Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:27-32.

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.” Don’t plot harm against your neighbor, for those who live nearby trust you. Don’t pick a fight without reason, when no one has done you harm. Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways. Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly.”

I read Proverbs fairly often for their guidance and wisdom, but I rarely discuss a passage in my posts. Perhaps it is because they are not stories but wisdom statements. This group of verses teaches us how to treat each other as God intends. 

While Proverbs tend to be stand alone statements, they share a common theme of seeking wisdom, applying it, and avoiding evil. God has given us guidance from the very beginning but we are sadly slow to see the love and wisdom in His commands. Behind every “Thou shalt not” is His desire for us to love Him and each other.

We should see wisdom teaching as a way to help us reach others and share God’s love. Rather than stuffy old rules, Proverbs are “bumper sticker” sized scriptures that are easy to remember and use in particular situations. Wise sayings from long ago still have value for us today by showing us God’s love and concern for the behavior of all His children.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for Your love, shown in many ways. Bless us to seek wisdom and use it to share the Good News with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:51-57.

“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I have read this scripture at numerous funerals because it reminds us that death is not the end. It is comforting to know that when we die our faith in God will lead us from earthly life to a new existence. It is hard to imagine and harder to describe because our human bodies and minds don’t have the capability of understanding or experiencing what that transformation will be like.

Paul reminds us that Jesus came to save us for eternal life. That is the best gift we could ever receive, to be cleansed of our sins and live with God. This is the hope we have in Jesus, that we go and do as He asks because He loves us and we love Him in return.

God’s plan for us is too wonderful to fathom and we live in faith that His promise of eternal life is there for us to accept. We don’t have to live in fear, merely existing until our bodies wear out. By repenting and returning to Him in love, our resurrection at the last day is assured.

Heavenly Father, we are thankful for our savior coming to be one of us. Through Your love we are made new and blessed to eternal life. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:13-21‬.

“As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. “Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!”

This well known story has a phrase I had rushed past for many years. The disciples ask Jesus to send the crowds away to buy food, but Jesus answers “you feed them” (v. 16). This instruction has a double lesson for us.

The disciples are understandably confused. Jesus has given them a task, but they tell Him they lack the resources. This is often our thinking as well, that the problem is too large and we are too small.

What Jesus wants them (and us) to realize is that we are limited, but He is not. We can’t accomplish what is asked of us unless we count on Him for help. This is the same lesson that was being taught to their ancestors in the desert on the way to the Promised Land, that we must rely on God for our strength. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” When we lean on God for our support, nothing is impossible.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we try to go it alone and fail. Help us to follow in faith, asking Your blessing and guidance in all we do. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:33-37.

“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

In this passage Jesus speaks to the Pharisees (and us) about what we say and what is in our hearts. He warns that we are responsible for our words as well as our actions. This is why He calls us to “change our hearts and lives” (Matthew 4:17) in order to be saved.

Jesus teaches that if we have evil in our hearts we can’t act out of love. We can however admit our wrongdoing, repent and follow Him to change our hearts and lives as He said. In John 3:1 we begin the story of Nicodemus, a Pharisee who came to Jesus seeking answers. Jesus tells him we must be “born again” (John 3:3) and receive the Holy Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God. While Nicodemus remained a Pharisee, we hear that he was one who helped prepare the body of Jesus for burial after the Crucifixion (John 19:39).

We can’t be saved without accepting Christ as our savior and changing our hearts and lives. He tells us “you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak” (v. 36), reminding us that we will be held accountable for the things we say. While actions speak louder than words, God knows everything we do and say, and we must turn from our former behavior  and speech in order to be born again.

Loving Lord, in Your mercy You sent Jesus to teach and love and save us. Help us to give up earthly things and be made new, sharing the joy of our connection to You with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:25-30‬.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus prayed alone and in public, giving us the lesson that prayer is acceptable to God no matter where or when we offer it to Him. Prayer is one of the ways we can be blessed by God’s presence and while He already knows everything in our hearts, there is healing when we share. It is an essential part of our faith and trust in Him.

Jesus offers the promise “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (v. 28). He isn’t speaking of the daily work we do to earn a living, but the spiritual burdens of sin and unbelief we carry. We can be free in Christ to live as He taught, loving God and each other.

Our faith is a promise to Him in return, that we listen to His teaching and obey what God asks of us. Jesus says “my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (v. 30). This doesn’t mean we won’t face difficulty in this life, but that God will bless us to be good stewards of His word and His love, sharing with others the joy we have found in Him.

Heavenly Father, we are thankful for the gift of Jesus our savior and the love He brought to us. Help us to live by faith, following His example. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:9-13.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Jesus uses Matthew and others who seem to be of questionable character to teach a lesson about mercy. The Pharisees were insulted that Jesus would associate with such people. Jesus tells them “I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (v. 13).

God’s mercy extends to all His children. Jesus came to seek those that were excluded from “polite” society, to let them know that they can be saved by leaving their sinful ways and following Him. He taught us that we are not the ones to decide who is worthy of salvation.

Jesus wanted the last, the least and the lost to feel God’s love for them. He also wanted “those who think they are righteous” to understand that sin was the reason God sent Him. We have all sinned in different ways; give your failure to Him, repent and follow.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for our willful disobedience. Help us to leave our sin behind, and become the kingdom workers You call us to be. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8:5-13.

“When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.”

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People heard the testimony of others and often came to Jesus for healing. However, this passage tells of a Roman soldier, an officer of the occupying force, coming in faith and asking not for himself, but for his servant. Jesus offers to go to his house, but the soldier says “Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed” (v. 8 ). 

Jesus uses this opportunity to speak of the coming unity of believers, no matter their background. He tells them “many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven” (v. 11), all God’s children who accept Christ as savior. He is not the Jewish Messiah but THE Messiah, sent to all the world.

God wants everyone to be part of His family in eternity. His love extends to everyone for all time. It is up to each of us to listen to His word and make it part of our lives, honoring Christ’s sacrifice for us and sharing the Good News with everyone.

Gracious God, You call us all into an everlasting connection with You. Bless us to be diligent in our faith, telling the world the joy we have found in You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Jude‬ ‭1:17-23.

“But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.”

Jude writes to the Christian community about staying strong in their faith and his teaching is still applicable in our lives today. We are told to build each other up, pray, and wait patiently for the coming of the Lord (v. 20-21). This is intended to keep us from falling into the traps of worldly desire that are all around us.

Jesus Himself was tempted by the worldly things Satan offered but He refused to use His gifts for selfish purposes, test the Father’s love or accept power and wealth in exchange for turning away from God (Matthew 4:1-11). In this passage we see evil using all the deception that had and continues to deceive humans. Indeed, we even hear Satan quote scripture, but perverting it for his own purpose (Matthew 4:6). This is a warning that evil will use any available means to lead us astray. Through it all, Jesus is unmoved and rebukes Satan. 

We are offered comfort and strength through Christ’s example and the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. We are able to withstand the temptations we face through our faith. God knows we are challenged every day, but He is always with us, ready to help us resist evil and live into eternity.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the many ways we fail You and each other. Bless us to go in Your love, sharing the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭2 John‬ ‭1:5-9.

“I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.”

John tells us that even in the early church there were those who couldn’t believe that Jesus came as one of us. It is such an awesome sacrifice we find it hard to understand, but God’s love is beyond our human capability. John warns against letting our lack of understanding affect our faith.

Paul writes “we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7), that faith is based on more than human senses. Jesus tells Thomas and the other disciples after His resurrection “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). By faith we trust the testimony of those who were there and the lessons they give of the truth of Christ.

We are called to share this truth as well, becoming those of whom Jesus spoke, who believe without seeing. Don’t let the world’s unbelief cause you to stumble. God’s love for us is real, embodied in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your son to love and save and free us. Bless us to go in Your name, sharing the gift of salvation with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:18-24.

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.”

John reminds us that saying we love one another is only a good thing if we also show that we love one another. Additionally, we must love those who don’t love us in return. This is hard for us sometimes but Jesus taught “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32).

This may be the most difficult lesson of all. Jesus loved and forgave even those crucified Him; we are called to show the same love to those who oppose us. God loves all His children and calls us all to be connected to Him and each other.

In order to be in a loving relationship with God we must “believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us” (v. 23). We can’t say we love God and still hate our brothers and sisters. God reaches out to us, it is up to us to accept His love and live in obedience in order to be saved.

Gracious God, help us to see each other as You see us, beloved children of the kingdom. May we love one another as You first loved us. Amen.