The good news of Christ
Yours is the day, yours also the night,
Creator of every heavenly light,
Sun, moon, and stars unnumbered,
Before your greatness man is humbled.
You do not sleep, nor nap, nor slumber,
The hairs of our head, you know their number,
We fall before your holy beauty,
Teach us, Lord, our divine duty.
When pressure comes, we need relief —
O God, provide!
In loss and pain, we feel great grief —
Come, Lord, abide!
The heavy heart bears crushing weight —
Give Jesus’ load!
Let our steps pass the narrow gate
To your abode!
Father of your people, thank you for bringing us to life. Give us energy and motivation today to serve with love and kindness.
Prepare me for that great day in heaven.
Give me ever greater assurance of salvation and of your existence, of your nature to reward the one who seeks you.
Help me live in holiness and fear of you.
Thank you for the blessings of the morning, for the lovingkindess of the day, for the peace and contentment of the evening.
Make your presence known.
Yours is the praise, the honor, and glory now and forever.
In our Western culture, we’re used to checklists to remember what items we have to buy at the grocery store or to separate out the tasks we must accomplish at work from who we really are on the weekends! We have even made our Christian walk a checklist of things to do to be right with God and in doing so have connect our heads without our hearts. Christianity is a relationship with the Almighty God, and He wants all of us: heart, soul, mind, and strength.
I. Luke 9:18-22. Peter answered the most essential question. In Matthew 16:16-18, Jesus adds that upon Peter’s confession of Him as Lord and Christ that He would build His church. Peter’s confession became a declaration in Acts 2:36-41 and 3000 obeyed and were added to Jesus’ church that day.
II. Philippians 2:9-11. We all must answer the most essential question. Atheism is temporary as every knee will bow to Jesus as Lord. Even those who ignore or avoid the question are answering it in this life. It is better to confess Him as Lord now while still alive than wait until after death to know the truth.
III. Colossians 2:6-12. As we have received Christ Jesus as Lord, so we are to continue to live in Him. This means that confessing Jesus as Lord is not just words we utter. It goes beyond loving Him from the head; we must love Him from the heart as well: heart, soul, mind, and strength in a close relationship of obedience to Him.
Christianity is what we are, not what we do. We ‘do’ from the belief we hold. We must be ‘all in’ for God, so that our every word and deed shows our answer to the most essential question that Jesus asks each and every one of us: Who do you say I am?
Our Father in Heaven, glorify your name this day in us and in our speech and actions.
Save me this day, O Father, that I might live in your presence and serve you, for your pleasure.
Show me, Father, how to pray more for your kingdom.
Open my eyes to needs. Reveal the opportunities to help others, for I am often focused on my own affairs.
Put power in my hands and humility in my heart.
Wash me constantly in the blood of Jesus my Lord.
Breathe in me the desires of the Holy Spirit.
No measure can be taken of your greatness. You explode all our categories of thought and dimension.
Open my ears to your word. Let your blessed strength enter my heart to transform and empower.
Bring your fellowship near. Make the joy of your presence real. Let us as your people live in true communion.
Break out your song of salvation among us.