Half way

Last Friday was Day 20 of our reading Scot McKnight’s book and brought us to the half-way mark.  Do you think it accidental that the title of last Friday’s reading was “At the Center of a Centered Life”?

Why don’t you take a moment or two and look back over what you have read thus far.  You might want to look back over the scriptures and maybe the focuses for each day and if you have been underlining or marking passages in your book see what caught your attention.

What has stood out to you the most so far?

As we move on to the second 20 days maybe we can take the title of Day 21’s reading, “Principles to Live By,” and let that be our watchword as see what principles Jesus would have us live out daily.

Charles

{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ps – Due do some schedule issues last week, I did not post as as many snippets from the book as earlier.  This week I should be back to my usual posting.  Thanks for understanding.

Day 21 – Principles to Live By

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:12

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.”
Matthew 7:24-24

Facing this day: Those who live by Jesus’ principles live a different kind of life.

Day 19 – Spiritual Disciplines as Love

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 6:1

“Hes has told you, O mortal, what is god; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8

Facing the Day: Practice spiritual disciplines as gifts from God to lead you to love God and others.

Your good works

“Let you light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

“The influence we are to have on others by living the Jesus Creed comes through good works.  We are called by Jesus to be people of good works – to love others by doing them good.  We can do good by … … …” (p 82)

How do you do good?

Day 16 – This Little Light of Mine

“You are the salt of the earth.”
“You are the light of the world.”
Matthew 5:13, 14

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
James 1:27

Facing the Day: Influence others in the way of the Jesus Creed.

Tattered kingdom

“Jesus’ tattered kingdom included those who came hoping for a handout, those who were depressed by death and destruction, those whom everybody considered nobodies, those for whom life was all about doing what was right, those who saw needs in the eyes of others, those whose hearts thumped with crystal-clear goodness, those whose war was to get waring groups back together again, and those who sat at Jesus’ table but were battered and bruised because they followed Jesus.” (p 78)

Why have you come to the Kingdom?  Why do you stay?