Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

2 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NRSV)

For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed. But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

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Reflect

We are experiencing such unrest these days—both internationally and within the boundaries of our own country. It sometimes feels like we are sitting on a powder keg and the slightest unexpected jostle will set it off. I can’t remember a time in my life when our country and our world have felt as fragile as they do now.

No one wants to be involved in a war, or even have a serious exchange of words with another country’s leaders. We do know, however, that our country was founded by Christian men and women who sought religious and political freedom from a country that was oppressive and dictatorial. As a result, a strong country was formed.

We need to continue to examine our actions and those of our nation to see if we are indeed living in the faith. “For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.”

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Pray

Heavenly God, maker of all people, give our leaders direction and guidance and keep us safely in your embrace. Amen.

Go with God.