13th. September. 2022.Daily Devotions.
4 As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him – 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 4:5
You are chosen by and precious to God. An aspect of personal worth is competence and fulfilment. We need to feel that we are competent to accomplish something worthwhile, and we need the fulfilment of knowing that our lives will make a genuine difference.
The Holy Spirit has gifted us and empowers us to be competent in accomplishing His purposes in our lives as we walk in dependence upon Him. “And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:4-5).
God has gifted us to achieve whatever He asks of us, and He has given us enough time to do it. Moreover, success in His sight is not the same as success in the sight of men because it does not depend on results. Our work is faithfulness; His is results. “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). The Christian who grasps the implications of these truths becomes free from the competitive need to win, free from dominating and resenting others, and free from pursuing achievements to validate self-worth. K. Boa.
May God hold you in his love and fill you with his peace today and every day. Amen
Loving God, we bring you our thanks for all that has been. We pray for open hearts to receive today as a gift, a new page, a new chapter in the journey of our lives. Fill us with your wonder and your love your gentleness and peace. Help us to use each moment for your glory and show us how we might be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Gracious God, through love you formed a universe created humanity, stepped into history, broke the power of death.
Companion Jesus, in love you came to form your body on earth create bonds of compassion, step into systems of injustice, break through all that binds.
Energetic Spirit, fill me with that love that I may form relationships of grace,
create communities of kindness, step into today with courage, break bonds of discrimination. Amen.
A Prayer for the days her Majesty Queen Elizabeth lies in state in Edinburgh.
Almighty and everlasting God, before whom the generations rise and fall away, with all across our nation and throughout the world
We lift up our hearts in gratitude today for the life of our Queen. For her long reign, her delight in people, her commitment to crown and country, to church and faith, we give you thanks.
Today especially we recall gratefully her love of Scotland, our land, and our people, and praise you for all you accomplished in her life,
Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Meditation
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” ~ Isaiah 40:8
