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Read Exodus 33:12-23. In this conversation, Moses tries to bargain with God. He is afraid to strike out into the wilderness without assurance of God’s presence, protection, and provision. First, he convinces God to go with them, even though in previous verses, God had said that an angel would accompany them. Next, Moses asks to see God’s face. This is a step too far for God, who instead, allow Moses to see God’s back. It may not have been all that Moses asked for, but it was enough. This gave Moses the courage he needed to lead the Hebrews from Horeb. 

Sometimes, I have an all-or-nothing attitude when it comes to prayer. How can we better recognize and find satisfaction when God gives us what we need? How can we use answered prayers to empower us as followers of Jesus? 

Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for answered prayers and for God’s understanding of what is enough.

Read Psalm 99. This is a psalm of praise. It proclaims God as King of Kings, One who sits on a mighty throne. The psalmist calls upon the name of great leaders as an example of properly praising God. The Psalmist decrees that calling on the name of the Lord, crying out to God, and following the statutes of God are ways to praise the Lord. 

What are some of the ways you praise the Lord? What are some ways of praising the Lord that are difficult for you? 

Today, spend some time giving praise to the Lord, looking for small, subtle ways that you see God at work in the world.

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. In this introduction, Paul commends the church at Philippi for the way they have imitated him in the way he imitates Christ. Their church has become known for unwavering joy even in the midst of persecution. They have set themselves apart from their community by turning from their idols to serving the living, true God. 

What sets our church apart from others in our community? What unique voice do we offer? What would people say we are known for? What about our church made you choose it in the first place? What has kept you here? 

In prayer, thank God for the gifts the church has brought to your life and pray that God will continue to bless and use the church to transform the world in the name of Jesus Christ.

Read Matthew 22:15-22. Once again, Jesus is asked a trick question. Answer one way and the Pharisees will claim his allegiance is with Rome rather than God. Answer another way and the Herodians will claim his advice against paying taxes will enrage the Romans and cause problems for the Jews. Jesus answers with both/and. When he says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God,” he is saying that we must live according to the expectations of our society and government, but our life’s work should be enacting the ideals of God’s kingdom. There is a balance in Jesus’ answer that seems to be lacking in our current age. 

How can we embrace and enact the kingdom ideals while respecting civic rules and expectations? Are there aspects of our societal systems and government that you feel stand in contrast to the kingdom of God? How can we engage with what is broken in our systems in safe, respectful, healthy, and life-giving ways? 

Today, pray for God to restore balance to our collective human existence.