Category: Daily Prayer

In this week’s Gospel lesson (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20), Jesus commissions and sends out a group of followers to go to the places He intends to visit. They are to “prepare the way of the Lord” as John the Baptist did, sharing the love of God with everyone. It is an awesome thing that He trusts them to be His representatives, sharing His story with others.

Our call as followers today is the same as it was for His followers then – to go into the world and let them know that Jesus is coming. God’s children still need to hear His message of love and forgiveness, perhaps now more than ever. How will we prepare the way of the Lord?

Let God provide for you as He did for them; as He always has. Take the story of Jesus with you everywhere, for that is where He intends to go. Tell it to everyone, for everyone is who He intends to save. Our mission is to share His truth by sharing the love He has given us with all the world.

Loving Lord, we are humbled that You choose us as Your people, called to be part of Your saving work. Here we are, Lord – send us! We go out in Your name. Amen.

Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
Luke 10:23-24

Jesus tells His disciples that they have been blessed by their experiences, and that others wanted to see and hear what they had but were unable to do so. Is Jesus saying that God withholds His blessing from some people? Not exactly.

Obviously God can do whatever He wants, but we know He is loving and just. God doesn’t do things based on emotion or whims. He wouldn’t keep His gifts from anyone just because He “feels like it”. Those are human failings, and God doesn’t fail. His love and blessings are intended for everyone, but we must confess God as Lord and accept those blessings. It’s not enough to just want them.

Jesus mentions powerful people, kings and prophets, those who often count on their own strength rather than relying on God. The lesson here is that we must turn to God, placing His desires for us over our own. When we have this wonderful connection, we can receive these gifts. Our relationship with Him and others is the channel for our blessings.

Heavenly Father, we are thankful to be counted as members of Your family, and blessed to be part of Your plan for creation. Help us to use Your gifts to reach others that they too may be connected to You. Amen.

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.”
Luke 10:21

Jesus rejoiced for this first “mission trip”, a sending out of believers to share the Good News with others. He knew that this work would be the spark that ignited the faithful to carry on His ministry of love and connection. Those who follow Jesus are all charged with bringing the world to Him by bringing the Gospel to the world.

When we share our faith with others, we have a chance to be part of this mission. It gives us all the opportunity to grow – those who share are blessed with greater understanding of God’s plan for them, those who receive are blessed with the joy of forgiveness and renewed life in God.

Christianity has been called the best pyramid scheme ever, but instead of human greed giving the benefits to those at the top, Jesus gave it all to us! His love flows down to all people in equal measure, from the first to receive Him to the most recent convert. No one is any higher than any other in His system, we are all His brothers and sisters, part of the family business. Go into the world today in the knowledge that Christ goes before us, ready to help us change the lives of others and our own.

Loving Lord, thank You for the chance to be part of Your eternal plan and Your work in the world. May we be confident workers for You. Amen.

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:16-20

Jesus told His disciples that their true joy is not in success on earth but that “your names are written in Heaven”. He teaches that the advance of God’s kingdom is the most important thing of all, that bringing others to know Him is our primary duty. He calls us all to be His representatives on earth.

What a marvelous promise for those who are faithful! When we share His love with others, we ourselves are blessed as well. Our choice to obey is the key – God gave us our own will and the ability to choose. However, as Jesus warns “whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” While we are free to choose, there are consequences for our behavior.

These are things we need to be aware of every day. We have responsibilities to God and each other, and earthly victory is nothing compared to eternity. May we always choose to follow the path Jesus showed us and help others to choose Him for themselves.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the love and freedom You provide. Help us to share that love with everyone, using our freedom wisely. Amen.

When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Luke 10:8-9

Jesus sent His followers out to minister to people in places that had not yet heard His story. They were to accept whatever hospitality they were offered, without concern for their own customs or wants. They were to live with them, healing the sick and teaching about God’s love.

Their ministry really wasn’t “for” Jesus, and certainly not for themselves – it was about loving God first and their neighbors as themselves. They had found something very special in their connection to the Lord, and they were eager to share that joy with all who would receive the Good News. Their mission wasn’t just about helping people, but helping people to know God.

I remember a mission trip with a group of youth to work in an urban setting, and no matter what job we were assigned for the day, we prayed together with those we worked for to begin and end our task. It was about doing something for them to be sure, but the larger goal was to share God’s love. It is important that the people we help know we love them, but more important that they know God loves them.

Loving Lord, we ask Your blessing as we go into the world today. Make us strong in faith to show Your love to those injured by sin. May we share Your healing presence with everyone we meet. Amen.

“Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.”
Luke 10:3-7

Jesus gives specific instructions to those He sends to share His story. This guidance may sound a bit unusual to us but it was common for traveling teachers of that time to go from village to village, relying on the hospitality of the people there for their livelihood. Jesus is teaching those He sends that God will provide for their needs when they go in obedience.

Jesus is setting the stage for what will come later, when His followers are responsible for spreading the Gospel themselves, without His physical presence. God has called us all to be ministers of His word, sharing the joy of our connection to Him and His love with everyone. Like those in this passage, we must rely on Him to provide for us.

When He led the children of Israel into the desert, He was teaching them reliance on His goodness and perseverance. Like them, we are to go out in faith, confident that God fulfills His promise, and that our work in His name will be beneficial for the world. Hear God’s call for you, and go where He sends you!

Loving Lord, we are Your people, fed by Your hand and protected by Your Spirit. Use us to share Your love around the world, servants of Your kingdom and bearers of Your truth. Amen.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Luke 10:1-2

Along with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19), this passage clearly states our call from Jesus to go into the world to share His truth with everyone. It also teaches that the need is great and many are required to accomplish the task. Everyone who has given their life to Christ is part of this work to bring all our brothers and sisters to Him.

How are we to do this? It is a huge responsibility and the realization that Jesus has asked us to be His partners in spreading the Gospel is a little overwhelming. Being entrusted with the Good News is a sign of the confidence He has in us, and He promised the Holy Spirit would be with us always to guide and strengthen us.

We must go boldly into the fields to bring in the Lord’s harvest, knowing that we are blessed in His work. We all have an assignment, and we are given the gifts to complete it. Ask God what you can do for Him today, and share what He has done for you with everyone.

Gracious God, we are amazed and humbled that You choose us to be part of Your kingdom work. May we be energetic representatives of Your love in the world, showing others the joy of a relationship with You. Amen.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:13-26

In this passage of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we learn much about the spirit we have been given, how its gifts are intended to be shared and behavior to avoid. Paul has laid out for us a list of dos and don’ts for our lives. This may seem like micromanagement to some, but that’s not how it is intended. Now instead of the minutiae of the law, we are given examples to follow and examples to avoid so that we may see the lessons and choose wisely.

Jesus came to teach us that it is time to grow up, to be responsible for our lives and our faith. His disciples continued this teaching and the presence of the Holy Spirit with us allows us to see what God would have us do, even when it would be easier to turn away. The gifts of the spirit give us the strength and hope we need to do what we are called to accomplish – make disciples of all the world.

Gracious God, since the very beginning You have trusted us with free will to choose for ourselves. May we trust You and choose Your ways, living as You intend for us, brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:25-26

Once again Paul encourages us to follow the spirit, living out our faith and not the “human nature” of the flesh. He points out a common behavior we exhibit and warns against thinking too highly of ourselves, comparing and desiring what others may have. It is a call to turn from the worldly things that can lead us to evil.

The statement “it’s just human nature” is a poor excuse for our poor choices. The human nature we received from God at our birth was to be made in His image, having the breath of life breathed into us. We were not created as competitors with each other but as God’s beloved children to live together in love.

Think about the common heritage we have in our Lord, how we are all connected and in need of one another. Let the spirit guide you in your interactions today and always, showing the world our true human nature, the brothers and sisters of Christ.

Loving Lord, we often forget our identity in You, and treat each other as if we were not related. Help us to see the family resemblance and live according to Your love and teaching. Amen.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24

We are confronted daily with many choices of worldly things and actions. While there is nothing wrong with people selling their goods or services, we seem to have become a society where needs are created rather than occurring naturally and this leads to desires that are not necessary.

God commanded us not to covet our neighbor’s property, but our social system leads us to want things for which we may have no real use. Often we fall into the trap of “they have one, so we must get one too!” This all comes under the heading of human desire, which can lead us away from God. Later in this letter, Paul writes “Don’t compare yourself with others. Just look at your own work to see if you have done anything to be proud of. You must each accept the responsibilities that are yours.”

We are all responsible for our thoughts and actions. When we allow the passions and desires Paul speaks of to direct us, we lose control of our lives. Giving up control to God is the only way to master the temptations the world presents. Let go and let God guide your life instead.

Wise and wonderful God, we are weak and easily led astray. Show us the path and the plan for our lives and deliver us from evil. Amen.