Re-Center around God
You might think that this is an easy week to review because you have no enemies or no one persecuting you regarding your faith in Christ. (Of course, you might have no enemies because your faith is hidden and unknown to associates and friends. If that is the case, you have something else to consider as you review and re-center your life around God.) As a help to discern potential areas to practice loving enemies, refer to the enemy mode description at the end of this week’s devotion. Then review, repent if called for, and once again return to God as necessary.
Review Your Week
Ask yourself: Who are my enemies? Who does not seem to like me? Who has it out for me? Would God approve of my attitude toward these people?
Repent if Necessary
When do I fall into enemy mode? Do I need to repent? Do I harbor resentment or bitterness? Remember: This is not about whether others need to repent. This is about your behavior, thoughts, and attitudes. God will deal with them also.
Return (as necessary)
How could I treat these others differently, maybe even better than I currently do? What would Jesus do in my shoes? How could I show grace and kindness even when facing enemy mode from others? Go to God in prayer and ask for direction with what has arisen in your heart and mind. Additionally, ask a godly, trusted friend for their insights too.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 51:7-12
- Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. - Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice. - Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity. - Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. - Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me. - Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Teaching or Command of God:
1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Ephesians 3:12
In [Christ Jesus our Lord] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Pondering Point
How are you honoring God with your body? What is one specific thing you could do today as an act of worship using your body or strength?
Micro-Group Connections:
A Disciple’s Lifestyle
Micro-Group Moment:
Considering a life of VIGILANCE as
a case for participating in Micro-Groups:
Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Pondering Point
Vigilance
The quality of being alert and watchful
One person's vigilance (or lack of it) can have life-long impact on every micro-group they are part of: wives and husbands; parents and children; extended family; friends, etc. If you have time, check out this stark Bible story that exemplifies the impact that a lack of vigilance can have on many people, including those not directly connected to the offenders.
Here is a Micro-environment lesson we can observe as the boy Samuel living his life with God under the care of Israel’s High Priest Eli. The story describes the impact Eli’s lack of vigilance has on his family, and by extension, the people of Israel. There are some minor and major issues that arise. The story is found in 1 Samuel 2:27-36, but it helps greatly to read 1 Samuel 2:12-26 to get a flavor of what God was dealing with.
1 Samuel 2:12-26
Eli’s Wicked Sons
12 Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord. 13 Now it was the practice of the priests that, whenever any of the people offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand while the meat was being boiled 14 and would plunge the fork into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. 15 But even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.”
16 If the person said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”
17 This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt.
18 But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19 Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home. 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.
22 Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.
26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.
What application or lesson jumps out at you in this episode?
- For Eli
- For Eli’s family
- For Samuel
Concluding Prayer Prompt
As makes sense for your various environment and situations, ask God to help you overcome your “fleshly” desires and weather the storms created by others “fleshly” desires as well.