Threads of Grace: Preparing for Sunday, January 11, 2026 (Baptism of the Lord)

The Short of It

Before you do anything for God, God speaks something over you: Beloved. What’s real isn’t your performance—it’s your identity in Christ.

A Long of It

Week 1 invited us to follow the Light. Week 2 takes us deeper: the Light speaks.

So much of what we chase is really a search for a name—successful, enough, admired, needed, secure. But Scripture keeps pulling us back to the same grace: God names us before we prove ourselves.

Isaiah gives us a picture of God’s Servant. He is gentle, faithful, and empowered by the Spirit. He is not loud or crushing, but steady and healing. Psalm 29 thunders with the majesty of God’s voice. It is strong enough to shake forests. It is personal enough to speak peace over His people. In Acts, the good news expands. God shows no favoritism. Jesus came with power and compassion. He did good and brought freedom. In Matthew’s Gospel, we stand by the waters of Jesus’ baptism. Heaven opens. God declares what is true: “This is my Son… whom I love.”

Here’s the chase this week: not chasing approval, but receiving it. Not striving to become lovable, but living from the love God has already spoken.

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Revised Common Lectionary – Baptism of the Lord

(Read along with us during the week after Sunday’s message.)

• Monday, January 12 — Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1–9
• Tuesday, January 13 — Psalm: Psalm 29
• Wednesday, January 14 — Epistle: Acts 10:34–43
• Thursday, January 15 — Gospel: Matthew 3:13–17
• Friday, January 16 — Thread of Grace: Before we do anything, God names us loved.

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Weekly Practice

Live one day from your “beloved” identity.
Choose one concrete action that flows from being loved (not from proving yourself):

• set a boundary without guilt
• Forgive without needing the last word
• serve without needing to be seen
• rest without “earning” it
• tell someone else what is true about them