PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: John 10:22-30 Are you the Messiah?

Time to Reflect: If someone really doesn't want to believe in Jesus they can avoid doing so no matter what. No miracle is so obvious, no teaching so clear, no testimony so convincing that someone will be forced to believe. It ultimately comes down to a decision not based on reason or argumentation: Do I choose to believe?

Moving through the day: Pray the prayer that Martin Luther used: “Lord, I believe, help me with my unbelief.”

 Scripture:

 22Then came the Feast of Dedication[a] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ,[b] tell us plainly."

 25Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30I and the Father are one."

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Revelation 7:1-17 Who is saved?

Time to reflect: In the first part of this passage, the Jewish Christian John, indicates that all of Israel is saved 144,000 (this doesn't have to be taken literally – he uses symbolic language to mean “all of Israel.”) But the second part of the passage says that an uncountable multitude ALSO were in heaven, representing all nations, people, races. I'm sure this was shocking information to the Jewish Christian community he was writing to! This is, of course, in keeping with the inclusive nature of Christianity.

Moving through the day: In our society, who are the “insiders” the “Israel” of our day that we expect to be saved? Who are the “outsiders” the multitude that we don't expect to be in heaven?

144,000 Sealed

 1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
 5From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
   from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
   from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
 6from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
   from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
   from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
 7from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
   from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
   from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
 8from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
   from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
   from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

 9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice:
   "Salvation belongs to our God,
   who sits on the throne,
   and to the Lamb." 11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying:
   "Amen!
   Praise and glory
   and wisdom and thanks and honor
   and power and strength
   be to our God for ever and ever.
   Amen!"

 13Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"

 14I answered, "Sir, you know."

   And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore,
   "they are before the throne of God
      and serve him day and night in his temple;
   and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
 16Never again will they hunger;
      never again will they thirst.
   The sun will not beat upon them,
      nor any scorching heat.
 17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
      he will lead them to springs of living water.
   And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 23 The Shepherd Psalm

Time to reflect: The most familiar of all Psalms. Try thinking of a modern analogy to replace the ancient analogy of the “shepherd.” Try reading the Psalm as if for the first time.

 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
       he leads me beside quiet waters,

 3 he restores my soul.
       He guides me in paths of righteousness
       for his name's sake.

 4 Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death,
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me.

 5 You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies.
       You anoint my head with oil;
       my cup overflows.

 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
       all the days of my life,
       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
       forever.

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Acts 9:36-43 Why Dorcas?

Time to Reflect: Of all the people that died around Peter, why was Dorcas revived? There is no answer to this question or why some people recover from incurable illnesses and others do not. But this is a story about the power of God. Faith in God can transcend the normal. [By the way, tanners were, by definition, ritually impure and excluded from the religious community. It says a lot that Peter stayed in his house.]

Moving Through the Day: Pray in behalf of those you are aware of that are critically ill.

Scripture:  

 36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"

 39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

 40Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday: John 6:66-69 The Holy One

Scripture lesson: It was really hard being an Apostle and less committed people fell by the wayside. But Peter and the others realized that no matter how hard it was, there was, in the end, nothing better. “to whom can we go?”

Time to reflect:

When it comes to the most important aspects of life and after-life, who can provide what Jesus provides? Acknowledge this in prayer.

 66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

 67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Matthew 13:54-58 A prophet in their own country

Time to reflect: What is it about human nature that we do not want to accept leadership from someone we know well? Jesus was not accepted by those he grew up with.

Moving through the day: Who in your acquaintance is being unnaturally held back because of this human attitude.

54Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57And they took offense at him.
      But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."

 58And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: 1 Peter 5:1-4 Humble leadership

Scripture lesson: This passage has challenging instructions on how to be a good leader.

Time to reflect: Which aspect of Christian leadership is hard for you? Not under compulsion? Not for gain? Eagerly? Not lording it over them? Being an example? Pray about this.

1 Peter 5

To Elders and Young Men

 1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: John 21:1-19 Post-Resurrection appearance

Time to Reflect: One side meaning of this appearance is that it wasn't some ephemeral ghosty thing that was resurrected, but Jesus, in his entirety. We have to dance a fine line between a belief in a “soul” that is totally distinct from the body (a ghosty thing stuffed inside the body) and an over literal concept that the molecules of the body are a part of the resurrection. Our best understanding of this difficult subject is that everything about us that makes us who we are except the molecules is what is resurrected and that our resurrection is distinct (we don't just join some big blob of spirit).

Moving through the day: Thank God for the general resurrection – even if you don't quite understand it.

 Scripture:

John 21

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

 1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.[a] It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

 4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

 5He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
      "No," they answered.

 6He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

 7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[b] 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

 10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

 11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

 15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
      "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
      Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

 16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
      He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
      Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

 17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
      Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

    Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Revelation 5:11-14 “Worthy is the Lamb”

Time to reflect: Revelation generally avoids using Jesus' name. In fact it is generally assumed by scholars that the few places where it appears it was added later. The assumed reason is that John was writing in “code” using images and words that the early church would recognize but the Roman soldiers and magistrates would not. Lamb = the one and only once-and-for-all sacrificial lamb = Jesus

Moving through the day: We now use Jesus' name so loosely and commonly that it doesn't have much meaning. For awhile try to consciously substitute a characteristic of Jesus the Christ in place of the name.

 11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang:
   "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
   to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
   and honor and glory and praise!"

 13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
   "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
   be praise and honor and glory and power,
         for ever and ever!" 14The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 30 What profit is my death?

Time to reflect: This is a Psalm of thanksgiving for healing. But I have always found verse 9 fascinating: One argument to God to keep him alive is that death would prevent this Psalmists continued service to God. “What good am I to God dead?” Of course death comes to us all eventually, but do we take the attitude that as long as we are alive we can, and should, be serving God?

Moving Throughout the day: Is your life making a difference to God?

 1 I will exalt you, O LORD,
       for you lifted me out of the depths
       and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

 2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help
       and you healed me.

 3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave ;
       you spared me from going down into the pit.

 4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
       praise his holy name.

 5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
       but his favor lasts a lifetime;
       weeping may remain for a night,
       but rejoicing comes in the morning.

 6 When I felt secure, I said,
       "I will never be shaken."

PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Acts 9:1-6 Deacons out of strife

Time to Reflect: This story is taken to be the creation of the office of Deacon (“servant”) and ministries of compassion. It is interesting that the impetus was a church fight! But what a divinely inspired solution that continues to today.

Moving Through the Day: Pray for your Board of Deacons and their ministries of compassion.

Scripture:  

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

 5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

   "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."