VERSE OF THE DAY:
JOHN 20:21
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, Even so I am sending you."
PEACE BE WITH YOU
when Jesus appears to His disciples after the resurrection, He doesn't waste time. His first words are, "Peace be with you," and then, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." This moment is the starting line of the Christian mission.
Jesus doesn't just bring a message of peace, He brings the presence and purpose of God. Just as the Father sent Him into the world to bring light, love and truth, He now send us to do the same.
You may feel unqualified, unsure, or like you don't fit the mold of what a "witness" should be. But this verse remind us that Jesus doesn't ask for perfection. He asks for participation.
Wherever you are, whatever your background, your story matters. Your voice, your culture, your language, God wants to use it. Jesus sends you not alone, but with His peace and His Spirit.
So go. In your own way, With your own words, into your own neighborhood, You've been sent.
Jesus, thank You for calling me by name and sending me in Your name. I want to confidently follow You, but sometimes, I struggle to see myself the way You see me. When I get overwhelmed by my insecurities, remind me that I belong to You. Fill me with Your peace so that I can joyfully and boldly go wherever you send me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
PSALM 145:9
The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made
Think back on the last few months. Where have you seen God's goodness? Use this question to enter into a time of worship and reflection.
JAMES 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
re-read this verse, Is there anything you're enduring right now that God might be using for His glory and your good? Share any concerns or struggles that come to mind with your Savior.
Father God, today I want to focus on You alone. Please show me what it means to delight in You and to do Your will. Deepen my love for You so that my desire to obey You grows stronger. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Nothing is impossible for God. As you process today's prayer time, give yourself permission to sit with questions you may not have answers for yet. Talking with God is an ongoing journey- and this is only the beginning.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
PSALMS 13-15
ACTS 19:21-41
HOW LONG O LORD?
How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
Consider and answer me O Lord my God, light up my eyes, lest I sleep of death.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
THE FOOL SAYS THERE IS NO GOD
the Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
God is with the generation of the righteous. The Lord is his refuge. When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
WHO SHALL DWELL ON YOUR HOLY HILL?
O Lord, who shall sojourn on your tent? He who walks blamelessly and does what it right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with this tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor take up reproach against his friend. He honors those who fear the Lord, He swears to his own hurt and does not change, he does not put his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
A RIOT AT EPHESUS
Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, Demetrius, a silversmith, gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus
LUKE 22:28-34
WHO IS THE GREATEST?
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
JESUS FORETELLS PETER'S DENIAL
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
INSIGHT
Satan had to ask Christ for permission to test Peter and was permitted to sift him “as wheat” (Luke 22:31). This would entail forceful shaking, but Satan wasn’t allowed to destroy Peter. On the contrary, this sifting would remove the chaff from his life. This is reminiscent of Satan asking for God’s permission to test Job (Job 1:9-12; 2:3-6) and Job affirming that “when [God] has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (23:10).
Jesus’ sovereignty is evident in His prayers that Peter’s faith wouldn’t fail (Luke 22:32). His courage failed, however, as he denied knowing Christ three times (vv. 54-62). But though he momentarily faltered, his faith didn’t fail. Jesus’ prayer that Peter would turn back to strengthen his brothers (v. 32) was fulfilled when he repented (v. 62). He was later restored and commissioned by Christ to pastoral ministry (John 21:15-17). We can be encouraged when we remember that Christ also prays for us.
By: K.T. Sim
THE PRAYERS OF JESUS
Jesus, how are You praying for me? I’d never thought to ask that question until my friend Lou shared the experience of his heart-cry to Christ when he was faced with a situation that required more wisdom and strength than he was able to muster. Hearing him voice that noteworthy question in prayer has helped me add a fresh dimension to my understanding and practice of prayer.
In Luke 22, there was no mystery as to how Jesus was praying for Simon Peter: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (vv. 31-32). When Peter was battered through trial, his faith flickered. But because of Christ’s grace, it didn’t fail.
The book of Acts tells us how Jesus’ prayers for Peter—His eager but weak disciple—were answered. God used him to preach the good news about Christ to Jews and gentiles alike. And Jesus’ prayer ministry hasn’t ended. Paul reminds us that “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). When you find yourself in the throes of trial or temptation, remember that Jesus, who prayed for His disciples, remains in prayer for those who have believed their message about Him (see John 17:13-20).
By: Arthur Jackson
REFLECT AND PRAY
How does remembering that Jesus is praying for you affect how you pray? In view of His prayer ministry, how might you live and serve differently?
Dear Jesus, thank You for Your prayers on my behalf. Please help me to pray and live with this awareness, In Jesus' name, Amen.
WISDOM FOR PEACEMAKING
God’s thoughts are not your thoughts. Our thoughts can be focused on the “what ifs,” but God’s thoughts are sure. Our thoughts focus on others and their sins, while God’s thoughts focus on us through his Son, Jesus. God’s ways are not my ways. God is holy; I am sinful. God is righteous; I am unrighteous. The only thing that will change this is what Jesus Christ has done. Jesus takes our sinfulness and redeems us at the cross.
We are to seek the Lord while he may be found. He is near, so call on him. God abundantly wants to pardon you. His word will produce growth. He is a God who is powerful, accomplishes, and succeeds. He is amazing!
APPLICATION
In your relationship with God, are God’s ways different from yours? What are God’s thoughts about you, your situation, your conflict? You may believe he doesn’t think about your situation, but he is here to speak into your life and your relationships. He is a God who sows into our lives. He accomplishes what he has purposed to do.
God, you are so above me in all your thoughts and ways. Thank you for accomplishing your will in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
ISAIAH 55:6-11
“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
