Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is 1 John 3:16 (NLT).

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Most people are familiar with the Gospel of John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…”. However, The First Letter of John 3:16 gives us another look at the fact that Jesus “gave up His life for us.” We know of course that He died on the cross for us, but that was only part of His sacrifice for us.

Jesus gave up His life in Heaven to come to earth to be with us. Jesus gave up a life with His earthly family to accomplish the mission God gave Him. Jesus came to share God’s love and left us with the commission to carry on His work, telling everyone what He has done for us.

When we read “So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters” it reminds us that we are called to make the same sacrifices that Jesus did on a daily basis. Does this mean physically dying for our brothers and sisters? It can, as we see in the martyrs throughout history who faced death rather than deny their faith. More often it means laying down our daily burdens and distractions to show God’s love to one another in ways that bless us both.

Loving Lord, we are often so wrapped up in our own lives that we ignore the needs of others. Help us to see past our own issues and feelings to truly love one another as You have taught us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 13:34-35 (NLT).

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Jesus says He is giving us a new commandment, to love one another. That part is not new, going back as far as the time of the Exodus: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:18). However, He adds to this “as I have loved you”. 

While this doesn’t change the intent of the commandment, it amplifies the response expected of us. To love one another as Jesus has loved us is a huge thing. It means not merely tolerating each other and avoiding open conflict, but to make ourselves aware of what is going on in the lives of our brothers and sisters.

Christian author Brennan Manning writes “we must discover why our enemy cries.” If we are to love one another as He first loved us, we must be aware of the needs and fears each other face. This sharing is what builds a community that loves God and each other as Jesus taught us.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You made a way for us to be saved through Your Son. Help us to see all Your children as family and love them the way Jesus showed us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 22:36-40 (NLT).

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

While those who asked this question had a devious purpose (trying to trap Jesus by His response), He turned the situation around on them and taught them about priorities. Loving God is the most important thing and loving each other right behind it. Bishop Scott Jones used to call this “keeping the main thing the main thing”, something humans are not always careful about.

Christian author Brennan Manning says we become like the Pharisees who questioned Jesus when we “make the secondary primary and the primary secondary.” Following the rules without love for God or one another does not enrich our spirit or bring us closer to salvation. Without love, the rules are merely checklists to complete.

If we concentrate on loving and sharing God’s word, we can avoid the lure of worldly things that lead us astray. My faith phrase is “love God, love neighbor, make disciples”, a combination of the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission. We need to focus on what is important and not be distracted from our call.

Loving Lord, help us to see what is truly important in Your kingdom, our connection to You and each other. Bless us to be energetic disciples, sharing Your love and light with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 3:34-35 (NLT).

For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands.

John’s gospel speaks often of God’s love for us, expressed through the gift of His Son. In this passage we read that Jesus is on a mission, sent by God to show us how to live in Him and love one another. The spirit Jesus promises us has been given to Him by God “without limit”.

The fact that God “has put everything into His hands” is shared by Jesus Himself after His resurrection: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). He commissions us to go in His name to continue the work He has begun. In John 20:21 He tells us “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

Jesus wouldn’t send us to do something we can’t accomplish. We are to work together using the gift of His presence through the Holy Spirit. He promises us “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26). Together in His spirit, we can share the love that brought Him to us.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we let our temporary concerns interfere with our eternal work. May we carry the Good News of salvation to all the earth. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 5:8-9 (NLT).

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

Sometimes I find it hard to comprehend Christ’s love for us in being a willing sacrifice for our sin. The very Word of God came in human form to show us His love and to die as we do in order to offer us eternal life. We may hear of someone sacrificing themselves for a good cause, but Jesus came “to die for us while we were still sinners.”

Christian authors Tim Augustyn and Colin Smith share this explanation: “God said “I’ll be the giver”, the Son said “I’ll be the gift” and the Spirit said “I’ll bring the gift to all people.”” This connection is essential to our understanding. God made a sacrifice for us and it was Himself.

In Hebrews 9:28 we read “so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” This is where we often miss out! Are we eagerly waiting for Him? May we anticipate His coming during this season of Advent and every day afterward until He returns.

Heavenly Father, we are amazed at what You are willing to do for us, even in our fallen state. Forgive us and send us to share this awesome love with all your children everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 John 4:16-17 (NLT).

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

Throughout the letters of John we hear of God’s love for us and our blessing to live in His love and share it with the world. The New Bible Commentary calls this a “mutual indwelling”, that we live in God and He lives in us. This connection is the result of accepting Jesus as our Savior and our call to “live like Jesus here in this world.”

How do we live out His example for us? First, we must remember that our discipleship may not be easy. Jesus warned “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first” (John 15:18). The world wants its own way, in spite of the love and care Jesus has to offer. We must give the resistant world our love just as He does.

The love God sends is available to all His children, and we are called to be an active part of the kingdom work. We aren’t required to be great orators or prolific authors, just God’s beloved children sharing His love in our everyday interactions. Each of us have the capability and responsibility to carry the Good News everywhere.

Loving Lord, we are amazed that You love us so much and want us to share Your love. Bless us to go in Your name, living out the love by which we were created and giving it away to all Your children.  Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 11:25-26 (NLT).

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Jesus taught to large crowds and smaller groups of followers, but He also spoke personally to individuals. John 3:1-21 tells us of a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus the Pharisee.  We read of His discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:5-30. In this passage Jesus speaks personally with His friend Martha.

Jesus says to her (and us) “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” This is His promise of eternal life for all who repent and accept Him as their savior. We can all be part of His kingdom and know the joy of bringing the Good News to the world.

I’d like you to do an exercise today. Read the verses again, and at the end, insert your own name – “Do you believe this, Doug?” Jesus wants to reach all God’s children as individuals and we must have a personal relationship with Him to truly know and share His love.

Gracious God, You sent Your Son to save everyone, each one of us individually. Help us to see all our brothers and sisters as people You love, each a unique person. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 6:33-35 (NLT).

“The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

There is much for us to learn in this passage. It follows John’s account of feeding the 5000, the only miracle of Jesus recorded in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:31–44, Luke 9:12–17, John 6:1–14). It also contains the first of seven “I am” statements by Jesus in this Gospel: bread of life (6:35), the light of the world (8:12), the door (10:7), the good shepherd (10:11, 14), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the way, the truth and the life (14:6) and the true vine (15:1).

Jesus feeding the people physically and then teaching them the spiritual connection is essential here. In Exodus 16 God provided manna in the wilderness to meet their physical needs, and led them by His Spirit. Jesus says God has sent Him as the bread of life to feed our spirits eternally.

In Exodus 3:14, God called Himself “I AM”. The faithful would recognize the connection between that scripture and the I am statements of Jesus. We can see Jesus as the “new manna”, God’s eternal provision for those who come to Him in repentance.

Loving Lord, we come to You in our brokenness seeking Your sustenance and care. Forgive us and bless us to share that sustenance and care with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 6:20-21 (NLT).

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Jesus speaks to us here regarding possessions and priorities. He addresses the human obsession with things that are only temporary, and that if you “store your treasures in heaven”, they can’t be taken away. As the Erdmans Companion to the Bible puts it “wealth keeps the heart earthbound.”

Jesus doesn’t say wealth is inherently bad, but He warns that how we obtain and use wealth matters in God’s kingdom. Our focus is also important. If we make wealth the center of our lives, it diminishes our relationship with God and others.

We must reject the selfishness that leads us to value things, rather than our brothers and sisters. Generosity is a gift from God, allowing us to see the needs of others and meet them with the resources we have been given. When we put our treasures in heaven, we are blessed to be part of His kingdom work.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we let earthly things distract us from what is truly important. Help us to share our blessings and show the world Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NLT).

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 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.

Paul reminds us that the Law is a guide to our relationship with God and one another. However, we have made it a tool for control and a weapon. As long as there was sin under the Law, there were people willing to use it improperly, which is a sin in itself.

In Romans 6:14 we read “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the Law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” Jesus came as the once and forever sacrifice to break the power of sin. We can accept His saving grace and be washed clean.

This doesn’t mean there are no rules. We need to remember what Jesus taught Matthew 5:17, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love, His Word given to guard and guide us eternally.

Loving Lord, in Your mercy You sent Your Son to cancel the power of sin and death. Bless us to live in Your light and love, carrying the Good News to the world. Amen.