Grace-filled wounds

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Monday: Chosen by God

Devotional:

Reflect on the metaphor of the NFL draft. Just as teams search for the best players, God seeks us with a different kind of selection process. Instead of looking for perfection, God sees potential in our imperfections and chooses us out of love and grace.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does knowing that God chose you change your perspective on your own value and purpose?
2. Are there parts of your life where you seek perfection rather than accepting your current state as part of God’s plan?

Additional Scripture:

• John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."

Tuesday: Peace in the Midst of Chaos

Devotional:

Consider the chaos the disciples felt after Jesus’ crucifixion. In a locked room full of fear, Jesus appeared to them and offered peace, illustrating that God brings order to our chaos through His presence.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where in your life do you need the peace of Christ today?
2. How can you invite God’s peace into the chaos you may be experiencing?

Additional Scripture:

• John 20:19-21: "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!'”

Wednesday: The Significance of Scars

Devotional:

Jesus wasn’t ashamed to show His scars; they were a testament to his sacrifice and love. Similarly, our own scars can be reminders of how God has transformed our wounds into sources of strength and testimony.

Reflection Questions:

1. What scars do you carry, and how can they reflect God’s work in your life?
2. How can your experiences help or encourage others who may be struggling?

Additional Scripture:

• Isaiah 53:5: "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."

Thursday: Seeking the Lost

Devotional:

The disciples' immediate action after encountering the risen Christ was to seek out Thomas. Similarly, we are called to reach out to those who are missing from our community and offer them the fellowship and peace of Christ.

Reflection Questions:

1. Who in your life may feel disconnected or distant from God and others?
2. How can you extend an invitation or fellowship that reflects Christ’s love to them?

Additional Scripture:

• Luke 15:4-7: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?"

Friday: Transforming Pain into Peace

Devotional:

God does not ask us to ignore our sufferings but promises to transform them through his peace. Our collective wounds, when shared in the body of Christ, draw us together in understanding and unity.

Reflection Questions:

1. In what ways have you seen God transform your pain into a source of strength or peace?
2. How can your church community be a place where others feel safe to share their burdens and receive support?

Additional Scripture:

Philippians 4:7: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."