Prayer for Monday: Lord, we live in a world of change. Every day is filled with uncertainty. We are surrounded by the twists and turns of life and we often feel we have little or no control over things that happen to us. Lord, we come to stand in your eternal presence. We come to you to find ourselves, to find our way, to find hope. We come to you because in Christ you first came to us. O God who has made me, O God who keeps me, O God who will be my Lord through all eternity, shine down Your blessings and wisdom upon me like the sun upon a field; and may I keep You in the forefront of my every thought and deed, throughout this day, and forevermore. In Christ's Name, Amen.
Scripture Reading for Monday: Exodus 7-8
Scripture Reflection for Monday: Today's journey "Through the Bible" visits Exodus 7-8.
In Exodus 7, we see that God alone is Lord. Physical goods are blessings, but people can turn them into idols. Even in a secular culture, people worship money and the pleasures it can buy. They depend upon the experts to manipulate the world and give them happiness. But the Lord wages war against the idols to show that He alone is sovereign. His war will climax in the coming of Christ. Before it is too late, let us turn from idols to serve the living God and hope in His Son, the Savior. What idols tempt you? What does it mean to turn from them to the Lord?
In Exodus 8, we see that in the darkest places on earth, Christ is still able to judge His enemies and save His people. Therefore, even if we are in the shadow of Satan’s throne, let us hold fast to the Lord, not deny the faith, and bear witness even to death (Rev. 2:13). Christ will destroy our enemies, and His redemption will deliver us from His wrath.
Daily Teaching (Catechism) for Monday:
Faith that receives and rests on Christ and His righteousness is the only instrument of justification. Yet it does not occur by itself in the person justified, but it is always accompanied by every other saving grace. It is not a dead faith but works through love (Romans 3:28; Galatians 5:6; James 2:17, 22, 26).
May God help you to grow in Christ today,
