Grace Church
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Thursday, August 17, 2023

Discipline

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Read

Psalm 6, Exodus 34:5-10, Hebrews 12:3-11 (NLT)

Psalm 6
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your rage.
Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
    Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
I am sick at heart.
    How long, O Lord, until you restore me?

Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
    Save me because of your unfailing love.
For the dead do not remember you.
    Who can praise you from the grave?

I am worn out from sobbing.
    All night I flood my bed with weeping,
    drenching it with my tears.
My vision is blurred by grief;
    my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.

Go away, all you who do evil,
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord will answer my prayer.
May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
    May they suddenly turn back in shame.

Exodus 34:5-10
Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh! The Lord!
    The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
    and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
    I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
    I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
    even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you.

Hebrews 12:3-11
Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Running Away (p.272)

Meditate

The Lord disciplines those he loves. (Hebrews 12:6)


Pray

Lord Jesus, you are the author and perfecter of our faith. You endured the cross and disregarded its shame for our sake. Though you were humbled, you have been exalted above every name. Heavenly Father, forgive us for grumbling against Your discipline. Thank you for treating us as sons and daughters in Christ. Enable us by Your Spirit to joyfully receive the trials you are using to make us more like him. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 45: Is Baptism with Water the Washing Away of Sin Itself?

Answer: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Friday, October 25, 2024

Read

Psalm 141, Proverbs 4:1-17, Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

Psalm 141
A psalm of David.

O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry!
    Listen when I cry to you for help!
Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
    and my upraised hands as an evening offering.

Take control of what I say, O Lord,
    and guard my lips.
Don’t let me drift toward evil
    or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
    of those who do wrong.

Let the godly strike me!
    It will be a kindness!
If they correct me, it is soothing medicine.
    Don’t let me refuse it.

But I pray constantly
    against the wicked and their deeds.
When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff,
    the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.
Like rocks brought up by a plow,
    the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.

I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord.
    You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me.
Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
    from the snares of those who do wrong.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    but let me escape.

Proverbs 4:1-17
My children, listen when your father corrects you.
    Pay attention and learn good judgment,
for I am giving you good guidance.
    Don’t turn away from my instructions.
For I, too, was once my father’s son,
    tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.

My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
    Follow my commands, and you will live.
Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
    Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
    Love her, and she will guard you.
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
    And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
    Embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
    she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

My child, listen to me and do as I say,
    and you will have a long, good life.
I will teach you wisdom’s ways
    and lead you in straight paths.
When you walk, you won’t be held back;
    when you run, you won’t stumble.
Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
    Guard them, for they are the key to life.

Don’t do as the wicked do,
    and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
    Turn away and keep moving.
For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
    They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
They eat the food of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence!

Hebrews 4:14-16
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A New Beginning (p.38)

Meditate

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)


Pray

Gracious Lord, we praise you for revealing Christ to us. Though we rebelled against You in our sin, You looked on us with compassion and mercy. Thank you for humbling us, hearing our cries for rescue, and providing Jesus as our perfect sacrifice. He is the Righteous One and our perfect High Priest. Enable us by Your Spirit to live as those set apart by your grace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 43: What Are the Sacraments or Ordinances?

Answer: The sacraments or ordinances given by God and instituted by Christ, namely baptism and the Lord’s Supper, are visible signs and seals that we are bound together as a community of faith by his death and resurrection. By our use of them the Holy Spirit more fully declares and seals the promises of the gospel to us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Monday, September 30, 2024

Read

Psalm 119:49-80 (NLT)

Zayin

Remember your promise to me;
    it is my only hope.
Your promise revives me;
    it comforts me in all my troubles.
The proud hold me in utter contempt,
    but I do not turn away from your instructions.
I meditate on your age-old regulations;
    O Lord, they comfort me.
I become furious with the wicked,
    because they reject your instructions.
Your decrees have been the theme of my songs
    wherever I have lived.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord;
    therefore, I obey your instructions.
This is how I spend my life:
    obeying your commandments.

Heth

Lord, you are mine!
    I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
    Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life,
    and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay,
    to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you
    for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth;
    teach me your decrees.

Teth

You have done many good things for me, Lord,
    just as you promised.
I believe in your commands;
    now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
    but now I closely follow your word.
You are good and do only good;
    teach me your decrees.
Arrogant people smear me with lies,
    but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
Their hearts are dull and stupid,
    but I delight in your instructions.
My suffering was good for me,
    for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
    than millions in gold and silver.

Yodh

You made me; you created me.
    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
    for your instructions are my delight.
Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
    meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
Let me be united with all who fear you,
    with those who know your laws.
May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
    then I will never be ashamed.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Get Ready! (p.170)

Meditate

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)


Pray

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the Gospel. Though we are not deserving of Your grace, You have brought us life and peace through Your Son. In him You have been faithful to all of Your promises and made us right in Your sight. Forgive us for presuming on Your grace. Our salvation belongs to You alone. Thank you, Lord Jesus for your love toward us who are sinners. Enable us by Your Spirit to declare and demonstrate the Gospel so that Your saving power might bear fruit among the nations. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 40: What Should We Pray?

Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Read

Psalm 63, Deuteronomy 8:2-7, John 6:41-58 (NLT)

Psalm 63
A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.

O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary
    and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
    how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
    I will praise you with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of you,
    meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely.

But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
    They will go down into the depths of the earth.
They will die by the sword
    and become the food of jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God.
    All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,
    while liars will be silenced.

Deuteronomy 8:2-7
Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

“So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.

John 6:41-58
Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Filled Full! (p.244)

Meditate

People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3)


Pray

Our Heavenly Father, You the fountainhead of all goodness. Forgive us for placing our hope in our own accomplishments. Thank you for sending Your Son to be our Bread of Life. By His broken body and shed blood we have found forgiveness and everlasting life. Help us, by Your Spirit, to deepen our trust in Your Word. Enable us to boldly bear witness to Christ for Your glory and the life of our neighbors. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 32: What Do Justification and Sanctification Mean?

Answer: Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Read

Psalm 6, Exodus 34:5-10, Hebrews 12:3-11 (NLT)

Psalm 6
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your rage.
Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
    Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
I am sick at heart.
    How long, O Lord, until you restore me?

Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
    Save me because of your unfailing love.
For the dead do not remember you.
    Who can praise you from the grave?

I am worn out from sobbing.
    All night I flood my bed with weeping,
    drenching it with my tears.
My vision is blurred by grief;
    my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.

Go away, all you who do evil,
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord will answer my prayer.
May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
    May they suddenly turn back in shame.

Exodus 34:5-10
Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh! The Lord!
    The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
    and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
    I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
    I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
    even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you.

Hebrews 12:3-11
Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Running Away (p.272)

Meditate

The Lord disciplines those he loves. (Hebrews 12:6)


Pray

Lord Jesus, you are the author and perfecter of our faith. You endured the cross and disregarded its shame for our sake. Though you were humbled, you have been exalted above every name. Heavenly Father, forgive us for grumbling against Your discipline. Thank you for treating us as sons and daughters in Christ. Enable us by Your Spirit to joyfully receive the trials you are using to make us more like him. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 23: Why Must the Redeemer Be Truly God?

Answer: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Friday, May 24, 2024

Read

Psalm 141, Proverbs 4:1-17, Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

Psalm 141
A psalm of David.

O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry!
    Listen when I cry to you for help!
Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
    and my upraised hands as an evening offering.

Take control of what I say, O Lord,
    and guard my lips.
Don’t let me drift toward evil
    or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
    of those who do wrong.

Let the godly strike me!
    It will be a kindness!
If they correct me, it is soothing medicine.
    Don’t let me refuse it.

But I pray constantly
    against the wicked and their deeds.
When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff,
    the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.
Like rocks brought up by a plow,
    the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.

I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord.
    You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me.
Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
    from the snares of those who do wrong.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    but let me escape.

Proverbs 4:1-17
My children, listen when your father corrects you.
    Pay attention and learn good judgment,
for I am giving you good guidance.
    Don’t turn away from my instructions.
For I, too, was once my father’s son,
    tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.

My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
    Follow my commands, and you will live.
Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
    Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
    Love her, and she will guard you.
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
    And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
    Embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
    she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

My child, listen to me and do as I say,
    and you will have a long, good life.
I will teach you wisdom’s ways
    and lead you in straight paths.
When you walk, you won’t be held back;
    when you run, you won’t stumble.
Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
    Guard them, for they are the key to life.

Don’t do as the wicked do,
    and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
    Turn away and keep moving.
For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
    They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
They eat the food of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence!

Hebrews 4:14-16
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A New Beginning (p.38)

Meditate

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)


Pray

Gracious Lord, we praise you for revealing Christ to us. Though we rebelled against You in our sin, You looked on us with compassion and mercy. Thank you for humbling us, hearing our cries for rescue, and providing Jesus as our perfect sacrifice. He is the Righteous One and our perfect High Priest. Enable us by Your Spirit to live as those set apart by your grace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 21: What Sort of Redeemer is Needed to Bring Us Back to God?

Answer: One who is truly human and also truly God.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Monday, April 29, 2024

Read

Psalm 119:49-80 (NLT)

Zayin

Remember your promise to me;
    it is my only hope.
Your promise revives me;
    it comforts me in all my troubles.
The proud hold me in utter contempt,
    but I do not turn away from your instructions.
I meditate on your age-old regulations;
    O Lord, they comfort me.
I become furious with the wicked,
    because they reject your instructions.
Your decrees have been the theme of my songs
    wherever I have lived.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord;
    therefore, I obey your instructions.
This is how I spend my life:
    obeying your commandments.

Heth

Lord, you are mine!
    I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
    Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life,
    and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay,
    to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you
    for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth;
    teach me your decrees.

Teth

You have done many good things for me, Lord,
    just as you promised.
I believe in your commands;
    now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
    but now I closely follow your word.
You are good and do only good;
    teach me your decrees.
Arrogant people smear me with lies,
    but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
Their hearts are dull and stupid,
    but I delight in your instructions.
My suffering was good for me,
    for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
    than millions in gold and silver.

Yodh

You made me; you created me.
    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
    for your instructions are my delight.
Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
    meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
Let me be united with all who fear you,
    with those who know your laws.
May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
    then I will never be ashamed.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Get Ready! (p.170)

Meditate

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)


Pray

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the Gospel. Though we are not deserving of Your grace, You have brought us life and peace through Your Son. In him You have been faithful to all of Your promises and made us right in Your sight. Forgive us for presuming on Your grace. Our salvation belongs to You alone. Thank you, Lord Jesus for your love toward us who are sinners. Enable us by Your Spirit to declare and demonstrate the Gospel so that Your saving power might bear fruit among the nations. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 18: Will God Allow Our Disobedience and Idolatry To Go Unpunished?
Answer: No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against his righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in his just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come.

New to Daily Worship?

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Sunday, March 3, 2024

Read

Psalm 63, Deuteronomy 8:2-7, John 6:41-58 (NLT)

Psalm 63
A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.

O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary
    and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
    how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
    I will praise you with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of you,
    meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely.

But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
    They will go down into the depths of the earth.
They will die by the sword
    and become the food of jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God.
    All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,
    while liars will be silenced.

Deuteronomy 8:2-7
Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

“So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.

John 6:41-58
Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Filled Full! (p.244)

Meditate

People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3)


Pray

Our Heavenly Father, You the fountainhead of all goodness. Forgive us for placing our hope in our own accomplishments. Thank you for sending Your Son to be our Bread of Life. By His broken body and shed blood we have found forgiveness and everlasting life. Help us, by Your Spirit, to deepen our trust in Your Word. Enable us to boldly bear witness to Christ for Your glory and the life of our neighbors. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 10: What Does God Require in the Fourth and Fifth Commandments?

Answer: Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honor our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Read

Psalm 6, Exodus 34:5-10, Hebrews 12:3-11 (NLT)

Psalm 6
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your rage.
Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
    Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
I am sick at heart.
    How long, O Lord, until you restore me?

Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
    Save me because of your unfailing love.
For the dead do not remember you.
    Who can praise you from the grave?

I am worn out from sobbing.
    All night I flood my bed with weeping,
    drenching it with my tears.
My vision is blurred by grief;
    my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.

Go away, all you who do evil,
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord will answer my prayer.
May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
    May they suddenly turn back in shame.

Exodus 34:5-10
Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh! The Lord!
    The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
    and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
    I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
    I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
    even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you.

Hebrews 12:3-11
Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Running Away (p.272)

Meditate

The Lord disciplines those he loves. (Hebrews 12:6)


Pray

Lord Jesus, you are the author and perfecter of our faith. You endured the cross and disregarded its shame for our sake. Though you were humbled, you have been exalted above every name. Heavenly Father, forgive us for grumbling against Your discipline. Thank you for treating us as sons and daughters in Christ. Enable us by Your Spirit to joyfully receive the trials you are using to make us more like him. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 1: What is our only hope in life and in death?

Answer: That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Friday, November 10, 2023

Read

Psalm 6, Exodus 34:5-10, Hebrews 12:3-11 (NLT)

Psalm 6
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your rage.
Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
    Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
I am sick at heart.
    How long, O Lord, until you restore me?

Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
    Save me because of your unfailing love.
For the dead do not remember you.
    Who can praise you from the grave?

I am worn out from sobbing.
    All night I flood my bed with weeping,
    drenching it with my tears.
My vision is blurred by grief;
    my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.

Go away, all you who do evil,
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord will answer my prayer.
May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
    May they suddenly turn back in shame.

Exodus 34:5-10
Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh! The Lord!
    The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
    and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
    I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
    I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
    even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you.

Hebrews 12:3-11
Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Running Away (p.272)

Meditate

The Lord disciplines those he loves. (Hebrews 12:6)


Pray

Lord Jesus, you are the author and perfecter of our faith. You endured the cross and disregarded its shame for our sake. Though you were humbled, you have been exalted above every name. Heavenly Father, forgive us for grumbling against Your discipline. Thank you for treating us as sons and daughters in Christ. Enable us by Your Spirit to joyfully receive the trials you are using to make us more like him. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 45: Is Baptism with Water the Washing Away of Sin Itself?

Answer: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin.

New to Daily Worship?

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Thursday, October 26, 2023

Read

Psalm 141, Proverbs 4:1-17, Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

Psalm 141
A psalm of David.

O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry!
    Listen when I cry to you for help!
Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
    and my upraised hands as an evening offering.

Take control of what I say, O Lord,
    and guard my lips.
Don’t let me drift toward evil
    or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
    of those who do wrong.

Let the godly strike me!
    It will be a kindness!
If they correct me, it is soothing medicine.
    Don’t let me refuse it.

But I pray constantly
    against the wicked and their deeds.
When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff,
    the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.
Like rocks brought up by a plow,
    the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.

I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord.
    You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me.
Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
    from the snares of those who do wrong.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    but let me escape.

Proverbs 4:1-17
My children, listen when your father corrects you.
    Pay attention and learn good judgment,
for I am giving you good guidance.
    Don’t turn away from my instructions.
For I, too, was once my father’s son,
    tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.

My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
    Follow my commands, and you will live.
Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
    Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
    Love her, and she will guard you.
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
    And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
    Embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
    she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

My child, listen to me and do as I say,
    and you will have a long, good life.
I will teach you wisdom’s ways
    and lead you in straight paths.
When you walk, you won’t be held back;
    when you run, you won’t stumble.
Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
    Guard them, for they are the key to life.

Don’t do as the wicked do,
    and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
    Turn away and keep moving.
For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
    They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
They eat the food of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence!

Hebrews 4:14-16
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A New Beginning (p.38)

Meditate

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)


Pray

Gracious Lord, we praise you for revealing Christ to us. Though we rebelled against You in our sin, You looked on us with compassion and mercy. Thank you for humbling us, hearing our cries for rescue, and providing Jesus as our perfect sacrifice. He is the Righteous One and our perfect High Priest. Enable us by Your Spirit to live as those set apart by your grace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 43: What Are the Sacraments or Ordinances?
Answer: The sacraments or ordinances given by God and instituted by Christ, namely baptism and the Lord’s Supper, are visible signs and seals that we are bound together as a community of faith by his death and resurrection. By our use of them the Holy Spirit more fully declares and seals the promises of the gospel to us.

New to Daily Worship?

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Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Read

Psalm 119:49-80 (NLT)

Zayin

Remember your promise to me;
    it is my only hope.
Your promise revives me;
    it comforts me in all my troubles.
The proud hold me in utter contempt,
    but I do not turn away from your instructions.
I meditate on your age-old regulations;
    O Lord, they comfort me.
I become furious with the wicked,
    because they reject your instructions.
Your decrees have been the theme of my songs
    wherever I have lived.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord;
    therefore, I obey your instructions.
This is how I spend my life:
    obeying your commandments.

Heth

Lord, you are mine!
    I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
    Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life,
    and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay,
    to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you
    for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth;
    teach me your decrees.

Teth

You have done many good things for me, Lord,
    just as you promised.
I believe in your commands;
    now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
    but now I closely follow your word.
You are good and do only good;
    teach me your decrees.
Arrogant people smear me with lies,
    but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
Their hearts are dull and stupid,
    but I delight in your instructions.
My suffering was good for me,
    for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
    than millions in gold and silver.

Yodh

You made me; you created me.
    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
    for your instructions are my delight.
Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
    meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
Let me be united with all who fear you,
    with those who know your laws.
May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
    then I will never be ashamed.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Get Ready! (p.170)

Meditate

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)


Pray

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the Gospel. Though we are not deserving of Your grace, You have brought us life and peace through Your Son. In him You have been faithful to all of Your promises and made us right in Your sight. Forgive us for presuming on Your grace. Our salvation belongs to You alone. Thank you, Lord Jesus for your love toward us who are sinners. Enable us by Your Spirit to declare and demonstrate the Gospel so that Your saving power might bear fruit among the nations. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 40: What Should We Pray?
Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Read

Psalm 119:49-80 (NLT)

Zayin

Remember your promise to me;
    it is my only hope.
Your promise revives me;
    it comforts me in all my troubles.
The proud hold me in utter contempt,
    but I do not turn away from your instructions.
I meditate on your age-old regulations;
    O Lord, they comfort me.
I become furious with the wicked,
    because they reject your instructions.
Your decrees have been the theme of my songs
    wherever I have lived.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord;
    therefore, I obey your instructions.
This is how I spend my life:
    obeying your commandments.

Heth

Lord, you are mine!
    I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
    Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life,
    and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay,
    to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you
    for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth;
    teach me your decrees.

Teth

You have done many good things for me, Lord,
    just as you promised.
I believe in your commands;
    now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
    but now I closely follow your word.
You are good and do only good;
    teach me your decrees.
Arrogant people smear me with lies,
    but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
Their hearts are dull and stupid,
    but I delight in your instructions.
My suffering was good for me,
    for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
    than millions in gold and silver.

Yodh

You made me; you created me.
    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
    for your instructions are my delight.
Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
    meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
Let me be united with all who fear you,
    with those who know your laws.
May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
    then I will never be ashamed.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Get Ready! (p.170)

Meditate

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)


Pray

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the Gospel. Though we are not deserving of Your grace, You have brought us life and peace through Your Son. In him You have been faithful to all of Your promises and made us right in Your sight. Forgive us for presuming on Your grace. Our salvation belongs to You alone. Thank you, Lord Jesus for your love toward us who are sinners. Enable us by Your Spirit to declare and demonstrate the Gospel so that Your saving power might bear fruit among the nations. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 40: What Should We Pray?
Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Read

Psalm 63, Deuteronomy 8:2-7, John 6:41-58 (NLT)

Psalm 63
A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.

O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary
    and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
    how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
    I will praise you with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of you,
    meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely.

But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
    They will go down into the depths of the earth.
They will die by the sword
    and become the food of jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God.
    All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,
    while liars will be silenced.

Deuteronomy 8:2-7
Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

“So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.

John 6:41-58
Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Filled Full! (p.244)

Meditate

People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3)


Pray

Our Heavenly Father, You the fountainhead of all goodness. Forgive us for placing our hope in our own accomplishments. Thank you for sending Your Son to be our Bread of Life. By His broken body and shed blood we have found forgiveness and everlasting life. Help us, by Your Spirit, to deepen our trust in Your Word. Enable us to boldly bear witness to Christ for Your glory and the life of our neighbors. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 31: What Do We Believe by True Faith?

Answer: Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles’ Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

New to Daily Worship?

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Friday, June 9, 2023

Read

Psalm 6, Exodus 34:5-10, Hebrews 12:3-11 (NLT)

Psalm 6
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your rage.
Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
    Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
I am sick at heart.
    How long, O Lord, until you restore me?

Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
    Save me because of your unfailing love.
For the dead do not remember you.
    Who can praise you from the grave?

I am worn out from sobbing.
    All night I flood my bed with weeping,
    drenching it with my tears.
My vision is blurred by grief;
    my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.

Go away, all you who do evil,
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord will answer my prayer.
May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
    May they suddenly turn back in shame.

Exodus 34:5-10
Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh! The Lord!
    The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
    and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
    I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
    I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
    even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you.

Hebrews 12:3-11
Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Running Away (p.272)

Meditate

The Lord disciplines those he loves. (Hebrews 12:6)


Pray

Lord Jesus, you are the author and perfecter of our faith. You endured the cross and disregarded its shame for our sake. Though you were humbled, you have been exalted above every name. Heavenly Father, forgive us for grumbling against Your discipline. Thank you for treating us as sons and daughters in Christ. Enable us by Your Spirit to joyfully receive the trials you are using to make us more like him. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 23: Why Must the Redeemer Be Truly God?

Answer: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.

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Thursday, May 25, 2023

Read

Psalm 141, Proverbs 4:1-17, Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

Psalm 141
A psalm of David.

O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry!
    Listen when I cry to you for help!
Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
    and my upraised hands as an evening offering.

Take control of what I say, O Lord,
    and guard my lips.
Don’t let me drift toward evil
    or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
    of those who do wrong.

Let the godly strike me!
    It will be a kindness!
If they correct me, it is soothing medicine.
    Don’t let me refuse it.

But I pray constantly
    against the wicked and their deeds.
When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff,
    the wicked will listen to my words and find them true.
Like rocks brought up by a plow,
    the bones of the wicked will lie scattered without burial.

I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord.
    You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me.
Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
    from the snares of those who do wrong.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    but let me escape.

Proverbs 4:1-17
My children, listen when your father corrects you.
    Pay attention and learn good judgment,
for I am giving you good guidance.
    Don’t turn away from my instructions.
For I, too, was once my father’s son,
    tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.

My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
    Follow my commands, and you will live.
Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
    Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
    Love her, and she will guard you.
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
    And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
    Embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
    she will present you with a beautiful crown.”

My child, listen to me and do as I say,
    and you will have a long, good life.
I will teach you wisdom’s ways
    and lead you in straight paths.
When you walk, you won’t be held back;
    when you run, you won’t stumble.
Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
    Guard them, for they are the key to life.

Don’t do as the wicked do,
    and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
    Turn away and keep moving.
For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
    They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
They eat the food of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence!

Hebrews 4:14-16
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A New Beginning (p.38)

Meditate

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)


Pray

Gracious Lord, we praise you for revealing Christ to us. Though we rebelled against You in our sin, You looked on us with compassion and mercy. Thank you for humbling us, hearing our cries for rescue, and providing Jesus as our perfect sacrifice. He is the Righteous One and our perfect High Priest. Enable us by Your Spirit to live as those set apart by your grace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 21: What Sort of Redeemer is Needed to Bring Us Back to God?

Answer: One who is truly human and also truly God.

New to Daily Worship?

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Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Read

Psalm 119:49-80 (NLT)

Zayin

Remember your promise to me;
    it is my only hope.
Your promise revives me;
    it comforts me in all my troubles.
The proud hold me in utter contempt,
    but I do not turn away from your instructions.
I meditate on your age-old regulations;
    O Lord, they comfort me.
I become furious with the wicked,
    because they reject your instructions.
Your decrees have been the theme of my songs
    wherever I have lived.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord;
    therefore, I obey your instructions.
This is how I spend my life:
    obeying your commandments.

Heth

Lord, you are mine!
    I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
    Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life,
    and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay,
    to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you
    for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth;
    teach me your decrees.

Teth

You have done many good things for me, Lord,
    just as you promised.
I believe in your commands;
    now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
    but now I closely follow your word.
You are good and do only good;
    teach me your decrees.
Arrogant people smear me with lies,
    but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
Their hearts are dull and stupid,
    but I delight in your instructions.
My suffering was good for me,
    for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
    than millions in gold and silver.

Yodh

You made me; you created me.
    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
    for your instructions are my delight.
Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
    meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
Let me be united with all who fear you,
    with those who know your laws.
May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
    then I will never be ashamed.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Get Ready! (p.170)

Meditate

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)


Pray

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the Gospel. Though we are not deserving of Your grace, You have brought us life and peace through Your Son. In him You have been faithful to all of Your promises and made us right in Your sight. Forgive us for presuming on Your grace. Our salvation belongs to You alone. Thank you, Lord Jesus for your love toward us who are sinners. Enable us by Your Spirit to declare and demonstrate the Gospel so that Your saving power might bear fruit among the nations. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 18: Will God Allow Our Disobedience and Idolatry To Go Unpunished?
Answer: No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against his righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in his just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Read

Psalm 119:49-80 (NLT)

Zayin

Remember your promise to me;
    it is my only hope.
Your promise revives me;
    it comforts me in all my troubles.
The proud hold me in utter contempt,
    but I do not turn away from your instructions.
I meditate on your age-old regulations;
    O Lord, they comfort me.
I become furious with the wicked,
    because they reject your instructions.
Your decrees have been the theme of my songs
    wherever I have lived.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord;
    therefore, I obey your instructions.
This is how I spend my life:
    obeying your commandments.

Heth

Lord, you are mine!
    I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
    Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life,
    and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay,
    to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you
    for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth;
    teach me your decrees.

Teth

You have done many good things for me, Lord,
    just as you promised.
I believe in your commands;
    now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
    but now I closely follow your word.
You are good and do only good;
    teach me your decrees.
Arrogant people smear me with lies,
    but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
Their hearts are dull and stupid,
    but I delight in your instructions.
My suffering was good for me,
    for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
    than millions in gold and silver.

Yodh

You made me; you created me.
    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
    for your instructions are my delight.
Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
    meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
Let me be united with all who fear you,
    with those who know your laws.
May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
    then I will never be ashamed.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Get Ready! (p.170)

Meditate

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)


Pray

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the Gospel. Though we are not deserving of Your grace, You have brought us life and peace through Your Son. In him You have been faithful to all of Your promises and made us right in Your sight. Forgive us for presuming on Your grace. Our salvation belongs to You alone. Thank you, Lord Jesus for your love toward us who are sinners. Enable us by Your Spirit to declare and demonstrate the Gospel so that Your saving power might bear fruit among the nations. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 18: Will God Allow Our Disobedience and Idolatry To Go Unpunished?
Answer: No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against his righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in his just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

Saturday, March 4, 2023

Read

Psalm 63, Deuteronomy 8:2-7, John 6:41-58 (NLT)

Psalm 63
A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.

O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary
    and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
    how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
    I will praise you with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of you,
    meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely.

But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
    They will go down into the depths of the earth.
They will die by the sword
    and become the food of jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God.
    All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,
    while liars will be silenced.

Deuteronomy 8:2-7
Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

“So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.

John 6:41-58
Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Filled Full! (p.244)

Meditate

People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3)


Pray

Our Heavenly Father, You the fountainhead of all goodness. Forgive us for placing our hope in our own accomplishments. Thank you for sending Your Son to be our Bread of Life. By His broken body and shed blood we have found forgiveness and everlasting life. Help us, by Your Spirit, to deepen our trust in Your Word. Enable us to boldly bear witness to Christ for Your glory and the life of our neighbors. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 9: What does God require in the First, Second, and Third Commandments?

Answer: First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his Word and works.

New to Daily Worship?

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Friday, January 6, 2023

Read

Psalm 6, Exodus 34:5-10, Hebrews 12:3-11 (NLT)

Psalm 6
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your rage.
Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
    Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
I am sick at heart.
    How long, O Lord, until you restore me?

Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
    Save me because of your unfailing love.
For the dead do not remember you.
    Who can praise you from the grave?

I am worn out from sobbing.
    All night I flood my bed with weeping,
    drenching it with my tears.
My vision is blurred by grief;
    my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.

Go away, all you who do evil,
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord will answer my prayer.
May all my enemies be disgraced and terrified.
    May they suddenly turn back in shame.

Exodus 34:5-10
Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh! The Lord!
    The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
    and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
    I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
    I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
    even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you.

Hebrews 12:3-11
Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Running Away (p.272)

Meditate

The Lord disciplines those he loves. (Hebrews 12:6)


Pray

Lord Jesus, you are the author and perfecter of our faith. You endured the cross and disregarded its shame for our sake. Though you were humbled, you have been exalted above every name. Heavenly Father, forgive us for grumbling against Your discipline. Thank you for treating us as sons and daughters in Christ. Enable us by Your Spirit to joyfully receive the trials you are using to make us more like him. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

 

New City Catechism

Question 1: What is our only hope in life and in death?

Answer: That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started: