P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
John will take us into the courtroom today and we will see the testimonies of those who can be trusted in their claim that Jesus is the Son of God.
Together we will pray (P.R.A.Y.) each day – ‘P’: Pausing to be still as we come into the presence of the Lord. ‘R’: Rejoicing as we remember who our God is and what He has done, and Reflecting on His word. ‘A’: Asking God to help us and others. And ‘Y’: yielding to His will in accordance with His word.
As I come before you to pray, I still my thoughts and quiet my mind. I seek to make you the center of my focus.
Prayer of Approach
Creator God, you created me from the dust, and to dust, I shall return. As I enter into your presence would you breathe your life into me and reanimate me through your Spirit?
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 145:10-13…
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
[The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]
Psalm 145:10-13
Today we are reflecting on the words of John in 1 John 5:6-12, where we read:
This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:6-12
John is setting up for us a courtroom to confirm that Jesus is God. We are the jury and we hear the testimonies of three witnesses. The oddest witnesses are called ino the courtroom to testify on Jesus’ behalf. Water is called. The water of baptism as Jesus walked down into the Jordan River. Something that no one had ever seen before that day was the voice of God from Heaven, which sadid, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The water testifies to that fact. Then blood is called if water is not odd enough. The blood that left Jesus body as he hung on a cross condemned to death. The blood testifies that Jesus really did die that day. Then the real kicker of a witness the Spirit. Not just any spirit, but the Spirit of Truth. All the witnesses agree and we can have confidence as the jury to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God. Those testimonies are astounding but there is a testimony that is greater. That God himself all throughout the ages confirms to us that Jesus is his Son. It can be trusted. When we trust this testimony and believe that Jesus is the Son of God we have life. If we choose to ignore this or lie to ourselves then the we do not have the Son and we don not have life.
Jesus, I ask that you would open my eyes to these testimonies concerning yourself. That I would be able to completely trust that you are the Son of God. Would you reveal to me now where I doubt that?
Reflection Questions:
1) What doubts do you have about Jesus being the Son of God?
2) Do you trust whole-heartedly in this truth?
God, awake in your Church a love that can only be from you. Open our eyes to the love you have shown us in your Son Jesus Christ. Revive in us the ethic of love that you have given your people, so that we may be a witness to the watching world.
As I read the passage again slowly, I listen for anything that You would say to me in it. Help me see how to position my life in order to yield to your word…
This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:6-12
Yielding Prayer
Jesus, I submit to you today as the Eternal Son of God. I lay down my life at no other feet, but yours. Give me life, but only life that is found in you. I want nothing other than. Fill me with the Spirit of Truth that trusts you to the ends of the earth. No matter what happens in this life hold me close to you. That is the only place I want to be.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in 1 John 5:11..
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:11
Closing Prayer
Father, help me to live this day out of the love you have bestowed upon me.
Jesus, help me to live this day in love as I abide in you.
Spirit, help me to live this day by loving all those you will put in my path.
Amen.