Thursday: Neighbors

With all the noise in the world, do you hear the voice of God?  Your calendar tells you what to do, but do you remember who you are?  Being comes before doing.  This is a call to put first things first.  Return to the Lord with this daily pattern of prayer and devotion.  Set aside this time as a sanctuary.  Find a space free of distraction and follow this pattern. 
 
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.
 
Invitation Prayer
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  (Matt. 5:7)  You are the great Giver of mercy.  Move me to show your mercy.  Amen.  
  
Word: Luke 21:17-19
You will be hated by all for my name's sake.  But not a hair of your head will perish.  By your endurance you will gain your lives.  

Meditation
​Endurance.  This is a word that is sprinkled throughout the New Testament.  The Greek word for “endurance” in the New Testament means to be steadfast, to hold out, hold on, stand firm, persevere, don’t move.  This word is often used in the context of Jesus’ Final Return.  In light of the Last Day, endure.  Because you know there is a finish line, persevere.

The best way to practice endurance is to have a model to look at.  The best picture of endurance is Jesus himself.  It says in Hebrews 12:  “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Heb. 12:1-2)

Notice how Jesus’ endurance is tied to our own.  Hebrews 12 is a call for you to “run with endurance.”  How do you do that?  “Look to Jesus” for he “endured the cross.”  Jesus is the perfect picture of endurance.  In his journey to the cross, Christ remained unmovable.  He didn’t budge.  He took the suffering. The pain.  The shame.  And he overcame it.  Now we see him enthroned as King.  So we press on with bold confidence.  We endure. 

Prayer for Neighbors
 
·        For my immediate geographical neighbors.
·        For my community, neighborhood, town/city.
·        For neighbors hurting from broken families, addiction, violence, abuse, poverty, sickness.
·        For the eyes of the Good Samaritan, to see and help my neighbor in need.
 
Closing Prayer 
Lord Jesus, set your cross before my eyes that I may endure.  Strengthen my feeble heart and weak knees.  When I am persecuted for serving you, guard every hair of my head.  Help me to endure.  Amen.