Sunday, May 1
Matthew 28:18, 19 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, by virtue of the power invested in you the conditions for discipleship have been given to us.
Thought for the day: The spirit of the disciple is the spirit of one who would humbly follow.
Monday, May 2
Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; here they will see me.”
Prayer: Jesus, we thank you for keeping your appointments of yesterday and today.
Thought for the day: In Galilee Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, received the good confession of Peter, and gave the “Great Commission” to the disciples.
Tuesday, May 3
Luke 4:43 But [Jesus] said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
Prayer: God, our Heavenly Father, we given thanks for the message of Jesus for all nations.
Thought for the day: Someone said hate drew a tiny circle to keep others out, but love drew a huge circle to take in everyone.
Wednesday, May 3
Mark 16:15,16 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you have given us a message to share and a command to go.
Thought for the day: Why do the public interest stories about random acts of kindness appear on pages 2 and 4 and not page 1 of the daily paper?
Thursday, May 5
Romans 10: 14,15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard. And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Prayer: O Jesus, may we be your consecrated messengers of peace, hope, and love.
Thought for the day: If the heavens and earth know how to proclaim the glory of the Lord, why do we find it so difficult to join them in chorus?
Friday, May 6
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reins!”
Prayer: God, we thank you for the message of Jesus the Christ and for all who have carried the message through the ages.
Thought for the day: William Tyndale and John Wycliffe had not placed their lives to give others the privilege of reading a Bible in English.
Saturday, May 7
John 20:21, 22 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, may your Holy Spirit guide and safeguard our message of good news today.
Thought for the day: Before Microsoft’s customers could call on Cortina for an answer, disciples could call on the Holy Spirit.
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