Tag: Daily Reading

Morning Reading: Luke 4.16-21 NLT – Spirit of the Lord

“Jesus Reading from the Prophet Isaiah
in his home town of Nazareth,”
by Greg Olson

Reading: Luke 4.16-21 NLT

When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them.

“The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Help me to see the world as You see it… the poor, the captives, the blind, the oppressed. And help me to be a bearer of Your Good News. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Lord You Have My Heart” – Delirious? (YouTube)

Morning Reading: Luke 4:1-2, 13 ESV – temptation

Reading: Luke 4:1-2, 13 ESV

temptation of christ
“Temptation of Christ” – 2011
by Eric Armusik

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil…..

And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.”

Reading: Hebrews 4.14-16 NLT

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me… a sinner. Write your Word on my heart today. And lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. Amen.

Morning Reading: Luke 3.10-14, 18 NLT – John the Baptist

Reading: Luke 3:10-14, 18 NLT

image

The crowds asked, “What should we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”

Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”

“What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”

John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Help me to receive John the Baptist’s warnings as “Good News” – as a way of aligning my life with Your Kingdom purposes. And help me sort through my response to genuinely impoverished people… as a rich Westerner. I ask it in Jesus’ name.

Change my heart Oh God…

Morning Reading: Luke 2.40 ESV

Luke 2:40 ESV
“And the child (Jesus) grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.”

jesus grew in wisdomPrayer: Holy Spirit – strengthen us and fill us with your wisdom and grace. And today, I particularly pray for my children and grandchildren – Josh, Robin, Calvin, Carter, Caleb, Camille, Amy, Shane, Mia, Noah, Jacob, and Mason. Lord Jesus – help them to become more like you. Amen.

Christmas Reading & Carol: Galatians 4.4-7 NLT – “Joy to the World – Unspeakable Joy” (YouTube)

Abba-Father_color_550Galatians 4.4-7 NLT

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
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“Joy to the World” – Isaac Watts (1719)
Unspeakable Joy adaptation by Chris Tomlin