Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is 1 Timothy 4:10-13.

In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers. Command and teach these things. Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Paul writes to his pupil Timothy to encourage his ministry. While these words are for him, they are also for all believers, that we must be energetic in sharing the Gospel. This is the call we have from Jesus Himself.

While Paul says “let no one look down on you because you are young”, this lesson applies to everyone. Our position, education or experience doesn’t qualify us for service; only our love for God. The Holy Spirit is the fuel for outreach, guiding us to spread the Good News everywhere.

Paul says we must “set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity”. Jesus showed us how to love one another in this way and He expects no less from us. Paul passes this important lesson to Timothy (and us), with the hope we will carry on what we have received from Christ.

Gracious God, we are thankful for Your love and instruction, shown to us through the example of Jesus and the faithful who have gone before us. Bless us to go in Your name to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Nahum 1:3-7.

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will certainly not allow the wicked to go unpunished. He marches out in the whirlwind and the raging storm; dark storm clouds billow like dust under his feet. He shouts a battle cry against the sea and makes it dry up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; the blossom of Lebanon withers. The mountains tremble before him, the hills convulse; the earth is laid waste before him, the world and all its inhabitants are laid waste. No one can withstand his indignation! No one can resist his fierce anger! His wrath is poured out like volcanic fire, boulders are broken up as he approaches. The Lord is good – indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress, and he protects those who seek refuge in him.

Perhaps the writings of the prophet Nahum are not the first scriptures that come to mind when we think of the Bible. However, there is much wisdom in this inspired text. In this passage he makes clear the power of the Lord and why we are thankful to Him for our very existence.

While this may be a somewhat unsettling reading, it begins and ends with hope. We hear that “the Lord is slow to anger” and while His anger may be terrifying, “He protects those who seek refuge in him”. When we earnestly ask for His forgiveness, He is ready to be our fortress.

God is all powerful and we forget that to our peril. The fear of God is not intended as a scare tactic, it is better defined as “truth in advertising”, and respect is perhaps a closer translation to what is intended. It is not His nature to act in anger, and His love for us is immeasurable. We know as the prophet says, “the Lord is good”.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we fail to act as Your children. Forgive us and send us to share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 6:19-21.

Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus speaks to us of real and lasting treasure, unlike anything here on earth. He teaches us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal”. When we put our hope and trust in Him and not possessions or power, we can be truly rich.

He wants us to understand that nothing here is permanent. We can’t make anything ourselves that will last. However, our faith can lead us to an eternal connection with Him and the promise of a place prepared for us.

We read that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. If we work for the kingdom rather than material things, our focus is in the right place. Our savior came to show us God’s love is the greatest treasure of all.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we are greedy and ignore the needs of others. Help us to love one another as you first loved us, and set our minds on eternal things. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 5:6-11.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Paul writes to the faithful in Rome with an intelligent overview of Christ’s sacrifice for us. Those who did not have a background in Judaism needed a different approach because they lacked a previous connection to God. Paul presents a logical case for God’s love that he hopes those in  Rome will understand.

We read the statement that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Paul reasons that if Jesus was willing to die for us in our fallen state, He will certainly be there for us when we come in repentance. This reaching out to us before we have a relationship with Him is known as Prevenient Grace, God’s love and mercy to us before we respond.

When we accept the gift that is offered through Christ’s life, death and resurrection, we are reconciled to God, made new by what Jesus has done for us. We are also called to go in His name and share the blessing of His love with the world. God wants us all back, in connection with Him and each other as it was at Creation. 

Gracious God, we are grateful that You pursue us with love even before we turn to You. Help us to be Your people, carrying the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Jesus taught us that loving God and one another is the most important thing of all (the Greatest Commandment, Matthew 22:37-39). Paul explains about love’s characteristics and the ways that we express our love. Later in this chapter he reminds us “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

When we read this passage, do we see ourselves? Are we patient, kind, not envious and so on? As humans, our emotions often get the best of us and we behave in unhealthy ways. God knows our frailty and He is always ready to forgive us and point us back to the right path when we come to Him in repentance.

The last verse is probably the best description of love we have – “it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”. God’s love works this way and ours should as well. When we approach our world and those around us with love, we fulfill the Greatest Commandment. It isn’t always easy, but it is always right.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the many ways we fail to love as You first loved us. Forgive us we pray, and send us in Your name to love the whole world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 119:111-114

I claim your rules as my permanent possession, for they give me joy. I am determined to obey your statutes at all times, to the very end. I hate people with divided loyalties, but I love your law. You are my hiding place and my shield. I find hope in your word.

This psalm is the longest chapter in the Bible, but today we focus on just a few verses dealing with God’s law. The psalmist speaks not just of obeying but states “I claim your rules as my permanent possession, for they give me joy”. Making God’s will part of our lives brings us closer to Him and to each other.

We read that people with “divided loyalties” are to be avoided. We must reach out with God’s love to everyone, but be careful not to fall into sin through association with those who do not obey His word. Those who love God’s law will keep it, even in the face of opposition.

God provides protection for us, a “hiding place and my shield”. This doesn’t mean we can run away from our responsibility to share the Gospel, however we know that He is with us to strengthen us. His word gives us hope for the promise of salvation and eternal life with Him.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for Your word, shared through scripture and faithful disciples. Help us to be strong workers for Your kingdom, bringing the Good News to the world. Amen.

I’m trying a different Bible translation this summer, the New English Translation (NET). The words in some familiar passages are slightly different, but I believe that makes me listen more carefully. I hope you will hear God’s word in new ways!

Our scripture this morning is Micah 6:6-8.

With what should I enter the Lord’s presence? With what should I bow before the sovereign God? Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Will the Lord accept a thousand rams, or ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion, my offspring – my own flesh and blood – for my sin? He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful, and to live obediently before your God.

God has given us much wisdom regarding how we are to live with Him and each other. It seems there is a lot to remember, but we make it harder than it is. The prophet Micah distilled it into a single statement: promote justice, be faithful, and live obediently before your God.

We know the importance of God’s guidance for us. He has blessed us with the example of our savior, Jesus Christ, who taught us what a life in connection with God can be. He has given us His word through scripture to enlighten us. While we have much to process, God’s message is clear and consistent. Loving Him and one another is the most important thing of all! If we get this right, everything else becomes easier.

We must make the decision to return. God calls us back from our disobedience and self-centered behavior to the relationship for which we were created. If we repent and accept the forgiveness He offers, we can be His people, fulfilling the purpose He has for us. 

Gracious God, we are humbled that You want us to be part of what You are doing in the world and in eternity. Bless us to go in Your name, sharing the Gospel everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 12:24-26.

The diligent person will rule, but the slothful will become a slave. Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy. The righteous person is cautious in his friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

While the verses in Proverbs don’t necessarily go together as do verses in other parts of scripture, they all point to our relationship with God and our responsibility to each other. This group of sayings speaks of being energetic in our tasks and letting go of our worries. It also mentions being careful about those with whom we associate.

Peter writes “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for You” (1 Peter 5:7), reminding us of the proverb from long before. God knows everything about us and our world, and wants us to love, trust and count on Him to help us when we are anxious or afraid. By giving up the things that worry us we can live productive lives for Him.

This saying also encourages us to encourage one another. Sharing the load in fellowship is how Christians get things done. Paul tells us to “carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Our support for each other is essential to our faith and health.

Loving Lord, we know You are there for us always. Help us to give up the things that trouble us and be part of the fellowship to which You call us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Galatians 6:7-10.

Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

In this passage we are taught about our actions (sowing) and their consequences (reaping). Paul wants us to understand that while we have been given free will, “God will not be made a fool”. Our relationship with God and others determines our spiritual well being.

Paul encourages us to “not grow weary in doing good”. We may not see the results of what we do but when we act out of our love for Jesus, we know our efforts are not in vain. It’s not about people seeing what we accomplish or basking in the glow of our success, but simply sharing the joy we have found in a connection to our creator.

We know that with the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are inspired and strengthened to accomplish the work the Father has for us. Fueled by His love we can go into an often dark world to tell everyone of the blessing of salvation that is promised to His children. We are called to “do good to all people”, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Gracious God, we are amazed and humbled that You call us to be part of Your kingdom work. We go in faith to accomplish Your purpose. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 10:14-17.

How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.” But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.

Paul presents a logical case for the Great Commission Jesus has given us to go and make disciples of all nations. As Christ’s brothers and sisters we are tasked to share His love with the world. We can’t truly love one another without ensuring they have heard the Good News.

This doesn’t mean forcing our faith on anyone, each must choose for themselves. I’m fond of the observation that Jesus didn’t run after the rich young ruler to “make” him believe, but likewise Jesus didn’t say “wait, I’ll change the rules for you” (Luke 18). Jesus has told us what is important and how to do it.

The Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission are inseparable. We can’t truly love one another without sharing the truth of Christ and we can’t tell people of His love without loving them as He did. Paul reminds us of our blessing and our duty, and we go in Christ’s name to love and share.

Heavenly Father, we are amazed that You call us to be part of Your eternal plan. Strengthen us in faith and send us to do Your will. Amen.