PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: Luke 4:14-22 Jesus the Rabbi

Time to Reflect: [Rabbi means “my teacher” – “Rab” pronounced “rav” is the proper term for a teacher that isn't ours.] The one line of Jesus' interpretation given here wasn't his whole lesson, it was just the one line that Luke wanted to bring out as a teaching to us, his reader. Apparently Jesus was a great teacher that truly impressed his audiences, although he could rile them up also. (See next Sunday's PrayerBit)

Moving through the day: Jesus' primary role for us is as Lord and Savior, but he can also be our Rabbi, teaching us many things. If you get a chance today, read the “Sermon on the Mount” Matthew 5-7.

Scripture:

Luke 4:14-22 (New International Version)

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

 14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

 16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
 18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
      because he has anointed me
      to preach good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
      and recovery of sight for the blind,
   to release the oppressed,
    19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."[a]

 20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

 22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a The Body of Christ.

Time to reflect: The most famous image from Paul. Yet, we keep forgetting its point: we are all in this together and we need each other. The healthy church is one where everyone has found their “calling” are are using it for the good of the church.

Moving through the day: Are there church jobs you consider to be more glamorous? Beneath you? Do such attitudes inhibit your offering what you can to the church. Re-evaluate what you are doing for the church and see if there are changes you need to make or new tasks you need to take on.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

One Body with Many Members

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot were to say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear were to say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ 22On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 19 The fear of the Lord

Time to reflect: The word translated as “fear” has no direct English translation. It does include the idea that we should worry about crossing God, God is all powerful. But it also includes “respect,” “awe and amazement,” and recognizing our subordinate position in the relationship. Modern people object to “fearing” the Lord as in quaking in our boots fear. But the underlying concept, in Hebrew, is much bigger than that.

Moving Throughout the day: Try praying to God using the language and attitude you might have if you were addressing the corporation CEO or the President of the United States, or Queen of England. How did that feel?

Psalm 19

God’s Glory in Creation and the Law

To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1The heavens are telling the glory of God;
   and the firmament* proclaims his handiwork.
2Day to day pours forth speech,
   and night to night declares knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words;
   their voice is not heard;
4yet their voice* goes out through all the earth,
   and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens* he has set a tent for the sun,
5which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
   and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
   and its circuit to the end of them;
   and nothing is hidden from its heat.

7The law of the Lord is perfect,
   reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
   making wise the simple;
8the precepts of the Lord are right,
   rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
   enlightening the eyes;
9the fear of the Lord is pure,
   enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
   and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold,
   even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
   and drippings of the honeycomb.

11Moreover by them is your servant warned;
   in keeping them there is great reward.
12But who can detect their errors?
   Clear me from hidden faults.
13Keep back your servant also from the insolent;*
   do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
   and innocent of great transgression.

14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
   be acceptable to you,
   O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10 Reactions to the Law

Time to Reflect: Reading the Bible can sometimes be distressing. Most of us tend to not read those parts or any part of the Bible. Another reaction, like the people here, is to get discouraged. That isn't particularly helpful either. What Nehemiah and Ezra were trying to get the people to realize is that the Torah reflects God's love and covenant with them. God cares enough to ask a lot of his people. That is good news, not a burden.

Moving Through the Day: Meditate on your feelings about the Bible. Are these feelings helpful? An easy out? Connecting you to God?

Scripture:  

Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10

81all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen’, lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 8So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday: James 1:22-25 “Be doers of the word”

Scripture lesson: This is certainly clear enough. The only precautionary is that we don't “do” to the exclusion of hearing, nor do we “do” to earn points with God. It is simply our calling.

Time to reflect: Pray that you may be a doer of the word and not just a hearer.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves* in a mirror; 24for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 61:1-3 Good News

Time to reflect: The author of this passage was called by God to give good news to a discouraged and oppressed people. We reapply the words to Christ – the anointed one who gives the same good news for all people and all time.

Moving through the day: In Christ's name, what oppressed can you bring the good news? What brokenhearted can you bind up? What captives can you proclaim liberty to? What mourners can you comfort?

The Good News of Deliverance

61The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
   because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
   to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
   and release to the prisoners;
2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
   and the day of vengeance of our God;
   to comfort all who mourn;
3to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
   to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
   the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: 1 Peter 4:7-11 Instructions to prepare for the “end-time”

Serious instructions for “getting right with God” before the Second Coming. And what do these instructions include? Love, being hospitable, being good stewards, serving one another... It isn't about “being” good or buttering up God, but taking care of others.

Pray for God's guidance on keeping focused on what really matters.

The end of all things is near;* therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.