Category: Daily Prayer

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20

Read verse 17 of this passage carefully – “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted”. Even after the time they had spent with Him and now being present with the risen Christ, some were still unsure in their faith. Yet Jesus gives them all the same instruction and duty. He doesn’t single out just those who “believe”.

Jesus knows our human weakness. He understands how hard it can be to have faith in an unbelieving world. He doesn’t let our doubt keep us from continuing the journey with Him. As with Thomas, He can use our doubt to deepen our faith and our questions to strengthen our connection.

Jesus wants us all to believe in Him, not for His sake but for ours. He calls us to give up the weight of our doubt. He comforts us saying “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Give your doubts to Him that you may be made whole and ready for the task for which He calls you.

Loving Lord, we are sorry that our faith is not always what it should be. Help us to lay down our unbelief and be strong in Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 28:16-20.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus displays great trust in His disciples by leaving them to carry on His ministry. He has taken the time to teach them what they need to know about their relationship to God and the responsibility that places on them. Now it is their turn to tell the world about our wonderful Creator and the blessings He provides.

His disciples didn’t see it, but from the very beginning He had been training them to take over for Him. Everything He taught was meant to prepare them to live in God’s world and tell of His love. After He returns to the Father, they will be the voice of the kingdom, sharing the Gospel and training the next generation to continue their work.

As the disciples of today, we are now responsible for this work. It is up to us to continue to share the Good News with everyone. We must also help to train the disciples of tomorrow, who will take our place when needed. Who are you teaching to be the next disciples?

Gracious God, it is amazing how much You love and trust us, giving us the duty to share the joy of our relationship to You with all the world. Help us to be diligent in our teaching and honest in our love. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 28:16-20.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus promised to be with us “to the very end of the age” (v. 20). This is the basis of our comfort and strength through our faith in Him. God sends the Holy Spirit, not as a replacement for Christ being with us, but as a new way of knowing both the Father and the Son.

Jesus came to be with us and teach us, now it is up to us to show we are able to live as He asked. He knew we would have issues, living in a world that often rejects His message, but His presence through the Holy Spirit enables us to stand firm. When life seems to make no sense, we can call on Him for aid.

“O Jesus I have promised to serve thee to the end” the old hymn says, and that is our charge through the Great Commission to go and make disciples. Our very purpose in being is to serve the risen Savior. This is why Jesus promised to be with us, to help and guide us, that at the end we may be together eternally.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for Your call on our lives, to share the Good News of Your kingdom everywhere. Make us strong to do the work that is laid out for us. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 28:16-20.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20

While this is a fairly short passage, it gives us our task for the rest of time: go and make disciples of all nations. We know this as the Great Commission, Christ’s charge to us as His disciples. They were called to follow Him and continue His ministry, and we are responsible for that mission today as well.

The Great Commission tells us to go to the world and baptize all “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (v. 19). It calls us to teach them what Jesus has shared with us. It is wonderfully specific and yet general at the same time.

Jesus has sent us into the world to share His love, using the gifts God has given us for this purpose. We are all blessed with different ways to share our experience of His love with others. May our witness bring the world to Christ that we may all live with Him eternally.

Gracious God, You have given us a duty and the means to accomplish it. Help us to stay focused on that mission, bringing Your light and love to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 28:16-20.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20

It is hard to assign ranking to any scripture passage as compared to another, all of God’s Word is necessary for us. However this passage has three very important things to tell us – the risen Christ is Lord of all things, we are to go make disciples everywhere, and we have His promise to be with us always.

Jesus wants His disciples to understand who He is, that His authority is from God and it is unlimited. He came to earth to live as a human, to face all the trials and temptations we encounter and for our sake He has endured them all. Now we can live new lives in Him because He has broken sin’s power.

During difficult times and trying circumstances, we need to remember our history and our faith. We are God’s people and we can and must do better than we have. It starts by seeing ourselves and each other as God’s precious creation, loved by Him and saved by Jesus sacrifice.

Loving Lord, we are hurting! There is so much going on that we feel overwhelmed. Help us to see that Your love and light is still the only way to heal our world. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Acts 2:1-21.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Acts 2:1-21

A violent wind, tongues of fire – it sounds a little frightening, but God has sent the gift of knowledge and energy to those assembled there. They are no longer afraid and they praise God in the languages of many different people. The coming of the Holy Spirit signals a new chapter in the disciples’ story.

I often refer to Peter as the “poster boy” for us as Christians because we share so many qualities. He can be understanding and irritating, strong and timid, faithful and fearful just as we are. As Jesus predicted, Peter denied Him just after the arrest, but now Peter stands boldly before the crowd, proclaiming Christ the risen Savior.

We need to understand there will be times we are weak and we need to turn to the Holy Spirit to guide and renew us. Jesus promised His presence would be with us in whatever we face. We only need to ask Him for help and count on His love to sustain us.

Gracious God, we live in trying times and we search for answers to the issues that confront us. Help us to see each other as brothers and sisters, Your beloved children, each filled with Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Acts 2:1-21.

I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 2:19-21

Peter uses a teaching tool that Jesus used often. He quotes from a scripture passage that the people would be familiar with to focus them, then moves into what he wants them to hear. This reading from the prophet Joel speaks of the end times and that by calling on the Lord, we may be saved.

Peter has been inspired by the Holy Spirit and he remembers how the teachings of Jesus reached the people. He is beginning to fulfil his role as a leader of the faith community and the voice of the disciples. Even though he earlier ran from his relationship with Christ, he has been forgiven, renewed and now serves the risen Savior by sharing the Gospel.

Even if we have failed before, Jesus is willing to pick us up, comfort us and send us out again to do His work in the world. “Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer” the old hymn teaches. When we pray to be forgiven, we can be made whole and still be part of the plan God has for creation.

Gracious God, we are frail and prone to failure. Help us to seek Your mercy when we fall, that we may return to Your service, bringing the Good News to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Acts 2:1-21.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Acts 2:14-18

Peter demonstrates the courage the Holy Spirit has provided by standing to speak to the people. Before, he had been timid, afraid to even admit he knew Jesus, but now he boldly testifies to the crowd. This is the power the Holy Spirit gives us.

Just like Peter, we can be bold for Christ. The Holy Spirit is given to all of us and different gifts to be able to reach others. It is up to each of us to ensure those gifts are used for the good of the kingdom.

Perhaps we aren’t called to speak to a large, diverse group as Peter was, but we are charged with sharing the Good News, to let the world know who Jesus is and what He has done for us. As the disciples of today, we are responsible for spreading the Gospel. Those we tell our story to have the opportunity to accept Christ and know the joy of a relationship with God through Him.

Loving Lord, thank You for the blessing of the Holy Spirit who comes to strengthen us. May we be confident in all we do in Your name. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Acts 2:1-21.

“Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Acts 2:8-13

The crowd that heard the disciples speak were confused by hearing testimony in their own languages. The list contained here covered most of the civilized world, indicating the huge and diverse territory in which Jesus called them to minister. There were supporters and detractors in the crowd, as there had been when Jesus taught.

The Holy Spirit provided them this gift to attract attention initially so that those gathered might hear their testimony and carry it back to their own countries to begin the work. They likely started their story with “I heard a bunch of Galileans speaking different languages while I was in Jerusalem.” “Really, what did they say?” “They were declaring the wonders of God!” and that would lead to discussion of the story of Jesus they had heard.

It still works that way today. The Holy Spirit inspires us to share our experience of Jesus with others. You don’t have to have a pulpit, a radio show or an internet page, although the Word can be shared in these ways. All Jesus asks is that we share the Good News of salvation in the ways available to us. It may be a simple “God loves you!” offered in passing or how we show His love in stressful situations. Witness can take many forms, and we must be aware of our opportunities to share.

Gracious God, we thank you for the chance to tell the story of our relationship with You to others. Help us to be good stewards of Your love and teach others as Jesus taught us. Amen.