1 Thessalonians 1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
Do I welcome God’s message in the midst of severe suffering? May I remember that there is ALWAYS joy in the Holy Spirit as Jesus has rescued me from the grave!
Luke 5:6 When they had [let down their nets] they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
Obedience yields abundance of blessing. May I obey in spite of my questions and doubts, dear Lord.
Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Lord, thank You for giving me the ability to speak with grace. May You consistently anoint my tongue with what You ask of it. Amen.
Luke 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
May I obey “because You say so” instead of acting based on my own understanding.
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
When I pray, am I simply presenting a list of requests or thanking God for what He has done?
Luke 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Jesus wants us to go deeper. Only there do we find all He has for us.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
“Whatever” you do…not just work, but EVERYTHING I do should be done with all my heart for the Lord. Father, help me to always do my best for You.
Luke 4:44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
“And He kept on…” What a great phrase. The perseverance of Jesus. Then AND now. The Lord keeps on.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Give me the discernment to know the difference between hollow teaching and Your Word. Give me wisdom, oh Lord. Amen.
Luke 4:42-43 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
I selfishly want Jesus to do what I want Him to do. But often His agenda is much different.