March 1: I Peter 3:18-22 "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." Thank you, our God, for this gospel truth. Help us to hold onto it, to preach and teach it, share it in our churches and around the nation and the world. Forgive us for taking it lightly...or being embarrassed by it. Give us courage to turn away from cheap grace that is no grace at all. Give us faith to let the gospel bring us to You every day.
March 8: Romans 4:13-25 "The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him [Abraham] alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness–for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." Too often, Lord, when we hear the world "credit" we think only of our financial troubles. Help us to hear this word and think about what we believe, and meditate upon another word, "righteousness". We pray for faith and righteousness to grow within our congregations, presbyteries, and denomination.
March 15: I Cor. 1:18-25 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Lord God, in this holy season of Lent, help each one of us to focus on the cross of Christ. Help us to see its pain, its power, and its wisdom. Give us courage to resist the temptation to follow the wisdom of the world, which is not wisdom at all. May true wisdom grow within Your churches everywhere...even our own.
March 22: Ephesians 2:1-10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Creator God, thank you for preparing good works for us to do. Help us to seek Your will, Your guidance. Even as we meet in presbyteries and vote on difficult issues, help us to remember that we are Yours...and You have given us good works to do. Give us strength to trust You, and to obey You.
March 29: Hebrews 5:5-10 "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and once, made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him..." Jesus, we don't like to suffer. We would rather learn what we need to learn another way. Show us places where we are suffering because of our disobedience, then quickly lead us to repentance. You are the source of our eternal salvation...we believe You are also the source of our immediate help and strength.
