ADORATION – Reflect on God’s Greatness
GOD IS INFINITE – God is limitless. God is not limited by anything outside of His character. This applies to all of God’s attributes.
Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.
Praise God because He is Infinite.
We are finite and as such we cannot fully fathom infinity. God is not limited by time or space. Praise Him because He has been present in every place. Praise Him because he has been present for every person for all of time. Praise Him because each and everyday He has acted with wisdom, love, grace, justice, and mercy. Praise him because He will never exhaust His ability to demonstrate His character.
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 Isaac and Suzanne Michaels. Ask God to guide them and encourage them as they serve at Black Forest Academy.
SCRIPTURE READING:
James 2:1-13 – New International Version
Favoritism Forbidden
2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
We believe in the glorious Lord Jesus Christ. He is glorious. He lives in the heavens and is creator of all that exists. He is Lord. He is supreme “boss” of all that exists. He is Jesus. He is God became man to save us. He is Christ. He is the long-promised Messiah (this is what Christ means). He is God’s plan from before time to redeem humanity. Now, as a believer and follower of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, how is it possible that we become impressed with any human? It’s not that we don’t admire people of high character or great skill. It’s obvious that some people are impressive (relative to other humans) in their accomplishments. We are not to disdain others or to look down on people because they have accomplished much. This disdain is most often a function of our own jealousy and insecurity. We are to honor and respect when that is appropriate. BUT…there is one celebrity, one true superstar. To put any human in a place that even comes close to the Lord Jesus in our hearts and minds is crazy. If we had the eyes to truly see things as they are, we would look at any “great” human and see them as a mere ant compared to the “GREATNESS” of Christ. Comparing human to human, there is great distinction in terms of ability, accomplishments, intelligence, etc. Comparing humans to God, there is no real distinction with humans. We are all infinitely small, weak, and temporary compared to God. Work on getting your mind around this. It is an important starting point for the week ahead.