Category: Daily Prayer

Our Epistle this week is 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1.

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

Paul writes to the church in Corinth with encouragement that they continue in faith. He reminds them “we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak” (v. 13), urging them to remember their call to share the gift of salvation they have been given. God wants them to tell the Good News to the world.

Paul also speaks to them of maintaining their focus on the eternal promise, rather than the earthly things that confront them. We are told that “what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (v. 18). This understanding strengthens our faith that God has wonderful things planned for us, abundantly more than what we experience here.

That faith in God’s love and the new covenant He offers us through Jesus should be our focus today and forever. There will always be challenges and conflicts in our mortal existence, but we are not alone against them. God’s power and mercy will bring us through anything we face.

Heavenly Father, we are weak when we rely on our own strength and knowledge. Help us to see the wonderful promise of life everlasting and accept it by faith. Amen.

Our First Reading this week is Genesis 3:8-15.

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

God made everything there is, including us, and gave us wonderful gifts that we might be satisfied…but we wanted what we didn’t have. Our disobedience changes things, and God tells the one who tempted us there will be consequences. Those consequences will extend to us as well, for while there was temptation, we made a choice to listen and act on that temptation, choosing our own desires over God’s commands.

When we break the rules that exist, as humans we have several different reactions – I didn’t do it, it wasn’t my fault or the rule shouldn’t be there. Adam and Eve are in a tough spot, there isn’t anyone else that could have done it so that defense won’t work. They opt for the “it wasn’t my fault approach”, Adam points at Eve, she points at the serpent and the serpent, having no arms, has no one to point to in response.

In human situations, we often push to change the rules when there is an issue. Sometimes human rules need to be changed if they don’t work fairly. However, God’s commands are righteous and there to protect us. His law, His will and His love for us are unchanging.

Loving Lord, we are willful creatures and prone to desire what we don’t have. Teach us the joy of being satisfied and obedient to the commandments You have given. Amen.

Our call to worship this week is Psalm 138.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalms tell a variety of stories, sharing our hopes and fears, the full range of human emotions. These verses give praise to God for His greatness and His love, and that He never forgets His people. He made us for a purpose.

In verse 6 we hear one of His most wonderful attributes, “Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar”. God didn’t create and leave, He is aware of what goes on and active in His creation. God wants to be connected to us eternally and has taught us faith by His love.

Our task is to love God and each other and share the joy we know through this relationship. It is up to us to spread the truth of our Maker to everyone, showing that a life in Him is the only way to be saved. God made us in His image, it is up to us to show the world we are His.

Heavenly Father, we give You praise and thanks for Your wonderful care. You made all things and call us to share Your blessings in all we do. May we be the servants You send into Your world to care for others. Amen.

Our Gospel lesson this week is John 3:1-17, taken today from the New American Standard Version (NASB).

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Is there any better statement of the relationship God desires with us than John 3:16? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” God created us and we turned away, but He loved us too much to let us go.

God has continually offered his people the chance to reconnect, to repent of our sin and receive His forgiveness. Through Jesus, He gave us a way to be saved, by believing in Him and living as He taught us. God’s grace is there for all who confess Jesus as Lord and share the Good News with the world.

He calls us to be born again, changing our hearts and minds and lives, taking up our cross and following the path Jesus showed us. It is not always easy but His promise is certain. God so loves every one of us that He sent Jesus to bring us back.

Gracious God, You demonstrate Your love for us every day. Help us to accept that we can turn from sin and be forgiven through the gift of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Gospel lesson this week is John 3:1-17, taken today from the English Standard Version (ESV).

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Jesus tells Nicodemus that God sent Him not to condemn the world but that “the world might be saved through Him” (v. 17). Humankind has already condemned themselves by turning to selfish things, rather than sharing the gifts God has provided. However, God in His mercy still wants to be in relationship with us and is willing to forgive our failings.

Jesus came to show us how to be saved and what a life in God means. His words and actions always gave glory to the Father, and He teaches us to do the same. A life centered around God leads to salvation; a self-centered life leads nowhere.

Jesus teaches us to look beyond ourselves to the needs of others and the gifts we have been given to meet those needs. We were created to love God and each other and through this be blessed with true happiness. Earthly things will disappear but God’s love endures forever.

Wise and wonderful God, often we think of ourselves first and everything else afterwards. Help us to be mindful of Your gifts and how to use them to love Your children. Amen.

Our Gospel this week is John 3:1-17, taken today from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB).

There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus. “Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven — the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

When I read this passage I’m curious about why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. The obvious answer is so he wouldn’t be seen by other Pharisees and members of the Council and perhaps lose his position of authority. However, his motive may not be secrecy, perhaps he just wanted a private conversation with Jesus to ask questions and discuss His teachings.

From his statement “we know that you are a teacher who has come from God” (v. 2) Nicodemus and other Pharisees already see the truth in what Jesus says and does. However, as we hear in their exchange, he does not completely understand what Jesus teaches about being born again. He tries to put it into a human context when there is no earthly comparison.

Jesus used nature and human things as examples for us to have an idea what He means, but these are only to guide us to the truth. He teaches us “the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed” (Mark 4:30), not “the kingdom of heaven is a mustard seed” – big difference! We need to listen and learn from these examples and apply them in our lives as Jesus intends.

Loving Lord, we want to understand, but help us to believe even when we are confused. Bless us to share Your love and care with all Your children everywhere. Amen.

Our Gospel lesson is John 3:1-17, taken today from the New International Version.

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Jesus is the Master and also a master teacher. When Nicodemus the Pharisee comes to Him with questions, Jesus gives examples he should be able understand. While this Pharisee seems earnest in his desire to learn, his culture and training lead him to question what Jesus has told him. Jesus says “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” (v. 12).

Are we sometimes like Nicodemus in that we find the Master’s teaching too amazing to understand? He tells us no matter how badly we have fallen away, God is ready to forgive and welcome us back. We must repent of our wrongdoing and change our lives, as if we were born again.

We have a hard time accepting that we could experience this kind of change because we are unable to do it on our own. As humans, we seem to think if we can’t make it happen, it can’t be done. Jesus reminds us “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). When we trust in God, we can live new lives, born again in His love.

Gracious God, our understanding is limited but through faith we see the truth. Help us to change our hearts and minds and lives, to be the disciples of today in Your world. Amen.

Our Epistle this week is Romans 8:12-17.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Paul shares that rejecting the ways of the flesh and accepting God’s spirit through Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. He explains that by faith we can understand our relationship with our Creator – “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (v. 17). What an awesome blessing!

With this blessing comes an equally awesome responsibility – to show others the love of God and how they too may become part of His plan of salvation. We are all called to this relationship and obligation, and gifted differently to be able to accomplish His purpose. However, until we give up our selfish ways we are not ready to participate fully.

We are told that “if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (v. 13). This is not to say that the body is evil – nothing God made is evil! It means as with so many gifts we are not using it properly. We must ask the Holy Spirit for the help we need to follow Christ’s path faithfully and serve God with joy.

Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son and the presence of Your Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. Help us to see the that only by turning from human things can we be saved to eternal life. Amen.

Our First Reading this week is Isaiah 6:1-8.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

The prophet Isaiah wrote things that point to God’s plan of salvation long before Jesus came as a human on earth. These passages help us see that God has been working constantly and consistently since the very beginning to restore our relationship with Him. We broke God’s law and turned away, yet in His mercy, He reaches out to us.

This reading speaks of seeing God Almighty, being cleansed and forgiven of sin, and sent in His name. This is exactly why Jesus came – to show us the Father, save us from our sins and call us to go share the Gospel with everyone. We have always been part of God’s plan as His representatives in the world.

As beloved and forgiven children we are blessed with a responsibility in the family of God. While He needs no help from us, He invites us to be active participants in His saving work. When He calls, may our response ever be “Here am I. Send me!”

Loving Lord, we are thankful for Your mercy and restoration. Help us to share the blessing of salvation with all Your children everywhere. Amen.

Our call to worship this week is Psalms 29:1‭-‬6.

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.

There are many psalms like this one that share our joy in the Lord, proclaiming His power and glory. Here the psalmist uses the beauty and wonder of nature which we see to help explain the God we cannot see. If He created these amazing things, He must be amazing Himself.

Psalms were originally written to be part of the worship experience, bringing people together and testifying to God’s greatness. The words describe the magnificent things He placed in the world and how we can know Him better through His creation. The Psalms remind us that everything God made is intended to be under our care.

God loves us so much that He is willing to let us manage what He has created. We are called to oversee His gifts and use them wisely. God has confidence in us, that we will make good decisions in how we use what we have been given.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for Your wonderful gifts to us. Help us to be wise in using them, that all may come to know You. Amen.