PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Mark 10:35-45 Who is great?

Time to reflect: “whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” This is the sum total of the passage. Once again Jesus wants us to be “unnatural” and behave in a way contrary to human nature.

Moving through the day: Pray about how you use power and when/how you need to be a servant of others.

Scripture:

The Request of James and John

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ 36And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ 37And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ 38But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ 39They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’

41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Hebrews 5:1-10 Who is Melchizedek

Time to reflect:Even though it is a side issue, the writer of Hebrews was making a point of connecting Jesus to Melchizedek. At this time (and for centuries before) there were major struggles among several priestly lines, all contending, sometimes violently, that their line was the legitimate one and they should have control of the temple in Jerusalem. The author of Hebrews wanted to use the “High Priest” analogy in relation to Jesus, By connecting Jesus with Melchizedek, he avoids triggering any of these divisive and irrelevant issues. Melchizedek, is mentioned in Genesis 14:17-20, a priest/king of Jerusalem before the time of any of the contending lines of priests.

Moving through the day: We do not need an earthly priest, we can address the High Priest Christ anytime we want. Pray to Christ, acknowledging his power to save.

Scripture:

Hebrews 5:1-10

5Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; 3and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4And one does not presume to take this honour, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,
‘You are my Son,
   today I have begotten you’;
6as he says also in another place,
‘You are a priest for ever,
   according to the order of Melchizedek.’

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus* offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday

2 Timothy 4:1-7 Itching ears

Scripture lesson: We could spend a week or two unpacking all the goodies in this passage! Just to pick one of the important statements: There is nothing new under the sun. The people had itching ears back then and they still do. People seek out the messages and messengers that appeal regardless of truth.

Time to reflect: What doctrines and teachers appeal to you that are of questionable value when judged against the Bible?

Scripture:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

 6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 A hard life... for you

Time to reflect: This is a part of a passage where Paul is defending his ministry. One of the questions, spoken or unspoken, that he feels he has to address is why he is willing to take the abuse he takes. Some doubt his motives, others are turned off by the harshness of his supposed “victorious” life in Christ. His argument in verse 7 is that he is human and therefore is easily harmed, the argument in 8&9 is that he is able to endure, so what is the problem, and the argumenet in 10-11 is that like Jesus he must suffer, but, like Jesus, in the end will be victorious.

Moving through the day:We all have times when we feel sorry for ourselves and feel afflicted, perplexed, persecuted and struck down. Think about such a time and what got you through it. Think about Paul's “its for your sake” (4:15) attitude.

2 Corinthians 4:7-11

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 11For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 27:1-4 “whom shall I fear”

Time to reflect: Try starting each day for a week with verse 1. See how this affects your day.

Moving Through The Day:Pray a prayer of confidence in God

Scripture:

Psalm 27

Of David.

 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
       whom shall I fear?
       The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
       of whom shall I be afraid?

 2 When evil men advance against me
       to devour my flesh, [a]
       when my enemies and my foes attack me,
       they will stumble and fall.

 3 Though an army besiege me,
       my heart will not fear;
       though war break out against me,
       even then will I be confident.

 4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
       this is what I seek:
       that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
       all the days of my life,
       to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
       and to seek him in his temple.