Think: How Does God See Us?
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Pastor John delivered this week’s message from God’s Life-building Word based on Genesis 2:8-9 & Genesis 4:2-5 (BELIEVE p. 92).
Monday: Read Romans 6:23. Yes, I know. This is a tough passage with which to start the week. The reason I want to start here is that it unmistakably tells us the plight of humanity. The wages of sin is….an inconvenience, a minor setback, a bump in the road, etc.? No, not at all; our plight is desperate. It’s death. We desperately need God to intervene. Lift up a prayer of thanksgiving to God, for sending Jesus to the cross and raising him from the dead to save us from this desperate plight.
Tuesday: Read John 3:16-18. It seems like we are so inoculated with this verse that we forget why it is the most-quoted passage in the history of literature. It sums up how God sees all of humanity. The world was in such desperate straits, unable to save itself from death, that God came to the rescue by sending his son, Jesus. What does the passage say was Jesus’ purpose? Who is not included in “the world” that God loved so much?
Wednesday: Read Matthew 18:10-14. Of what does this passage tell us to beware? How do you see this happening? Why do you think the shepherd (Jesus) would go after the single sheep, which apparently didn’t even want to be in the 99? Do you think that everyone matters to God? Who does “everyone” include?
Thursday: Read Psalm 103:8-10. This passage is packed with ways that God treats us. Make a list of all the ways that you see from this passage that God treats us. Thank God that he treats us like this. How can you now turn around and treat people like God treats you? What is one concrete way that you can do that today?
Friday: Read Romans 15:1-2. This passage of God’s Holy Words gives us clear marching orders as to how we are to act towards people. We are to treat all people with love and compassion. How can our pride and egos get in the way of treating all people the way that God treats us? Pray that you may have the strength to care for people the way that God cares for them.
Saturday: Read Leviticus 25:39-43. This obscure passage from a rarely read book is a good reminder of how God values everyone, even those (perhaps especially those) who are weak and powerless. How does the spirit of this passage speak into your life?
You can Go Deeper this week by:
- Memorizing This Week’s Memory Verse: John 3:16 (BELIEVE p. 110) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
- Memorizing This Week’s BELIEVE Key Idea: "I believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior."
- Read This Book: Shaped by Grace by Max Lucado.
You can also listen to this week's message or read the full PDF of the message & GPS.