ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
GOD IS LOVE
John tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). We see evidence that this attribute of God was active even before creation among the members of the Trinity. Jesus speaks to his Father of “my glory which you have given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24), indicating that there was love from the Father to the Son from all eternity. It continues at the present time, for we read, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand” (John 3:35).
Praise God that He is Love.
Praise God that his love is demonstrated in Jesus’ death on the cross. Praise God that HE IS LOVE! He does not just do loving acts, He defines love. Love flows freely from His being because He is Love! Praise Him that you could not earn or erase His love.
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 those living in Ukraine. Ask God to end the violence and use their terrible evil for His glory.
SCRIPTURE READING:
2 Timothy 3 – Christian Standard Bible
Difficult Times Ahead
3 But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.
6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions, 7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth. They are men who are corrupt in mind and worthless in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be clear to all, as was the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres.
Struggles in the Christian Life
10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, 11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all. 12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God[a] and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
Take a few moments now and pray for the “red martyrs,” those who are literally giving their lives for the gospel in different parts of the world. Now, consider what it means for you to live your life as a “white martyr.” This describes a person who is living a “nothing held back life of commitment” to Jesus. Please don’t move to guilt right now. That is a diversion from what is helpful. If you have been living a self-centered life then repent and be forgiven. Now, let’s get back to the question at hand, “are you living a life of full commitment to Jesus?” If not, what needs to change? Remember this is not about life perfection but life direction. Are you consistently closing the gap on where you are now and where God wants you to be? This is a growth focus not a guilt focus. Engage the wonderful possibility God holds out for you now. You can become more like Jesus over time. This is yours to experience, but you must decisively and consistently move towards him.