Feb 7th - 13th, 2010

Sunday 2/7/2010
Luke 23:34
34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Reflection Questions:

1. What do Jesus’ words on the cross reveal about his character?

2. Right after Jesus’ prayer requesting the heavenly Father to forgive them, the soldiers were described as continuing their act against Jesus. What does this say about the nature of Jesus’ forgiveness?

Monday 2/8/2010
Matthew 6:9-15
9"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Reflection Questions:
1. In Jesus’ teaching on prayer, what three things did Jesus start with concerning God? What personal concerns follow? What is the relationship between forgiveness and prayer?

2. What bad habits have you developed relating to prayer? What do you want to do to grow past these habits?

Tuesday 2/9/2010
Matthew 18:23-35
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Reflection Questions:
1. Compared to yesterday’s devotion (Matthew 6:12), do we forgive others so God will forgive us, or does God forgive us so that we will have a forgiving attitude? Please explain.

2. Notice that Jesus’ commandment at the end of the parable is to “forgive your brother from your heart.” What does it mean to forgive from our heart? How is that different from the world’s perception of forgiveness? Why does Jesus want us to forgive in this way?


Wednesday 2/10/2010
1 John 1:5-10
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Reflection questions:
1. What do you think the terms “light” and “darkness” in this passage represent?

2. What hope does verse 9 give you as you face the “darkness” inside and outside of you?

Thursday 2/11/2010
John 17:9-12
9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

Reflection questions:
1. In verses 9 – 11, Jesus described his relationship with the Father, and at the end of verse 11, Jesus prayed that those who were given to him will be one as Jesus is one with God. What does this imply about the relationship between believers?

2. Why would Jesus pray for protection for those God has given him? Why kind of danger they might be in?


Friday 2/12/2010
Romans 12:3-13
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Reflection Questions:
1. What kind of picture comes to mind when you read “each member belongs to all the others” and “be devoted to one another in brotherly love”? Please describe the picture.

2. How can you use your gift to help one brother or sister in church? Which brother or sister can help you with his or her gift? How?


Saturday 2/13/2010
Philippians 2:1-4
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Reflection Questions:
1. What four qualities mark unity with Christ? How do these qualities exemplify themselves in our relationship with brothers and sisters?

2. What hinders unity between you and all the brothers and sisters? How can this passage help you move toward unity?