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Renewal Through Routine
The Upper Room Disciplines has been a source of strength and comfort to readers for decades. Read More
Chanequa Walker-Barnes | Read 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11
Grace is in short supply in our increasingly polarized world. “Choose a side!” the world demands. There is no room for deviation, no tolerance of complexity. Polarization encourages us to make snap judgments about each other, to quickly assign each other to “good” and “bad” categories, and to treat each...
God of everlasting love, you have called us to fellowship with one another across the lines of difference and diversity that you have intentionally seeded into the earth. Grant us the strength to resist polarization, the grace to sustain fellowship, and the wisdom to build each other up. Amen.
Like us, the Israelites struggle to be consistently faithful to God. God therefore allows a foreign king to rule them until the people come to their senses and cry out for help. The prophet Deborah gives instructions for the battle that will begin the deliverance of the people. The readings from Psalms and Zechariah demonstrate that this pattern of unfaithfulness and restoration has occurred frequently in the history of God’s people. In Thessalonians, Paul echoes what Jesus says in last week’s Gospel reading: We must always be prepared for the return of Christ because we do not know when it will occur. God gives us resources to use for the kingdom, and in Matthew Jesus indicates that God will ask for an account of how well we have used them.
Read Judges 4:1-7. Who has been a judge—someone who helps you discern—in your life? How can you help others discern the way?Read Psalm 123. How do you focus on God through conflict and struggle?Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. When have you encouraged someone in a time of darkness? When have you been the one in need of encouragement?Read Matthew 25:14-30. What would change if you considered your dreams and desires as from God? What first step can you take to enact your desires?
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