Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:3-7.

“We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy. This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

The apostle John wrote a Gospel of Christ’s life and teachings, as well as the Book of Revelation, and three letters to help us understand how a relationship with Jesus is the only way to be saved. Each of these have their own unique lessons, but we can hear the connection that runs through them all. This shows the consistent truth in God’s word, taught by Jesus and inspired by the Holy Spirit for the faithful.

In this passage we read “God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all” (v. 5), a theme John had used in the opening of his Gospel. There he writes “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (‭‭John‬ ‭1:4-5‬). He teaches that the light of Jesus has come to illuminate our minds and expose evil wherever it exists.

The light of God’s love is offered to all of us through Christ’s sacrifice to save us and the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide us. God wants to be part of our lives and wants us back in relationship with Him. When we accept Jesus as our savior we can live in the light and go in His name to share that blessing.

Loving Lord, we are humbled that You call us to be part of Your work in creation. Help us to be steadfast in our faith and strong in Your spirit to make disciples of all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:3-10.

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed. But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”

Peter writes that God’s patience is for our sake (v. 9), that He desires everyone to repent and be saved. He reminds us God won’t wait forever, that “the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief” (v. 10). We must live in faith and be ready when Christ returns.

It is no secret that judgement will come. Scripture is quite clear that “the day of the Lord is coming— the terrible day of his fury and fierce anger. The land will be made desolate, and all the sinners destroyed with it.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭13:9‬). Jesus Himself tells us “Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory. And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭13:26-27‬). There is no denying that earthly things will come to an end.

However, we are given saving grace through Christ’s sacrifice for us. Jesus promised to take us home with Him. Those who put their faith in Him and live as He taught will see the Day of the Lord as a joyous reunion. 

Heavenly Father, we give thanks that You have sent Your son to redeem us. Bless us to be Your children, sharing Your love with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:1-8.

“So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit. The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

Peter speaks of being ready for Christ’s return by following His example, “anxious to do the will of God” (v. 2). In order to do God’s will, we must know His plan for us and His call on our lives. This means prayer and discernment, searching His word and discussing with other believers for deeper understanding.

In order to share God’s love and the Good News with the world, we must prepare ourselves. Paul writes to his apprentice Timothy “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is essential that we make time for study.

Praying with and for each other deepens our connection with God and others. Listening in the Holy Spirit allows us to better understand what God intends. Finally, talking with other believers about what we have learned encourages us to make it part of our lives. All of these spiritual practices enable us to live as Jesus taught and share His love everywhere.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the guidance of scripture and the presence of Your spirit within us. Help us to use our gifts to reach all of Your children, that everyone may come to a relationship with You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭James‬ ‭5:7-12.

“Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door! For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.”

James teaches about the need for patience as we wait for the Lord’s coming. He tells us to “take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near” (v. 8), a reminder that we don’t know when Christ will return and that we must always be ready. The word has been given and it is up to us to share the Good News with everyone.

He also warns us not to “grumble about each other” (v. 9). Our complaining and finger-pointing will not lead us to the kingdom of God. Our task is to ensure everyone is told of God’s saving love; it is then up to each to choose for themselves.

Finally, he speaks about suffering, which we brought into the world through sin. God sent His son to save us and only in Christ can we be forgiven, cleansed and made right with our Heavenly Father. We must still endure the hardship of human life but we have the promise of salvation and His certain return to strengthen us.

Gracious God, by Your mercy we can be reunited with You and go in Your name to all people. Bless us to share Your love wherever we are. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:35-39.

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.” But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.”

Paul warns against losing our trust in God. He writes that “patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will” (v. 36). It may seem difficult to be patient in today’s world, but He calls us to continue in faith until Christ returns for us.

We have become a “right now” society, expecting instant responses to our requests and immediate change to problems we encounter. It seems our world gives us no time to think before we act, no opportunity to consider the consequences. Satan has distracted us with “hurry up” issues, demanding our answer to his challenges quickly, just as he did in the Garden of Eden.

Jesus teaches us that all of creation is on God’s timeline, not Satan’s and certainly not ours! When we feel pressured we need to go to God in prayer and ask for discernment. Our faith and His strength through the Holy Spirit will enable us to stand patiently against the “immediate” challenges of this world.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of patience. Help us to use it well, considering the needs of all Your children and responding with love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:24-28.

“For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”

Paul reminds his Hebrew audience how the system of sacrifice practiced under the old covenant relied on an ongoing cycle. Every year at Passover the high priest offered the blood of an animal to cleanse the sins of the people. He tells us that Jesus came to die for us once and for all, the New Covenant in His blood to sanctify us forever.

While the system of sacrifice may seem strange to us, it goes back to the very beginning. In Genesis 4 we hear of Cain and Abel bringing grain and a lamb to offer to God. Later in Exodus 12 we hear of the first Passover when the blood of a lamb over the door was a sign of protection over the children of Israel.

In this letter Paul explains that through Christ’s death and resurrection we have been freed of the curse of sin. By our acceptance of His loving sacrifice we are made right with God and called to share that joy with the world. God wants us to be part of the fulfillment of His plan, working under His love with other believers.

Gracious God, thank You for the gift of Your son who came to save us. Help us to live in sacrificial ways, giving to others the love we first received from You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 6:9‭-‬12.

Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

Paul expresses his hope and concern for those to whom he writes, and his teaching applies to us today as well. He reminds us of God’s righteousness and justice. God is aware of our mistakes but He is always willing to forgive us when we are truly repentant.

British pastor Nicky Gumbel wrote “holiness is linked to wholeness”. We can only be complete with God as a part of our lives. Philosopher and scientist Blaise Pascal tells us “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”

We must be willing to give up the way we have lived before and move on to the lives God has planned for us. Knowing Jesus and accepting the blessing He brings is the only way we can receive forgiveness. Our hope is in You, Lord and we press on in faith.

Heavenly Father, we are saddened by our failure to love one another as You intend. Bless us to go in faith to share Your love with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 2:14‭-‬18. 

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Jesus came to be one of us so we might better understand and follow God’s plan for us. It was necessary for the remission of our sin that He became human, suffered and died. Now we can turn to Him as the one who has “been there, done that”, knowing He understands what we face as human beings.

This was all for us! Jesus has always known our human frailty, but by coming among us He made us see that God is not just the distant Almighty but a loving Father involved in the lives of His children. This is His promise, that God loved us so much He sent Jesus to show us.

Knowing that He has done this for us, we can now live in the joy of God’s mercy and forgiveness, carrying on the ministry Jesus has given us. We are called to share the Good News of His coming. Death has no hold on those who put their faith in the risen Christ!

Gracious God, we are sorry for our failure to love You and each other as You love us. Bless us to be faithful followers, sharing the message Jesus brought us with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:1-4.

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.”

Paul opens this letter by reminding us that Jesus was present at and responsible for the creation of all things. In John 1:1-3 we are told “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.” This testifies to God’s power and love and His plan for our salvation through Christ.

Jesus was there with God always, just as His spirit is with us always. Paul says God has “spoken to us through his Son” (v. 2), as Jesus is the Word described in John’s gospel. God has been speaking to us since we were created, but we often miss or dismiss the message of love He sends.

We must hear and obey the word of God if we are to be cleansed and redeemed. Only by following the path Jesus showed us can we be made right with God. Through Christ’s sacrifice we have been offered a chance to share the blessings of eternity with Him.

Loving Lord, we are amazed at Your grace and mercy, given to us through Your only Son. May we accept the forgiveness You offer and be restored in Your love to be part of the kingdom work. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:1-7.

“Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

Paul writes sound advice in this letter to his friend Titus. He reminds us that “once we, too, were foolish and disobedient” (v. 3). Every believer was separated from God at one time, but through the work of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of the faithful, we have been brought back to Him.

God has sought us since the beginning and placed His messengers in our lives to speak the truth. We too are called to witness to others that all people may hear the Good News. This sacred task is a mark of God’s confidence in us, to send us to the world in His name.

Paul speaks of God’s grace that “made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life” (v. 7). The promise of salvation is given to all who put their trust in Jesus and His sacrifice for us. In God’s love we can stand together against evil and await Christ coming again.

Loving Lord, we are amazed that You include us in the work of Your kingdom. Help us to be faithful representatives of Your mercy to all people. Amen.