The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Psalms 32, 86, 102, 103, 122
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 5: Kings and Prophets: God shapes a kingdom people
Background Information: Psalms 32, 86, 102, 103, 122
Paul wrote in Romans 4 that Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Righteousness is the ability to stand forgiven, free and safe in God’s holy presence. It is what all the many sacrifices and the vast scope of laws could not obtain. The veil that separates the holy God from sinful man has been torn. We can enter now into God’s presence by way of Jesus’ sacrifice. His sacrifice has been credited to our account. Paul quotes Psalm 32 in Romans 4 to describe this reality of what is called justification by faith. Though we do not act righteously, we have been declared righteous. This is by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross, not by our own efforts. Though we are in fact guilty, we have been declared, by God the righteous Judge, not guilty. Is that the end of it? Well, that is certainly worth celebrating. Happy, or joyful, is the one whose sin is forgiven. But there is more. Because we have been declared righteous, and we now have access to God’s presence, we can become more righteous in our hearts, minds, and habits. In Psalm 86 David asks God for an undivided mind and declares his desire to praise God with all his heart. David wants God to give him a single mind for his glory, not divided between his own will and God’s will. He wants this because he desires to praise God with all of his heart. David’s desire for a life that reflects God’s unmerited favor in his life will largely be unfilled. We have what he did not. We have the Spirit of God dwelling in us. We have the finished Word of God to instruct us. We live among the people of God to challenge us. Though we will not perfectly live righteous lives, we can, over time, become in our hearts, minds, and habits more fully what God has declared us to be “legally.” We can become like the righteous Lord Jesus. We can become, more and more, people with undivided hearts and minds.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for those in our church who are sick or recovering. Pray for Bruce Brown. Ask God to heal his body. Pray for Ed Giesen. Pray for Wendy Page.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.