Daily Worship (May 24)

Romans 12:9–21
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Devotional Thought
One of the hardest things for people to do is let go of the need to be right. When someone hurts us, misunderstands us, or disagrees with us, we naturally want to defend ourselves and prove our case. We replay conversations in our minds. We gather evidence. We talk about the other person to make ourselves look better. Deep down, we often believe that our value depends on winning the argument.

But Romans 12 points us in a different direction. Paul tells believers not to repay evil for evil and not to take revenge. Instead, we are told to “leave room for God’s wrath.” That means God is the true judge, not us. He sees clearly. He knows every motive. He is able to bring justice in the right way and at the right time.

This connects directly to Sunday’s sermon: “It’s Not About You.” Many of our conflicts grow because we believe, “I have to be right.” We place ourselves in God’s seat and begin judging other people harshly. But the gospel humbles us. Jesus is the only person who has ever been completely right, yet He chose mercy instead of condemnation. On the cross, He took the judgment we deserved.

Because of Jesus, we are free to stop trying to justify ourselves all the time. We can listen instead of attacking. We can forgive instead of keeping score. We can trust God with justice instead of trying to control every conflict. Real faith means surrendering our pride and letting God be the Judge.

COMMA Questions

• Context: How does Romans 12 connect Christian relationships to the mercy God has shown us in Christ?
• Observation: What commands in this passage stand out about how Christians should treat enemies and difficult people?
• Meaning: What does it mean to “leave room for God’s wrath” instead of taking revenge ourselves?
• Main Idea: How does this passage show that Christians do not have to prove themselves or win every conflict?
• Application: In what relationships are you most tempted to gossip, judge harshly, or prove that you are right?

Prayer
Father, forgive me for trying to take Your place as judge over others. Help me to trust You with justice and to show mercy the way Jesus has shown mercy to me. Teach me to walk in humility and love instead of pride and self-righteousness. Amen.

Matthew 6:25–34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Devotional Thought
Most people want control over their lives. We make plans, set goals, organize schedules, and try to prepare for every possible problem. Planning itself is not sinful. The problem comes when we begin to live as though everything depends on us. Anxiety often reveals what we really believe. We worry because we think we must hold everything together ourselves.

In Matthew 6, Jesus speaks directly to worried and anxious people. He tells His followers not to be consumed with fear about food, clothing, or tomorrow. Instead, He points to the birds and flowers as reminders of God’s care. If God faithfully provides for creation, how much more will He care for His children?

This connects closely to the sermon’s second point: “I need to be in control.” James says our lives are like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. Yet we often live as though we are the masters of our future. We try to control our families, finances, schedules, and reputation because we are afraid of uncertainty.

Jesus calls us to a different way of living. Instead of trusting ourselves, we are to seek first the kingdom of God. The gospel reminds us that Jesus is Lord, not us. He rules over tomorrow. He knows what we need before we ask. Because Christ died and rose again, believers do not have to live in fear of the future. We are free to pray, trust, rest, and obey.

One practical way to fight the need for control is learning to rest in God. Sabbath rest reminds us that the world keeps turning even when we stop working. God is in control, and we are not.

COMMA Questions

• Context: How does this section fit into Jesus’ larger teaching in the Sermon on the Mount?
• Observation: What examples from creation does Jesus use to teach about worry and trust?
• Meaning: What does it mean to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”?
• Main Idea: How does this passage teach believers to trust God instead of trying to control everything themselves?
• Application: What areas of your life tempt you to worry, over-manage, or fear the future?

Prayer
Lord, forgive me for acting like everything depends on me. Help me to trust You with my future, my family, and my fears. Teach me to seek Your kingdom first and to rest in Your loving care each day. Amen.

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13–21

Devotional Thought
The world constantly tells us that the purpose of life is to be happy. We are told to chase comfort, pleasure, success, and more possessions. Many people arrange their lives around personal happiness above everything else. But Jesus warns that this kind of self-centered living is dangerous.

In Luke 12, Jesus tells the story of a rich man whose land produced a huge harvest. The man’s solution was simple: build bigger barns, store more possessions, and enjoy an easy life. Notice how focused he is on himself. He keeps saying “I” and “my.” God is nowhere in his thinking. Other people are nowhere in his thinking. His whole life revolves around his own comfort and security.

Then God calls him a fool because his life will end that very night. All his wealth and planning cannot save him. Jesus warns that life is not measured by possessions and that it is foolish to store up treasure for yourself while ignoring God.

This connects to the final point from Sunday’s sermon: “I need to be happy.” James warns rich people who used wealth for luxury, self-indulgence, and exploitation. The problem is not money itself. The problem is loving comfort more than God and neighbor. Self-centered happiness always harms people downstream.

The gospel calls us to a better way. Jesus did not live for His own comfort. He gave Himself for sinners. True joy is not found in building our own kingdom but in loving God and serving others. Real happiness is found in surrendering our lives to Christ and using what we have for His glory.

COMMA Questions

• Context: What led Jesus to tell the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12?
• Observation: What repeated words or ideas reveal the rich man’s selfish mindset?
• Meaning: What does Jesus mean when He says life does not consist in an abundance of possessions?
• Main Idea: How does this passage warn us about building our lives around comfort, wealth, and personal happiness?
• Application: In what ways are you tempted to arrange your life mainly around comfort and self-indulgence?

Prayer
Father, guard my heart from greed and selfishness. Help me not to live only for comfort or personal happiness. Teach me to use my time, money, and energy to love You and serve others. Thank You for the true joy that is found in Jesus Christ. Amen.