Christians must strive to walk worthy of Christ and his kingdom for our compelling witness is the Gospel’s greatest draw, Phil. 1.27-30
Let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.
Our Focus Today
For it has been granted to us for Christ’s sake that we should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, Phil. 1.29
Invocation
Lord Jesus, every one of your disciples who strive to live worthy of your Gospel is engaged in a fight. This is our privilege, to not only believe the truth about who you are but also to live true to you in the midst of struggle and hardship. May you guide and help us as we both believe and endure in this fight of our faith. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Thursday: Luke 8.1-8, 19-21; Mark 3.20-4.20; Matt. 12.22-13.9
For it has been granted to us for Christ’s sake that we should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, Phil. 1.29
Reflection
Every disciple who lives worthy of Christ and his Gospel is in a battle. This fight gives each one the opportunity to not only believe in Christ but also suffer for his sake. In our Christian lives, it is our turn now to fight the same battle that dedicated followers of Christ continue to fight each day.
Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*In the Apostles and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
You have charged us, dear Father, that whatever happens to us, we are to live a life that is worthy to the Gospel, to fight the good fight of faith. You have granted us the honor to not only to believe in Christ but also and also to suffer for Him in this fight. Help us not to shy from the battle, but to know that the battle is yours. We need only rely on you. Amen.
Scripture Memory
Psalm 145:1-7 (ESV)
A SONG OF PRAISE. OF DAVID. 1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Book Reading and Reflection
Why did Jesus go about “doing good”? Because it’s an integral part of what He considered the greatest command: loving God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. The Bible makes it clear that if we can’t love those made in God’s image, then we don’t love Him either (1 John 4:20). But if we do love God, then we will love others and will demonstrate that the same way Jesus did. How? By serving. Jesus said, “[I] did not come to be served, but to serve.” And Jesus served by ministering to the sick, feeding the hungry, raising the dead, and, ultimately, by giving “His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NKJV). If we are in love with God, we’ll serve too, not to garner attention, as the Pharisees did, but because we love God and want to demonstrate it by serving Him and those made in His image.
~ Vernon Whaley, Called to Worship: The Biblical Foundations of Our Response to God’s Call. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2009, page 251.
Let God Arise! Focus
The LORD God is the one, true, and triune God of the universe, Ps. 145.1-13
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