All people

I will praise you, Lord, for everyone to hear, and I will sing hymns to you in every nation. ~ Psalm 57:9 (CEV)

On the day of Pentecost people from many nations were gathered in Jerusalem. And as the Holy Spirit let himself loose the Apostles started to declare what God was doing. The people responded, saying, "We're hearing in our own languages about the wonderful and powerful things God is doing!" ~ Acts 2:11 (ABP)

KEY IDEA:

The good news of Jesus is meant for all people everywhere -- regardless of where they live or where they are from.

PRAYER:

Lord, I want everyone, everywhere to hear the good news of Jesus. I confess, though, that my vision is way too limited. I'm too willing to settle for having my own personal experience of Jesus. Help me to see that if that experience doesn't include transmitting your message to the whole world than it is not really a genuine Jesus experience. Lord, I want to be a part of what you are doing for all people everywhere. Amen.

To the nations

To the Lord, all nations are merely a drop in a bucket or dust on balance scales; all of the islands are but a handful of sand... Isaiah 40:15 (CEV)

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” ~ Matthew 28:18-20 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

The nations and people they represent are relatively insignificant. Yet, God loves them so much that he sends us to them.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for caring about us little people. We seem so unimportant yet you love us so much that you sent your Son to die on our behalf. And now you send us out with your message. But we are so slow in getting started on this assignment. We worry that it will interfer with doing the things we think are important. Realign my priorities with yours. Today I'm going to train someone in some aspect of your way of life. Amen.

Commands

Don’t veer off to the right or the left. Walk straight down the road God commands so that you’ll have a good life... ~ Deuteronomy 5:33 (MSG)

Jesus answered, “What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?”

The man replied,

“The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’”

Jesus said, “You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life.” ~ Luke 10:16-18 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Love God. Love neighbor. These are the two main God-commands.

PRAYER:

Lord God, I know what you expect of me. Yet I easily drift off course. Then I grumble because my life isn't going so well. Please pick me up and set me back on your path. I want to love you with everything I am. And I want to include the people around me in that love, too. But I can't do it without you. Amen.

Closer than you think

You have brought justice and fairness to Jerusalem; you are the foundation on which we stand today. You always save us and give true wisdom and knowledge. ~ Isaiah 35:5-6 (CEV)

Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. ~ Matthew 10:7 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God's kingdom is closer than you think.

PRAYER:

King Jesus, thank you for coming to live among us and to save us from the grip of sin and death. I'm grateful but I'm also frustrated that there is still so much dysfunction, hate, and sorrow in the world where I live. Help me to accept the reality that your kingdom is close by and that I don't have to worry about all that other nonsense. I'm going to focus first on how close your kingdom is. I'm going to let that reality shape my life instead of all the fear and destruction that shows up in the news daily. Amen.