PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Mark 10:17-31 Give away our riches?

Time to reflect: This is not a popular passage in our part of the world. There have been a large number of unsuccessful attempts to explain away or blunt this passage, but unfortunately, it means what it says. There is no “historical background” that allows us to ignore the passage. So, most of us fall short, but some shorter than others. Stewardship is the measure of ones commitment to God.

Moving through the day: Review how much God means to you and how your gratitude plays out in real, tangible terms and not just warm fuzzy feelings toward God.

Scripture:

Mark 10:17-31

The Rich Man

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ 18Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.” ’ 20He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ 21Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money* to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ 22When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ 24And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is* to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ 26They were greatly astounded and said to one another,* ‘Then who can be saved?’ 27Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.’

28 Peter began to say to him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ 29Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news,* 30who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Hebrews 4:12-16

Time to reflect: This passage outlines in deep theological language our view of the prayer of confession and assurance of pardon of worship. God, of course, sees all, knows all (verses 12-13); but we have an intercessor, Christ, who understands what it is like to be human (verses 14&15) and we are called on to make confession (14); and we can expect to receive grace when we do.

Moving through the day: Pray a prayer of confession and then consciously accept God's love, grace and forgiveness.

Scripture:

Hebrews 4:12-16

12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested* as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 22:1-15 I am in desperate straits

Time to reflect: The opening of this Psalm should sound familiar: Christ's words on the cross. Quite likely Jesus quoted the whole Psalm, but it is New Testament shorthand to reference the first line of a Psalm rather than copying in the whole Psalm.

Moving Throughout the day:

As you read this passage read it first from Jesus' point of view. Then read it again from you point of view referencing some really dark time in your life. You may want to note this Psalm (the whole Psalm) for the future when things are closing in on you.

Scripture

Psalm 22

Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility

To the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
   Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
   and by night, but find no rest.

3Yet you are holy,
   enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4In you our ancestors trusted;
   they trusted, and you delivered them.
5To you they cried, and were saved;
   in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

6But I am a worm, and not human;
   scorned by others, and despised by the people.
7All who see me mock at me;
   they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8‘Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
   let him rescue the one in whom he delights!’

9Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
   you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
10On you I was cast from my birth,
   and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
11Do not be far from me,
   for trouble is near
   and there is no one to help.

12Many bulls encircle me,
   strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13they open wide their mouths at me,
   like a ravening and roaring lion.

14I am poured out like water,
   and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
   it is melted within my breast;
15my mouth* is dried up like a potsherd,
   and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
   you lay me in the dust of death.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Job 23:1-9; 16-17 Job complaint

Time to reflect:

The “he” throughout these verse is God. Job feels he is being unjustly picked on (which he is). He is bitterly calling on God to come and explain things and let Job defend himself. When God does appear, it is a very humbling experience for Job. Not what he envisioned.

Moving through the day: Because this passage is in Scripture, it show that complaining to God is acceptable (even if we aren't always happy with the response!). Is there anything in your life you'd like to gripe to God about and get it off your chest?

Scripture:

Job 23:1-9; 16-17

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Bitter

23Then Job answered:
2‘Today also my complaint is bitter;*
   his* hand is heavy despite my groaning.
3O that I knew where I might find him,
   that I might come even to his dwelling!
4I would lay my case before him,
   and fill my mouth with arguments.
5I would learn what he would answer me,
   and understand what he would say to me.
6Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
   No; but he would give heed to me.
7There an upright person could reason with him,
   and I should be acquitted for ever by my judge.

8‘If I go forward, he is not there;
   or backward, I cannot perceive him;
9on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him;
   I turn* to the right, but I cannot see him.

16God has made my heart faint;
   the Almighty* has terrified me;
17If only I could vanish in darkness,
   and thick darkness would cover my face!*

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Wednesday

John 12:44-50 I have not come to judge the world but to save the world

Scripture lesson: A very comforting passage, especially after yesterday's. However, we would feel no need to be “saved” if we did not realize our lostness.

Time to reflect: The “Gentiles” in verse 17 is what we refer to as “the modern culture.” Many of the addressees of this book were gentiles (non-Jews) by birth, but Paul is calling on them to reject some of the evil aspects of the culture around them.

Moving through the day:Pray a prayer of thanksgiving. Try to remember, as much as you can, the words to “Amazing Grace”

Scripture:

John 12:44-50

Summary of Jesus’ Teaching

44 Then Jesus cried aloud: ‘Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. 47I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, 49for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. 50And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.’