Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first. Use as much or as little of this guide as you’d like.
GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does.
+ Practice gratitude while playing or sing some worship music, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.
+ Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on today’s Old Testament scripture: 2 Samuel 8-9
+ From your reading, finish the sentence “God, you are ___.” Take time to Thank God for the ways you’ve seen Him be/do that in the past, Worship Him for it, and Intercede (pray for) that truth for yourself and others.
MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
+ Pray the prayer Jesus taught his followers: the Lord’s Prayer, or pray it using this Lord’s Prayer guide.
+ Use the PRAY acronym to guide your prayer through this morning’s Psalm: Psalm 119:25-32.
P = Pause. As you start your time of prayer, begin by pausing and being still before the Lord.
R = Read. Read the Scripture Focus slowly and focus on words/phrases the Holy Spirit highlights as you read.
A = Ask. Ask God to come and speak to you. Open up your heart to Him as your heavenly Father.
Y = Yield. We want to yield our lives to the words we have prayed and commit to follow Jesus’s way.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Pray a simple prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.
Today’s New Testament reading is from John 7:45-52
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
S = Say. What is the main point? What does it teach about God (Jesus) & yourself?
O = Obey. What can you apply (practice) from this passage today?
S = Share. Who can you share what you’re learning with today? (see Focus on Others)
A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
Have you ever heard the old adage “Keep your words sweet, you never know when you may have to eat them”? I am sure that the Pharisees were feeling this way after the resurrection. But let me get back to this passage in John. This is about the Pharisees sending the temple guards to arrest Jesus. Well, they return empty handed - only to evoke the anger and scorn of the Pharisees. When asked why they didn’t arrest Jesus, the guards reported that “The officers answered ‘Never did a man speak the way this man speaks.” (John 7:46) I am sure the guards were in awe of Jesus after encountering Him. If they thought He was just an ordinary man, I think they may have said instead that no other man speaks as this man. These men were so amazed by Jesus that they could not say anything other than the truth, no excuses here, just the honest truth. The Pharisees responded with scorn and contempt, saying “You have not also been led astray, have you?” They were accusing the guards of being ignorant, common people, with no sense. The Pharisees again refused to face the truth, instead remaining rooted in their inflated egos and claiming Jesus was just a troublemaker who was leading the people astray.
In verses 50 and 51, Nicodemus, also a Pharisee and part of the Sanhedrin, spoke up to the others and asked them, “Our law does not judge a man, unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” By speaking up, Nicodemus is making the others acknowledge that this is exactly what the law says. The law of Moses states that every man is entitled to a fair trial and considered innocent until proven guilty. For you see, Nicodemus had secretly met with Jesus and was impressed by His knowledge and words. Nicodemus had a gut feeling that Jesuse was more than just a mere man.
Naturally, the others were going to have none of Nicodemus’ questioning of their knowledge of scripture and the law. They began to ridicule Nicodemus just like they had the guards. In verse 52 they shout, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” By saying this they are showing that they have no idea what they are talking about, because Jonah and Nahum, both earlier prophets that they knew about, were from the Galilee area.
These men were so quick to ridicule and criticize others that they refused to even consider that they might be the ones who were wrong. Constructive criticism is beneficial if done with compassion and love - as compared to destructive criticism, which is done with egotistical malice. We need to ask ourselves, “How well do I give criticism, and how well do I take it?” As a christian, you most likely will receive criticism at some point. (I know I have, for my beliefs.) But remember to live in such a way that no one will believe your critics, and to make sure your words are sweet in case you need to eat them one day. - Dawn Marie Custer
EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying an Examen & Tending Your Heart each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you anxious or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
+ For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.
+ Practice hearing from God by asking questions like, “Father, what do you want me to know about you?” or “Father, what do you want to say about your love for me?” Simply be still and listen, or journal anything that comes to mind. Learn more about hearing from God using the Tending Your Heart guide.
FOCUS ON OTHERS |
+ Pray through a Ripple Prayer or use Nations Prayer to pray for the nations and those serving them.
+ Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
+ Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.
That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!
