Daily Prayer for November 2
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1–2, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for sending into our lives so much that turns our thoughts to things above and enables us always to look to you. Through Jesus Christ send us what is of heaven. Send what is of heaven into every single life and into the lives of the nations, so that something good may arise and the glory does not go to the Devil but to your Spirit, your heavenly Spirit alone. In their stubbornness people intend to do evil, but you can turn it all to the good. You can change everything. This is our faith. We hope in you, and we want to put our lives in your hands. Bless us with heavenly riches and power. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Jesus and the Future of the Earth Eberhard Arnold To the first Christians, the age to come was anything but otherworldly. Read now The Bruderhof and the State John Huleatt A lawyer reflects on how his Christian community interacts with government. Read now All the Saints, and the Ones They Leave Behind Logan Hoffman Logan Hoffman learns lessons about eternity from Eugene Vodolazkin’s novel Laurus. Read now The Renegade Monk Andrea Grosso Ciponte and Dacia Palmerino Over five hundred years ago, Martin Luther battled for freedom of faith. Read now Should ER Doctors Treat Bodies or People? Abraham M. Nussbaum A first-year medical student takes time to find out who her trauma patients really are, or were. Read now
Today’s Verse – Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. —Hebrews 11:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “I believe, but help my unbelief!” That’s what the father of the boy with convulsions said to Jesus (Mark 9:24). This probably is your prayer at times, too! As we look at the great heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:2-40 — which follows our verse — we know this must have also been their prayer. Their faith wasn’t always perfect. Their trust wasn’t always mature. But they stayed at it; they believed and acted with a relentless assurance that somehow, someway, God would act and deliver based on his faithfulness and their faith. Let’s “hold unswervingly” to our certainty in our God’s faithfulness as we look to the Savior and pray, “I believe, but help my unbelief.” Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Dear God, “I believe, but help my unbelief.” Please mature and empower my faith so my life will be a steadfast and consistent testimony to your presence and grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Trial by Fire
Note from Jesus Dear Friends, Years before Peter wrote his short letter known as 1 Peter to My disciples, he was repeatedly persecuted. He regularly encountered strong opposition from the Sanhedrin, the same Jewish ruling council in Jerusalem that had called for My death. On one of those occasions when the Sanhedrin had threatened Peter and My other apostles, they left rejoicing. Luke described it this way: As they left the council, they weren’t discouraged at all. In fact, they were filled with joy over being considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of His [My] name. And constantly, whether in public, in the temple, or in their homes, they kept teaching and proclaiming Jesus as the Anointed One, the Liberating King. (Acts 5:41-42) Years later, Peter wrote to believers in Asia Minor as they faced the same kind of treatment he had endured. He reminded them to follow the example he set years earlier: [I]f you should suffer for being a Christian, don’t think of it as a disgrace… Praise God that you’re permitted to carry this name. In addition to rejoicing, Peter encouraged these believers facing their own “trial by fire” to do things that would help them in their time of persecution. He called on them to do the following: Stay focused on what is eternally important. Pray. Love each other faithfully. Share hospitality. Use their gifts, whether they were speaking or serving gifts. These gifts enabled them to bless each other and honor the Father. Consider themselves blessed as they rejoiced in suffering for My name, being fully assured that they would share in My coming glory with Me. Remember the Holy Spirit rested upon and lived within them, so they were not alone even in times of suffering. Make sure their suffering was for doing what was right and not what was wrong. Praise God that they wore My name, Jesus, the Anointed One. Be humble before the Father, knowing that He would lift them up at the right time. Share their burdens and cares with the Father because He loved them, cared for them, and longed to help shoulder their hardships. Be disciplined and on guard because the evil one was roaming like a hungry lion looking to devour people. Don’t fear the devil, but resist him using their strong faith knowing that they were not alone in their suffering. Remember that the same Father Who will share His eternal presence with them in glory will also restore, support, strengthen, and establish them in their lives as they await participating in that glorious presence. This list is especially important for all who are facing suffering, trial, and persecution. Not only is it practical, but it is also encouraging. Peter wanted My disciples facing their own “trial by fire” to have a readily available set of strategies to remain faithful. Despite the obvious and painful difficulties they faced, he wanted these disciples to remember that victory and glory awaited them. Near the beginning and the end of his letter, Peter rejoiced because of My victory over sin, death, and hell. He assured his readers that all who sincerely believe in Me will share in My glory. Near the beginning, he said: Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. You are receiving the salvation of your souls as the result of your faith. (1 Peter 1:8-9) You can find his rejoicing near the end of his letter toward the end of the second set of verses below. Verses to Live The following two sets of verses come from chapter 4 and chapter 5 in 1 Peter. The first part of chapter 5 has two exhortations that are related to leadership but are not included here. In those verses, Peter first makes an impassioned call for elders to serve as shepherds of My flock: they are not bosses that lord it over those they lead but are to be loving shepherds (1 Peter 5:1-4). Second, he calls for the younger men to follow the elders’ leadership and to be humble (1 Peter 5:5). Strong leadership is essential always but especially when My people are facing persecution. These words and guidelines today are extraordinarily valuable to help My people know what to do when faced with persecution. I want you to incorporate them into your life as My disciple. We are coming to the end of all things, so be serious and keep your wits about you in order to pray more forcefully. Most of all, love each other steadily and unselfishly, because love makes up for many faults. Show hospitality to each other without complaint. Use whatever gift you’ve received for the good of one another so that you can show yourselves to be good stewards of God’s grace in all its varieties. If you’re called upon to talk, speak as though God put the words in your mouth; if you’re called upon to serve others, serve as though you had the strength of God behind you. In these ways, God may be glorified in all you do through Jesus the Anointed, to Whom belongs glory and power, now and forever. Amen. Dear ones, don’t be surprised when you experience your trial by fire. It is not something strange and unusual, but it is something you should rejoice in. In it you share the Anointed’s sufferings, and you will be that much more joyful when His glory is revealed. If anyone condemns you for following Jesus as the Anointed One, consider yourself blessed. The glorious Spirit of God rests on you. But none of you should ever merit suffering like those who have murdered or stolen, meddled in the affairs of others or done evil things. But if you should suffer for being a Christian, don’t think of it as a disgrace, as it would be if you had done wrong.
Daily Prayer for November 1
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we seek you and your kingdom. We gather to hear your Word so that we may receive strength for our own lives and for all our relationships with others. We want to stand firm, believing that in everything great and small your will is being done and that we may yet experience a new coming of your glory on earth. Then earthly concerns will no longer torment us and wear us out, but heavenly things may surround us and everything become new in accordance with your good, merciful, and perfect will. Amen. Recent articles on Plough All the Saints, and the Ones They Leave Behind Logan Hoffman Logan Hoffman learns lessons about eternity from Eugene Vodolazkin’s novel Laurus. Read now The Renegade Monk Andrea Grosso Ciponte and Dacia Palmerino Over five hundred years ago, Martin Luther battled for freedom of faith. Read now Should ER Doctors Treat Bodies or People? Abraham M. Nussbaum A first-year medical student takes time to find out who her trauma patients really are, or were. Read now Can Making Art Make You a Better Mother? Jess Sweeney A mother of toddlers finds fellow travelers in Catherine Ricketts’s The Mother Artist: Portraits of Ambition, Limitation, and Creativity. Read now Is Tolerance Still a Virtue? Jake Meador When it comes to politics, sometimes you must patiently endure people you disagree with. Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. —1 Corinthians 10:31 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We can quibble over things we feel are important to us, especially when others don’t share our enthusiasm for those things — whether food, holidays, teams, special days, or events. This kind of divisive quarreling often feels more like a sign of our insecurities than as a mark of our sincere desire to honor God and bless others. Paul reminded the Corinthians that they were to do whatever they chose to do based on their commitment to honor the LORD. They were not to do things because others did them and approved them or didn’t do or approve them. We must be careful about judging others for what they do or do not celebrate, eat, drink, or approve. Judging people’s hearts based on external things and controversial matters is dangerous. We need to consider whether we should do something — or not do it — based on honoring the LORD and building up our brothers and sisters in Christ. Whatever we do must have as its goal what Jesus said was most important: Loving and honoring God with all I am and loving my neighbor as I love myself (Matthew 22:37-40). Or, as Paul says elsewhere: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17). My Prayer… Holy and Righteous Father, forgive my foolish and divisive behaviors. Help me avoid them and refuse to get so worked up over controversial and divisive things that I forget to keep my focus on the matters and people that are important to you. May all I do be done based on a conscious and consecrated decision to honor you and bless others through Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Unjust Suffering
Note from Jesus Dear Disciple, Life sometimes is not fair. If you have any doubts about that, just remember what you celebrate when you take part in Communion. My body was pierced and abused. My blood was shed because I was condemned based on the lies, jealousy, and politics of evil men. I was sinless, yet crucified as a heinous criminal. When you face unjust suffering, persecution, harassment, or abuse because you wear My name, remember that I also faced unfair and unjust treatment. If you suffer for doing what is wrong, you are only getting what you deserve. However, if you suffer unjustly and unfairly, people will usually notice. People of faith will be empowered and emboldened. Unbelievers will recognize your holy behavior. Except for the most hardened hearts under hell’s influence, your godly behavior in the face of injustice and unfairness appeals to the hearts of those looking for truth. Don’t be discouraged. Your suffering will neither be wasted nor be forgotten by the Father. In the face of ridicule, harassment, and abuse, your righteous character and gracious compassion will win the hearts of those who witness your life. Some will even want to know what your reason is for having hope in Me. So be ready to give an explanation of your hope in Me. But remember, do this “humbly and respectfully” in a manner consistent with your way of life as My disciple. Your goal is not just to win your case, protect your freedom, and safeguard your rights. Your goal is also to win the hearts of the unbelievers by using the character and compassion of your life. Verses to Live I selected your verses today from 1 Peter chapters 2 and 3. They are connected by the theme of righteous and compassionate behavior while facing unjust suffering. The principles Peter shares in these verses show his maturity and mellowing. I transformed Peter from the arrogant and impetuous apostle who sometimes overstated things into the loving shepherd who faced tough times and wanted to equip others for their tough times. Whether you face persecution, ostracism, injustice, unfairness, or passive-aggressive hostility from those around you, Peter’s words in today’s verses need to grab your heart. I want Peter’s teaching to mold your behavior so that you can be an effective witness for Me. For the Lord’s sake, accept the decrees and laws of all the various human institutions, whether they come from the highest human ruler or agents he sends to punish those who do wrong and to reward those who do well. You see, it is God’s will that by doing what is right and good you should hush the gabbing ignorance of the foolish. Live as those who are free and not as those who use their freedom as a pretext for evil, but live as God’s servants. Respect everyone. Love the community of believers. Reverence God. Honor your ruler. If you are a slave, submit yourself to the master who has authority over you, whether he is kind and gentle or harsh as he deals with you. For grace is clearly at work when a person accepts undeserved pain and suffering and does so because he is mindful of God. For what credit is there in enduring punishment you deserve? But if you do what is right and yet are punished and endure it patiently, God will be pleased with you. For you were called to this kind of life, as Isaiah said, He did no wrong deed, and no evil word came from His mouth. The Anointed One suffered for us and left us His example so that we could follow in His steps. When He was verbally abused, He didn’t return the abuse; when He suffered, He didn’t make threats to cause suffering in return; instead, He trusted that all would be put right by the One Who is just when He judges. (1 Peter 2:13-23) Finally, all of you, be like-minded and show sympathy, love, compassion, and humility to and for each other — not paying back evil with evil or insult with insult, but repaying the bad with a blessing. It was this you were called to do, so that you might inherit a blessing. … Why would anyone harm you if you eagerly do good? Even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you will receive a blessing. Don’t let them frighten you. Don’t be intimidated, but exalt Him as Lord in your heart. Always be ready to offer a defense, humbly and respectfully, when someone asks why you live in hope. Keep your conscience clear so that those who ridicule your good conduct in the Anointed and say bad things about you will be put to shame. For if it is the will of God that you suffer, then it is better to suffer for doing what is right than for doing what is wrong. The Anointed One suffered for sins once for all time — the righteous suffering for the unrighteous — so that He might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3:8-9; 1 Peter 3:13-18) Response in Prayer Holy and compassionate Father, please give me the strength to be gracious as well as faithful in the face of injustice, unfairness, ostracism, and intolerance. I want to demonstrate Your righteous character and Your gracious compassion. I ask You to fill and empower me with the Holy Spirit. I offer myself to You as Your willing servant and witness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
31 Oct 2024
The Lord is seeking vessels of honour He can use to manifest His glory. As we seek Him continuously and remain humble and teachable, He will work in and through us. Philippians 1:3-6.
Daily Prayer for October 31
Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.” When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 118:4–6, NIV Lord our God, dear Father in heaven, we thank you. How often you rescue us from all fear and distress! How often you hear and answer us! Grant that our hearts may always be eager and joyful because you answer us. There is nothing else for us in this world; you are our one hope, our only hope. You alone can help our times, help the nations, help each person. Nothing else matters to us. Lord our God, for the rest of our life on earth you alone are our help, our comfort, and our strength. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Renegade Monk Andrea Grosso Ciponte and Dacia Palmerino Over five hundred years ago, Martin Luther battled for freedom of faith. Read now Should ER Doctors Treat Bodies or People? Abraham M. Nussbaum A first-year medical student takes time to find out who her trauma patients really are, or were. Read now Can Making Art Make You a Better Mother? Jess Sweeney A mother of toddlers finds fellow travelers in Catherine Ricketts’s The Mother Artist: Portraits of Ambition, Limitation, and Creativity. Read now Is Tolerance Still a Virtue? Jake Meador When it comes to politics, sometimes you must patiently endure people you disagree with. Read now When God Intervenes in History Gustavo Gutiérrez The pivotal moment in human history happened in obscurity among people of little importance. Read now
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 10:30
The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. —Proverbs 10:30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… This proverb’s promise to ancient Israel is even truer for those of us who live on this side of Calvary and the empty tomb! As the apostle Paul declared: …our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the LORD Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21). The righteous will never be uprooted from their true homeland, heaven, for no one and no power can steal this promised land from us. Neither can they corrupt it or destroy it! My Prayer… Father, thank you for declaring me righteous because of Jesus’s atoning death and my obedient faith in him. Because of this gift of grace, I know I have been added to your eternal family and your homeland. Please have the Holy Spirit continually transform me to become more and more like him each day. I want to be righteous in all I say, think, and do for your glory as I await my promised home. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Be Holy!
Note from Jesus Dear Holy One, You are a saint! The term means “holy one.” That is what you are because of your redemption purchased with My blood. I have made you a “priest” and part of “a royal order of priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices.” Like “living stones” you are being “assembled” into the holy dwelling place for Us — Father, Son, and Spirit. Being a saint means that you have dedicated and set apart your life to live for the Father’s purpose in your world. I know a common saying in your world is, “I’m no saint!” However, if you have been reborn into My family, if you are truly My disciple, then you are not only a child of the Father, you are also a saint! You are a person living for God’s purposes and seeking to reflect God’s righteous character and gracious compassion in your life. You are part of My holy people who are a “royal order of priests, a holy nation… so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One Who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light.” Don’t downplay what I have made of you. Don’t shortchange the role I have asked you to fulfill in a world of darkness and decay. Peter’s point in the verses below is clear: Be holy! Live up to who you are! “Be holy in all you do” because of Who your Father is: He is holy, so you must reflect that holiness in all that you do. Be holy because you know a great “price was paid to redeem you” from your old life that led to destruction. Your redemption price was paid by My “precious blood” when I offered Myself as the “perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb.” Be holy because you have been reborn through the living and enduring “word of God.” Be holy because “you have tasted and found the Lord to be good.” Be holy because you are part of “a holy order of priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices.” You are being “assembled into a spiritual” temple where We live. Be holy because you are “chosen” and “royal” and because you are designated to be “holy”! As Peter says it, you are “God’s own”! Be holy because “you don’t belong in this world. You are resident aliens living in exile” among people who don’t understand you or appreciate you. However, as they get to know you, as they see your honorable behavior, as they witness your holy life, and as you live obediently to My will, you will be light to their darkness and salt to their decay (Matthew 5:13-16). Your influence upon the world around you will matter. Be holy. Live up to who you are. Be who the Father has made you to be based on your faith and rebirth into Our family. Even if you suffer for your faith, be holy in the face of suffering knowing that your example and sacrifice will influence others to know Me and be ready for My return. Verses to Live The following collection of verses comes from 1 Peter chapters 1 and 2. Peter wrote to folks facing trials and persecutions. He knew their suffering, especially suffering for doing what was right, was unfair. His first answer about how they should deal with their situation, the answer that I shared in My note yesterday, focused on praise. The disciples needed to rejoice in their living hope they had in Me. Today’s verses are Peter’s reminder to them of their new and exalted identity as My people who were purchased by My sacrifice and called to a clear purpose — “so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One Who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light.” Tomorrow’s verses will emphasize that if they were going to suffer, they needed to make sure they suffered for doing what was right and not for doing what was wrong. So get yourselves ready, prepare your minds to act, control yourselves, and look forward in hope as you focus on the grace that comes when Jesus the Anointed returns and is completely revealed to you. Be like obedient children as you put aside the desires you used to pursue when you didn’t know better. Since the One Who called you is holy, be holy in all you do. For the Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.” If you call on the Father Who judges everyone without partiality according to their actions, then you should live in reverence and awe while you live out the days of your exile. You know that a price was paid to redeem you from following the empty ways handed on to you by your ancestors; it was not paid with things that perish (like silver and gold), but with the precious blood of the Anointed, Who was like a perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb. God determined to send Him before the world began, but He came into the world in these last days for your sake. Through Him, you’ve been brought to trust in God, Who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him for the very reason that your faith and hope are in Him. Now that you have taken care to purify your souls through your submission to the truth, you can experience real love for each other. So love each other deeply from a pure heart. You have been reborn — not from seed that eventually dies but from seed that is eternal — through the word of God that lives and endures forever (1 Peter 1:13-23) So get rid of hatefulness and deception, of insincerity and jealousy and slander. Be like newborn babies, crying out for spiritual milk that will help you grow into salvation if you have tasted and found the Lord to be good. Come to Him — the living stone — Who was rejected by people but accepted by