Monday, July 2
Theme for the week:
Disciples learn paths of blessedness

Seeking to be merciful as our Father in Heaven is merciful

Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
~ Jesus

Mercy: It is one of the most powerful gifts to share with someone who has hurt or offended you, being both freeing and redemptive. It is also one of the most powerful and vindictive things you can withhold if you choose.

Oftentimes disciples who claim to follow Jesus don't actually follow his teaching here. Jesus instructs his disciples to be merciful, and warns that unless we are merciful, God will not be merciful to us.

The beatitude acknowledges the blessing of being merciful. There is in this case a contrasting curse that comes with choosing to be unmerciful. Jesus himself describes it in the parable of the unmerciful servant (see Matthew 18:21-35).

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Prayer

Lord God, you are full of mercy, abounding in it even as you maintain your justice regarding sin. Teach us to be like you, full of mercy toward those we deal with, to the point of personal sacrifice, even as we also yearn for justice in life’s circumstances. We ask it in the name of Jesus, who is emblematic of mercy at great cost.  Amen.

Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God

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This is our continuing opportunity to encounter God through His Word in Psalm 119. Unique in the bible, Psalm 119 is fashioned around the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet (seen above). Each section contains eight verses, making it easily the longest psalm at 176 verses. 

Psalm of Meditation for the Week:

Psalm 119:89-96 (Lamedh)

ל

  1. Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
  2. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.
  3. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.
  4. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
  5. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.
  6. Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts.
  7. The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes.
  8. To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.

  • Read: the verses twice.

  • Mark: the words or phrases that catch your attention.

  • Meditate: talk (better yet write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect a response from the Lord.

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Pondering Point

“Stands firm” means unchanging. With as many things as change or fail to sustain in life generally, stop and pause on this uniqueness of God and His Word.

Tuesday, July 3
God’s Mission Seen in Matthew 9:12-13

Matthew 9:12-13

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

You might imagine that God has seen plenty of people who are highly sacrificial toward Him but hardly merciful toward others. This could be characterized as a religious spirit, but a good one. This type of religious spirit looks down on others while looking highly upon oneself. It is what many Pharisees of Bible times were known for. And it was such Pharisees that had a problem with Jesus gathering with sinful tax collectors like Matthew, let alone having them become a followers and leaders among the people of God.

But Matthew is it exactly the type of person Jesus comes for: The sick or sinful. There is no particular brand of people God is seeking, unless you consider “sinners” a brand. The band Casting Crowns has an apt lyric in one of their songs capturing this: Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come (If We Are The Body).

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Prayer for the day

Lord Jesus, I want to see people the way that you see people, not the way that the Pharisees or religiously prideful people see others. I want to have a merciful spirit rather than a judgmental one. Help me draw closer to you and your merciful Spirit so that it rubs off on me. In your name Jesus I pray, amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:89-96

Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Deuteronomy 13:4

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

The Promise:

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. 

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Pondering Point

The faithfulness of God – seen time and again the bible – continues into our generation. What unchanging part of God’s Word are you grateful for today?

Wednesday, July 4
Your Identity in Christ

In Christ I have been shown mercy by God, and will seek to let mercy triumph over judgment as I relate with others.

Do you want to do yourself a favor? Never lose sight of your identity as a recipient of God's mercy. That will keep you from ceasing to be a fountain of mercy. God showed his merciful love toward you in this way: He had his son Jesus Christ die for you while you were still an enemy of his.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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Prayer Prompt

Spend some moments in prayer with the Lord asking him to work on your attitude of mercy. If there are certain people that you struggle with, don’t be afraid to face it and ask God to change your heart.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:91-92

Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Job 42:2-3

You asked, “Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?” Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

The Promise:

Hebrews 10:16

This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. 

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Pondering Point

Many people either ignore or try to alter God’s Word, but His laws still endure as He intended – still serving their purposes – and are still key to living in God.

Thursday, July 5
Re-Center Around God

James 2:8-13

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

The royal law, as James calls it, is all about loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. With a singular focus on favoritism today, let's dig in.

Review the week

Do I love certain people more readily and others less readily? Do I treat certain people better than others based on the way they treat me? Have I fallen into a sinful habit or attitude of treating people differently based on the color of skin, age, or level of education. Do I look down (or up) on certain people because of the amount of money they have, the job they hold, or the place they come from?

Repent (if necessary)

Determine whether you need to confess to the God who does not play favorites that you fall into the trap of playing favorites. Repent if necessary and make a conscious choice to treat people the same… and that does not mean treating all people poorly; it means treating all people lovingly and with mercy.

Return (as necessary)

Return with a prayer of thanksgiving that God does not play favorites, as the Apostle Peter learned (see Acts 10). Then resolve to act as your Heavenly Father does, extending grace and favor to people equally. This will have you looking like the royal heir that you are.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:93-94

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. Save me, for I am yours, I have sought out your precepts.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

2 Timothy 1:13-14

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you— guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

The Promise:

Luke 11:28

[Jesus] replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

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Pondering Point

Who first taught you the precepts of God? How are learning them now? To whom are you teaching them, how are you passing on the Word of God?

Friday, July 6
Discipleship Point from Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Growth and setbacks along the path of discipleship

As a disciple of Jesus, I should anticipate growth. I can also anticipate set-backs and disappointments, meaning I will need grace and forgiveness along the way from God, myself, and others. I envision the Holy Spirit making this happen in me, and so under His leadership, I commit to grow as a disciple in Christ using self-discipline and loving (agreed upon) accountability from others.

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Discipleship Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I love it when I grow in you and your Spirit leads me in paths of righteousness. When I make poor choices or fall short, remind me to repent and be gracious to myself as you are gracious to me. And when others disappoint me or fall short, remind me to be gracious and merciful to them as you are to me. I want to be an encourager, not a discourager. As the song says, I want to be just like you; Amen.

Scripture Meditation for the Day:

Psalm 119:95-96

The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.

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Statute, Command, Precept, or Decree of God:

Ephesians 6:13

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

The Promise:

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

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Pondering Point

From the human perspective, perfection is rare, fleeting, occasional – limited the Psalmist says. But in the realm of God, perfection knows no bounds. Wow!

Saturday, July 7

Matthew 9:9-13

The Calling of Matthew

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Some people think they need to clean themselves up before they come to God; others think they need to prove themselves spiritual before they step foot in a church. But as Jesus points out to his detractors when calling Matthew, it isn't the healthy that he came for but the sick saying “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners”. Matthew clearly fit the bill of sinner, but with Jesus’ leadership would later author the first book of the New Testament. Imagine what Jesus can do was sinners like you and me.

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Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to hear your call to "follow me" in my heart. Like Matthew, may I learn to follow you in all ways, even leaving a testimony to those around me of the blessing you are, the greatest blessing in my life. May I testify to the good news of knowing you. Amen.

Sunday, July 8
Call to Worship God, to Gather Together

God Bless You

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.

~ H.W. Beecher
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Prayer for Worship

Father God, as I come to worship You this morning, I desire for my soul to be grateful at emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical levels. As You speak through Your Word and Spirit, let them inspire my whole person and life, leading my spirit in worship this day; may you be glorified in me and all of your people, Amen.

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