Thursday, October 8, 2026

Opening Scriptures

Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone – while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” Job 38:1-7

The LORD said to Job: “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!” Then Job answered the LORD: “I am unworthy – how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer – twice, but I will say no more.” Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm: “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?” Job 40:1-8

Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father, thank you for this day, another chance to love and serve You. Help me make the most of it and do everything I can to please You. May Your priorities be mine. Remind me that, apart from You, I can do nothing. Help me follow the Spirit today as He guides me in grace, truth, and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Help me not to be foolish, but to understand your good, pleasing, and perfect will. Open my heart and mind to all You want me to know and learn. As I draw near to You, please draw near to me and help me sense Your presence. Help me to stand strong against the evil one, and to think and act as Your child. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 40:12-20

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor?

Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?

As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.

Reflection  

In today’s passage, the prophet attempts to describe the indescribable. The glory and majesty of Almighty God are beyond human understanding. The infinite Creator transcends the comprehension of His creation, so humans – who are predisposed to worship – choose to create idols they can manage.

Unable to grasp the infinite magnitude of the Almighty, humans choose to “worship” created things they are able to control. Rather than responding to their majestic Creator in awe, gratitude, and submission, people ignore Him and attempt to rule over their own pathetic “kingdom.”

The Apostle Paul speaks to both the foolishness of man and the majesty of God in his letter to the Romans.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles” (Romans 1:21-23).

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

It is in the context of that last passage from Romans that Paul presents our core text for 2026 as we focus on Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

Let’s be reminded of the truths we gathered from this passage previously. These two verses offer a step-by-step guide to how we should live each day.

1. Receive God’s mercy.
2. Offer yourself to God as a living sacrifice.
3. Refuse to conform to the world.
4. Choose to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
5. Know and do God’s will.

When we begin to realize the infinite majesty, endless love, and matchless grace of Almighty God, we are compelled to respond to Him in gratitude and submission. Recognizing God’s great holiness and our terrible sinfulness leads us to confession, repentance, forgiveness, and cleansing. Until we have a clear “view of God’s mercy” – not just in an abstract sense, but in a profoundly personal way – we have insufficient motivation or basis for the next four steps.

Next, we must offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. If we don’t love, trust, and revere God, it is highly unlikely that we’ll be willing to give ourselves completely to Him. Paul qualifies the offering of our bodies to God with three adjectives: living, holy, and pleasing. The lives that we place on the altar are active and productive, set apart and dedicated to God, and as such, well pleasing to Him.

Under the Old Covenant, a sacrifice was required to be clean and without blemish. To that degree, it was holy and acceptable. Of course, since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, there is an inherent “holiness” to our offering. Our intentional discipleship – the whole process of sanctification – accomplishes this function. The crux of “holiness” is being set apart for God. This constitutes our “true and proper worship.”

To continue offering ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God, we must refuse to conform to the world. The Greek “do not be conformed” (mē suschématizó) appears only here and in 1 Peter 1:14-15. “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”

Blending in and going with the crowd is natural. Following your godly convictions and denying your old impulses is supernatural, but it is possible. “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13).

At the same time, we must choose to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

Finally, we must know and do God’s will. When we take our relationship with God seriously – by following the steps above – this last step becomes much easier. As we devote ourselves increasingly to God, becoming transformed in our minds, we begin to discover and desire God’s will. That’s when we find out what “Flourishing” is really all about!

This week’s collective prayer: God, may I be useful to You in Your harvest. Amen.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!