Category: Daily Prayer

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

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Paul’s lesson on love has much to tell us about ourselves and others. Notice there are no exceptions, no modifiers to let us out of our obligation to love one another. There’s no escape clause just as there is no escaping God’s love. Christ’s command to love one another (John 13:34-35) applies to every one of us equally. There are people who are hard to love and times when we find it difficult to love. Jesus’ answer is as constant as He is constant: love one another.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we fail to love as You intend. Help us to see the joy of loving through stressful times and reaching out to those we find hard to love. Amen.

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

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Continuing the lesson on love, Paul emphasizes “it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth”. We know that as humans we have a problem with the truth. Pilate asked Jesus “what is truth?” (John 18:37). We know that everything Jesus said and did reflects the truth of God, and this demonstrates love in its purest form. I saw something posted on Facebook the other day with a warning that said “this statement could be misleading”. This is an unfortunate part of our history, beginning with the Fall – Satan used half truths and some whoppers to tempt us into disobedience (Genesis 3:1-4). We must remember that love needs only the truth, not innuendo or allegation or flat out lies. At a time in our world when truth is at a premium, we are called to share God’s love through truthful living.

Patient God, we are sorry for the way we deal loosely with the truth. Forgive our false words and acts and make us part of Your plan, going to the world in Your name. Amen.

I’m traveling for family reunion the next few days so posts will be in compact mode until Tuesday. Have a great weekend!

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

I know you’re thinking “didn’t we do this passage yesterday?” Indeed we did, the app I use as a tool (bible.com) has started a weekend pattern of covering different verses of the same lesson on consecutive days. It helps us to focus more on the teaching, and I always try to post from a different translation or version each day. This morning I’m struck by Paul’s statement “it keeps no record of wrongs” and how freeing it would be to live that way. It doesn’t mean we won’t be wronged but if we give the pain to God and go on as Jesus taught us, we can live without the burden of remembering the hurt. This may not make sense in our “eye for an eye” world, but it is the only way to follow Jesus to salvation.

Loving Lord, You warned that we would meet opposition as Your children in the world. Help us to live as Christ has shown us, forgiving as You first forgave us. Amen.

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

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I have probably read Paul’s lesson on love from Corinthians 13 at most of the weddings I’ve officiated. It is a wonderful statement of how real love works, as opposed to selfishness. This kind of love is necessary for a deep and sustaining relationship.

John writes “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8), reminding us we only know what love is because God gave it to us first. We were created in and through His love and it should infuse everything we do. Love is the fuel for all our efforts in His name.

God wants us to know and share His love in our world. It was the example Jesus gave us and the call He places on our lives. Using the gifts we have been given and the energy His love provides, we can share the Good News everywhere.

Gracious God, You sent Your son to save us from our sin. Help us to help others find their way to You for healing and restoration. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Timothy 3:15-17.

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Paul writes to his friend and pupil Timothy, reminding him (and us) that the Scriptures are more than just good words. He says “they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.” Scripture has been given to us by our loving Lord that we might know Him and His plan for us.

God has breathed life into us and His word. The English term “inspiration” means both mental stimulation and to breathe in. This is a wonderful definition that speaks to both our thoughts and our lives. When we breathe in God’s word we make it part of our lives and our lives can become part of His plan for creation.

Paul tells us that Scripture “is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives”. It is a record of God’s interaction with His people. Scripture allows us to learn what God intends for us and what is necessary to follow the example Jesus has set.

Gracious God, You created us in love and gave us Your word that we might know You and live in harmony with one another. Bless us to share Your word with all Your children. Amen. 

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 31:23-24.

Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

We continue our study of the command to “be strong and courageous”, this time in a psalm of King David. He faced many personal challenges and as God’s chosen ruler for Israel he had to deal with much more. While he was not perfect, he was repentant of his sin and continued to follow the Lord in faith.

Later Paul would write to his friend and helper Timothy “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). Here is encouragement for the faithful and strength to carry on the work Jesus has given us. He told us it wouldn’t be easy and there would be worldly opposition, but He promised to always be with us as we go.

Things won’t always go our way, but we need to be aware that God is always in control no matter what a mess we make in the world He has given us. He sends us to share His love with everyone regardless of the situation. May we be strong and courageous in his service.

Gracious God, You have called us to be part of what You are doing in creation. Help us to go in faith to spread the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Chronicles 15:5-7.

During those dark times, it was not safe to travel. Problems troubled the people of every land. Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God was troubling them with every kind of problem. But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.

God has told us time and again to be strong and courageous in our work for His kingdom. Moses received this command and shared it with God’s people (Deuteronomy 31:6-7). God declared it to Joshua (Joshua 1:9). In today’s passage God again tells His people to be brave in the face of their troubles.

In addition to being strong and courageous, we are told numerous times to “fear not”. We read this in Isaiah 41:10, as God prepares His children for the ordeal of the Babylonian invasion and their eventual return to rebuild the temple. Perhaps the best known of the “fear not” passages is Luke 2:10 as the angels comfort the shepherds and announce God’s presence among us.

We are able to be strong and courageous and fear not because the Lord is with us! God is always present when we invite Him into our lives. Jesus promised us “another comforter” after His return to the Father (John 14:16). We stand in His strength, not our own, to be the people He has called us to be.

Gracious God, we are weak but You are strong. Bless us to go to share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

Paul’s lesson in this passage to the Thessalonians teaches a peaceful and self supporting way of life, setting an example for others. Being a follower of Jesus means being aware of our needs and those of others, helping as God gives us the opportunity. We are responsible for ourselves, but we must also be ready to assist those who truly need our help.

Paul was a tent maker and often supported himself by plying his trade so as not to be a burden to those he visited. Many others gave to his ministry, and through this he gathered a gift for those who were suffering persecution and poverty in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1). Caring for others was a key teaching from Jesus Himself.

In Genesis 4:9 Cain asks sarcastically “am I my brother’s keeper?” The answer from God is a resounding “YES!” We are all charged to watch over our brothers and sisters in love. God has blessed us to be able to care for each other as His children, made in His image and sent to share His gifts with everyone.

Loving Lord, You created a beautiful world for us and gave us what we need to live in harmony. Help us to see when others fall below society’s radar and bring Your love and care where it is needed. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 15:56-58.

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Paul reminds the Corinthians (and us) that “sin is the sting that results in death”, a stark warning that we are susceptible to the earthly temptations we encounter. Jesus came to bear the burden of our sin and free us from death. All we need to do is accept His gift and follow in faith.

Unfortunately, we often make it difficult for ourselves, straying from His path into the danger of sin. Paul says we must be “strong and immovable”, putting our faith in Jesus and not the worldly things that so attract us. Nothing we make ourselves can be eternal.

Paul encourages us to “work enthusiastically for the Lord” because our works in Him do have eternal meaning. God can use even our most feeble efforts to accomplish wonderful things. By dedicating ourselves to the work of God’s love, we can be part of His plan of salvation for all.

Loving Lord, You have gifted us with Your spirit and called us to go in Your name. Bless us to be full of Your strength and love and to share them with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Timothy 1:6-8.

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.

Think of someone who has nurtured your faith and mentored you over the years. How important have those lessons been and how would your life be different without them? Those who have taught us have passed on their knowledge of God and their relationship with Him that we might be part of God’s plan.

Jesus gathered a group of people to Himself in order to pass on the Good News of salvation. After He ascended to the Father it was up to them to share the Gospel with the world. Through His strength and the presence of the Holy Spirit, missionaries like Paul and Timothy were called to go to far flung and often dangerous places.

Now think of someone you could nurture and mentor in faith. This is part of our call from Jesus, to love God, love neighbor and make disciples. We must pass on the precious gift we have been given, ensuring that those who follow are blessed to continue the work Christ has laid out for us.

Gracious God, in Your love You sent Jesus to teach us how to return to You individually and to share that love with everyone. Strengthen us in faith to go in Your name. Amen.