Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Jesus points out the most characteristic human failings in this verse – selfishness and violence. These are the first sins recorded in Genesis 3-4, when humans chose to do what they wanted instead of what God wanted for them. God gave us free will and we abused the privilege.

However, Jesus invites us to use our free will to choose returning to God now, loving Him and each other, putting His call on our lives first. As always, this is not forced upon us, it is an offer from our Creator. God wants us to worship Him out of thankfulness, not fear.

Jesus came to show us the way back to a full relationship with God. The way has always been open, but very rarely do we find it on our own. He promises us that when we come to Him we may have “life and have it to the full”.

Loving Lord, we have forgotten that we are made in Your image, that part of You lives in us. Help us to see the way that is prepared for us and know the joy of connection to You. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
John 10:7-9

Jesus again uses a metaphor that teaches about entering through Him to salvation. He wants people to understand that only through Him is it possible to have a relationship with God that leads to eternal life. He calls us to come with Him to the fulfillment of this connection.

He says that those who came to mislead us have not been entirely successful because “the sheep have not listened to them” (v. 8). We have waited to hear His voice and now must obey. God has sent Him as the true shepherd in whom we may believe.

Listen for His voice today and always. Hear the call He has for you specifically and know the love He gives to every one of us. Our shepherd has come; may we follow Him to the pastures He has promised us.

Gracious God, You sent Jesus to take away our sin and lead us to a renewed connection with You. Help us to be faithful followers and nurture the faith of others to be saved through His gift to us. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. John 10:4-6

The comparison of Jesus to the shepherd is completely correct – He has come to go ahead of us and lead us. The assumption that we are His sheep is also true and comforting in one sense, but not very flattering. Sheep aren’t known as bright creatures and without a shepherd to lead and guide them they often get into trouble.

The analogy doesn’t get any better for us. Jesus says “his sheep follow him because they know his voice”, and we are guilty of not always following Him, indicating in some cases we are not even as smart as sheep! This is part of the reason Jesus lectures the Pharisees about their leadership, that they have failed to guide their wandering people.

Jesus wants to lead every one of us safely to the joy of salvation and eternal life. There is no other way but through Him. All we must do is hear His voice and follow.

Loving Lord, we are willful and stubborn sheep, often going into danger through our foolish choices. Help us to knowYour voice and follow that we may be part of Your flock forever. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:1-3

Jesus was often in debate with the religious leaders of that day, attempting to teach them how their “system” was not according to God’s plan but had become merely a means for retaining power in the community. Naturally this challenge to their authority was not well received and they tried any means they could to catch Jesus in violations of their petty and intricate interpretation of the Law. Jesus taught in a completely different way, using common situations and people to show God’s love for us.

In this lesson, He frames His coming as that of a shepherd, one charged with guiding and protecting the flock. He tells them of the importance of the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep and that the sheep listen not out of fear of punishment but out of their trust in the shepherd. This was the basis of His ministry to all of us.

God wants to be connected to each of us personally. He wants us to feel the joy of His love, and while we have responsibilities, God wants us to obey because it is right to do so, not because we are afraid. We have been forgiven so that we might lose our fear and enter God’s kingdom to enjoy the grace planned for us from the beginning.

Gracious God, our hearts, minds and lives are Yours. Help us to follow the path You intend, led by Your love to the joy of eternity with You. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 10:1-10.

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:1-10

In this passage Jesus uses an analogy to try to explain His coming to the Pharisees. It is also a reprimand for the poor leadership they have provided to God’s people. Jesus tells them that they have not followed the plan and become like robbers and thieves.

Jesus was never gentle in His assessment of the religious leaders of that time. Many we meet in the scripture accounts have become vain, power-hungry and more concerned about maintaining their position than actually leading. Jesus warns that as leaders they are responsible and will be held to a higher standard.

He tells us that He is the gate, the way of reaching the safe pasture of God’s salvation. In other lessons He taught “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He has called us by name to follow Him into the fullness of life.

Loving Lord, let us hear Your voice and obey. May we be faithful followers of Your teachings, called to be part of Your flock. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Luke 24:13-35.

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Luke 24:13-35

This passage is found only in the Gospel of Luke, and teaches us several important things. First and foremost, Jesus Christ is risen, He then appeared to those who knew Him in the flesh, and His interaction with them encouraged them to share the event with others. Each of these things are important to our continuing of His ministry.

We have received the basis for our faith from those who went before us, as the Good News has been shared for generations. His followers saw Him raised, accepted the call He placed on their lives, and went out as He had to share God’s love everywhere. As He taught them, they planted the seed of faith for those who had never known Him through their own profession of faith.

During this time, we may not be able to interact as we want, due to the health issues we face. The apostle Paul and others of their time knew this frustration, and being unable to contact those they wished to share Christ with in person, wrote letters to be shared as a temporary connection, awaiting the time when they could meet personally. While we are temporarily constrained from gathering and sharing in person, God has provided other means for us to stay connected to Him and each other. Let us do what is necessary to protect the health of those around us, but not neglect the ministry of Christ we are each called to provide.

Loving Lord, bless us to be a blessing in Your world. Show us the way to reach others in Your name, even when we are in difficult times. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Luke 24:13-35.

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Luke 24:33-35

Even though they had stopped for the night and started the evening meal, Cleopas and his friend return to Jerusalem to share the news. Their excitement at seeing the risen Christ could not be contained. Once there, they find that Jesus has also appeared to Simon Peter and all are discussing the miracle.

As we have heard over the last two weeks of study, they should not have been surprised. Jesus told them many times He would be killed and rise again (Matthew 16, Mark 8, Luke 9) but they did not understand. They had seen Him perform miracles, including raising people from the dead, but it was difficult for them to think that this would be the case with their teacher and leader.

We have the testimony of all the Christians who have come before us that this is the truth and we must believe in Him in order to be saved. Like Cleopas and his friend, may we be energized to go and do what the Lord has asked of us. We are His disciples in the world today, and He is counting on us to share His love with all the world.

Gracious God, help us to be the bold and effective bearers of Your light and love to the people who still have not heard or seen. Let our sharing show everyone the joy of our relationship with You. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Luke 24:13-35.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:30-32

Cleopas and his friend are now aware that it was indeed Jesus Himself who walked with them, taught them about the Messiah, and broke bread with them. As He taught the others with their last meal together, now these two have learned the meaning of the breaking and sharing of the bread in His memory. Jesus gave us a way to celebrate His life and His love for us every time we eat and drink together.

This story tells us that Jesus was there for everyone, not just those closest to Him. He appeared on the road to two of His followers we had not heard of before this passage. They were not likely rich, powerful or important in their society, but they were definitely important to Jesus.

We are all important to Him, as dear brothers and sisters in the faith, and as those who will be carrying on His work in our world. Jesus calls us to be part of what He is doing. He sends us to share His love with everyone.

Loving Lord, we are grateful to be called in Your name to the ministry of sharing the Good News. Help us to be strong when there is opposition, but kind in our words and works. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Luke 24:13-35.

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
Luke 24:25-29

Jesus seems disappointed in their reaction, that after all His teachings about what He came for and what He must do, they still don’t understand and believe. Perhaps we shouldn’t judge them too harshly, at this point even those closest to Him were still not fully convinced of the resurrection. He begins the lesson by reminding them of the scriptures about the Messiah, and connecting them to what had happened.

Jesus had taught them that this was what must happen. He had said before “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Luke 9:22). Each time He said this, the disciples either disagreed or simply didn’t understand. Cleopas and his friend are so interested in this lesson, they invite Him to stay the night and eat with them, even though they still do not recognize Jesus.

We have the wonderful opportunity to learn from their experience, to know the joy of the risen Christ. We too can share His love with a world that desperately needs to understand His teaching. This is what Jesus has called us for, and He wants us to be ready for the challenge.

Gracious God, in Your love and mercy You sent Jesus to be our teacher, our model, our brother. Help us to see the reality of His resurrection and the blessing of salvation that it brings. Amen.