PrayerBits for Thursday

PrayerBits

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

Thursday

Scripture lesson: Isaiah 50:4-9 Who is this?

Time to Reflect: Although Isaiah was speaking of himself and his faithfulness to God, we also see that this applies equally well – even better – to Jesus.

Moving Through the Day: Think through how in and what ways this passage describes Jesus.

Scripture:  

The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
       to know the word that sustains the weary.
       He wakens me morning by morning,
       wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

 5 The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears,
       and I have not been rebellious;
       I have not drawn back.

 6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
       my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
       I did not hide my face
       from mocking and spitting.

 7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
       I will not be disgraced.
       Therefore have I set my face like flint,
       and I know I will not be put to shame.

 8 He who vindicates me is near.
       Who then will bring charges against me?
       Let us face each other!
       Who is my accuser?
       Let him confront me!

 9 It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me.
       Who is he that will condemn me?
       They will all wear out like a garment;
       the moths will eat them up.

PrayerBits for Wednesday

PrayerBits

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

Wednesday: Luke 23:1-25 Who killed Christ?

Scripture lesson: Jesus was executed by the Romans. The Jewish leadership, if they had convicted him of a religious crime could have stoned him, as they did Stephen, later. The Jewish leadership at this time were Roman sympathizers and worked with the violent and vicious Pilate (as known through Roman history) to keep peace. After failing to find a legitimate charge to bring against Jesus it was by stirring up a riot that they got Pilate to execute Jesus. It was a joint effort of powerful people who wanted to get rid of an inconvenience.

Time to reflect: Pray for “principalities and powers” that destroy. Pray for innocent people caught up in movements and power struggles. Pray for people who get blamed for things that were not of their making.

 1Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ,[a] a king."

 3So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
      "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

 4Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."

 5But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea[b]by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."

 6On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

 13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."[c]

 18With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" 19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

 20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

 22For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."

 23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

PrayerBits for Tuesday

PrayerBits

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

Tuesday

Scripture lesson: Psalm 118:1-6 God's steadfast love endures forever

Time to reflect: God doesn't just “like” us but (trying to convey a Hebrew word that has no English equivalent) has unshakable commitment to us. And not just for the time being but forever – eternally. Since this is true, then what can “mere mortals” do to us, really?

Moving through the day: Meditate on what effect it has on your personal life to know of God's eternal steadfast love.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
       his love endures forever.

 2 Let Israel say:
       "His love endures forever."

 3 Let the house of Aaron say:
       "His love endures forever."

 4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
       "His love endures forever."

 5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
       and he answered by setting me free.

 6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
       What can man do to me?

PrayerBits for Monday

PrayerBits

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

Monday

Scripture lesson: Luke 19:28-40 Palm Sunday

Scripture lesson: A few background pieces of information: Riding the donkey was a fulfillment of the OT understanding of how a Messiah would arrive. At the time donkey's were the peaceful steed for kings (horses were for war). The Psalm quoted (118) was a standard one used to sing about the coming Messiah. Palm Sunday was ironic – they people didn't really understand who they were praising, retracted their praise (and some shouted “Crucify him” shortly afterward, but in the end they were right in declaring him the Messiah. They just didn't realize it.

Time to reflect: Pray that you/we do not misunderstand Jesus but may truly celebrate the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Savior of the World.

 28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30"Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "

 32Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

 34They replied, "The Lord needs it."

 35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

 37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
 38"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"[a]
      "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

 39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

 40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

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

Sunday

Scripture lesson: John 12:1-8 The anointing of Jesus

Time to Reflect: Verse 8 is sometimes used as an excuses not to care about the poor, that we can spend large amounts money on things to “glorify God” rather than help the poor. Based on a close look at Jesus and his attitudes toward the poor I would suggest that this verse should be taken more literally. Jesus was about to be killed, so a little “wasted” money at that time wasn't a big deal and was an honest expression of Mary of Bethany's love for Jesus. It was not a once and for all command about priorities. Jesus (the human) is no longer with us, so not it is back to business as usual, taking care of the poor.

Moving through the day: Contemplate where you think the divide should be between spending money on worship, church institutions, and caring for those in need.

 Scripture:

 1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

 4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.[b]" 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

 7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

PrayerBits for Saturday

PrayerBits

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

Saturday

Scripture lesson: Philippians 3:4b-14 Status is rubbish?

Time to reflect: Paul very eloquently states a basic premise of Christianity – Anything we consider important as Christians, we are to consider as rubbish and anytime we consider ourselves important, as Christians we are to view ourselves of little value. Status and self-importance are meaningless to our faith. Instead we are to humbly follow Christ and put our focus on Christ not ourselves.

Moving through the day: Think through and make a priority list of what is important to you. Now but Christ in the first position above everything else. How does that change your thinking?

though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
      If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

 7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on Toward the Goal

 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

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

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 126

Time to reflect: When things go right do you praise God and thank God?

Moving Throughout the day: Take time to do so now.

1 When the LORD brought back the captives to [a] Zion,
       we were like men who dreamed. [b]

 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
       our tongues with songs of joy.
       Then it was said among the nations,
       "The LORD has done great things for them."

 3 The LORD has done great things for us,
       and we are filled with joy.

 4 Restore our fortunes, [c] O LORD,
       like streams in the Negev.

 5 Those who sow in tears
       will reap with songs of joy.

 6 He who goes out weeping,
       carrying seed to sow,
       will return with songs of joy,
       carrying sheaves with him.