Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this week is Matthew 10:40-42.

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Jesus speaks of a reward for those who welcome His messengers and His word – “a prophet’s reward…a righteous person’s reward”. It would seem that your reward depends on what message you receive. Are there different levels of being saved and spending eternity with God?

That’s certainly not what Jesus is saying. In other lessons He specifically taught that there is no ranking in God’s kingdom, we are all His beloved children. The parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matt.20:1-16) shows that God treats us all equally.

God is more concerned about our love for one another and our obedience to His commandments. When we use the gifts we have been given for the good of others, we are living out our faith. Our reward is our eternal connection to Him, to hear the welcome He has for us “well done, good and faithful servant “.

Heavenly Father, bless us to be humble and useful in Your plan for creation. May our love for You show in everything we do. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 10:40-42.

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Jesus talks of how the kingdom will spread, person to person, and of our individual responsibility for this. Each of us must be ready to share our experience so that others may come to know the Lord as we do. Those who welcome the message may then become part of the ongoing work.

We have different gifts to offer and different ways of reaching people. That’s the beauty and wonder of how God made us. One may not understand or relate to what another has to share but someone else may have a story that will open their heart. Jesus needs us all to tell the world of our connection so they might understand and believe.

When you give your life to Him, a marvelous purpose is there for you! God has plans for every one of us and when we say “yes Lord” He puts us into action. Be ready for what He calls you to do for His kingdom.

Gracious God, we are glad to be part of Your wonderful work. Make us useful in Your kingdom that all may know the joy of a life in You. Amen.

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Jesus teaches us in this passage that those who show kindness will be blessed. Even the smallest action can have a huge and lasting effect. We must never discount how important it is to treat each other well.

How do we do that? Jesus showed us in His words and actions what it meant to love one another and be kind. He calls us all to do the same. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement had 3 rules for us to follow Jesus in this: do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.

We may think that sounds too simple, it couldn’t possibly work! Sadly, our minds have been led away from simple solutions to our problems, which are often the best (or only!) way to resolve them. Jesus wants us to think simply of one another as brothers and sisters and live together in peace.

Loving Lord, we have made the world a cold and complex place. Help us to share the simple warmth of Your love with everyone that all may know Your joy. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 10:40-42.

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Jesus speaks of welcoming those who come in His name and the blessings for those who do. He tells us the concept of hospitality begins with acceptance, that we welcome others not because of what they can do for us, but simply for who they are. When we see each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, we begin to see the kingdom of God.

In Genesis 18 we read of Abraham welcoming guests in the desert, unaware (at least initially) that it is in fact the Lord and two of His angels to whom he shows kindness. Abraham knew nothing about these people other than they were fellow creatures, made in God’s image, yet he brings them to his tent and treats them as company. Jesus tells us the same was expected in the time of the disciples, and is still our duty today.

Jesus asks us to be hospitable to each other for the sake of our common heritage as children of God. Sometimes we find it difficult to even speak kindly to each other, but Jesus says much more than common courtesy is expected of us. We are all part of the same family and we must learn to love each other if we are to reach our reward.

Heavenly Father, help us to be the loving beings You intend us to be. Help us to put away our fear and anger and see each other as You do, loving everyone for who they are. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 10:40-42.

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

This week’s passage is short, but it tells the disciples the main purpose of their ministry: “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me” (v. 40). Jesus says those who welcome the truth they share are accepting the relationship God offers through Him. This will be their first opportunity to proclaim as Christ has “the kingdom of God has come near”.

This is the same mission Jesus calls us to as well. We can have no higher purpose than to tell the world of God’s love. We may have other vocations but this message should be infused in all we do, and passed to all we meet.

How can you share the kingdom message today? God may not call you to preach on a street corner, but then again, he might! When we live as He intends, treating all our brothers and sisters with the love He sends, we fulfill the disciple mission.

Gracious God, we are glad to be part of Your work here on earth. Help us to be energetic messengers of Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 10:24-31.

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

In our lesson this week Jesus has shared with His disciples encouragement for their upcoming mission journeys. He tells them the message they carry may be rejected initially, but because it is God’s eternal truth, it will be heard. Jesus ends this teaching with the assurance that God is aware of their effort and that they are valuable to Him.

Do you sometimes wonder if it’s all worth it? I’m sure we all have days when we feel it doesn’t matter what we do. Jesus says not to be afraid, it is expected that the powers of this world will oppose us and try to make us feel worthless. However, Jesus reminds us how much we mean to God.

The Father in heaven loves and cares for us, and nothing on earth can take away that connection. We are His children, standing with Christ to share the Good News and giving the world a chance to know His love as well. We can take comfort and courage from this relationship, knowing He is our strength and our redeeemer.

Wise and wonderful God, we are grateful for Your love poured out for us. Help us to be strong against the pull of worldly things, living in Your name and for Your glory. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 10:24-31.

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Jesus warns us that by being like Him, we will face the same opposition He did. He says “If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household” (v. 25). Jesus was often accused by the Pharisees of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul (Matthew 12:24) and He wants His disciples to be ready for the same accusations and worse.

Following Jesus was never promised to be easy. He told us those that follow must be ready to “deny themselves, and take up their cross” (Matthew 16:24). This is a hard task for a self-centered society!

In order to obey His call and follow Him, we must be willing to put the needs of others ahead of our own. In order to do that, we must engage them and hear them. If we close our ears to the cries of those around us, we can never hear the call Christ places on our lives.

Loving Lord, we are often deaf to the reality around us. Help us to listen with our hearts, ready to share Your love with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 10:24-31.

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:24-31

Jesus speaks to our fear of death with the words “do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (v. 28). Most humans fear death as the greatest unknown we face. He teaches that the death of our mortal bodies is not the end of our being, there is more to us than this shell we inhabit on earth – our connection to our Maker.

Jesus came to conquer death and show us that while we will all die at some point, we can rely on God’s love and care through the experience. The apostle Paul reminds us “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22). This is the hope that Jesus brings us, that death is not the end.

We can now live with the assurance of His promise to prepare a place for us and to return for us (John 14). Death no longer holds power over us and we are called to live boldly, sharing His love with everyone. When we put our trust in Jesus, we put away our fear of death.

Gracious God, help us to know the depth of Your love and grace for us that extends beyond death. May we live securely with Christ’s promise to be together at the end. Amen.

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:24-31

Jesus encourages us to be open in our conduct and dealings with others, for there are those who operate as if what they do will not be discovered. He warns “there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known” (v. 26). Their actions will eventually be revealed for what they are and all will be responsible to God, who sees everything.

Our actions can’t earn us a place in heaven, only acceptance of Jesus as our savior can redeem us; but what we do here on earth and how we treat each other has weight in the eyes of the Lord. Jesus has taught us in many ways that our care for our brothers and sisters is an essential part of being included in the kingdom. We can’t proclaim Christ as our master and act as if He isn’t.

Being open and truthful in our daily living is essential. It allows others to see the love of Jesus at work and the joy of being in connection with Him. By being living witnesses for Him, we share the Good News in more than words, showing the world that our risen savior is with us all.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the love You teach and share with us. Help us to be carriers of that love to all people. Amen.