July 22

1 Peter 1:17-21

"...conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

Some scholars believe this to be part of an early Christian hymn.  Peter exhorts us to "conduct [ourselves] with fear," and the way we can do that is by "knowing..."  Spend a few moments meditating on what Peter said we should be continually knowing.  Those who are in Christ have "futile ways" in their past and "faith and hope" in their present and future.  Thank God for the work of Christ and how He has made Christ known to you.  Consider sharing your testimony with someone this week. 

July 21

Psalm 147:1-6

Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. 

As the psalmist exhorts us, let us join together today in praising the Lord! Pray to God, expressing to Him reasons why praise to Him is fitting. List several. Then pick one of the Lord's attributes and ponder how God has shown that attribute to you. COnsider how Jesus embodied that attribute while He was on the earth, and continue to worship Him for that attribute as well. Ask God to help us as a church body to experience that attribute to a greater degree.

July 20

Psalm 22:1-2, 16-18

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?  O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them,and for my clothing they cast lots.

Today's passage is a Messianic Psalm, a psalm specifically prophesying about the coming Messiah. Remember that as Jesus was on the cross, He cried out and quoted this psalm. Praise God for how the whole of Scripture, including fulfilled prophecy, points to Jesus as the Messiah. Express your gratitude to Jesus for the suffering He endured that is spoken of in this psalm. Pray for someone you know who has not yet trusted in Jesus as God's provision for sin.

July 19

Psalm 1:1-2

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

This week we will look at some of the "music" of the early church--psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. This passage is taken from Psalm 1, page 1 of the "Hebrew Hymnal." Spend a moment praying this passage, asking God to help you be the person described here who doesn't do v. 1 but does do v. 2. John 1:17 says, "The law came through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." How much more should we delight in and meditate on God's law now that it has been fulfilled in Christ! Praise God for revealing this truth to you. Pray for someone in your Community Group that they would delight in and meditate on God's Word today.

July 16

Romans 12:9-13

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

These are not simply a list of Christian to-do’s. Instead, having spent 11 chapters describing the glorious gospel of Christ, here Paul focuses on the practical implications of that robust gospel. Pray that the duties of the Christian life would never be viewed as separate from the gospel of grace in Christ. Also, pray that those duties, especially those that relate to others, would be a delight in light of the and the community of the saints. Ask God to show you how you can practically apply these verses to your life this week.

July 15

Ephesians 4:1-6

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Consider the calling to which you have been called. Rejoice in it and praise God for it. Knowing that how we relate to other believers is part of walking worthy of our calling, ask God to help you be sensitive to any attitude you may have that isn’t demonstrating the worth of your calling. Pray that the fruit of the Spirit—that same Spirit who provides a unity among believers—would characterize your relationships with other Christians.

July 14

1 Corinthians 1:21-25

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Thank God that by His good grace He caused you to see Christ as the power of God and wisdom of God and saved you when you believed. Meditate for a moment on what "Christ as the power of God and wisdom of God" means and how it applies to your life today. Pray that you will rely on Jesus for both power and wisdom and not seek these from the world. Knowing that others in our faith community have also seen Christ this way, pray for some of them by name that they would rely on Jesus for both power and wisdom this week.

July 13

Romans 12:14-18

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

As you read over Paul’s instructions, on point do you struggle the most to obey? Repent of any sin, asking God for the grace to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel in this area. Look to Jesus as your example; He did all of these things perfectly and desires to live His life through you.