Who has the right to tell you about yourself? Our culture celebrates the individual, encourages us to find our identity in ourselves and to work toward things like self-actualization, self-esteem, and self-expression. It feeds our pride. The house it builds inevitably collapses. But what if there’s a better way? This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Get a Bible and work through 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)
God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
You are the Sovereign God who holds our future.
You are the Suffering God who knows our pain.
You are the Creator God who made us. You know who we are.
You are the Covenant God who claims us. You bring us into your family. You call us by a new name. You give us a hope and a future.
Father God, by the power of your Spirit, speak to us we pray through Christ, Amen.

— Let us read and reflect on Scripture:
A little background: The Book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature filled with images and symbols that brought hope to the early church in a difficult time. It was written to seven church, one of which was in Laodicea. Revelation 3 tells us they had the wrong idea about themselves. A lot has been written about the image of cold, hot, and lukewarm. But note that Jesus wants to share a meal with them. Imagine you want to serve a cold drink and hot soup, but keep your guest, Jesus, waiting at the door until everything is room temperature. We are encouraged to stop resisting fellowship with Jesus. Let him in. Don’t delay. Then humbly let the one who is faithful and true tell us who we really are.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to accept who we are. Remind us who you are!
Revelation 3:14-22

— 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)
All who thirst, come to the water and drink deeply of these living streams.
Come, all who are weary; come, all who yearn for forgiveness.
Our gracious God beckons and blesses us.
Let us give praise and thanks for new life in Christ.
God, lead us in to walk in the grace, truth, and light of your love.

— Let’s Gather Wisdom from One Who Walked with Christ before us: (3)
The Heathen says, “The man that prospers is favored by the gods; the man who is unsuccessful is obnoxious to the Most High.” They do not know any better. Tose more enlightened easterners who talked with Job during his affliction got but little further. They believed that all who serve God have hedges around them and that God multiplies their wealth and increases their happiness. They saw in Job’s affliction a sign that he was a hypocrite. Thus, they thought that God had quenched his candle and put out his light.
Unfortunately, even Christians have fallen into the same error. They have been apt to think that if God lifts one up there must be some excellence in him. If He chastens and afflicts, they generally think that it must be an exhibition of wrath. Listen to the text and the riddle will be unriddled. Listen to the words of Jesus speaking to His servant John and the mystery is all unmysteried. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent” Rev. 3:19) – Charles Spurgeon

— Let us surrender this day to God who blesses us and calls us to be a blessing: (4)
May the light of God’s love push back the darkness.
We come to the light from the four corners of the earth,
We come from the north, from the south, from the east, and from the west.
We come from many nations and many cultures.
We come seeking the light that guides us to life.
Lord Jesus, let us walk with you today, for where else will we find the words of life.

Sources:
(1) Original
(2) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, modified.
(3) From “Sacrifice” in Answering God by Eugene Peterson
(4) From The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources, modified.