Daily Read

Proverbs 3 (NIV)

The book of Proverbs is Hebrew Wisdom literature meant to help God’s people becoming wise.

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1- What word or phrase stood out to you in your hearing? What caught your attention about it?

2- As you think about your life today, In what way does this passage come as a comfort to you?

3- In what way does this passage challenge you in your life today? What might need to change? what need to stay the same?

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Isaiah 61:1-9 (NIV)

This passage reminds us of what the LORD HAS DONE, what he is DOING NOW, and what he yet WILL DO in the future.

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1. What word or phrase stood out to you in your hearing? What strikes you about it?

2. Has the LORD comforted you lately? Has he provided for you as you’re grieved? Has he bestowed upon you beauty instead of ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair? If so, pause and give thanks to him. If not, bring your grief to the LORD as you simply tell him how you feel.

3. Pause and take the risk to ask the LORD for restoration. Maybe it's the first time you’ve asked, maybe you’ve asked more that you can count. Ask him now, and as you do, ask him how he’d use you. What would need to be different? What would need to be the same?

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John 8:1-12 (NIV)

Today we turn to the Gospel of John. Jesus has been traveling around Judea, teaching, healing, and getting confronted by religious leaders. We pick up one morning after a long day of Jesus being challenged and accused by these teachers of the law and Pharisees. Jesus walks back into the temple and begins to teach. . . and something incredible happens.

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1 - Have you ever stood in a place of shame, facing condemnation? Feeling exposed? Feeling judgement?

2- Have you ever stood in a place of condemnation over someone else? Feeling self-righteous…. Feeling superior?

3- If you’re following Jesus, what would it look like today to have the light of life. What would need to change? What might stay the same?

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John 5:1-9 NTE

What if all the time we spend working out of our own strength to get our needs and longings met, could in an instant be met by Jesus?

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1 - What words or phrases stood out to you in this passage?

2 - When Jesus asked this man if he wanted to be healed, the man answered with what kept him from getting the job done. He’d been trying the same thing for 38 years. What needs or goals or desires do you have that simply can’t be met in your own strength?

3 - What would it look like today for Jesus to speak into that situation. What would have to be different? What would you have to do or stop doing?

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Psalm 8 NIV

This Psalm speaks to the tension we experience in how small we feel in comparison to the created world, yet how incredibly important we are to the LORD. To the psalmist both are true, and that truth is good news to us today.

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1 - This psalm call us to maintain a delicate balance of how we think about humans and our place in the LORDs created order. How do you typically think of yourself? Do you lean towards insignificance or do you tend to feel really important?

2 - For many of us, when we hear the psalmist talk about flocks and herds and animals in the wild being under our rule, it doesn’t really connect to our lives. Those were the day to day things for the psalmist. So what are the things that you have that you have been given to steward. Do you have clothes that need folding, plants that need tending or dishes that need washing? How do you use your resources, your time, your money, your food, your power?

3 - When we remember the creation of the world we have to come to terms with the fact that God didn’t need us to create any of it. Rather he wants us, to rule and to steward it with him. How does the reality that God is mindful of you and that he wants you effect you this day?

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Philippians 2:1-11 NIV

There are many things this Pandemic is exposing, and one of them is our society’s need to understand humility and love of the other. Whether you lean towards taking your liberty in your own hands and doing what you want regardless of the cost. Or if you lean towards a kind of isolation that disables you from serving anyone. . . We need help looking like Jesus.

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1 - How would you compare your posture towards the needs of others, to Jesus’ posture towards others. In what ways might you be focused on your own interests rather than the interests of others? 

2 - The foundation of Jesus’ humility in verse 5 is the reality of his equality with God. For us Paul suggests in verse 1 that being united with Christ is our foundation for humility. How does knowing who you are in Jesus impact your willingness to humble yourself in the service of others?

3 - So today, out of the confidence of who you are in Jesus, what power, or authority, or agency do you actually have right now? Who are others in your life in need of service and love? And how might Jesus be inviting you to be like him, and willingly obey the Father in the service of others?

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Passage >> Psalm 73:21-26 NIV

For the first half of this psalm the psalmist recounts the ways that they were outraged and disturbed by the success and profits of the wicked while they, who has remained pure in heart, were slipping and nearly losing their foothold. Verses 21-26 come as the conclusion to a lot of anger and confusion. Bring those things to the LORD wherever you are today. 

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1 - What word or phrase stood out to you in this passage? What about it stood out?

2 - Have you ever been troubled so deeply by something that you lost your ability to think straight? Reflect on a time like that, and as you do, pause to acknowledge the reality that in that moment and in this moment, God ’s presence is with you and he’s holding your hand.

3 - What would today look like, if in all the ways that your flesh and heart fails, God was a your strength?

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Passage Link: Psalm 51:1-17 NIV 

If you long for God bring revival to anything in this world, you must recognize that it will include you. God will need to deal with us in the process and  a part of God dealing with us, is him dealing with our disobedience. This psalm is written by Kind David after he was confronted by Nathan after having committed adultery with Bathsheba.

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1 - In what ways does this psalm give voice to your experiences of needing God’s compassion and mercy?

2 - Bring the LORD your broken spirit and contrite heart. Ask Jesus to purify your heart. To renew a steadfast spirit within you.

3 - What would it look like to live with the joy of salvation restored today? What would be different? What would be the same?

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Romans 8:18-30 NIV

Something is not right in the world. We are confused, sad, and just plain old mad... and so we long for new life to come NOW.

May the LORD meet you as you listen:

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Greg Jao's talk: Beauty in a Time of Pain >>