Category: Be Wise Live Well

Romans 12:1-2, 9-12 (NRSVUE)
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

We have experienced God’s mercy, and our response is to live a life of worship. Let’s be those who avoid patterning our lives after this world and, instead, be transformed so that we can discern what his will is. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to interpret life in light of what God has done for us through the cross. Let us seek his discernment in the different areas of our lives – work, family, ministry, or personal decisions. May we be filled with hope and persevere as we desire to love and serve others like Jesus.

Prayer: Father, would you fill us today with the Spirit’s power to discern and live wisely and well. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “Fall Like Rain” by Passion (click here).

-MR

 

Matthew 25:10-13 (NLT)
10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

“Throughout the Old Testament God is said to ‘know’ those whom he has chosen to be his people (Jer. 1:5; Hos. 13:5; Amos 3:2), a theme reiterated throughout the New Testament to speak of a saving relationship found with God through Jesus Christ (cf. Gal. 4:8–9; 2 Tim. 2:19).

Jesus addresses his disciples directly to drive home the lesson of the parable: ‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.’ As in the preceding parable, this is another distinction between two types of people—those who are truly disciples of Jesus and those who are not. Disciples of Jesus will be ready for the arrival of the Son of Man. The destiny of those who are not ready awaits outside the shut door.”  (Michael J. Wilkins, Matthew, NIVAC)

Prayer: Lord, as your people, may we be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can do everything in light of your return. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “Waiting Here For You” by Martin Smith (click here).

-MR

Matthew 6:19-21, 31-33 (NRSVUE)
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For it is the gentiles who seek all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

In our world, amid a wealth of information, there is fear and anxiety about the future, which leads to seeking security in material things. Treasure can be seen as the accumulation of valuable things. This passage shows the stark contrast between storing up treasures on earth and treasures in heaven. As God’s children, when we look to the future, we have the assurance of God’s care. Let us trust in our Heavenly Father, who cares for us and provides for our every need.

Prayer: Father, may we be a people who live wisely and where your kingdom is at the center of our daily priorities. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “You Keep Your Promises” by Charity Gayle (click here).

-MR

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 (NIV)
12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

“The gift of the Spirit does not lead to special status among believers; rather, it leads to special status vis-à-vis the world. But it should do so always in terms of the centrality of the message of our crucified/risen Savior. The Spirit should identify God’s people in such a way that their values and worldview are radically different from the wisdom of this age. They do know what God is about in Christ; they do live out the life of the future in the present age that is passing away; they are marked by the cross forever. As such they are the people of the Spirit, who stand in bold contrast to those who are merely human and do not understand the scandal of the cross. Being ‘S/spiritual’ does not lead to elitism; it leads to a deeper understanding of God’s profound mystery—redemption through a crucified Messiah.” (Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, NICNT, 128-129)

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving us an understanding of what we have been given in Christ. As we face decisions, would you help us depend on you and not on human wisdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “Follow” by Passion (click here).

-MR

 

Let’s read aloud together the following passages and prayer:

1 Corinthians 2:6-10 (NIV)
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

Proverbs 3:5-8 (NRSVUE)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.
 
Prayer: Father, we stand in awe of you. Thank you for setting us apart as your people; we are of the Spirit and unlike those who are not of the Spirit.  May the Spirit help us live wisely and well. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to the song “Rhythms of Grace” by Hillsong (click here).

-MR