Month: August 2024

Christ Models Glorifying Father

Christ’s claim draw the attention
of more than the hungry and sick.
The Pharisees, religious leaders
concerned about status quo,
respond with angry resistance.
But how do you refute a Man
who preaches that He is the
Light of the World, then proves
it by giving sight to the blind?…
who claims He is the Resurrection,
then validates that claim by raising
a man from the dead. The choice
is clear: Either believe Him or seek
to silence Him once and for all.

Lord, we will Live for Your Glory:
Jesus replied: the time has come
for the Son of Man to enter into
His Glory… Those who love their life
in this world will lose it. Those who
care nothing for their life in this
world will keep it (John 12:23-25)
All those who want to be my
disciples must follow me because
my servants must be where I am.
And if they follow me, the Father
will honour them. Now my soul
is deeply troubled. Should I pray:
Father, save me from what lies
ahead? But that is the very reason
why I came! Father, bring Glory
to Your name (v26-28). Amen.

Lord, we ask You to begin a lifetime
of sanctifying work in our children.
Let the years of their youth not be
preoccupied with earthly things.
Instead make them be fruitful years
that generate harvest in Yr kingdom.
And give me the power we need
to put to death anything that keeps
us from being fruitful for Yr kingdom.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, grant us the grace to be
immersed in the love of Christ
and to live more purposefully.
Help us learn to lead fruitful lives
spent in loving others so that
they may know the Saviour.
Help us Lord to stay close to You;
to worship and praise You; and
bring glory to God’s name. Amen.

Lord, may my desire & motivation
be that Your name be Glorified in
every trial & situation I may go thru.
Keep my mind and heart focused
on Jesus’ example and committed
to what God wants to accomplish
in my life. Holy Spirit, please give
me grace to live wholeheartedly
for the Glory of God’s name, Amen.

Christ Assures Resurrection Life

Christ’s claim draw the attention
of more than the hungry and sick.
The Pharisees, religious leaders
concerned about status quo,
respond with angry resistance.
But how do you refute a Man
who preaches that He is the
Light of the World, then proves
it by giving sight to the blind?
who claims He is the Resurrection
then validates that claim by raising
a man from the dead. The choice
is either believe Him or silence Him.

Lord, we Wait In Persistent Faith:
Although Jesus loved Martha,
Mary & Lazarus, He Stayed where
He was for the next two days and
did Not Go to them. Finally after
two days, He said to His disciples:
Let’s Go to Judea again (Jn 11:5-7)
Jesus told (Martha): I am the
Resurrection & the life. Anyone who
believes in me will live, even after
dying. Everyone who lives in me and
believes in me will never die(v25-26)
Jesus said to Martha: If you would
believe you would see the glory of
God. Then Jesus looked up and said:
Father, I thank You that You have
Heard me… I said this for the benefit
of the pple standing here that they
may believe that You sent me(41-42)

Lord, help me persist to Wait for You
in Hope and Perseverance, knowing
that You will be coming. Remind me
Lord of Lazarus that Your plan did
not suffer because of Your delay.
For the delay was part of Your
plan so that Your power would be
demonstrated in a greater way.
Grant me Lord patience and faith
in the waiting rooms of life. Amen.

Lord, I do believe in Your Word and
help me believe in the long waiting.
Help me respond in way that reflects
genuine belief in Resurrection life.
Give me Lord the grace I need
to wait in confident hope and not
as those who have no eternal hope.
And praise You Lord for triumphing
over the grave and thank You that
I do not have to live in fear. Amen.

Father God, I thank You that I am
Your child and joint heir with Christ.
Because of that, I can trust that
You will always Hear my prayers.
Help me to maintain ongoing
communication with You, just
like Jesus did, so that I may have
an abiding walk with You and
You will be glorified by my life.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Saviour like the Shepherd Lead Us

We don’t know who wrote the words
to Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.
It appeared in a children’s hymnal
compiled by Dorothy Thrupp in 1836
But it is clear the wording was
inspired by John 10, where Jesus
says: I am the good shepherd.
And we know the music was by
William Bradbury, a gifted music
student in Boston. After finishing
school, Bradbury moved to New
York where he worked as a church
musician focussing children’s music.
He intended Savior Like a Shepherd
Lead Us to be a children’s hymn, but
it turned out adults enjoyed it too.

Lord, we’ll Hear & Follow You:
A Shepherd enters through the gate.
He Calls His own sheep by name
and leads them out… He walks
ahead of them, and they Follow
Him because they recognise
His voice (John 10:2-4).
I have come that they may
Have Life and have it to the Full.
I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd gives
His life for the sheep (v10-11).
I am the good shepherd; I know
my own sheep, and they know me,
just as my Father knows me and
I know the Father. So I sacrifice
my life for the sheep (v10:14-15).

Lord Jesus, Thank You for
being my good shepherd and
making me one of Your sheep.
Thank You for caring for me by
providing, guiding & protecting me.
What a privilege to belong to You;
You Call me by name and speak
to my heart. With all the voices
in the world, quieten my mind
and heart so that I will recognise
Your Voice and Follow You. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You did not come
just to forgive our past deeds and
offer us hope of heavenly glory.
You came to give us full satisfying,
meaningful and abundant life.
Forgive me Lord when I am too
preoccupied with earthly things.
Help me to seek You, pursue things
eternal and further Your kingdom,
for You’ll Provide my needs. Amen.

Lord Jesus, I am so blessed that
You are my caring Shepherd and
because of that I can fear no evil.
For You Lord have promised
to provide, lead and protect me.
Though evil may come, it has no
power over me for I am Safe in You.
Keep me trusting You; and help me
to stay close to You and not worry,
for You’re Watching over me. Amen.

Christ Shows the Power of God

Christ’s claim draw the attention
of more than the hungry and sick.
The scribes, Pharisees, religious
leaders concerned about status
quo, respond with angry resistance.
But how do you refute a Man
who preaches that He is the
Light of the World, then proves
it by giving sight to the blind?…
who claims He is the resurrection,
then validates that claim by raising
a man from the dead. The choice
is clear: Either believe Him or seek
to silence Him once and for all.

Lord, we yearn to see Your Power:
As Jesus was walking along,
He saw a man who had been
blind from birth. Rabbi, his disciples
asked him: Why was this man
born blind? Was it because of
his own sins or his parents’ sins?
It was not because of his sins or
his parents’ sins, Jesus answered.
This happened so the power of God
could be seen in him (John 9:1-3)
We must quickly carry out the
tasks assigned us… The night
is coming, and then no one
can work. While I am in the world,
I am the light of the world (v4-5).
Jesus spit on the ground, made
some mud… and put it on the
man’s eyes. Go, he told him,
wash in the pool of Shilom…
So the man went and washed,
and came home seeing (v6-7).

Lord, we long for Your power
to be put on display in our lives.
Give sight where we are blind;
give life where there is deadness
and bring to reality the dreams
and hopes that yet to come true.
Lord, put your power on display
in my brothers and sisters’ life
with the fruit of Your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Lord, because we’ve been united
to Christ by faith, we never need to
think God will punish us for our sin.
For the punishment for rebellion
had already been laid on Jesus.
Although our loving Father may
discipline to make us more holy,
He won’t punish us to make us pay.
Grateful Lord for Your goodness
and word of assurance. Amen.

Lord, we realise You may allow
suffering to teach us about faith
and glorify God through healing.
Help us not look for scapegoats;
but instead look for ways to help
those who are suffering and
also to learn from their suffering.
Help us not ask: Why this happen;
but instead ask God for strength
for the trial and rely on Him. Amen.

Christ the Light Sets Us Free

Backgrounder on John 6-8:
Early in His ministry, Christ issues
a challenge: Search the scriptures
for they testify of me (Jn 5:39).
Now His public declarations and
miraculous demonstrations serve
to confirm what the OT said of Him.
Using Jewish feast days as public
forum, Jesus declares Himself
to be the Bread of Life (6:35),
the Forgiver of Sins (8:11) and
the Light of the World (8:12).

Lord, Your Light Sets Us Free:
Jesus said: I am the Light of
the world. If you Follow me,
you won’t have to walk in darkness
because you will have
the Light that leads to life…
for I know where I came from
and where I am going (Jn 8:12-14)
To the Jews who had believed
Him, Jesus said: If you Hold
to my teaching, you are really
my disciples. Then you will
know the truth, and the truth
will set you Free (v31-32).
Whoever commits and
practices sin is the slave of sin…
So if the Son sets you free,
you will be free indeed (v34-36).

Father God, thanks for sending
Your light in Jesus, for lighting
up our difficult situations we face.
Though God has not promised
joy without sorrow or peace
without pain; He has promised rest
for the labour and light for the day.
And grant that we will Be Bearers
of Your light and so bring hope
and encouragement to someone
who needs You this day. Amen.

Lord, thanks for being the Light
for we live in a dark world & there
are so many confusing voices.
Help me Lord not merely to live in
the light of Your truth, but rather
to know You more and more.
Help me to recognise Your light,
fill me with the truth to guide me,
and teach me live by the light of
Your Presence. In Jesus’ name.

Lord Jesus, this is an amazing
truth that I am truly Free in You.
Free from not only sin’s grave
penalty and terrible power but
also free from guilt and shame.
I am free not to live as I want,
but free to live as You desire; for
You have set us free to obey You.
Teach me to believe I am most free
when living as Yr servant & help me
better understand Yr grace. Amen.

Christ the Source of Living Water

Early in His ministry, Christ issues
a challenge: Search the scriptures
for they testify of me (Jn 5:39).
Now His public declarations and
miraculous demonstrations serve
to confirm what the Old Testament
said would be true of Him. Using
the Jewish feast days as public
forum, Jesus declares Himself
as the Bread of Life (6:35),
the Sent One of God (7:28),
the Forgiver of Sins (8:11) and
the Light of the World (8:12).

Lord, You are our Source of Joy:
On the last day, the climax of the
festival, Jesus stood and shouted
to the crowds: If you are thirsty,
come and drink! For the Scriptures
declare the rivers of living
water will flow out from within.
When He said living water
He was speaking of the Spirit,
who would be given to everyone
believing in Him (John 7:37-39).
Therefore many from the crowd,
when they heard this saying, said:
Truly this is the Prophet. Others
said: This is the Christ (v40-41).

Father God, we remember and
echo Jacob’s words: I will not
let You go until You bless me.
Lord, You honour persistence and
our thirst will not let us settle for
a mediocre spiritual experience.
May the river of living water
flow freely in us so that we will
experience fully the joy that is
unspeakable. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord Jesus, we’ve received not only
Your salvation but also the promise
of Your Spirit poured to each of us.
You are our spiritual thirst quencher,
offering not just one-off drink but an
unending spring to meet our longing.
Lord, even as we believe in You,
we will never thirst again. And
even as Your life flow through us,
let it fill us with deepest joy. Amen.

Holy Spirit, flow through me like
a rushing river, filling me with
dreams and ideas from Your heart.
I want more than trickles of peace;
I want torrents of joy from You.
Help me Lord discern the difference
between my thoughts and Yours.
Let me not get stuck in trying to
analyse things; instead grant me
Lord the faith to believe. Amen.

Christ Given for God So Loved Us

Jesus’ ministry is not reserved for
the temple or synagogue. At any
time and in all places He is ready
with a word and a healing touch.
Nicodemus comes by night seeking
answers and finds second birth.
Samaritan woman comes seeking
water at the well and leaves to
tell her city about a source of
living water that will never run dry.
The paralytic at the pool finds even
38 years of lameness is no problem
to the miracle-working Son of God.
Jew or Samaritan, religious leader
or religious outcast, Christ Jesus’
compassion knows no bounds.

Lord, we’ll Respond to Your Love:
And as Moses lifted up
the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of Man
be lifted up; that whoever
believes in Him should not perish
but have eternal life (John 3:14-15)
For God so loved the world that
He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him
might be saved (John 3:16-17).

Father, Thank You for loving me
even beyond what I could imagine.
It amazes me that You would love
me even when I didn’t love You.
It amazes me that You Gave Your
Son to pay the ultimate price
so that I could have eternal life.
Grant Your love to flow thru me
so that even more people may
sense Your boundless love. Amen

Lord, thank You for Your grace
and the promise of eternal life:
the abundant life that begins
here on earth. Look forward to
being With You forever in heaven;
a much better place, of eternal
joy and where there’s no tears.
And also be reunited to loved ones
and friends who had gone before.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Jesus, it is hard to comprehend
love so great as Yours. You laid
down Your life so that I can live
forever with You. My response
to Your first loving me is to love
You wholeheartedly in return.
Help me Lord to lay down my life
for You in serving Your purpose
here on earth and thereby also
fulfilling my prepared destiny. Amen

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of the gospel of John
is to prove conclusively that Jesus
is the Son of God and that all who
believe in Him will have eternal life.
He begins as the Word who was
one with God became fresh to take
His message of life to mankind.
Jesus’ compassion has no bounds:
The urgent lack of wine at wedding
celebration turns to abundance.
Nicodemus comes by night seeking
answers and finds second birth.
The Samaritan woman comes
seeking water at the well & leaves
to tell her city about a source of
living water that will never run dry.
The paralytic at the pool finds that
even 38 years of lameness is no
obstacle to the miracle-working
Son of God… And 5,000 were fed!!

On Monday, we learn from John 1
that Word With Us & Reveals Father.
On Tues, we learn from John 2 that
Christ Turns Lack to Abundance.
On Wed, we learn from John 3 that
Christ Given for God So Loved Us.
On Thursday we learn from John 4
that Christ Satisfies Our Longings.
On Friday, we learn from John 5
that Christ Models Following Father.
On Saturday, we learn from Jn 6
that Christ Is The Bread of Life.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Adore You:
For You as the Word Was With Us
& Reveals the Father as well as
as Christ Models Following Father;
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as Christ Turns Lack to Abundance
as well as Satisfies Our Longings;
For You are Worthy of our Praise
as Christ Given for God so Loved us
and that Christ Is the Bread of Life;
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Christ Is The Bread of Life

Early in His ministry, Christ issues
a challenge: Search the scriptures
for they testify of me (Jn 5:39).
Now His public declarations and
miraculous demonstrations serve
to confirm what the Old Testament
said would be true of Him. Using
the Jewish feast days as public
forum, Jesus declares Himself
to be the Bread of Life (6:35),
the Sent One of God (7:28),
the Forgiver of Sins (8:11) and
the Light of the World (8:12).

Lord, we’ll Come to You for Help:
Then Jesus said to them: Most
assuredly I say to you, Moses did
not give you the bread from heaven
but My Father gives you the True
Bread from heaven. For the bread
of God is He who comes down
from heaven and Gives Life to
the world. Then they said to Him:
Lord, gives us this bread always.
Jesus replied: I’m the Bread of Life.
No one who comes to Me will ever
be hungry again. Those who believe
in Me will never thirst (Jn 6:32-35).
And the one who comes to Me,
I will by no means cast out.. No one
can come to Me unless the Father
who sent Me draws him (v37, 44).
Most assuredly I say to you: he who
believes in Me has everlasting life.
I am the Bread of Life (v47-48).

Lord, when anxious over an issue
and I look to myself, I may get
downhearted due to inadequacy.
And when I look to others for
help, I may get disappointed.
But when I look to You Jesus as my
great resource, I’ll get encouraged.
So, I surrender my challenge to You.
Help me Lord shift focus from my
inadequacy to Your sufficiency. For
You’re Bread of Life & All in all. Amen

Lord, forgive me for seeking after
things that will not really satisfy
or fulfill my deepest longings.
Forgive me for focussing on what
You can do for me materially
instead of seeking the True Life
that comes from You. Cause me
to hunger & thirst for You each day.
And let Your Word fill my mind, rule
my heart and guide my way. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You had said
everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved.
Thank You for the promise to hear
and answer our cries for help.
Your rescue may not end up
looking like what I imagine,
but You do promise to deliver.
Grant me Lord the faith to believe
Your word with all my heart. Amen.

Christ Models Following Father 

Jesus’ ministry is not confined at
any time & in all places He is ready
with a word and a healing touch.
Nicodemus comes by night seeking
answers and finds the miracle of
the second birth. The Samaritan
woman comes seeking water
at the well and leaves to tell
her city about a source of living
water that will never run dry.
Jew or Samaritan, religious leader
or religious outcast, Jesus’
compassion knows no bounds.

Lord, we aim to Follow the Father:
The Jews persecuted Jesus and
sought to kill Him because He had
done these things on the Sabbath.
But Jesus answered them, My
Father has been working until now
and I have been working (Jn 5:16-17)
Jesus explained: I tell you the truth,
the Son can do nothing by Himself.
He does only what he sees the
Father doing. Whatever the Father
does, the Son also does. For the
Father loves the Son & shows Him
everything He’s doing (Jn 5:19-20).
And (Father) has given Him authority
to execute judgment also because
He is the Son of Man… (But)
I can of Myself do nothing… I do
not seek My own will but the will
of the Father who sent Me (v27-30)

Lord, Your obedience to God’s
instruction is an inspiration to us.
Imitating You to watch what Father
is doing and then joining Him is
the sincere worship to offer You.
Heighten our spiritual senses
O Lord to recognise where
You are working. And lead us
to aspire to join You in what You
are doing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, I want to turn my gaze from
earthly circumstances over to You.
Let me Lord see the things of
earth through Your eyes and align
myself with Your work around me.
As the evil one will tempt me of sinful pleasures & godless living,
help me to keep focus on devotion
to You God in order to maintain self
control and right conduct. Amen.

Lord Jesus, Your life on earth was
characterised by submission to
Father God. I need to learn of You
and to honour You in my choices.
Help me know the right things to
do in every situation and give me
the motivation and courage to do it.
Help me to grow spiritually and to
further Your kingdom so that I will
be ready for Your return. Amen.