Invitation — Deuteronomy 33:12
"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders."
Quiet
Bible Song — Psalm 135:1-5
Praise the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord;
praise him, you servants of the Lord,
you who minister in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own,
Israel to be his treasured possession.
I know that the Lord is great,
that our Lord is greater than all gods.
Bible Reading — Galatians 2:15-21
"We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
"But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn't that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Quiet
Dwelling
Leisurely read again ... is there a word or idea that stirred within you? Linger over it and give it your attention ... is there something about the reading you'd like to ask God about? Pray your life to God ... take a moment to rest in God's presence.
Free Prayer
- for wise stewardship of our physical resources
- for creative new conservation technologies and strategies
- for the leaders of the church
Prayer — BC 22
Blunt God, you don't leave any wiggle room on this one, do you? Either the salvation you offer is all in Christ or it is not in Christ at all. I love Jesus, but sometimes I find a hybrid gospel appealing, adding some current spirituality to faith in Jesus, topping the gospel with my hard work or winning personality, augmenting grace with my pleasant idols. Confront me again with the unvarnished truth that my salvation is in Christ alone. Amen.
Blessing — Philippians 1:11
May you be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God."