Gospel Rooted | Day by Day

MONDAY

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Who is God? God is our perfect Father.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.  Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

God is a good and perfect Father. He is holy, He is love, and He is our Father. In a world where many dads are absent, busy, abusive, or just imperfect like the rest of us, we have a perfect heavenly Father. God the Father is the God of all comfort and the Father of mercies. Imagine this: a dad who is always present and is so loving that He is rightly called the “God of ALL comfort.” This is amazing, and this is the Father we have through the God of the Bible!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. What might God be trying to teach you by reminding you that He is a comforting and merciful Father? What were some ways, if any, that your earthly father was a good picture of what God is like? What were some ways that your earthly dad revealed your need for a heavenly Dad?

Respond:

How does this truth transform your relationship with God? Write down in a journal all that you are hearing and learning from the Lord, and some next steps for how to live it out.

 

TUESDAY

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What has God done? God has adopted us.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. – Romans 8:14-17

Yesterday, we let our hearts listen to the truth that God is our merciful and comforting Father. Today we reflect on how that points us to the good news that we are no longer spiritual orphans but have been adopted into God’s family! We are sons and daughters, co-heirs with Christ, all because our God is an adopting Father.

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. What might God be trying to teach you by reminding you that the Father has adopted you into His family?

Respond:

Write down in a journal all that you are hearing and learning from the Lord, and some next steps for how to live it out.

 

WEDNESDAY

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Who are we? We are family!

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.  – 1 Peter 2:9-10

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” – Matthew 6:9

This week we have been learning that God is our Father and we have been adopted by Him through the work of Jesus. Because this is true, it means that we are a part of His family. We get to live as sons and daughters of the Father, and as brothers and sisters with our fellow Christians. The church is a family – a people for His own possession. Once we were not a people or a family but were isolated; we were spiritual orphans looking for a group, community, or people to be a part of. Now we are God’s people – we belong to our Heavenly Father. Together as brothers and sisters, we pray to our one Father and we get to share life, love, and truth as an eternal spiritual family, sharing the same Dad!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. Let God the Father remind you that you belong to Him; sit with that in prayer for a bit. What might God be trying to teach you by reminding you that are a part of His family?

Respond:

How could you grow in living like family with your church family in general, and community group, small group, or missional community specifically? Write down in a journal all that you are hearing and learning from the Lord, and some next steps for how to live it out.

 

THURSDAY

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How do we live? We love one another with brotherly love.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. – Romans 12:10

Live in harmony with one another. – Romans 12:16

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. – Romans 13:8

This week we have meditated on the truth that God is a Father who has adopted us and made us a part of His family. We respond to this truth with worship and by living life as one big family with God’s people. We strive to love and honor one another, and live in a deep harmonious relationship together – on earth as it is in heaven!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. Where might you have the opportunity to love and honor your brothers and sisters in Christ? What have you learned this week? Which specific truths from the devotional or other times with God seem to be coming up repeatedly?

Respond:

How is God calling you to trust and obey Him in light of these truths? How might your experience of the church start to change if you saw it more and more as part of your heavenly and eternal family?

 

FRIDAY

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True Gratitude: Rejoice in the Lord!

Memorization:

Once again, we will focus on the passage below as we grow in practicing thanksgiving, contentment, and celebration. It is a beautiful passage and this is a great opportunity to practice memorization.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:4-9

Today we rejoice in all the truth and promises we learned, received, heard, and saw in Jesus this week! We give thanks for the truth of God, the gospel, our new identity, and the freedom to trust and obey the One who gives life.

Thanksgiving & Adoration:

Take time today to think of all you have to thank God for and thank Him for it. Write these in your journal, pray them out loud, and praise Him for the truths that have transformed you even this week!