Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture today is ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:10-16‬.

This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy. “

Peter gives important teaching about the Good News and our responsibility to God and each other. He tells us to “prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control” (v. 13). It is our turn to share God’s love with the world.

We have been called to continue the ministry Jesus brought, telling everyone about His sacrifice for us that we might be reconnected with our Heavenly Father. Peter warns that we must not slip back into our old ways; that we didn’t know any better then (v. 14). Now that our minds have been opened to the truth of Christ, we are aware of our wrong behavior and must live new lives in Him.

Jesus will be revealed to the world in God’s time, and we shall see Him as He is. We must do all we can to be ready, including spreading the Gospel at every opportunity. We have a commission from Christ to make disciples of all nations and be ready to stand with Him on the last day.

Loving Lord, thank You for faithful witnesses who have passed Your word to succeeding generations. Help us to fulfill our call today, sharing Your love with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Peter 1:3-9.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

I see Peter as the poster boy for Christianity. He could go from the depths of sin, as when he denied even knowing Jesus (Luke 22:54-62), to the height of faith, as Jesus restores him to grace (John 21) and he speaks eloquently to those gathered at Pentecost (Acts 2). We should learn from his experiences.

In Peter we see human frailty, our doubt and fear taking hold. It would be frightening to see Christ arrested and mistreated, and not be afraid the same might happen to us. However, Jesus shows us that God’s power can overcome even death.

Peter learns this and later he and others rejoice even when they are arrested for preaching in Christ’s name (Acts 4). The power of the cross has changed their lives. We too must be ready to suffer whatever the world may hold for us, knowing we have been saved by the love of Jesus.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for Your love, personified in Christ and demonstrated by faithful people through the ages. Help us to be the disciples of today, sharing the Gospel with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 4:1-10.

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

James writes that the major cause of conflict in our lives and between each other is wanting what we don’t have. He then adds “you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure” (v. 3). How sad that we are so mistaken in our desires.

He warns that by being a friend of the world and indulging in its temptations we separate ourselves from God. This was the human problem from the moment we listened to evil’s call. However, we have been given God’s grace and mercy, and the spirit to help us “flee from the devil” (v. 7).

God wants us to be close to Him, by our own choice, not through fear. This passage closes with the joyful promise “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor (v. 10). He is a loving God and He stands ready to forgive us when we come in repentance.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the many times we have fallen into sin. Strengthen us in faith and make us the people You intend us to be, sent in Your name to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James‬ ‭3:13-18‬.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

James writes much about our words and actions. Previously in his letter we have read “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless” (James‬ ‭2:17‬). We are called to a living faith, one that demonstrates God’s love for all.

In this passage he teaches “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom” (v. 13). We often become so wrapped up in our own wants that we ignore the needs of others. Christ calls us not just to do good to those who ask, but to actively seek the last, the least and the lost to share God’s love.

Our faith must be shared in order to be meaningful, through our personal witness and active love. Jesus wants us to go into the world to make a difference. He has shown us the way and given the gifts we need to be the messengers of the Good News.

Loving Lord, thank You for sending Your son to give us hope and strength. Bless us to be a blessing to others that all the world may come to You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts 2:1-21.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved’.

At Pentecost, Peter and the disciples receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised. They are blessed with the ability to share the glory of God in a way that all those assembled in Jerusalem for the holiday may understand. We are told the crowds were amazed that “we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God” (v. 11).

While I was a pastor, it was always difficult to get someone to read the scripture on Pentecost Sunday because of all the strange place names in this passage. Can you imagine how hard it was for people to believe the disciples were speaking in the languages of all those places? God gave them the gift of being able to communicate with a variety of different people to spread the message of His love as Jesus had taught them. This is the beginning of their ministry, blessed with new confidence and joy.

We may not be able to speak in foreign languages, but God has given us many ways of reaching out to our brothers and sisters around the world. On this Day of Pentecost 2022, we are called to join with all that have gone before us and continue the mission Jesus has given us – to make disciples of all nations and share the love of God with everyone. May we be brave and joyful as Peter and the rest of the apostles were on that first celebration.

Gracious God, You have blessed us to be kingdom messengers, carrying the Good News far and wide. Strengthen us in our faith to be energetic servants, glad to go wherever we are sent in Your name. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 3:3-10.

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

Do you remember as a child hearing the rhyme “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?” The sad truth is that our words can hurt others. The apostle James warns us that “the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body” (v. 6). When we say things that hurt others, we disobey God.

We who claim the name of Jesus have a responsibility to uphold God’s word, and to speak to each other in love and peace. Proverbs 8:7 tells us “for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips”. Saying hurtful things against another child of God is not part of His plan.

As a society, we seem to have forgotten this and harsh words fly across many paths of communication. This is not what Jesus taught us! We must consider all our words and insure they reflect the love of God, even when we are required to correct behavior or stand against evil. We are taught “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

Loving Lord, help us to curb our tongues and speak only according to Your word. May we be a channel of Your love in all we say and do. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 1:2-8.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

James tells us that when we are divided in our loyalty between God and the world, we are “as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind” (v. 6). Sadly, it happens to many of us. When we let the world dictate our thoughts and actions rather than what God has taught us, we feel turmoil.

Jesus came to show us that the world has no eternal power over us and that by putting our trust in God, we can overcome the ways of the world. His way is the path to truth and love and everlasting life. Nothing is worth more than being connected to the Lord forever.

Giving our lives to Him is easy, following Him every day of our lives is more difficult. When we find the world intruding on our faith, we must recognize it and ask God for strength to continue as Jesus told us. Prayer and repentance are the way back to a full relationship with Him.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we ignore Your love and fall into sin. Help us to lead new lives every day, to be part of Your kingdom work in the world. Amen.

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

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon. Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

Paul closes this letter with words of comfort and instruction. He reminds us that “this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come” (v.14). While we are called to do our best here, following the teachings of Jesus, we know that there is a better world and eternal life waiting for the faithful.

He encourages us to “share with those in need” (v.16), as necessary today as it was then. How do we know who is in need? By getting out in the world and engaging with our brothers and sisters. Jesus didn’t say sit around and wait for someone to ask you about the kingdom of God, He told us in no uncertain terms to go and make disciples of all the world.‭‭

Jesus calls us individually and collectively. As individuals we must use the gifts we have been given to reach out to everyone. As His church, we are called to act together for the good of the world. Let us be aware of our calling and the difference we can make, sharing the Good News at every opportunity.

Gracious God, thank You for sending Your son to save and teach us. Thank You for spiritual leaders who shepherd Your people. Bless us to go in Your name, offering Your love and redemption to all. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews‬ ‭13:1-8.

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. Give honor to marriage and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas.

Paul closes his letter to the Hebrews with specific guidance for healthy spiritual lives. He writes (not surprisingly) about loving one another. None of this should be new or difficult for those who follow Jesus, but it is still true today: we need reminding and encouragement about our faith.

He tells us “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (v. 6). In our world we often worry too much about what others think of us. Paul reminds us that they are just as frail as we are and without God’s help they will not succeed. Yes, there is pain and evil here, but God wants us to live in His love and share it with those who hurt.

We are called to be His children and servants of His kingdom, bringing the Good News of a better world to come. We have stained His creation through sin, but His love is everlasting, and He will not let us go. Through the saving work of Jesus, we may all be free from death to live with Him eternally.

Gracious God, we are amazed that You call us to be part of Your redemption of all the earth. Bless us to be good stewards of our gifts and share them with those in need. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 12:12-15.

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Paul tells us that God wants us back in fellowship with Him and each other. We must make the effort ourselves, accepting the forgiveness God has for us, and working together to strengthen our faith. God will work with us, giving us the Holy Spirit as our guide.

There are two warnings for us here as well in verse 15: “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” This teaching should resonate with us today, in how we think and speak to each other and about one another. God wants His love to live in us and be shared with all people.

We are called to care about all of God’s children, even when we disagree. He wants us to find ways to live in peace with each other and help everyone see His truth. It may not be easy, but that is not what Jesus promised us. He told us that “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23) and that is our holy calling.

Gracious God, help us to turn from the strife we inflict on each other and live in Your love with all Your children. Make us strong in faith that we may carry the Gospel everywhere. Amen.