves to follow after Christ. It makes more sense if we stop asking “what do I have to do to please God?” and ask “what do I get to do now that God is pleased with me?” Do you have to live in moral purity or do you get to? Do you have to pursue God in a personal relationship…read his word, pray…or do you get to? Do you have to worship in community (go to church) or do you get to? Have you framed God’s grace gifts as things you have to do or things you get to do?