Tag: Jesus Christ

2nd Sunday of Easter: John 20:24-29 NLT – believing without seeing

Reading: John 20:24-29 NLT

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

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The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
(Caravaggio, 1601-1602)

But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Prayer/Video: “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord” – by Michael W Smith

Morning Reading: Luke 17:11-19 NLT – gratitude

Reading: Luke 17:11-19 NLT

As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

Ten LepersJames Christensen
Ten Lepers
James Christensen

He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

Prayer: Psalm 103

Morning Reading: Luke 17:5-10 NLT – duty calls

Reading: Luke 17:5-10 NLT

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.”

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The Idle Servant
1655, Nicolaes Maes

The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!

“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – humility is not my strong suit… I do not respond naturally or easily to the duties of a servant. It’s not so much that I want someone to wait on me (although that’s sometime the case)… it’s more that I don’t respond well to being bossed around… told what to do, and when to do it. Please forgive me, and change my attitude. Replace my prideful, self-serving spirit with a willingness to be ready and waiting for the call of duty. May you be honored in all things, for I am nothing without you. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Nothing Without You” – Bebo Norman

Take these hands and lift them up / For I have not the strength to praise You nearly enough / For I have nothing, I have nothing without You / Take my voice and pour it out / Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found / For I have nothing, I have nothing without You / All my soul needs / Is all Your love to cover me / So all the world will see / That I have nothing without You

Take my body and build it up / May it be broken as an offering of love / For I have nothing, I have nothing without You / All my soul needs / Is all Your love to cover me / So all the world will see / That I am nothing / But I love You / With all my heart / With all my soul / With all my mind / And all the strength I can find

Take my time here on earth / And let it glorify all that You are worth / For I am nothing, I am nothing, I am nothing without You

Morning Reading: Luke 17:1-4 NLT – watch yourselves

Reading: Luke 17:1-4 NLT

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. So watch yourselves!

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“If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – make every day a fresh start with the people in my life. Let me confront and correct myself first. And only then, give me the grace to confront and correct wrongdoing in others… with kindness and mercy. May I be willing to forgive others as frequently and readily as you have forgiven me. To you be all honor and glory. Amen.

Hymn: “To God be the Glory” – Andrae Crouch

Morning Reading: Luke 16:19-31 NLT – poor man Lazarus

Reading: Luke 16:19-31 NLT

Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

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The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man

“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’

“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’

“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’

“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a willingness to obey in this life… before it’s too late in the life to come. Amen.

Choral Music: “Poor Man Lazarus”