Week: The Way of the Kingdom of God
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Lord Jesus, we open our minds to learn new things, so that we know more about You. We open our hearts to be filled with Your love, so that we become more like You. And we open our hands to receive all we need to live our lives for You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Kumi
Matthew 6:10
May your kingdom come and what you want be done,
here on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
One day, a rich young man asked Jesus how he could enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus told him to obey all of God’s commands and then sell all he had and give it to those who were poor. Today, we’re REFLECTING on what happened next.
Read by Kumi
Matthew 19:22-24
But when the young man heard this, he left sorrowfully, because he was rich.
Then Jesus said to his followers, ‘I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’
Matthew 19:22-24 (NCV)
Jesus isn’t saying that it’s impossible for rich people to enter God’s Kingdom, He’s just saying that it’s hard. So, why do we think He said this?
Maybe it’s because if we had lots of money and we could buy all the material things we needed for ourselves, then we might forget that we need God too.
We learned about this last week, didn’t we? Whether we have lots of money or not, having God in charge of our lives means being humble and trusting, like a little child (Matthew 18:14). This is the way of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus says that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What other strange sayings or proverbs can we think of?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Loving God, we ASK You to help us remember that everything we have is ultimately from You, even the air we breathe. We ASK you to teach us how to hold everything we have with open hands, ready to be generous with what we’ve got in whatever way You ask.
Lord Jesus, we particularly ASK You to be with those who are wealthy – those who’ve got a lot. Remind them that everything they have is ultimately a gift, not just to be received but to be given, to be shared. Help those who have a lot to be humble and dependent on You.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Matthew 19:22-24
But when the young man heard this, he left sorrowfully, because he was rich.
Then Jesus said to his followers, ‘I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’
Matthew 19:22-24 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, we say YES to seeking first God’s Kingdom in our lives and doing what God wants. We say YES to staying humble and dependent on God, whether we have a lot, or just a little.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 6:10
May your kingdom come and what you want be done,
here on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 (NCV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two boys. He works for 24-7 Prayer Australia and Red Church and is also a professional musician. When he’s not working or drumming Chris enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his boys and playing table tennis.
Kumkanikazi (Kumi) is 12 years old, and lives In Johannesburg, South Africa with her parents and 4 siblings.
You’ll often find her in a stylish outfit, baking up a storm or creating videos.
