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Read Deuteronomy 34:1-12. After all that Moses has been through, being saved by his mother, raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, living in exile, being called back to set the Hebrews free, being led and leading through the wilderness, he stands at the top of the mountain and looks out over the land that God has promised. The last step is not his to take. Instead, it will be Joshua who leads the final leg of the journey. 

To pass the mantle of leadership to the next generation is not an easy thing to do. It can be a painful transition as former leaders mourn the loss of that particular purpose or worry that the next generation will do things differently or have a different vision altogether. When have you been called to entrust a cherished role or duty to someone else? What made it difficult? Was there a sense of relief? What gifts or new insights did the next person lend to the project? How might the opportunity have enriched the life of the new person in charge? 

Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for all the ways God has called you to lead: in church, at work, in an organization, at home. Then commit yourself to supporting younger leaders who are now in those roles.

Read Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17. Here, the psalmist meditates on the timelessness of God compared to the limits of our human existence. Yet, even as short-lived and insignificant as we might feel our lives are in the grand scheme of things, we are called to live as God’s children, inspired by the Spirit to have an impact on the world around us. Every day that we have is a gift with which we can reflect the God-image within us, bringing honor and glory to the One who has created and is creating us day by day. 

What mark can you leave on the world today? What word might make a difference in someone else’s day? How can you best use the day you’ve been given to give glory to God? 

Take some time to gaze at the night sky tonight and meditate on the timelessness of God’s love, mercy, and majesty.

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8. In this part of his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul highlights his own ministry as an example for what the ministry of the church should look like. A key characteristic was being faithful and courageous in sharing the Good News, even when it was unpopular or even dangerous to do so. “Though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ,” points us to the accountability of Christian community. 

Sometimes we are called to have those difficult conversations when we feel it is necessary to help someone live more fully into their God-created, best self. Yet how did Paul and his team approach that task? “But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children.” Is it possible to hold someone accountable while still being gentle? Do you tend to approach conflict with force or with gentleness? In what ways do you courageously hold to your convictions even if it is not popular with the people around you? 

In prayer, ask God for the courage to be steadfast, but the wisdom to be gentle.

Read Matthew 22:34-40. Once again, Jesus is tested by the religious authorities. They believe they have the perfect way to finally pin him down, but Jesus has a special gift for silencing his critics. When asked to choose the most important commandment, Jesus chooses two: love God with every part of your being and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus is doubling down on the claim that the center of God is love and that love of God, neighbor, and self are interconnected. We express our love for God in the way we love our neighbor, and we can’t love our neighbor if we do not love ourselves. 

In what ways do you express love for God, neighbor, or self? To what degree do you agree that love for God, self, and neighbor cannot be separated? Which of the three challenges you the most? 

Offer a prayer of blessing for someone you have a hard time loving.