Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 63:3-5 My lips will glorify you
because your faithful love is better than life.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
at your name, I will lift up my hands.
5 You satisfy me as with rich food;
my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.
Read the Entire Psalm
Your faithful love is better than life. How could God’s faithful love be better than life? If God did not love, we would not have life. His love is also faithful. He pursues us over and over. Not because He is desperate for us, but because He loves. God’s faithful love gives meaning to our life. Without His faithful love we are left to make up our own meaning. Because He loves, we have meaning beyond our lives. Praise God for His faithful love.
Scripture Reading
1 John 2:7-14 – English Standard Version
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Give thanks to God for His gifts and His goodness.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for Youth Horizons. Ask God to use their mentoring program and residential homes to make God’s love known to kids at-risk.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Jesus is our example of love. He loved sacrificially. He went to the cross on our behalf. He willingly took on human flesh and stepped down from glory to walk among His creation. He loved selflessly. He bent down to wash his disciples’ feet. He did not hold onto his status as teacher but willingly served. Jesus died for the sins of the world. Only he could do that because he is the sinless son of God. You won’t follow his example in that way, but you will be called to sacrificial love and selfless love. As you think about sacrificial and selfless love, you may be prone to think, “God I’m ready! Give me a big assignment! I want to lay down my life for others.” Could it be that he wants you to lay down your life in ordinary mundane ways? Maybe you could listen to a friend. Maybe God would have you pray regularly for a friend. Selfless and sacrificial love does not have to be huge acts of love. Sometimes they are just practical and simple. Will you be available to love others in the way that God calls you to love them? Can you ask Him to help you put yourself aside to be obedient to Him?