Jesus at Feast of Dedication

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Wednesday August 21, 2024}

John 10:22-39

Father, I don't want to be known as a "man of God" because I say spiritual things. I want to be known as a "man of God" because I do the things You want me to do. I want my fingers, hands, arms, feet, and legs to tell of my faith in Jesus Christ. I want to be a man who puts Your commands into practice and touches lives for Christ. Father, thank You for calling me to salvation. Thank You for knowing who I am intimately. Thank You for being my Good Shepherd, continuously protecting me from harm. Thank You for the eternal life that I have received because You chose me for faith and then Your Son revealed Himself to me and helped me to understand my need for the gospel. Amen.
Father, the Jewish people revolted against the Seleucids (the Greeks) in the year 167 BC. The Seleucids had desecrated the temple. The successful revolt, led by fighters associated with Judah Maccabees, recaptured Jerusalem, and rededicated the t......READ MORE.

Jesus Teaches Disciples How to Pray

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Tuesday August 20, 2024}

Luke 11:1-13

Father, there is always room for growth in my prayer life. Please teach me how to pray, not just by reading Your Word, but also by the work of the Holy Spirit who transforms my character. May my prayers reflect that I am an adopted child of Yours. May my prayers reflect that I am Your servant, contributing to the building of the Kingdom of God.  May my prayers reflect that I trust in Your daily provision, protection, and direction. May my prayers reflect that I am humble before You, confessing my sin, and surrendering my life to You. May my prayers be a pouring out to You for help to fight off temptation. Father, please make me bold, coming before You in prayer about my daily needs, things that confuse me, and my desire to know You. Father, thank You because I know that every answer to my prayer is for my good. Amen.
Father, the text tells us that Jesus was one day praying in a certain place. Where He was praying was not important. How......READ MORE.

Jesus Visits Mary and Martha in Bethany

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Monday August 19, 2024}

Luke 10:38-42

Father, change my heart so that nothing is as important to me as my personal relationship with Jesus. Please make everything else in my life pale in comparison to Him. I want Jesus to consume my thoughts 24/7. I want to live to serve Him and long to please Him. Father, mesmerize me with Jesus so that my thoughts and feelings are completely consumed by honoring and glorifying Him. Amen.
In this passage we read that Jesus met two women named Mary and Martha. John 11:1 tells us that the women lived in the village of Bethany and that they were related to Lazarus. Bethany was a southeastern suburb of Jerusalem that was less than an hour away from the city by foot. Jesus entered Bethany and was welcomed by Martha into the home she shared with her sister Mary.
How did these two women make a connection with Jesus? While the text doesn’t answer that question, we can speculate.

......READ MORE.

Jesus Teaches The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Sunday August 18, 2024}

Luke 10:25-37

Father, please forgive me for any attitude within me that may hate another person or a group of people. Please forgive me for hating my enemy. Father, help me to love others so much that I continuously sacrifice convenience, time, and money until the person in need is back on their feet. Please help me to love my enemies just like You do. Amen.
Father, Luke begins this passage with the phrase “on one occasion”. He does not define the timing or the setting for the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus could have shared this parable at any point in His three year ministry and He could have been as far northwest as Sidon or as far southeast as the Perea.
However, I believe we can pinpoint the telling of this parable to Jesus’ move south from Galilee towards Jerusalem for His death and resurrection. As has been recently discussed, Jesus had recently encountered resistance from the Samaritan people. The disciples responded......READ MORE.

People of Galilee Rebuked for Their Unbelief

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Saturday August 17, 2024}

Matthew 11:20-30, Luke 10:12-24

Father, it is my human nature to rebel from You. It is my human nature to reject Your ways and the gospel itself. I ask that You not pronounce judgement upon me. Instead, I ask that You have mercy on me. I am but a humble child who knows I am nothing before You and I cannot save myself. I hear Your call to salvation, and I come to You on my knees asking for mercy. I have learned from the trials of life that I am not my own god. I need You to be my God. Please save me through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I am confident that the work He will call me to do will be blessed as I surrender my heart to Him. Amen.
Father, Jesus had just instructed His disciples that they are to shake the dust off their sandals of a town that has rejected the gospel message. It is a warning that those who reject the gospel will be rejected by You. Their fate will be more severe than the occupants of Sodom who died in the sulfur ......READ MORE.