Pride versus humility: Our world certainly celebrates pride. In Google’s definitions, pride is associated with achievements and awareness of competence and dignity. The Bible associates pride with conceit, with giving ourselves credit that should be given to God. Pride is associated with foolishness. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice in it – somehow. I invite you to get a Bible – in print or electronic – and start working through all or part of the prayers, scripture reading, questions, and devotional reading below. May the Lord bless you as you do so. And may the Spirit of God work in each of us to shape us to be a little more like Jesus, today.

— Praise God with Me: (1)
Mighty God,
We do not yet see the glory you plan for all humankind, but in faith we do see Jesus.
We thank you for the humility and holiness in which he lived and died.
We praise you that he freed us from our sin, that he comforts through our struggles, and that he gives us courage to follow him.
For this, we now join with all creation and shout for joy:
Holy, holy, holy are you, Lord! Amen

— Let us read and reflect on Scripture:
A little background: With the first 11 chapters, Paul moves us from division and despair to unshakable unity and hope because of Jesus. In chapter 12, he challenges the reader to surrender deeply and fully to God and then shifts to what our life together – as sinners justified by God – should be like as a result. Notice how Paul assumes we will be together and know one another well. Notice how the strength of that fellowship extends to the way we interact with the world.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to remember who we are and who you are!
Romans 12:3-21

— Answer these four questions:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about people?
As a result of this reading, what is one step God is inviting you to take?
Who is one person you will tell about that step today?

— With a Heart of Prayer, Let us Respond: (2)
Almighty God, you have sent Jesus to take our nature upon himself and to be for us a sign and Savior. Grant that by the power of your Spirit Christ may be born within us today to the end that our work may be pleasing to you and helpful to your people. We pray in the name and Spirit of Jesus. Amen.

— Let’s Gather Wisdom from One Who Walked with Christ before us: (3)
The most experienced psychologist or observer of human nature knows infinitely less of the human heart than the simplest Christian who lives beneath the Cross of Jesus. The greatest psychological insight, ability, and experience cannot grasp this one thing: what sin is. Worldly wisdom knows what distress and weakness and failure are, but it does not know the godlessness of man. And so, it also does not know that man is destroyed only by his sin and can be healed only by forgiveness. Only the Christian knows this. In the presence of a psychiatrist, I can only be a sick man; in the presence of a Christian brother, I can dare to be a sinner. The psychiatrist must first search my heart, and yet he never plumbs its ultimate depth. The Christian brother knows when I come to him: here is a sinner like myself, a godless man who wants to confess and yearns for God’s forgiveness. The psychiatrist views me as if there were no God. The brother views me as I am before the judging and merciful God in the Cross of Jesus Christ.

— Let this glorify God today: (4)
Almighty God, whatever this day brings, we ask for your grace. By your Spirit:
May we live faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ today.
May we live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us.
May we rejoice always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is Your will for us in Christ Jesus.
May Your peace, O God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus, through whom we live and pray. Amen.

Sources:
(1) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources.
(2) From A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants, 1983
(3) From Life Together, Deitrich Bonhoeffer
(4) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, edited.