Daily Read

2 Cor 4:1-12 (NIV)

2 Corinthians is one of the letters the apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth. This letter in particular is encouraging them with the  surprising comfort that comes from the resurrection. He’s also dealing with the fact that his authority is in question because of the suffering that he and his companions are experiencing. He defends himself against those claims by arguing that in fact, it’s very much the opposite. It’s in his sufferings that His strength is perfected.

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1. What challenges you in the Passage?

2. What encourages you? 

3. Bring to mind the moments in your life when you are most aware how fragile you are, when the hope of Christ is really carried around in a jar of Clay. What keeps you from believing that you are not crushed, that you are not abandoned, that you are not destroyed?

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Psalm 5 (NIV) 

The Book of Psalms is a collection of ancient Hebrew poetry. These poems and songs were used by Israel for generations before the time of Jesus and have been critical to the prayers of the Jewish People and Christians ever since. These psalms teach us about God for sure, but they can also give us language for prayer. The help us connect with God. 

As we reflect today, try to walk away with one phrase that can be a new part of the language of your prayers.

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1. What language from this psalm might inform the language of your prayers? 

2. For which areas of your life does the language of this song help you pray?

3. Take a moment and use the language of this psalm to pray to the Lord. 

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Isaiah 59 (NIV) 

Towards the end of the book of Isaiah, the Prophets testifies against the people of God. They have collectively failed to uphold justice and righteousness… and the LORD intervenes. We might be tempted to hear this passage as individuals… As if it’s written to us individually. But remember that this is being written to a whole people. It’s not just you, it’s we… it’s us.

As we come to the end of our series on Justice, may you bring this passage to mind as you recall the way the LORD responds to Injustice. This is a longer passage that usual, but we need to hear it as one full thought.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What images stood out regarding the lack of justice? 

2. What images stood out to you about the LORD's intervention? 

3. What would it look like for you today to walk in the Spirit of the LORD, with the LORD's words on your lips? 

----------RESOURCE-----------

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Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)

We long for Biblical Justice in our world. And in this country especially, we ache for the wickedness of racism to be snuffed out and for its victims to be vindicated. We long for Jesus to reign in power…. We long for His Kingdom!

Prior to todays passage in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus has been talking about the Kingdom of God. And after telling his disciples how much it would cost them to pursue it… he says they have to lay down their lives… he encourages them to be persistent in praying for justice by telling them a parable.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What part of this passage encourages you the most to not give up?

2. Consider the character of the unjust judge and the character of our Father in Heaven, what's the difference? 

3. What would it look like today for you to be persistent in your calling out to the LORD for justice? 

----------LEARN----------

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James 5:1-11 (NIV) 

The Book of James is a letter that has challenged the Church throughout history and it’s no different today! The letter exhorts the church to put their faith into practice. As American Christians we slip into thinking that if we could just figure out what we believe, then we’ll have arrived. What we miss is that Jesus didn’t just save us from something, he saved us for something!

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1. What stood out to you in this passage? What comforted you? Where did you eel stretched? 

2. How is the Father asking you to respond to this passage? 

3. What do you need from the father in order to respond to this passage? Ask him for what you need. 

---------- RESOURCE -----------

Choose one of the 50 eBooks about Biblical Justice! 

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Isaiah 9:1-7 (NIV)

As we continue on in our series about Justice, we turn to a passage from the prophet Isaiah that tells of the coming of the anointed King. There is a familiar verse that might remind you of Christmas, but often the surrounding verses proclaiming justice are not remembered.

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1. What strikes you about God's Character in this passage?

2. What words or phrases in this passage cause you to hope?

3.  Given the realities of society today, in what way do you long for the LORD to reign over his kingdom establishing it and upholding it with justice and righteousness?

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Psalm 52 (NIV) 

----------REFLECT----------

1. Bring to mind the word or phrase that stood out? Why did it stand out, what does it mean? 

2. Ask the Lord how He might be asking you to respond to this passage? What do you need from him? What might need to change in your life? 

3. When you think about your life, in what ways have you trusted in something like "your great wealth?" Or where have you "grown because of the destruction of others;" whether explicitly or implicitly, directly or indirectly? Confess those things to the Lord who is faithful and just. 

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Romans 12:9-21 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul is writing this letter to a Jesus shaped community in Rome that was severely divided. At first this community consisted of Jewish Christians and Gentile christians alike. Then the roman emperor expelled all the jews from Rome and when they returned the Jewish christians returned to a church that was very non jewish. There were deep divisions over jewish customs and freedom in christ. So Paul wrote this letter to help unify the church in Rome. In chapter 12, he charges the community with a challenging call to love and forgive one another. No matter where you are, this is a deeply challenging invitation to the way of justice.

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1. What word or Phrase stands out to you?

2. What part of this passage challenges you the most?

3. Bring to mind the parts of your life or the people in you life that make it challenging. 

4. Ask the Lord to help you live out this love. 

Micah 6:6-8 (NIV) 

As we’ve experienced the response to the killing of George Floyd, many people are waking up to the systemic injustices that are latent within our nation’s systems. Many people are wondering how to respond. Whether that wondering comes from a place of utter fatigue or whether it comes from a place of ignorance and frankly being a little late to the show, the prophet Micah reminds us of a challenge the Lord leveled at Israel.

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1. What word or phrase stands out to you? Ask the LORD why? 

2. What might this word or phrase mean?

3. How might the LORD be calling you to respond to this passage? How can you say, yes Lord Jesus?

4. As you consider what it might mean to say yes to Jesus in response to this passage, consider the cost. What might need to change in your life? How might you need to repent, how might you need to act? 

---------- CONNECT -----------

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Isaiah 58 (NIV)

----------REFLECT----------

1. What word of phrase stood out to you in the passage? 

2. How does this passage challenge your relationship to justice? 

3. How might the lord be calling you to respond to the passage?