Month: July 2021

Live Worthy of the Gospel

Titus lived on Crete, and worked
among a people who had one of
the worst reputations in the world.
Paul had left Titus to oversee the
church & now writes to encourage
him in that difficult task. To promote
sound teaching and offset false
doctrines, Titus is told to appoint
and train spiritual leaders as elders.
Paul’s short letter is a summary of
Christian doctrine that emphasises
holy living and encourages all
to live worthy of the gospel.

Lord, thank You for teaching us
from Titus that Christians are to
be self-disciplined and orderly.
Help us Lord to live upright lives,
control our speech & live peacefully
with others so that we can be
living examples of our faith in You.
Help us Lead a Godly Lifestyle;
help us Say “No” to Ungodliness &
help us Live Worthily of You. Amen.

Lord, we’ll aspire Godly Lifestyle:
Teach the older men to exercise
self-control, to be worthy of
respect, and to live wisely… and
be filled with love and patience…
Teach the older women to live
in a way that is appropriate
for someone serving the Lord.
They must not go around
speaking evil of others (Tit2:2-5).
Lord, I want to be a person who
with strong faith, love & patience
helps others younger than myself
live godly lives. Since I can do
nothing apart from You, I ask for
Your grace and the power of Your
Holy Spirit to enable me how to be
a shining example who mentors
others in living a life that truly
honours and glorifies You. Amen.

Lord, we’ll Say “No” to Ungodliness:
The grace of God has appeared
that offers salvation to all people.
It teaches us to Say “No” to
Ungodliness & worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled,
upright and godly lives…
looking for the blessed hope and
glorious appearing of our great God
and Saviour Jesus Christ (v11-13).
Lord, help me to Say “No” to
ungodliness and worldly passions.
Help me know the right thing
to do in every situation, and
give me the courage to do it; for
I want to honour You in my choices.
Help me to serve You, to build Your
kingdom and to grow spiritually
so that I’ll be ready for Your return.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we’ll Live Worthily of You:
At one time we too were disobedient
and enslaved by all kinds of passions.
We lived in malice and envy… But
when the kindness and love of God
appeared, He saved us (Tit 3:3-5)
Lord, thank You for recasting my
thoughts into the mold of Yours.
Teach me Lord how to receive
that gracious gift in its fullness.
Make me so moldable that You
can transform my heart fully,
so that it’s thoughts and intents
are reflective of Your life in me.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Knowing God thru His Names

The purpose of the Gospel according
to John is to prove conclusively that
Jesus is the Son of God and all who
believes in Him will have eternal life.
This week we understand God better
thru knowing His attributes, mostly
related to His ability to meet needs.
On Monday, we learn from John 1
about Word Living Among Us.
On Tues, we learn fr John 1/3 about
Lamb of God Enables Eternal Life.
On Wed, we learn from John 4
about Saviour Satisfies Longings.
On Thursday, we learn from John 5
about Son of Man Follows the Father.
On Friday, we learn from John 6
about Christ our Bread of Life.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.

Christ our 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. And the
one who comes to Me, I will by no
means cast out (Jn 6:32-37) Amen

Lord, You are our great resource.
When I am anxious over a problem
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 Jesus, as the Bread of Life,
forgive me for seeking after
things that will never 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 and thirst for You and
Your life each day. And let Your
Word fill my mind, rule my heart
and guide my feet today. 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 the faith to believe
Your word with all my heart.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Son of Man Follows The 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 will 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 join Him is the
sincere form of worship to offer You.
Heighten my spiritual senses to
recognise Your footprint every-
where You go, so that I can aspire
to do what You are doing. Amen.

Lord, I turn my gaze from earthly
circumstances over to You.
Let me see the things of earth
through Your eyes and align
myself with Your work around me.
And as I will be tempted by sinful
pleasures and 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 courage to do it. Help me to
grow spiritually and to serve You by
building Your kingdom so that I will
be ready for Your return. Amen.

Saviour Satisfies Your Longings

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, You Satisfy Our Longings:
Jesus said to her: If you knew who
it is who says to u: Give Me a drink,
you would have asked Him and He
would have given you living water…
Whoever drinks of this water will
thirst again, but whoever drinks
of the water that I shall give them
will Never Thirst. Indeed the water
I give them will become in them
a spring of water welling up
to eternal life (John 4:10-14).
The woman left her water jar and
went back to the village and told
everyone: Come and meet a man
who told me everything I ever did!
Can this be the Messiah? So
the people came streaming from
the village to see Him (v28-30).
Then they said to the woman:
Now we believe, not because of
what you said, for we ourselves
have heard Him and we know
that this is indeed the Christ,
the Saviour of the world (v42).

Lord, You are the only one who
can satisfy the longings of my soul.
Remind me that nothing in this
temporal world can bring lasting
fulfilment to an immortal soul.
The life that You give is my internal
source of continual refreshment.
Teach me the discipline of looking
to You alone for whatever my
soul may need each day. Amen.

Lord, You are the only one who
can satisfy a thirsty soul. For
the life that You give supplies
continual refreshment. Teach me
the holy habit of looking to You
alone for whatever my soul is
thirsty for. And make me a source
of encouragement and help to
those who are spiritually dry. Amen.

Lord, forgive me when excitement
over knowing You has waned.
Grateful for what You had done,
I want others to know You and
experience Your work in their lives
& use me to spread the Good News.
Let me be so amazed by what You
reveal to me that I won’t hesitate
to share the hope with others;
especially to those who don’t
know You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lamb of God Enables Eternal Life

John writes to convince readers
who Jesus is (the Son of God) and
how new life can be found in Him.
Jesus begins in eternity past,
showing how the Word who was
one with God became flesh to take
His message of life to mankind.
Jesus’ ministry is not confined for
at any time & in all places He is
ready with a word & healing touch.
Nicodemus comes seeking answers
and finds miracle of second birth.
Samaritan woman comes seeking
water at the well and finds a source
of living water that will never run dry.
The paralytic at the pool finds even
38 years of lameness is no obstacle
to the miracle-working Son of God.
Jew or Samaritan, religious leader
or religious outcast, Jesus’
compassion knows no bounds.

Lord, we adore U the Lamb of God:
The next day John saw Jesus
coming toward him and said:
Behold the Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world! (Jn 1:29)
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.
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… to
condemn the world but that the world
thru Him might be saved (Jn 3:13-17)

Father God, Your Son, no sin at all,
yet You sent Him to become the
sacrificial Lamb so that his blood
can become the substitutionary
atonement for all our sins.
Lord Jesus, we love You for being
the Lamb of God and we praise You
for all that You have accomplished:
Your sacrificial death, triumphant
resurrection; and for certain return.
Worthy is the Lamb to receive
all glory forever and ever, Amen.

Father, thank You for loving us and sending Your Son to pay the ultimate price so that we could experience eternal life: the abundant life that begins here on earth. And I look forward to being With You forever
in heaven; a better place of eternal joy and where there’s no tears.
And be reunited to loved ones
and friends who had gone before.
Grant that Your love flows thru me
so that more people may experience Your boundless love for us. Amen.

Lord Jesus, it’s 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 to lay down my life fully
for You in serving Your purpose
here on earth and thereby also
fulfilling my prepared destiny. Amen

Christ Reveals Father & With Us

John, the supplemental gospel
provides a fourth dimension of
Jesus’ life and ministry. Fully 92%
of John’s material is not found
in any other gospel account.
John writes to convince readers
who Jesus is (the Son of God) and
how new life can be found in Him.
Jesus begins in eternity past,
showing how the Word who was
one with God became flesh to take
His message of life to mankind.

Lord, You Reveal the Father:
Yet to all who did receive Him,
to those who believed in his name,
He gave the right to become
children of God (John 1:12).
The Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father, full of grace and truth…
And of His fullness we have received
and grace for grace (v14-16).
No one has ever seen God. But
his only Son, who is himself God
is near to the Father’s heart;
He has told us about Him (v18).

Lord Jesus, I do believe in You
and I have already accepted
You as my Saviour and Master.
Thank You for revealing Yourself
to me and thank you for saving me.
Because of Your grace and my
faith, I am not just a forgiven sinner
but also a child of the living God.
Help me to live out my true identity;
and I praise You for such a privilege!
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord Jesus, I do believe in You
and I have already accepted You
as my Saviour and Master. Thank
You for revealing Yourself to me
and thank you for saving me.
Because of your grace & my faith,
I am not just a forgiven sinner
but also a child of the living God.
Help me to live out my true identity;
and I praise You for such a privilege!
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Father God, praise U for revealing
Yourself through Your Son Jesus.
Help me see You more accurately
and love You more each day.
Thank You for Your Word, which
reveals Your love & purpose for me.
And Thank You for Jesus, who has
made it possible for me to have
clearer vision to see You. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5dh_a5aa3mwnM1qWcV7csw

Master’s Word to be Responded

Preaching, healing and disciplining
that summarises the daily activities
of the Son of Man. Luke records
the healings with careful attention.
And those documented miracles
become proof of Jesus’ claim to
a faithless & perverse generation.
As He preaches and heals, Jesus
patiently prepares His disciples
to carry on in His absence. The
cost is steep, but the goal of saving
lives eternally makes it worthwhile.

Lord, we will Respond to Your Word:
The seed is the word of God…
The rocky soil represents those
who hear the message with joy.
But their roots Don’t Go Very Deep.
They wilt when testing blow…
But the good soil represents
people who Hear God’s message,
Cling to it and steadily produce
a huge harvest (Luke 8:11-15).
Pay attention to How You Hear.
To those who listen to my teaching,
more will be given. But for those
who are not listening, even what
they think they understand will be
taken away from them (Lk 8:18).
(Jesus) got into the boat with his
disciples and said: Let Us Cross
over to the other side of the lake…
And they awoke Him saying:
Master Master we are perishing…
He rebuked the wind and raging
waves. Then he asked them:
Where Is Your Faith? (v22-25).

Lord, I want to Receive Your Word,
apply it to my life & be obedient
to You. If my heart is hard, soften
it with Your love. If my roots aren’t
deep, enrich the soil. Deliver me
from being consumed with the
cares and pleasures of this world.
And bring forth by Your Spirit,
a great harvest in my life. Amen.

Lord, You know how much I want
more understanding of Your will.
If I have neglected Your teaching
in any way, I will turn toward You
and ask You to restore my spirit
to a position of understanding
and growth. Open my heart to
hear and to follow everything
that You say. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Lord, thank You that inherent
in the storms of life is Your
promise of peace; not peace
that is the absence of trouble but
peace that eclipse circumstances.
Incline my heart to Yours Lord,
that I may experience more of
Your peace in the storm I face.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Be Faithful in Ministry (July 18)

Paul writes his second letter to
Timothy from a Roman prison
and death is imminent (4:6).
And yet the focus of Paul’s letter
is not on his own problems and
needs but on the problems and
needs of young Timothy who is
pastor of the church at Ephesus.
Paul, who has stood faithfully for
the Lord throughout his life, now
passes the same challenge to Tim.
There is no need to fear persecution,
when u serve the Lord of the universe
and endure hardship for His sake.

Dear Lord, we realise all believers
need a strong foundation for
Christian service does not get
easier as Your return grows closer.
Help us Lord Fix our eyes on You;
and grant us the strength we
need to be Faithful and Stedfast.
Help us to Receive Your Word;
help us to Fulfill Our Ministry; and
help us to Fight the Good Fight.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we will Receive Your Word:
All Scripture is inspired by God
and is useful to teach us what
is true and to make us realise
what is wrong in our lives.
It straightens us out and
teaches us to do what is right.
It is God’s way of preparing us
in every way, fully equipped
for every good thing God wants
us to do (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Lord, thank You for not leaving us
to walk in darkness & for giving us
the light of Your Word to guide us.
Help me to cherish the wonderful
gift in Your holy Scriptures and
to receive its teaching for my life.
And guide my prayers through the
inspiration of Your Word. Amen.

Lord, we will Fulfill Our Ministry:
Preach the word! Be ready
in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with
all longsuffering and teaching.
For the time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine,
but according to their own desires,
and they will turn their ears from
the truth… But you be watchful
in all things, endure afflictions,
do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry (2Tim 4:2-5).
Lord, help us remember Your
exhortation and warning to work
while it is still day. Help us to
persevere in bringing others to
You Christ and to make disciples
so that they also will pass on the
Good News to further Yr kingdom.
And give us the strength we need
to remain steadfast and endure
afflictions that may arise. Amen.

Lord, we will Fight the Good Fight:
I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race, I have
kept the faith. Finally, there is
laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous Judge, will give
to me on that Day, and not to me
only but also to all who have loved
His appearing (2Tim 4:7-8).
Lord, help me fight the good fight,
finish the race and keep the faith,
for I want to receive the crown
of righteousness from You.
Teach me to be a furious warrior
in Your army of faith. Let me
be absolutely immovable in the
trust I have in You. Give me an
overwhelming love for You and
everything that You stand for.
And lead me to love Your kingdom
and all Your people. Amen.

Be Steadfast in Ministry (July 17)

Paul writes his second letter to
Timothy from a Roman prison
and death is imminent (4:6).
And yet the focus of Paul’s letter
is not on his own problems and
needs but on the problems and
needs of young Timothy who is
pastor of the church at Ephesus.
Paul, who has stood faithfully for
the Lord throughout his life, now
passes the same challenge to Tim.
There is no need to fear persecution, when u serve the Lord of the universe and endure hardship for His sake.

Paul gives helpful advice to Timothy
to remain solidly grounded in
Christian service and to endure
suffering in difficult days to come.
Dear Lord, we realise all believers
need a strong foundation for
Christian service does not get
easier as we grow older; and it
will become no easier as the time
of Christ’s return grows closer.
Lord, prompt us to Pray for others,
lead us to Pass On Your Truths &
help us to Endure Suffering. Amen

Lord, we will Pray For Others:
I thank God whom I serve, as
my forefathers did, with a clear
conscience, as night and day
I constantly remember you
in my prayers (2Timothy 1:3).
Gracious Lord, Help me to not
forget anyone in my prayers.
Show me especially people who
are lonely and feel forgotten so that
I can remember them in intercession.
Bring specific people to mind who
need healing or help or deliverance.
Reveal to me Lord who needs
to hear Your voice guiding them.
And enable the people I pray to
sense Your love in their lives. Amen.

Lord, we will Pass On Your Truths:
Timothy, my dear son, be strong
with the special favour God gives
you in Christ. You have heard me teach many things that have been
confirmed by many… witnesses.
Teach these great truths to trust-
worthy people who are able to pass them on to others (2 Tim 2:1-2).
Lord, thank you for the blessed
privilege of being used by your
Holy Spirit in the lives of others.
Prepare the hearts of those
to whom you are calling me to
witness or to encourage or edify.
Give me boldness mingled with
love; and let me not miss or shy
away from any opportunity to
pass on to others the great truths
that have changed my life. Amen.

Lord, we will Endure Suffering:
Endure Suffering along with me.
And as Christ’s soldiers, do not
let yourself become tied up in
the affairs of this life… Follow the
Lord’s rules for doing His work,
just as an athlete either follows
the rules or is disqualified and
wins no prize. Hardworking farmers
are the first to enjoy the fruit
of their labour (2Tim 2:3-6).
Lord, we realise living a life of
faith requires much endurance.
Help us to endure the hardship
and restrictions of a soldier.
Help us to be like a good athlete
who follows the rules of the sport.
Help us be like a farmer who is
hardworking to taste the fruit
of his labour. Grant us the grace
of perseverance, discipline and
hardwork for Your glory. Amen.