Category: Daily Prayer

Our call to worship this week is Psalm 98.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the Lord, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

This psalm encourages us to express the joy we know in the Lord. Too often we only share our wants and needs through prayer, this passage reminds us to give thanks when we are happy and satisfied as well. It is easy to cry out to God when we are threatened, we must remember Him especially when we are blessed.

In Deuteronomy 6 Moses warns the nation of Israel not to forget God when they enter the Promised Land. After He has brought them safely out of Egypt, through the desert and across the Jordan, the people begin to fall away, believing they are somehow responsible for the prosperity they enjoy. Failing to realize all gifts are from God can lead to selfish behavior and lack of caring for each other.

As we return to more “normal” activities, let us not forget the lessons we have received during the difficult time, how much we missed being in contact with each other and how we worried for everyone’s health. It would be sad to have endured this season and not have it change our way of treating people. Rejoice and give thanks to God, living for Him and loving all His children.

Gracious God, we are sometimes puffed up in our pride and smug in our knowledge. Forgive us and help us to remember that without Your love and care, we are lost. Amen.

Our Gospel this week is John 15:1-8, taken today from the New International Version (NIV).

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Jesus says to us “I am the vine and you are the branches” (v. 5). This tells us all we need to know, that He is our connection to God and without Him we can do nothing. For the branch, there is only one vine – it cannot disconnect and go find another; so Jesus is our only way to salvation.

Jesus has already told us “no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). He is our sole connection to God, the living example of the love by which we were created. In Him is our hope and our strength.

We are connected for our own good, and through that connection we are nourished and taught and sent out into the world to share His love that all may come to know Him. It is our purpose in Christ to be part of His work. As fruitful branches we can do no less.

Loving Lord, we are glad to be part of all that You are doing. May Your love grow in us that we may tell others of the joy we have found. Amen.

Our Gospel this week is John 15:1-8, taken today from the English Standard Version (ESV).

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Children of God are recognized by their love for Him and one another. It’s evident by their words and actions, and how they treat people. When we live for His glory and to lift up others, we are bearing fruit for the kingdom as Jesus taught us.

Some ask “How can you be like that when the world is such a terrible place?” The sad answer is that we have made the world what it is, which is certainly not what God intended. Human failure has spoiled the wonderful creation God entrusted to us.

However, that’s not the end of the story. Jesus says through our connection to the Father we can receive forgiveness and be part of the work to redeem the world. Accepting Jesus as our Lord is the first step, and we must all take that step for ourselves.

Loving Lord, You made a wonderful place for us and filled it with good things. Help us to be connected to You, good stewards of what we have been given, and bearers of the Good News always. Amen.

Our Gospel lesson for this week is John 15:1-8, taken today from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB).

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

Jesus tells us that through living by His word, we can produce fruit for the kingdom of God. He shares God’s love, teaches us a better way to treat each other, and sends us to show others the joy we have found. Being part of God’s work strengthens our relationship with Him and His children.

Jesus reminds us that it only works when we are connected. We do good things not to fulfill a quota or check off requirements, but to demonstrate God’s love shared through us. Nothing we can do will ever be enough to save us, only the sacrifice Jesus made for us brings salvation. That is why it is so important for us to be in relationship with Him, because as He tells us “you can do nothing without Me” (v. 5).

It doesn’t matter what we do if we are not part of the vine. We were created in His image to live for Him. Without knowing God through Jesus, our lives lose their meaning.

Gracious God, we pray for Your strength to do what is asked of us in the world. Bless our work that we may show Your glory to all people. Amen.

Our Gospel this week is John 15:1-8, taken today from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

Jesus uses an example from nature to help His followers understand the importance of our connection to God through Him. Just as branches cannot survive on their own, we are lost without our relationship with our Creator. When we abide in Him, we are nourished and grow in grace.

This connection is not only for us, but as a vine and healthy branches spread, so does the kingdom of God. Through our relationship we are taught and strengthened that we might spread the Good News in the world. This is God’s plan for us, to be part of His work through faith.

Growing in God’s love enables us to live more fruitful lives, reaching out to those who do not know Him. Sharing our story with others deepens our trust as He leads us to those who need to hear it. God’s grace is for all who will accept Christ as our Savior and follow Him.

Loving Lord, we want to be fruitful branches of Your vine. Help us to learn and grow that Your truth may be known by all. Amen.

Our Epistle this week is 1 John 4:7-21.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

In this passage the apostle John recalls the Great Commandment given to us by Jesus, that “the one who loves God should love his brother also” (v. 21). We are called to show our faith through the love of God given to others. Our words and our actions are the way the world can know the joy of a relationship with Him.

John reminds us that “the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” (v. 20). God wants us to love each other in the same way we love Him. This is why Jesus tells us as part of the Sermon on the Mount “First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:24). We cannot be in full connection with God if we are not in full connection with each other.

God calls us to show the world the truth of His love through the giving of ours. When we act out of anger, we grieve Him. Let His love and peace fill you today, and prove to others that love is the greatest gift.

Heavenly Father, You show us Your love in all that we have been given. Help us to share that gift with all Your children everywhere. Amen.

Our First Reading this week is Acts 8:26-40.

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth. In humiliation His judgment was taken away; Who will relate His generation? For His life is removed from the earth.” The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

The Book of Acts is intended to remind us of what the disciples did after Jesus was no longer with them physically. It should also energize our discipleship to go and do what Jesus has asked of us. These lessons show that those who followed Jesus accepted the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations and went with joy to share the Good News.

In this passage Philip is directed to a person who is seeking to understand God’s Word. We have all experienced trying to find the meaning in Scripture and how difficult it may be. Having another believer to share with is essential. Quiet time alone with God is needed for prayer but serious study requires explanation and discussion.

God calls us to spread His love in the world and to be ready to talk about Scripture and our faith with those who are searching for a connection with Him. Jesus left His ministry in our hands. It is up to us to do the kingdom work here until we are called home.

Loving Lord, we are grateful and humbled to be part of Your plan of salvation. Help us to be strong in faith, gentle in spirit and bold to go where You send us in Your name. Amen.

Our call to worship this week comes to us from Psalm 22:25-31.

From You comes my praise in the great assembly; I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him. The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord ’s And He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship, All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive. Posterity will serve Him; It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation. They will come and will declare His righteousness To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

You might not remember that this psalm opens “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” What sounds like despair at the beginning has become confidence and joy at the end. The psalmist reminds us that on our own we are weak but the Lord is mighty and merciful.

We are told that “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship before You” (v. 27). This is hope for everyone, everywhere, not merely a select few. God is ready and waiting for us to renew our relationship.

There is an important responsibility for us given here: “Posterity will serve Him; It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation” (v. 30). We are charged with sharing His love and truth with those who haven’t heard. We accept a connection with God in order to connect the world to Him.

Gracious God, our faith is in You, and without You we are lost. Keep us close to You and make us the voice of invitation to all Your people. Amen.

Our Gospel is John 10:11-18, taken today from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.

Jesus uses this example to show how He loves and cares for us, as a shepherd tends and defends the flock. Like the sheep, we are unable to save ourselves but Jesus stands between us and the evil that waits for us. We must listen to His voice and stay with the flock.

The Good Shepherd leads us to safety and rest. When we wander off, we place ourselves in danger. If we choose our own path, we lose the safety of the flock.

The Good Shepherd comes after those who are lost, seeking to save us from sin and the price it exacts from us and others. He is willing to take the risk in order to rescue us. When we obey Him and remain on the path He has shown us, we are blessed to be part of His kingdom work and help other lost sheep return to the flock.

Shepherd of us all, we are amazed and thankful that You come to save us. Help us to stay near You in safety, away from the danger of sin. Amen.

Our Gospel lesson this week is John 10:11-18, taken today from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.

Jesus tells us “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd” (v. 16). This points to the Great Commission, by which we are instructed to bring all the world to Christ. No one is to be left out.

While Jesus appeared at the time and place appointed by God, His message is to all people across time. Everyone is blessed by Jesus’ teaching and His sacrifice for us. It is our task to share His love with all people, no matter their location or situation.

Jesus told us it wouldn’t be easy, that we would face opposition just as He did. However, that doesn’t change the call He has placed on our lives. We are the living story of Christ’s love in the world and it is up to us to bring His love to all.

Wise and wonderful God, You sent Your son to save us and make us part of Your kingdom work. Help us to live in faith and love each other as we love You. Amen.