P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Today we will see the end of Nicodemus’ questions for Jesus. Jesus will ultimately point Nicodemus and us to his future death.
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
Jesus, as I approach your throne today would you open my eyes to your Scriptures? I ask that you would make your Word burn in my heart as I meet with you.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 25…
“Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.”
Psalm 25: 8-10
Today we are reflecting on the words of Jesus in John 3 and Numbers 21, where we read:
“Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
John 3: 9-15
“From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.”
Numbers 21:4-9
Nicodemus is still shocked because for years and years he has taught people how to enter into the kingdom of God. He told others all of the conditions of the Law. He taught others about the sacrificial system and all that came with that. Now though he is faced with a condition he has never heard of and one that he cannot control himself. Jesus explains of course this is new to you because the Son of God has left Heaven and come to earth! Jesus continues to show that he came to save the world. He likens what he is about to do to what happened to Moses and the Israelites. After God freed them from slavery the people of Israel did a lot of complaining. In one instance God heard their complaints and responded with fiery serpents and many Israelites died that day. The people repented and Moses asked God to relent. God tells Moses to take a fiery serpent and put it on a pole and lift it up. If and when the people of God got bit if they focused on the serpent lifted up then they would live.
Jesus likens this story to his mission here on this earth. The truth is all of us have been bit by a serpent and are suffering from a poison that will lead to death, the poison of sin.Sin entered into this world through Adam and Eve and all humanity is born into it in need of a Savior. That Savior will not just be a serpent lifted up on a pole, but the Savior will be the eternal Son of God lifted up on a cross. Our job though is still the same in all of it. Our job is to focus on Jesus and his work and be saved. To take the focus off of ourselves and our merit to earn it. To take the focus off of all the earthly things, because they won’t save us. The season of Advent is the perfect time for us in all of the busyness and noise to fight to refocus our eyes and our heart on Jesus.
Jesus, I ask that you would reveal to me where and on what my focus currently rests. I ask that you would re-focus my eyes on you.
1)Where is my focus?
2)What does it look like for me to focus on Jesus today?
Lord, we ask that you would come and meet your Church in power this Advent season. As we prepare our hearts to celebrate your arrival on this earth, would you pour out your Spirit on your people? This season open our eyes afresh to the work that you are doing in us and through us. Break us of the busyness and the noise as we seek to see your face. Show us your glory.
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…
“Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
John 3: 9-15
Yielding Prayer
Jesus, I come to you humbly knowing that we are not equals. I yield my life to your word. You are the only answer to the questions spinning in my head. Would you allow me to humbly receive whatever answer you give me when I ask? Teach my heart to trust in you.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Hebrews 12 …
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12: 1-2
Closing Prayer
Jesus, you entered into humanity to save the world. Let me experience your love and mercy as I go from this moment. Give me your Spirit to live a life in my humanity that points others to you in order that they too might be saved.
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.