Gospel Rooted | Day by Day

MONDAY

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Who is God? God is King.

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.

He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.

He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!

God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.

For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted! – Psalm 47

Our God is King. He is King over all the earth, and He is a good King. This God who we have studied for eight weeks, who is love, who is gracious, who is a Good Shepherd—He is King! There is no ruler more permanent, more powerful, or more perfect than our God! Pro athletes, presidents, billionaire CEO’s, celebrities, me, you—none of us are the King. We may think we are, and we may treat other things or people as a king that we look to for rule, reign, or hope. But God alone is King of the heavens and the earth! Don’t settle for lesser kings. Let a God who is love be your King.

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. Spend some time praying allegiance to your loving King! What might God be trying to teach you by reminding you that He alone is King of all the earth?

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 He done? Our King has brought His heavenly Kingdom to earth.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Ephesians 2:4-10 

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. – Colossians 1:13

Yesterday, we let our hearts listen to the truth that God is King. Today, we rejoice in the good news that King Jesus has brought the Kingdom of heaven to earth. This is a Kingdom of hearts, not borders; a Kingdom of love and light, not sin and darkness. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we now get to live in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is already here but it is not yet fully realized. We repent and turn from living for the kingdoms of this earth and join Jesus in living lives of love, hope, and obedience as we grow in trusting Jesus to be our gracious King!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. What might God be trying to teach you through today’s verses?

Respond:

Where are you looking to other kings and kingdoms for life and hope? What areas of your life are you self-ruling, and what would it look like to repent and let Jesus reign in every area of your heart and life? 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 citizens of heaven!

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. – Philippians 3:20

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. – Hebrews 13:14

This week we have been learning that our God is King, and He has brought the Kingdom of heaven to earth through the rule and reign of Jesus. Today, we embrace our identity as citizens of heaven. We are not primarily our nationality, our race, our political party, our sports team, or our college alumni; we are citizens of heaven. Being an American is nice; there are lots of amazing advantages and we are blessed to live in a country with many resources, protections, liberties, and opportunities. But it is nothing, NOTHING, compared to the freedom, joy, inheritance, blessing, and treasures that await us in Christ and in the new heaven and new earth. While we mourn the brokenness in and around us, we are not without hope as we know that we are citizens of heaven!

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 you are a citizen of heaven?

Respond:

How could your relationship with the world change by realizing that you are not of this world, but are a citizen of heaven? 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? Go make disciples.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20

This week we have meditated on the truth that God is King, and we are citizens of His heavenly Kingdom. Today, we look to respond by obeying our King’s command to advance His Kingdom. We are to join Him by living out lives of love and truth, and inviting others to know the truth and love of Jesus. We no longer strive to build our own kingdoms, but to build a legacy of truth and love that advances the Kingdom of heaven, the Kingdom of Jesus. We are disciples sent to make disciples!

Reflect:

Take ten minutes or longer to let this truth settle into your heart. How is God calling you to grow in making disciples? Imagine what a community would look like who enjoyed the reign of Jesus in their lives and embraced the call to make disciples. What would change in your life?

Respond:

How might God be inviting you to use your gifts to make disciples and advance His Kingdom? What would it look like for your neighborhood, workplace, school, and/or home to begin to look more and more like heaven? 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.

 

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!