ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
GOD IS IMMUTABLE The Immutability of God means He cannot change in His nature, Character or dependability.
Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Praise the God Who Does Not Change
God is perfect and has no room to improve his nature or character. Praise Him because his love has never diminished or changed. Praise him because His power has never diminished or changed. Praise him because his justice has never changed or wavered.
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 your friends who do not know Jesus. Ask God to strengthen your friendships and give you opportunities for gospel conversations.
SCRIPTURE READING:
1 Timothy 6 New Living Translation
All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. 2 If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved.
False Teaching and True Riches
Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. 3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. 5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Paul’s Final Instructions
11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 13 And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 15 For,
At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. 16 He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.
17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
20 Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. 21 Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.
May God’s grace be with you all.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
Flee from all that is empty and vanishing, chase all that is life-giving and God honoring. Pursue righteousness (living out of your union with Christ), godliness (a whole life orientation to God), faith (increasing confidence in God over self), love (putting the interests of others ahead of your own), endurance (living decided not deciding), and gentleness (controlled strength for the glory of God and the good of others). Contemplate what it would mean for you to pursue these qualities as a follower of Christ. As you do, remember that growth in faith is a fight. We are to aggressively and actively pursue the qualities of Christ knowing that it will often be a fight against our own will, the culture we live in and the spiritual enemies who oppose us. Fight the good fight of the faith, but remember you do not have the resources on your own to do so. You must give full effort and you must lean fully into the grace of God. It is 100% effort and 100% God. This is not a math problem; this is the reality of God’s power and your own choices. Give full effort and trust God fully.