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Life is Short–Honor God!
Scripture reading for September 30: Ecclesiastes 12:1-2 “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, . .” 6-7 “Before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was and the spirit returns to God Who gave it.” . .13-14 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or bad.”
Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
The book of Ecclesiastes was compiled by King Solomon as a commentary on the vanity of human effort to live life on earth and find happiness and success outside of God. The final chapter is a summary of his advice to his sons and us today. He called them to remember their Creator in their youth. Young people are often tempted to go the way of the world and are attracted to the latest fads and popular ideas. Starting out right was important before the tests and trials of life hit them. Aging is one of the biggest trials of all as our senses and body begin to deteriorate. Youth should remember that all will die and their bodies will return to the dust and their spirits to God Who created them. A healthy respect for God and diligence to follow His commandments was the duty and responsibility of man. God was watching and would reward each person according to their deeds.
Paul, in Colossians, encouraged the believers to do all that they did either in word or deed in the Name of the Lord Jesus and to His glory. With gratitude they would please their Father through Jesus Christ and paying heed to His Word. Reward was awaiting.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for calling me in my youth and drawing me to honor You and study Your unchanging Word. May all my words and deeds bring glory to You! Amen.
Walking in Health
Scripture reading for September 25: Proverbs 4:20-27 “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path for your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
1 John 2:5-6 “. . By this we may know that we are in Him(Jesus): whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”
Instead of prescribing medicines, the Scripture deals with the heart as the source of either health or disease. Solomon, writing down wisdom for his sons, pleaded with them to pay attention to his words and sayings. They were to listen and ponder them, keeping them in their hearts. They were to write them down and look on them, even post them on their doorposts and gates. This teaching of God’s wisdom would bring life to all who paid attention. They would be healing to their flesh as well as life in their souls. Solomon told his sons to guard or keep their hearts with vigilance because out of the heart flowed the springs of life. The spring would be kept pure through meditating on God’s Word and godly parental instructions.
A thousand years later, Jesus Christ, a descendant of Solomon known for His amazing wisdom and obedience to God’s Word, modeled for His disciples how to walk before God. They were to share Good News of eternal life and allow Jesus to use them in healing and deliverance. Jesus walked in complete holiness and obedience to His Father and finished the work God gave Him to do. One of His disciples, John, wrote to the church to help them with assurance of their salvation. His simple statement was that whoever claimed that he abided in Jesus Christ ought to walk as Jesus walked.
Prayer: Father God, I want to abide in Jesus and walk as He walked. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and boldness to walk each day by faith, putting one foot ahead of the other on the highway of holiness. Amen.
Day 2 -Jesus’ Prayer for Us!
Scripture reading for June 30: John 17: 20-25“”I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. The glory that You have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are One, I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.””
Not only did Jesus give His disciples a pattern or model of how to pray, He prayed for them using that pattern as recorded by the apostle John in chapter 17 of his Gospel. Earlier in this prayer and over and over, Jesus addressed God as “Father” as He instructed His followers. We are to pray directly to the Father and can come boldly before Him because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. (John 16:23-24)
As Jesus taught His disciples to pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done, so Jesus prayed in this passage for God’s will to make us all one with Him and the Son. God’s purpose was that the world would believe that God sent Jesus and that He loved them enough to send His Son to die on their behalf. Those who would believe and unite in God’s family would experience God’s love and it would flow through them to those in the world.
Jesus had prayed earlier that God would keep His followers in the world from the evil one and that none of them would be lost, except Judas, the son of destruction. (John 17:12) His request was to make them complete and filled with joy eternally, even though the world would hate them. They would be set apart by the truth of God’s Word and Son. Jesus not only prayed for His immediate disciples, but for all who would come to believe in Him through their witness and message. His plan was that all who believed would be with Him where He was and behold His glory forever and ever! Truly, His is the power and glory forever and ever! Amen!
Week 27–Day 1–Pray Like This!
Scripture reading for June 29: Matthew 6:9-15 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
As we close out this twenty-six week devotional for first responders, I want to encourage each of my brothers and sisters to develop a prayer connection with God the Father using the pattern taught by Jesus Christ to help connect with God effectively. This prayer has often been neglected or mis-used. Some memorize it and say it repetitively with little thought. For others, myself included, it is a wonderful help in keeping my focus on God’s holiness and grace and humbly presenting my personal needs. It was taught by Jesus as a pattern for corporate prayer among believers.
This prayer begins with relationship and our identity in Christ as God’s children. “Our Father” is recognition that all of us are created in God’s image and He is truly our Father in heaven. Our Father is Holy: complete and whole in Himself. He is the King of the heavenly kingdom and His will is to be our desire and focus on earth as it is in heaven. He is honored when we ask Him for physical, emotional and spiritual needs. We find forgiveness of sin is one of our deepest needs and we are to ask Him for forgiveness. Reinforcing this is the admonition that if we refuse to forgive others, God will not forgive us. Ending this short pattern is the humble request to deliver us from evil or the evil one. By faith, we pray, believing that God hears us and answers His children.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, holy is Your Name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom, power, and glory forever! Amen.
Day 2–Pray–Don’t Worry
Scripture reading for April 14: Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Paul was writing to a supporting church from prison in Rome. He was awaiting a verdict that would determine whether he lived or was executed. He knew that the believers would be distressed because of his circumstances and that they also faced possible arrest and execution. He wrote to instruct them and to show them how to cope with daily stress and temptations to worry. His instructions are simple and helpful to all of us in the responder community.
Again we are encouraged to rejoice in the midst of difficulties and troubles. In fact, Paul states it twice for emphasis! He then tells them to let their reasonableness be known to all. When we are secure in Christ Jesus through faith and relationship, it is reasonable to rest in joy and confidence that God is in control. It is our choice to rejoice and to pray with thanksgiving recognizing that God is near to us and with us.
We are also instructed not to worry but to pray about all our fears and needs. When we pray, we should pray in faith that God will answer and even thank Him in advance for hearing and providing. When we cast our cares on the Lord we are to leave them there. In place of our cares and fears, God’s peace will come over us and guard our hearts and minds from worry and fear. We do our part by refocusing our thought life on what is good, lovely and perfect. We also set an example for other believers that helps everyone. (Philippians 4:8-9)
Prayer: Father, thank You for this simple instruction for Your children to live in peace and not fear or anxiety. Help me to practice this and be the example You desire for others and those You send me to help. Thank You for hearing and answering! I will meditate on Your goodness and grace. Amen.
Week 12–Responder Video Highlight
Scripture reading for March 21: John 13:15-16 “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
Thane Meyers–Ozawkie Fireman-Thaynemeyer03@gmail.com–on being a servant leader.
Thank You!
Dear friends,
Thank you for journeying with me through the New Testament in 2025! It has been a great privilege to share daily what God was speaking to me concerning developing a world view that aligned with His. Each day, a new chapter brought Jesus’ way of looking at life and our mission in this world. Our task was to receive His Word implanted in our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to refocus our thinking and actions to live in a manner pleasing to our Lord. (James 1:21) Faith grows when we truly hear God’s Word and become doers that apply truth daily.
God works on us from the inside out. (Philippians 2:13) He calls out to us, speaking to our hearts and souls with tenderness and love. Sometimes it feels like He is shouting at us through our pains! But it is always His goodness that leads us to make the changes we need to our thinking and consequently to how we live each day. Our attitude determines our altitude! Humble obedience and faith brings contentment and joy as we are learning to trust God. We begin to count it all joy as we endure trials and persecution. We draw near to God and cast all our cares on Him. We are aware of His abiding presence with us in the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Helper brings encouragement, power to choose God’s way, and boldness to stand on God’s promises. The fruit of the Holy Spirit grows daily, helping us to reflect God’s love and goodness to others around us.
God is always working out all things for our good and His glory! (Romans 8:26-28) When we believe this simple truth, our view of life lines up with God’s stated goals. His plans are good and established forever. He has wisdom to work everything for good. He has the power to control all forces, good and evil, and use them for His purposes. He knows everything, past, present, and future. The foundation of His throne is righteousness and justice insuring that everything will be done according to His unchanging standards and Word. We can trust this and rest in Who He is. We know Him as our Father by the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
May God continue to reveal Himself to you daily as you journey on to the next year of adventure!
Love in Christ Jesus, Pastor John Morse
Not of this world!
Scripture reading for April 29: John 17
“But now I am coming to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is Truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” John 17:13-18
Jesus was sent by His Father into the world that He had made. He came to earth as a man even though He was God’s eternal Son. His mission was to reveal the Father to His lost children and to seek and save them from eternal destruction and give them eternal life by adopting them into God’s family again. The ‘seed’ that would bring new birth and adoption was God’s Word and Jesus brought that Word to the world. His disciples had received Him and His Word and Jesus asked the Father to protect them from the evil one by sanctifying them through His Word of Truth.
Jesus emphasized that His disciples were not of this world. They had been part of the world system, but through believing God’s Word and receiving Jesus as Lord they were now citizens of heaven. They had been sanctified, that is ‘set apart’, for God’s use and family. As the Father had sent Jesus into the world from heaven to seek and save lost people, now Jesus also sent the reborn sons and daughters of God into the world to finish His Work. Jesus in love for His disciples, prayed these truths over them in His last hours here in the world.
Is it comforting to know that Jesus Christ has prayed this prayer for His disciples and for all to come through them? How is your world view of this earth and it’s people changed through Jesus’ prayer? Would you say that you are actively going into this world to complete Jesus’ mission of reaching the lost?
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for answering Your Son’s prayer for us who follow Jesus Christ. We are certainly not of this world and look forward to our eternal home with our heavenly Father and Jesus. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit again this day to empower me to reach the lost with Good News! Amen.
The upside-down kingdom!
Scripture reading for March 11: Luke 6
“And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.”” Luke 6:20-23
After a great healing meeting where power had come out of Him and brought deliverance from demons and healing for all, Jesus looked to heaven and began to speak to His disciples. Jesus pronounced blessings on those of His followers who were poor, hungry, weeping and those hated and reviled because of Him. He told them that they should rejoice and leap for joy now in faith! Their reward in heaven would far exceed the troubles that they were now experiencing. In fact, they were in good company because this is how their own relatives had treated the prophets sent to them by God.
Jesus was teaching them about the invisible kingdom of God and their privilege to be a part of that kingdom. In spite of how it might look or feel, they were blessed and would be rewarded. People of faith had always been subject to persecution, hatred, exclusion, and even famine and sorrows and even death. The prophets of God had experienced this as well, even from the Israelites forefathers. These truths told them of an upside-down kingdom where what the world thought of as punishment was actually going to be rewarded. Jesus Christ, Himself, would model this attitude of joy and blessing as He suffered as the Son of God and our Savior.
As a believer in Jesus, have you ever suffered for your faith? Do you find it hard to rejoice and leap for joy when people hate you and revile you? Which one of these blessings pronounced by Jesus Christ do you most need in your life today?
Prayer: Father God, I admit that I don’t enjoy being hungry, weeping, or being hated by others because of Jesus Christ as my Lord. My experience has been limited of these things happening, but I have visited lands where it is dangerous to be a believer. Help me to live in hope and joy so I might share the Gospel by my attitude, actions and joyful life. Amen.
Sunday rest: Blessed givers!
Dear Friends,
Welcome to another day of rest in Christ Jesus! Because of what He was willing to give to us, we can now rest secure in our salvation and live today in freedom from fear of punishment, guilt or shame! What a blessing to know that! Let’s take time today to reflect on this blessing of Jesus Christ and His gift to us!
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’“ Acts 20:35
This quote from the Lord Jesus is a truth that we can live by. Jesus lived to give His life blood for our salvation. He offered His body as a sacrifice for our sins and willingly laid down His life that we might have life. He always considered the needs of others above His own needs and readily gave His time and effort to meet their needs. He taught us that the blessed life is a life that is willing to give! If we give, we will be taken care of and our own needs will be met. What we sow we will reap!
I was talking to a person today who said that he had given away his electric dryer to someone who needed one because the rental house he moved into already had a dryer. When he recently moved here, he needed a dryer and told his wife that the Lord would meet their needs. After three days here, a person brought a dryer by his house and gave it to them! God blesses givers! The person that gave them the dryer will be blessed, too!
As you rest today, thank God for His generous heart towards you and ask Him to show you how you can bless someone by giving today. We are imitating our Lord when we give and His blessing will rest on us!
In His Love, Pastor John