Where We Focus Our Lives
Today’s Bible Verse:
Proverbs 21:13 ESV
Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
Christians live by faith, as we heard from our reading from 2nd Corinthians this weekend. Our collective faith is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We trust His sacrifice paid for our sins, and by believing in Him, we receive the blessing of eternal life. But in this life, as we live by our faith in Jesus, we express this faith in service to others. One way to show this faithful life is to help the poor. Food banks exist to provide for those who are hungry and can’t make ends meet. Providing for a food bank or pantry is a real example of living by faith. Pregnancy centers help mothers and families; by supporting them, we show others what it means to live by faith. Ministries to help seniors, young kids, and homeless families, amongst others, provide the example of living by faith in Jesus. The focus of our lives is to let our faith shine. If we do not see the troubled and needy before us and do not work to provide for their needs, our faith in Jesus is lacking. Let your faith shine.
PRAYERS
Keep in Your Prayers:
Those struggling to make ends meet.
All people dealing with cancer
Those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
A Prayer for Today:
Build up your church today so that the life of faith is not just in words but also in deeds, helping people in need. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I 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 sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is 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 Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
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