Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Luke 5:27‭-‬32.

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus continues choosing His disciples, calling Levi (also known as Matthew) to follow Him. The religious leaders were dismayed by this, asking Jesus why He would associate with such people, much less include them in His inner circle. Jesus answers them, saying “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (v. 32).

This statement must have surprised and confused them because sinners and others deemed “unclean” were shunned in that culture. Jesus teaches us to care for those who are left behind by society, sharing God’s love with them and using our gifts to heal and include them. We show our love for Him by tending to the last, the least and the lost.

How is God calling us to continue this today? We must ask for guidance and work individually as His servants as well as together as His church. We need to remember we are all sinners forgiven by His mercy and saved by His sacrifice for us.

Gracious God, we are sorry for our selfishness and petty exclusion of our brothers and sisters. Help us to be Your love and light in a dark time. Amen. 

Our scripture this morning is Luke 5:1‭-‬11. 

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Simon, later called Peter, exhibits doubt and faith at the same time, something we all have likely felt. This traveling teacher asks to use his boat as a speaking platform, then tells him how to do his job. He is reluctant, but something about the presence of Jesus and His words convince him to let down the nets. They are immediately overwhelmed with a huge catch.

At this point Simon Peter exclaims “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (v. 8). Instead, Jesus calls him and his partners to a new mission of fishing for people. Scripture says they left everything and followed Jesus, overcoming their doubt and believing in Him.

Jesus calls us to the same ministry, sometimes where we are and with those familiar to us, sometimes far away and ministering to strangers. God has blessed us each with unique gifts to be used for the good of all His children. It is up to us to go in His strength to accomplish our mission.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of Your son, our Savior Jesus Christ and the call He placed on our lives to be disciples. Help us to go in faith as did those long ago, following the path Jesus has set for us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 20:1‭-‬16. 

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Jesus uses the illustration of a landowner hiring workers to teach us about God’s blessings for us. In this story there are workers who have been in the vineyard all day and some who have come late to the job. The landowner makes an agreement with each for a single specified wage. When all the workers are paid the same, those who worked longer are disappointed. 

This is a lesson on God’s love for all of us and the huge difference between human standards and eternal blessings. In our economy, when you work longer, you generally receive more compensation. In God’s economy there is only one level of “payment” – everlasting life. All who claim Jesus as their Savior are promised this. 

Do we sometimes think there are levels of blessing from God as there are different repayments on earth? This is the mistake that Jesus points out to us in His parable. God can’t love us any more than He already does! His love fills all creation and is given to all of us without measure, no matter how long we have been faithful.

Loving Lord, we are sorry when we squabble among ourselves, seeking more than others receive. Help us to see the joy of a relationship with You that knows no limit. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts 19:1‭-‬6.

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

In yesterday’s scripture we heard of Peter bringing the Good News to those who had not yet heard it. Today we read of Paul visiting a community of believers who aren’t quite there yet. He encourages them and when he lays hands on them, they receive the Holy Spirit.

These Ephesians had been baptized for repentance but had not heard the story of Jesus and accepted Him. When they did, they were blessed to become part of His ministry. Turning from our sin is necessary, but there is more to a life in Christ.

Church father John Wesley said first, do no harm, then do good. Not sinning is obviously important but doing good is the next step. God wants us to be active in the kingdom work He has for us, using His gifts for the good of the world. 

Heavenly Father, we are humbled and grateful to be part of Your eternal plan. Bless us to go in Your name, spreading the Gospel everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts 10:44‭-‬48.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Peter was called by God to go to a Gentile community and minister to them (Acts 10:9-23). While the Hebrews knew God’s promise to Abraham that all nations were blessed through him, they were not an evangelical faith, in that they did not reach out to those who were not Jewish. Converts were accepted but they had no missionary activity.

We know that Paul was called as the apostle to the Gentiles but in this passage it is Peter that learns God’s plan is for everyone to receive the Holy Spirit as the disciples have (Acts 2). Through a vision from God and the request of the Gentile group, he goes to their community to teach them. Some of the Jewish believers accompany him and during their visit the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles. 

We should never be surprised at anyone receiving God’s Spirit, it is a free gift offered to all His children. It is our task to share our faith and rejoice with those who accept God’s promise. May we be the disciples of today, reaching out to all the world.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for Your blessing and the call You place on our lives. Help us to reach those who do not yet know You and make them part of the faithful. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 4:40‭-‬44.

Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Jesus shows us God’s love by healing the sick. He demonstrates His devotion to God through His prayer practice. He models obedience to God by going from town to town, telling the people “I was sent for this purpose” (v. 44).

Jesus does all this because He has been called to do so by the Father. By being faithful to His given task, He teaches us about the nature of God and our connection to Him. God has kingdom work for us as well.

Sharing God’s love by loving others, a relationship with Him through prayer, and obedience to the call He places on our lives all build our faith and help others see the blessing of being part of God’s plan. Our discipleship has an effect on our world. Ask Him to strengthen and bless your efforts in His name.

Wise and wonderful God, thank You for choosing us to be Your children. May we follow Christ’s example to bring our brothers and sisters to You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 7:8‭-‬12.

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.

Paul teaches the Corinthians (and us) about repentance in this passage. He speaks of “godly grief”, the feeling of sadness for disobedience which “produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret” (v. 10). This is different than “worldly grief”, sadness over earthly things that lead us away from faith.

We hear that godly grief brings us closer to the Father in our desire to be forgiven. Paul apologizes for his letter which caused their grief but tells them it wasn’t about human issues of wronging someone or being wronged. Instead it energized them in their repentance.

We need this godly grief in order to be made right with God. If we feel no sadness over sin, we cannot be saved. The old hymn I Want a Principle Within says we need “A sensibility of sin, a pain to feel it near”. May we turn from our failures to joyful obedience.

Loving Lord, we are sorry when we fall away and don’t follow Your word. Help us to see the right, and to go in Your name to all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalm 119:89‭-‬96. 

Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

This passage reminds us that God’s law is eternal and extends to all things. He is the Creator of everything that exists and His commandments apply to all creatures, objects and situations. There is nothing not covered by His word.

The psalmist speaks of delight in God’s law, that we may find joy in obedience and comfort in the wisdom we are given. God wants us to know and live by His commandments. He tells us “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul” (Deuteronomy 11:18), that they are to become part of us.

In order to live God’s law, we must first know God’s law. We hear His words given in scripture, we see the example Jesus showed us and we are called to be in communication with Him through prayer. Then we may understand the call He places on us, to share His love with everyone. 

Loving Lord, we are humbled that You call us to be part of Your kingdom work. Bless us to be faithful servants, sharing the Gospel message and making disciples of all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 12:4‭-‬11.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Paul explains how we are all part of the body of Christ, each with different gifts and different duties in the kingdom of God. He writes “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” (v.4). We have been given various abilities and skills to be used for the good of all God’s children. 

How do we know what we are good at and what we are called to do? We learn through prayer and listening to God, by following the example Jesus showed us, and by our connection to the Holy Spirit. We hear other people encourage us, affirming our spiritual gifts at work in God’s world.

While God needs no help to accomplish the work, He delights in our participation in His eternal plan. We all have a part in kingdom work, and filling that role is essential to us and to those who are blessed by the effort. Seek to use your gifts and be thankful for them, God has called us each by name in His service. 

Gracious God, we thank You for the gifts You give. Help us to be good stewards of Your blessings, using our skills and resources wisely for the good of all people. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 4:14‭-‬19.

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus returns to Nazareth soon after beginning His public ministry. Going back home can be a wonderful thing, but it can also be difficult when people still remember you as you were, not as you are now. Jesus experiences both sides of this when He reads in the synagogue at Nazareth. 

He recites a passage from the prophet Isaiah that pertains to Him directly. It speaks of Him being sent to bless and save us, to set us free from sin’s oppression. In the next section of this passage He tells them “this scripture has been fulfilled today in your hearing” (Luke 4:20).

While Jesus had been well received initially, this statement causes people to wonder “is this really the boy we knew?” Some will come to believe, others will be part of the mob who cry “crucify Him!” It is up to each of us to choose which group to follow.

Loving Lord, sometimes living our faith can be difficult, but Jesus taught and showed us the path would be hard. Strengthen us in adversity and may we share the truth of Christ with the world. Amen.