Day 20: Love for the City Saturday Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” ~Luke 15:1-2 Across cultures, sharing a meal is a sign of acceptance and friendship. As you eat with someone, walls come down and authentic conversation begins to happen. It’s no surprise, then, that Jesus pursued and loved the broken in this way – knowing full well that it would cost him his reputation amongst the religious crowd. Call to Action: Invite a...
Day 19: Engagement Friday But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. ~Jeremiah 29:7 Our responsibility is not simply to engage with our community on behalf of God. We are also to engage with God on behalf of our community. We must go beyond the small-mindedness of self-centered requests. Eyeing the advance of God’s kingdom, we must tune in to the concerns of our community and be diligent in presenting these needs to God. His...
Day 18: Continuing Transformation Thursday Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:11-13 Paul wrote these words from a jail cell. Yet he was content because he chose to find his contentment in Christ: rejoicing in His character, hoping in the promise...
Day 17: Authentic Community Wednesday And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” ~Acts 15:36 Throughout the New Testament, Jesus and the early church leaders refer to Christians as brothers and sisters. Becoming children of God doesn’t just change our relationship with God; it changes our relationship with each other. A church gathering should feel more like a big Thanksgiving dinner than a meeting of a club or voluntary organization. ...
Day 16: Rule of Scripture Tuesday Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. ~Matthew 4:4 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart. ~Jeremiah 15:16 The word “hunger” describes the physiological need to eat food to fuel your body. “Appetite” describes the psychological desire for food, whether or not you’re actually hungry. Notice how both a hunger and an appetite for God’s Word are described in the verses above. A Christian is...
Day 15: Gospel-centeredness Monday For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ~Galatians 5:1, 13 Good news! By the authority and grace of Jesus, the power of sin has been broken and the debt of sin had been paid. You are no longer a slave to sin. You are free to serve a new master – a Savior who...
Day 14: Worship Sunday Theme of Praise: God is the substitute Savior; therefore, we celebrate the Good News of Jesus Christ as the source of our salvation, the center of our worship, and the heart of our discipleship. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’ ~Galatians 3:13 Read Isaiah 53. Read over these verses a few times. Meditate on the words. Now, in your own words, what are the writers saying? Use these verses...
Day 13: Love for the City Saturday So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. ~Galatians 6:10 It’s easy to serve a neighbor when it’s just setting out their trash or loaning a couple of eggs. But sometimes it takes considerable time and energy to serve a neighbor. Sometimes it means going out of your way. Sometimes it means sacrificing what you want for what they need. Sometimes it means committing to follow up for months – or even years. But good deeds...
Day 12: Engagement Friday Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. ~Romans 13:8, 10 If your neighbors were asked to describe you, what do you think they’d say? Would they say you’re friendly and helpful? Or would they say you’re introverted and they hardly even know you? Here’s the real question: how many of your neighbors would say that you clearly love them? Jesus says this – love for your neighbor...
Day 11: Continuing Transformation Thursday If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ~Colossians 3:1-2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. ~Romans 12:2 The Christian life is not about behavior modification, as if God says, “Just stop doing that and start doing this.” The fact is you will never experience Gospel transformation until you change the...
