Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 24, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Excited about Their Message!
What’s the news today?
Was that the first thing you looked at or watched this morning?
The daily news feed tends to set the tone for our day or discussions. Many wake up and check the news on their phones while others turn into their station of choice to get the morning news.
Most of the news is negative, creates fear, drives uncertainty, or pits one group of people against another. Then we let the news feed drive our day…or at least a bit of it. Subconsciously we allow the news to affect our day.
Even if it has no direct impact on our day by people that we don’t even know or certainly don’t know us.
Wouldn’t it be nice to rise above the daily news cycle and grind of the endless negative reporting and have a different narrative to fill our minds and hearts today…every day?
That’s what makes the news Jesus gives us so good.
It doesn’t depend on today’s news narrative, but rather is the culmination of God’s loving plan for you and communicates God’s heart for you!
What is the good news narrative God wants our hearts to be filled with each day? The prophet Isaiah put it this way…
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
If you heard on the morning news that someone was doing the following…
- Preaching good news…
- Binding up the brokenhearted…
- Proclaiming freedom…
- Proclaiming the Lord’s favor
- Comforting those who mourn…
- Providing for those who grieve…
- Bestowing a crown of beauty…
- Giving a garment of praise…
…and it wasn’t based on a government program or empty campaign promise, but based in the power of the Almighty God and the faithfulness to his promises…wouldn’t that peak your interest?
I’d be all ears!
In Luke 2:10 Jesus was reading this passage in the synagogue in Nazareth and proclaimed, ““Today this scripture (Isaiah 61) is fulfilled in your hearing.”
The good news report that Jesus wants you to hear every morning, even though it won’t be on the major networks or your social media feed is this, “I love you my child. I lived, died and rose again for you! You are forgiven and I promise that whatever the news today brings, the news that matters for you today is that you are a dearly loved child of mine. Enjoy living in that confidence and enjoy sharing this good news to people you know…as you can see, the world needs good news!”
Apply: Take a few minutes to reflect on this question, “What makes the news Jesus brings so good for me today?”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for having good news that isn’t dependent on what happens today, but on what you accomplished many years ago through your Son Jesus. Thank you for giving that good news to me today…
Prayers for the Mission and Ministry of Cross & Crown
Sunday – January 24 – Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
PRAYER: -You, God, are the provider of all things. In You we find joy and fulfillment. We seek You and Your presence, personally, and for this church. May we walk the path of life by Your guidance.
Monday – January 25 – Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
PRAYER: Lord, we thank You that Your light shines through Your children. We pray that You would first shine in us, to fill us with Your holiness and expose anything that needs to be removed. Then we pray that You would shine through us and let our lives be a reflection of Your amazing grace and love.