During the Living Consistent with Christ series we have been reminded by Henri Nouwen that Jesus liberates, he is compassionate as the God who suffers with us, he humbly chose the descending way, and the God of love revealed in Christ challenges us to love our enemies. This week, we see Jesus pointing us towards the little things that over time enable us to consistently love God, self, and others as Christ has and does. These little things can be described as faith practices, spiritual disciplines, or holy habits.

 

When an expert in the Jewish laws asked Jesus which of the 613 commandments in the Torah is the greatest commandment, Christ replied, “the first and greatest commandment” is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV). In Letters to Marc, Henri Nouwen explains that, “The more you learn to love God, the more you learn to know and to cherish yourself. Self-knowledge and self-love are the fruit of knowing and loving God.” We learn to love God through the little things, such as spending the first day of the week seeking to be with the Lord and his people. We learn to love God through focusing our thoughts and desires upon God first each day through daily devotionals, scripture reading, spiritual reading, and prayer. We learn to love God by setting aside the first portions of our income for him to guide our hearts to submit to Christ. We learn to love God through ongoing gratitude as we thank and praise him daily.

 

Jesus went on to tell the expert of the Jewish laws that there is a second commandment that “is equally important” as the first one (Matthew 22:39 NLT). The second commandment is, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 NLT). In regards to this second commandment that is equal in importance with the first one, Henri Nouwen wrote, “Laying our hearts totally open to God leads to a love of ourselves that enables us to give whole-hearted love to our fellow human beings.” Is your heart open to God? If not, how will you receive the love he offers you? If your heart isn’t open to God, how can you love yourself in a way that overflows into love for others like Christ loves us? Receive God’s love and remain in it. Utilize habits to put God first as your ongoing expression of love for him, and follow Jesus’ example for loving your neighbor…beginning with the people closest to you. As you do this you fulfill the will of the God of love.

 

Throughout 2021, you are invited to focus on living with Jesus at the center of your life. To help us with Living Consistent with Christ we have offered this message series connected to Henri Nouwen’s book, Letters to Marc About Jesus. If you would like to read Henri’s book, you can purchase it through Amazon.com, ChristianBook.com, or Cokesbury.com.

 

Sunday (5/16)

This week you are invited to read part of the lyrics from the Lauren Daigle song, “First,” as a prayer to begin your devotional time with the Lord each day, then read the daily Bible verses, and conclude your time praying The Lord’s Prayer or a prayer of your own.

 

Song: “First” by Lauren Daigle:

Before I bring my need I will bring my heart

Before I lift my cares I will lift my arms

I want to know You, I want to find You

In every season, in every moment

Before I bring my need I will bring my heart

And seek You

 

First

I wanna seek You, I wanna seek You

First

More than anything I want, I want You

First

 

Before I speak a word let me hear Your voice

And in the midst of pain let me feel Your joy

I want to know You, I want to find You

In every season, in every moment

Before I speak a word I will bring my heart

And seek You

First

 

Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer as taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV)

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not let us be led into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

 

Monday (5/17)

Read the lyrics of the song, “First,” listed above as a prayer, or listen to the song using the link below as a way to set your heart, soul, and mind centered in Christ and focused on Him.

 

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Leviticus 19:18, the two greatest commandments quoted by Jesus in Matthew 22. What habits are revealed in these verses that can be used to live consistently as a Christ follower? Are you utilizing these holy habits to love God and others? If not, what could you start doing today?

 

Pray in response to God’s message in the song and verses by either praying The Lord’s Prayer as printed above or using your own words.

 

 

Tuesday (5/18)

Read the lyrics of the song, “First,” listed above as a prayer, or listen to the song using the link below as a way to set your heart, soul, and mind centered in Christ and focused on Him.

 

Read Mark 16:9-18 and Exodus 20:8-11. The verses from Mark reveal that the resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples on the first day of the week. As a way to remember and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection each week, first century Christians began meeting on the first day of the week to worship together, read scripture, pray, and receive Holy Communion. The verses from Exodus reveal God’s commandment to the Israelites about remembering the Sabbath. Would you be willing to set aside a day each week to put God first, rest from your work, while remembering and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus with brothers and sisters in Christ?

 

Pray in response to God’s message in the song and verses by either praying The Lord’s Prayer as printed above or using your own words.

 

 

Wednesday (5/19)

Read the lyrics of the song, “First,” listed above as a prayer, or listen to the song using the link below as a way to set your heart, soul, and mind centered in Christ and focused on Him.

 

Read Mark 1:35 and Matthew 6:5-8. Notice how Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray to start the day. Are you starting your day with prayer? If not, consider starting your day with prayer tomorrow, even if you simply pray the words of the song, “First.” As Jesus instructs in Matthew 6, find a place where you can be alone to pray and be with God.

 

Pray in response to Jesus’ message by either praying The Lord’s Prayer as printed above or using your own words.

 

 

Thursday (5/20)

Read the lyrics of the song, “First,” listed above as a prayer, or listen to the song using the link below as a way to set your heart, soul, and mind centered in Christ and focused on Him.

 

Read Matthew 4:2-4 and John 1:14. Jesus is “the Word of God that became flesh and blood” among John and other witnesses in the first century. We can easily be distracted from centering our lives in Christ, or tempted to seek our own will instead of living to fulfill God’s will. Are you seeking to live according to God’s will or your own will today? Is your life being guided by Jesus, scripture, and the Spirit of God?

 

Pray in response to Jesus by either praying The Lord’s Prayer as printed above or using your own words.

 

 

Friday (5/21)

Read the lyrics of the song, “First,” listed above as a prayer, or listen to the song using the link below as a way to set your heart, soul, and mind centered in Christ and focused on Him.

 

Read Matthew 6:24 and Proverbs 3:9-10. The verses reveal that we cannot serve God and money, and that we are supposed to give the first portion of our income to the Lord. Are you setting aside a specific portion of your money as a tithe or offering to God? What does the way you manage your money reveal about your love for God and others?

 

Pray in response to God’s message in the song and verses by either praying The Lord’s Prayer as printed above or using your own words.

 

 

Saturday (5/22)

Read the lyrics of the song, “First,” a few times.

 

Read Luke 10:25-37. What does Jesus’ parable (story) reveal about loving others? Do you have a “neighbor” that God wants you to serve and give to meet their needs as a way of expressing love? How soon are you willing to start?

 

Pray in response to what Jesus teaches about loving others.

 

Consider observing the Sabbath either today or tomorrow as a time to rest, reflect, and enjoy recreation. The questions below can be used to help with reflecting:

How did I see, hear, or encounter God during this past week?

 

Who needs to hear about my experience sometime in the coming days?

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online on a computer.