A Two-Way Relationship
SUNDAY, October 8
Psalm 25:1-9
As a recent college graduate, I’m learning that maintaining the friendships I made in college requires intentional effort. As these friends begin families, careers, and graduate school—often moving across the country—I’m realizing that the connections that will last are the two-way relationships with a commitment from both people. In some ways, these types of friendships resemble the relationship between God and Israel. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel made a commitment to trust God and obey God’s commandments, and God made a commitment to extend his mercy, love, goodness, and faithfulness toward Israel (vv. 6, 8). David’s prayers to be shown, taught, and guided (vv. 4-5) by God demonstrate his ongoing commitment to this covenant. Similarly, God invites each of us into relationship with him. In the person of Jesus Christ, God fulfilled his covenant to bless the world through the Abrahamic line. God freely offers his commitment to the most important relationship each of us could ever enter. The question is, how will we respond?
Almighty God, we praise you for your faithfulness to your covenants. AMEN.
PRAYER FOCUS: FORGIVENESS AND HEALING IN RELATIONSHIPS
The Blessing of Forgiveness
MONDAY, October 9
Psalm 25:10-22
David praises God for being “loving and faithful toward those who keep the demand of his covenant” (v. 10). Then he asks God to forgive iniquity. David recounts the benefits of covenant relationship with the Lord, then he asks for forgiveness. This pattern demonstrates the necessity of humility in approaching our relationship to God. If anyone could be proud of Israel’s special covenant relationship with the living God, it was David. However, even in his role as king, not only does he maintain a posture of humility, but he recognizes his own sinfulness and seeks repentance.
When a covenant was made in the ancient Near East, often a significant power differential existed between the parties, such as covenants between a king and his subjects or between a mighty nation and a weaker one. Similarly, God—who is almighty and has the power to forgive sins—desires a relationship with us, who are powerless to save ourselves from our own sinfulness. We praise God that he remains
faithful to his promises and forgives his people of their iniquities
despite our failures.
Almighty God, we pray that each of us has the strength to approach our relationship with you in humility. AMEN.
Thy Will Be Done
TUESDAY, October 10
Philippians 1:21-26
“To live is Christ and to die is gain” (v. 21, NIV). This is one of the boldest statements in Scripture. Paul, who has been placed under house arrest and faces uncertainty regarding his future and even his life, meets this uncertainty with a confidence that can only be found in the belief that one’s life is not their own. However, we often overlook verse 24 where Paul makes clear his preference “to depart and be with Christ” but sets it aside for the good of the others. He recognizes the discrepancy between what he personally desires and what he has discerned God is calling him toward. In what ways do we allow our own personal desires to prevent us from serving the church in the way God desires? When there is conflict between the two, do we place God’s will for us before our own?
Almighty God, we ask you to give us the wisdom to discern your will for our lives and the humility to place your will before our own. AMEN.
PRAYER FOCUS: RACIAL RECONCILIATION
Walking the Walk
WEDNESDAY, October 11
Philippians 1:27-30
Although I do not have the joy of being a parent, I have heard from family and friends that nothing is more humbling than disciplining your child for doing something you later realize they learned from you. If we all honestly self-evaluate, I’m certain each of us could find at least one area in which we are inconsistent, if not hypocritical. When Paul petitions his readers to suffer on behalf of Christ, he does so, not as someone who has lived comfortably on behalf of the gospel, but rather as one who has been beaten, imprisoned, and eventually martyred for it. For Paul, suffering on behalf of Christ is not an abstract hypothetical—it is his lived reality. Yet he instructs the Philippian church not only to endure but to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (v. 27, NIV). Paul challenges us to do the same.
Almighty God, we thank you for the witness of the Apostle Paul. We ask you to grant each of us the strength to approach each day “in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” AMEN.
Humbly Seeking Him
THURSDAY, October 12
Matthew 20:20-28
Growing up, I assumed that the disciples always understood everything about Jesus and his ministry. As I grew in my understanding of Scripture, I realized that not only was that not the case, but in fact the disciples often do not seem to fully understand what’s going on. The argument could be made that James and John are focused on their place within the heavenly kingdom rather than within earthly ones; however, in seeking influence and authority, they are focused on the wrong things. Jesus, who holds all power and glory, lived a life defined by servitude. Christ did not put himself in places of earthly power; rather, he sought to serve those whom earthly power had forgotten about. To draw near to Jesus, we must put others before ourselves. He calls us to serve the poor, the marginalized, the vulnerable, and the oppressed. We must go to the places with no earthly power, because that’s where we will find the true King.
Almighty God, we pray that you will give us the humility to seek you, by following the example of your Son and serving those in need. AMEN.
PRAYER FOCUS: HEALTHY FRIENDSHIPS
Crowning the King
FRIDAY, October 13
Philippians 2:1-11
In defiance of the Jewish people’s expectation for a messiah, Jesus served as the ultimate example of humility. He was born not in a palace, but in a manger. He did not associate with those who held earthly authority and power but served those who had none. He did not cast off the oppressive Roman occupation but was instead crucified by them. Crucifixion was performed as a not-so-subtle sign of Roman power. Crosses were placed in public spaces and along well traveled roads, making clear the fate of anyone who questioned Roman authority. Yet God used the crucifixion to turn this earthly authority on its head and bring about his upside-down kingdom. The Romans attempted to humiliate Christ; he was instead exalted in his death and resurrection. In his humility, Christ reigns over all of creation and invites each of us into his kingdom.
Almighty God, we praise you that in his death and resurrection, Jesus overcame all the powers of sin and death, and demonstrates to whom all power and glory belong. AMEN.
Praise Him Always
SATURDAY, October 14
Philippians 2:12-18
Recently, I had two opportunities presented to me. As a soon-to-be seminarian, I enthusiastically accepted the opportunity to preach my first sermon to the congregation in which I grew up and now serve. And as a begrudging intern, I somewhat less enthusiastically accepted the “opportunity” to clean up trash from the retention area next to our church. As I struggled to use the finicky trash-picker to put who-knows-what into a trash bag the wind was preventing from staying open, the words to Steven Curtis Chapman’s song “Do Everything” came into my head: “As you do everything you do to the glory of the one who made you, ’cause he made you to do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to his face. Tell the story of grace with every move that you make and every little thing you do.” Each day, we have the opportunity to “do everything” for the glory of God.
Almighty God, give us the humility to approach each task, no matter how small, with the mindset that you can use it for your glory. AMEN.
PRAYER FOCUS: REMOVING DISTRACTIONS THAT KEEP US FROM GOD
