Daily Devo: Relationship Greater Than Religion Week 1

Behold I Stand At The Door & Knock
Daily Devo based on a sermon preached by Tim Bach, 1/18/26

Day 1:
Opening Prayer: "Heavenly Father, as we begin this devotional journey, may our hearts be open to Your voice and guidance. Help us to understand Your Word and deepen our relationship with You. Amen."
Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:6
Daily Topic: Listening to God's Call - Reflect on how God is constantly reaching out to us. Life Application: Spend five minutes in silence today, inviting God to speak to you. Journal any thoughts or scriptures that come to mind.
Closing Prayer: "Lord, thank You for speaking to us and for being present in our lives. Help us to be attentive to Your call. Amen."

Day 2:
Opening Prayer: "Gracious God, illuminate our hearts today as we seek to understand Your love and desires for us. Guide our reflections and actions. Amen."
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:25
Daily Topic: Christ's Love for the Church - Explore the depth of Christ's sacrificial love.
Life Application: Identify one way you can express sacrificial love to someone today, modeling Christ's love for the church.
Closing Prayer: "Jesus, thank You for loving us so deeply. May we reflect Your love in our interactions with others. Amen."

Day 3: 
Opening Prayer: "Lord, we come before You seeking wisdom and understanding of Your compassionate heart. Lead us in today’s reflections. Amen."
Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:12-13
Daily Topic: Compassion Over Sacrifice - Grasp the value God places on compassion.
Life Application: Perform a random act of kindness today for someone in need, showing the compassion Jesus exemplifies. Journal your experiences and feelings.
Closing Prayer: "God of compassion, help us to exhibit Your kindness and love in our daily lives. Amen."

Day 4:
Opening Prayer: "Father, as we seek to know You more, draw us closer and reveal more of Your character and will for our lives. Amen."
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:29-30
Daily Topic: Knowing Christ vs. Doing Religious Acts - Focus on developing a personal relationship with God rather than merely following rituals. Life Application: Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal Himself to you in a new way. Seek to engage in one spiritual practice that fosters intimacy with Christ.
Closing Prayer: "Dear Lord, we long to know You more fully. Help us to grow in our relationship with You each day. Amen."

Day 5:
Opening Prayer: "Almighty God, as we conclude this devotional series, may Your Word remain alive in our hearts. Teach us how to pursue a relationship with You continually. Amen."
Scripture Reading: Reflect on Matthew 9:12-13 again
Daily Topic: Pursuing Relationship Over Righteousness - Evaluate our motivations in faith; are we truly seeking God?
Life Application: Write a letter to God discussing your current relationship with Him and your desires for growth. Plan a specific step you will take to deepen this connection. Closing Prayer: "Loving Father, we thank You for the journey we've taken this week. As we move forward, may Your Spirit guide us towards a vibrant relationship with You. Amen."