Daily Worship (July 20)

Matthew 22:36–40 (NIV)
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Devotional Thought
Jesus summed up the whole Bible’s teaching with two commands: Love God and love others. Everything God has said, every command He’s given, comes down to love. That’s what we were made for—families, friendships, and whole communities are meant to be built on love like this. This reminds us of Deuteronomy 6, where God told families to teach His ways to their children and live them out every day.

But just like in the sermon illustration with the Jenga blocks, when we fail to love, things start to fall apart. Harsh words, selfish choices, ignoring God—all of these pull blocks out of the structure of our families. It’s not just about doing “bad things”; it’s about failing to live the way God designed.

That’s why we need Jesus. He loved God and others perfectly. He obeyed these two great commandments with His whole life. And then He died on the cross to take the punishment for all the ways we fail to love. When we trust Him, He gives us new hearts to love the way we’re supposed to.

Now, our love for God and others becomes a way we show the world who He is. Families that love like this stand strong, even when life gets hard.

COMMA Questions

• Context: What does the context of this passage (a conversation with religious leaders) tell us about why Jesus said this?
• Observation: What details do you notice about how Jesus answers the question?
• Meaning: What does it mean that “all the Law and the Prophets hang on” these two commandments?
• Main Idea: What is the main idea: How is love the foundation of God’s law and our relationships?
• Application: How can you show love to God and others in your family this week?

Prayer
Father, thank You for showing us what love looks like in Jesus. We confess that we often fail to love You and others as we should. Forgive us and help us to rebuild our families with the kind of love You’ve given us—patient, kind, and full of grace. Amen.

Isaiah 53:4–6 (NIV)
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Devotional Thought
Sin doesn’t just hurt us—it hurts the people around us, especially in families. Like a Jenga tower, every lie, every harsh word, every selfish act makes things more unstable. Eventually, something gives, and everything crashes. That’s what sin does—it tears down what God built up.

But the good news of the gospel is that Jesus saw our falling-apart lives and chose to take our place. Isaiah says that “the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all.” That means every sin—every block we pulled out—was placed on Jesus. He was crushed so that we could be healed.

When you knocked over the Jenga tower in your sermon, it wasn’t just a dramatic moment. It was a picture of the cross—where Jesus took all our brokenness. But that wasn’t the end of the story. He rose again to rebuild us, starting with our hearts and then our homes.

Because of Jesus, your family doesn’t have to stay broken. His wounds bring healing. His death brings peace. And His grace rebuilds what sin has torn down.

COMMA Questions

• Context: How does Isaiah 53 fit into the larger story of God’s plan to save His people?
• Observation: What words or images stand out to you in this passage?
• Meaning: What does it mean that Jesus was “pierced for our transgressions”?
• Main Idea: How does Jesus’ suffering bring healing to broken people and families?
• Application: How can you respond today to Jesus’ love and sacrifice for your sins?

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for taking the punishment I deserve. I’ve made a mess of things with my sin, but You were willing to be crushed for me. Thank You for the peace and healing You bring. Help me to live in that grace and show it in my family. Amen.

Colossians 3:12–14 (NIV)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Devotional Thought
After the Jenga tower falls, what happens next? That’s the question we all face after a fight, a mistake, or a long season of struggle in our families. The answer from Colossians 3 is clear: we rebuild with grace.

Paul tells Christians to “put on” things like kindness, patience, and forgiveness—like clothes we choose to wear each day. These aren’t things we can do on our own. They come from remembering who we are: God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. When we know we’re forgiven and loved by Jesus, we can pass that same love on to others.

This is how families grow stronger after the crash. Not by pretending everything’s fine, but by choosing forgiveness over bitterness, humility over pride, patience over frustration. And above all, we “put on love,” because love is the glue that holds families together.

Jesus doesn’t just knock over our tower of sin—He helps us rebuild something better. Through His Spirit, we can become more like Him, one block at a time.

COMMA Questions

• Context: What do you notice about the kind of people Paul is writing to?
• Observation: Which words or virtues in this passage are repeated or emphasized?
• Meaning: What does it mean to “put on love” and “forgive as the Lord forgave you”?
• Main idea: How does grace help rebuild and strengthen relationships?
• Application: What’s one way you can show compassion or forgiveness in your family this week?

Prayer
God, thank You for loving me and choosing me. Help me to clothe myself with kindness and patience, even when it’s hard. Make my heart more like Yours, full of love and ready to forgive. Use Your grace to rebuild my family in a way that honors You. Amen.