In 2 Corinthians 3:2 Paul describes the people of the church as “living letters”. He says to them “you yourselves are our letters, written on our hearts’ known and read by everyone.” He goes on to say “you are a letter from Christ”

We need to think about that in our daily activities. We are Christ’s letter to people we encounter. Are we sending the right message?

Dear Lord, help us remember that we are your letter to the world, known and read by everyone. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

If you are like me, occasionally you get a song tune stuck in your head, and for hours it keeps coming back. Usually it is some theme song from a cartoon, or TV commercial. Wouldn’t it be great to get a song stuck in your mind, that gives you encouragement and confidence every time it comes back?

I think this is what David means in Psalm 59:16, “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.”

Paul Baloche, a Christian song writer, writes in his song “Your Name,” “Your name is a strong and mighty tower. Your name is a shelter like no other. Your name, let the nations sing it louder ’cause nothing has the power to save. But your name.” Click on the lyrics, and if my technology works, you should be able to hear the song, (unfortunately an advertisement may run first.)

Hopefully we can get this message stuck in our minds that reminds us of God’s love throughout our day.

Dear Lord, You are our refuge and security. Help us begin our day thinking of you and the joy that your love provides. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There is a scene in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where Indiana Jones is standing on the edge of a gorge. He, is looking at a diagram in an ancient book that indicates a bridge should be there, but there is no bridge. After studying the ancient document, he believes he has it figured out that the only way to find the bridge is to step into the abyss, and the bridge will appear. Without seeing, he must act, and he does.

Paul writes in Hebrews 11:1, “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” TLB

In the same way, Jesus’ teachings in the Bible are our ancient map, and in order to see the support God promises us is to step forward in faith.

Dear Lord, it is very difficult for us to take that first step of faith that we know you want us to take, whether, volunteering in our church, inviting a friend to worship, witnessing to someone in need, or putting our tithe in the offering plate, we all have a step we could be taking. Give us the courage to take the step and experience the joy of trusting you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

In Luke 6:46 Jesus is speaking to gathered crowds and says to them, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” That could easily be said for us today. We call ourselves Christians and call Jesus our Lord, but then we go and do things we know we shouldn’t.

What does He say we should do. Jesus’ summarizes this well in Matthew 22:37-40, when asked what is the greatest commandment, “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

So during our day we should approach each situation with love for God, keeping him and his direction first priority in our lives, and we should act with fairness, kindness and respect for those we encounter.

Dear Lord, help us to recognize your will by listening to our conscience, and do what you say by acting out of love for you and our neighbor. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

One risk we face as we become more diligent in our Christian walk is evaluating other people’s behavior and judging their Christian credentials. it is a bit of a paradox that we are first saved through our faith, then we do good works because of our faith, but then we can start thinking doing good is the requirement. It is easy to look at someone else and think “well they don’t go to church every Sunday,” or “they don’t volunteer at the soup kitchen, and think that they aren’t “doing” enough.

Paul writes about this in Galatians 3:11, “So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Doing good works does not save us or get us closer to salvation. God saved us through the gift of Jesus; We cannot save oursleves.

Dear Lord Thank you for saving us as a gift. Help us remember you provided this gift for all who accept it, there may be people who have accepted the gift, but are still working out the changes they need to live out their faith. Help us look at them with love and demonstrate our faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.