Lord, may I look upon the peripheries today for one of Your own people in need. Who in our organization is on the outside looking in? Who is marginalized, feeling powerless, alienated? Is there a staff group that is a sacrificial lamb, a scapegoat? How can I best pull them into the mainstream?
Shall I ask for an invitation to their staff meeting and relate how I personally view the contribution of their function? Shall I tell them how their group contributes to our strategy. Shall I honor the best among them?
Is there someone who has lost a loved one, whose family member is ill or dying? Can I make a brief visit or call to check in on them?
Is there a community project that I can contribute time or resources?
“I ask for God’s blessing and help, but I know what here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” (JFK Inaugural Address, January 20. 1961.) Let my prayer today be what I do for and with others.
Section 2, Scripture: DT 22:1-4; MT 8:5-10
| Hebrew Scripture | New Testament |
| 1 You shall not see your neighbor’s ox or sheep going astray and ignore it; you must bring it back.
2 If this neighbor does not live near you, or you do not know who the owner may be, take it to your own house and keep it with you until your neighbor claims it; then return it. 3 You shall do the same with a donkey; you shall do the same with a garment; and you shall do the same with anything else which your neighbor loses and you happen to find. You may not ignore them. 4 You shall not see your neighbor’s donkey or ox fallen on the road and ignore it; you must help in lifting it up. Deuteronomy 22:1-4 |
The Healing of a Centurion’s Servant.
5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” 7 He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” 8 The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” Matthew 8:5-10 |
Section 3
You may wish to be silent for a few minutes.
Section 4
In your own words, thoughts, speak to God.