ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
GOD IS OMNISCIENT Elihu says that God is the one “who is perfect in knowledge” (Job 37:16), and John says that God “knows everything” (1 John 3:20). The quality of knowing everything is called omniscience, and because God knows everything, he is said to be omniscient (that is, “all-knowing”).
Here are a few examples of God’s limitless knowledge as portrayed in Scripture:
- He knows when we sit, when we rise, and what we think (Psalm 139:1–2)
- He knows words we will say before we speak them (Psalm 139:4)
- He knows the days of our lives before we are born (Psalm 139:16)
- He knows every possible future (1 Samuel 23:11–13)
Praise God Because He is Omniscient
Praise God that He sees everyday and every moment of your life. Praise God that He knows every place you have ever been. Praise God that He knows all without striving to know. He knows because He IS omniscient not because He works to gain knowledge as we do.
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 our government leaders. Pray for Mayor Whipple. Pray for Governor Kelly, and pray for President Biden.
SCRIPTURE READING:
2 Timothy 2:14-26 – Christian Standard Bible
An Approved Worker
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to fight about words. This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. 15 Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. 16 Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness, 17 and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them. 18 They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are ruining the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
The problem with avoiding foolish and stupid arguments is that we rarely think the ones we engage in are that…we think they are wise and worthwhile. How do we avoid what is foolish and stupid if we don’t immediately recognize it as such? Some has to do with the content of the “discussion.” Is this really a matter of such vital and lasting importance that it’s worth me spending this relational capital on it? Some has to do with our own heart in the matter. Am I making this about winning a point or helping a person? Is my goal to please God and love people or look smart and be in charge? When you read or hear of someone who genuinely has a belief that is at odds with the truth of the gospel do you despise them or pray for them? If you encounter a person who is truly “wrong” in their ideas do you oppose them harshly or seek to gently instruct them? It might help to see them as prey trapped in the devil’s snare. There are some people who simply are to be avoided; Paul will address this in another chapter. However, many people need to be shown patience in the hope that they will come to their senses and escape from the enemy’s captivity.