Today's Reflection

MANY OF US, if not most of us in the church, have forgotten why we do what we do in the first place. We’ve forgotten that the message of Jesus is actually good news of freedom, hope, and possibility, not just more things to accomplish, programs to run, and busyness to get swept up in. Especially for pastors and church leaders, we get focused on numbers, budgets, growth, and programs because those are the “measurables.” But we forget that Jesus invited us into a life-changing relationship, a companionship meant to bring wholeness.

—Junius B. Dotson
Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today's Question

When have you felt like “it’s all on you”? How can you and your faith community create a culture where the work is shared and no one has to feel that way?

Today's Scripture

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
—John 3:17 (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

“O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” —Psalm 63:1 (NRSV) Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

• • Jeremiah 18:1-11
  • Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
  • Philemon 1:1-21
  • Luke 14:25-33

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

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