October 28

Jeremiah 51:54-52:34, Titus 3:1-15, Psalm 100:1-5, Proverbs 26:18-19

Pray: Red or blue? Dem or Rep? There seems to be little room for conversation, but plenty of latitude for condemnation. Each side demonizes and dehumanizes the other. It’s a ridiculous notion, really, that followers of Jesus would engage in such things. Paul even speaks to it when he says we “must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling.” Do you need to repent and ask the Lord to forgive you for allowing politics to drive your actions rather than faith? You’re not alone, but together, let’s seek the Lord’s forgiveness and direction to move forward.

Read: Psalm 100 is an often quoted psalm. It’s filled with joy evoking language. It makes us feel good to read it. Yet, recent articles (and my own experience) tell us that fewer and fewer men (and some women) are practicing what Psalm 100 instructs. “Shout with joy to the Lord…worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy.” When you come to worship, are you filled with joy? Are you glad for what the Lord has done in your life? Do you sing? Many people hold their coffee and appear to enjoy the show, but that’s not what we do and that’s not who we are…as a church and as believers. Read the Psalm. Reread the Psalm. Allow God to change your approach to worship and SING with joy to the Lord!

Edify: “Once we too…” I love reading things like this in Scripture. Oftentimes, I feel alone when I mess up. I feel like everyone else has it together, and I can’t seem to go a single day without failing. Paul did great things for Jesus and wrote much of the New Testament. His brief confession here gives me hope that I’m not alone and hope that there is a God who forgives and restores. Do you need to hear that word of hope today? Once I too was foolish and disobedient. If there’s hope for Paul, there’s hope for me. If there’s hope for me, there’s hope for you, too!

Practice: It’s a painful thing, as it should be, when we have to walk away from certain people. If they’re hurtful, divisive, and destructive to our lives, our faith, our recovery, our health, we simply have to walk away as difficult as that may be. In recovery programs, we talk about changing people, places, and things. Paul, long before recovery programs were started, says, “If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.” Don’t allow someone to bring you down or destroy your faith. Do you need to make a change?