Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:1-6

This is probably the best known Psalm of all, and appropriate for this week’s Gospel lesson from John 10 where Jesus says we are His sheep. The concept of the Lord as a shepherd had been written about many years before Jesus came as a human, but people still didn’t understand the full meaning of this saying. As we have read, being likened to sheep is not always a favorable comparison.

However, Jesus never referred to us negatively as sheep. He wanted us to see that our relationship was similar, that He was willing to do whatever was necessary to protect and save us if we only put our trust in Him. As the flock can follow their shepherd with confidence so we can follow Christ, with the assurance that He will lead us home.

Jesus teaches that we must choose to follow, we are not forced. Unlike sheep, we are responsible for our decision to obey. I hope you will read Psalm 23 in a new light today, hearing the thankfulness of an obedient follower and the promise made to us if we are faithful to our Good Shepherd.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the blessings You send, none more wonderful than our risen Savior. Thank You for being the shepherd of Your people, leading us to the joy of eternal life. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:1-10

Jesus teaches about leadership and the responsibility God places on those who are called as leaders. He indicates to the Pharisees they are not providing the guidance the people need and that God will hold them accountable for their failure. We must hear this teaching as well for we are all called to be leaders of the faith, sharing the Gospel with all the world.

Jesus speaks not just to those in high positions but to each of us, that our words and actions are guides for others. He warns that desiring to be in leadership for personal satisfaction or gain is not why God calls us, and those who misuse their position must answer for it. His leadership is much different, based on love and His connection to the Father, and proved by His sacrifice for us.

This kind of sacrificial, serving leadership is not the way most human rulers have governed, but it is the way Jesus teaches. We should not seek power to exercise it over others or improve our situation, but to give of ourselves for the good of others. That is what Jesus did and what He would have us do.

Loving Lord, we thank You for the gentle way You lead us to a deeper connection to God through Your love and teaching. Help us to be gentle in our exercise of authority, using it not to show our power but Yours, working for the greater good. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Jesus points out the most characteristic human failings in this verse – selfishness and violence. These are the first sins recorded in Genesis 3-4, when humans chose to do what they wanted instead of what God wanted for them. God gave us free will and we abused the privilege.

However, Jesus invites us to use our free will to choose returning to God now, loving Him and each other, putting His call on our lives first. As always, this is not forced upon us, it is an offer from our Creator. God wants us to worship Him out of thankfulness, not fear.

Jesus came to show us the way back to a full relationship with God. The way has always been open, but very rarely do we find it on our own. He promises us that when we come to Him we may have “life and have it to the full”.

Loving Lord, we have forgotten that we are made in Your image, that part of You lives in us. Help us to see the way that is prepared for us and know the joy of connection to You. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
John 10:7-9

Jesus again uses a metaphor that teaches about entering through Him to salvation. He wants people to understand that only through Him is it possible to have a relationship with God that leads to eternal life. He calls us to come with Him to the fulfillment of this connection.

He says that those who came to mislead us have not been entirely successful because “the sheep have not listened to them” (v. 8). We have waited to hear His voice and now must obey. God has sent Him as the true shepherd in whom we may believe.

Listen for His voice today and always. Hear the call He has for you specifically and know the love He gives to every one of us. Our shepherd has come; may we follow Him to the pastures He has promised us.

Gracious God, You sent Jesus to take away our sin and lead us to a renewed connection with You. Help us to be faithful followers and nurture the faith of others to be saved through His gift to us. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. John 10:4-6

The comparison of Jesus to the shepherd is completely correct – He has come to go ahead of us and lead us. The assumption that we are His sheep is also true and comforting in one sense, but not very flattering. Sheep aren’t known as bright creatures and without a shepherd to lead and guide them they often get into trouble.

The analogy doesn’t get any better for us. Jesus says “his sheep follow him because they know his voice”, and we are guilty of not always following Him, indicating in some cases we are not even as smart as sheep! This is part of the reason Jesus lectures the Pharisees about their leadership, that they have failed to guide their wandering people.

Jesus wants to lead every one of us safely to the joy of salvation and eternal life. There is no other way but through Him. All we must do is hear His voice and follow.

Loving Lord, we are willful and stubborn sheep, often going into danger through our foolish choices. Help us to knowYour voice and follow that we may be part of Your flock forever. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:1-3

Jesus was often in debate with the religious leaders of that day, attempting to teach them how their “system” was not according to God’s plan but had become merely a means for retaining power in the community. Naturally this challenge to their authority was not well received and they tried any means they could to catch Jesus in violations of their petty and intricate interpretation of the Law. Jesus taught in a completely different way, using common situations and people to show God’s love for us.

In this lesson, He frames His coming as that of a shepherd, one charged with guiding and protecting the flock. He tells them of the importance of the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep and that the sheep listen not out of fear of punishment but out of their trust in the shepherd. This was the basis of His ministry to all of us.

God wants to be connected to each of us personally. He wants us to feel the joy of His love, and while we have responsibilities, God wants us to obey because it is right to do so, not because we are afraid. We have been forgiven so that we might lose our fear and enter God’s kingdom to enjoy the grace planned for us from the beginning.

Gracious God, our hearts, minds and lives are Yours. Help us to follow the path You intend, led by Your love to the joy of eternity with You. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:1-10

In this passage Jesus uses an analogy to try to explain His coming to the Pharisees. It is also a reprimand for the poor leadership they have provided to God’s people. Jesus tells them that they have not followed the plan and become like robbers and thieves.

Jesus was never gentle in His assessment of the religious leaders of that time. Many we meet in the scripture accounts have become vain, power-hungry and more concerned about maintaining their position than actually leading. Jesus warns that as leaders they are responsible and will be held to a higher standard.

He tells us that He is the gate, the way of reaching the safe pasture of God’s salvation. In other lessons He taught “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He has called us by name to follow Him into the fullness of life.

Loving Lord, let us hear Your voice and obey. May we be faithful followers of Your teachings, called to be part of Your flock. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Luke 24:13-35.

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Luke 24:13-35

This passage is found only in the Gospel of Luke, and teaches us several important things. First and foremost, Jesus Christ is risen, He then appeared to those who knew Him in the flesh, and His interaction with them encouraged them to share the event with others. Each of these things are important to our continuing of His ministry.

We have received the basis for our faith from those who went before us, as the Good News has been shared for generations. His followers saw Him raised, accepted the call He placed on their lives, and went out as He had to share God’s love everywhere. As He taught them, they planted the seed of faith for those who had never known Him through their own profession of faith.

During this time, we may not be able to interact as we want, due to the health issues we face. The apostle Paul and others of their time knew this frustration, and being unable to contact those they wished to share Christ with in person, wrote letters to be shared as a temporary connection, awaiting the time when they could meet personally. While we are temporarily constrained from gathering and sharing in person, God has provided other means for us to stay connected to Him and each other. Let us do what is necessary to protect the health of those around us, but not neglect the ministry of Christ we are each called to provide.

Loving Lord, bless us to be a blessing in Your world. Show us the way to reach others in Your name, even when we are in difficult times. Amen.