Week: 3 Loves, 6 Practices
As usual, 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.
As usual, 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, as we start this new year together, we remember that You are with us. Our minds are ready to learn more about You, our hearts are ready to receive more from You, and our hands are ready to do more for and with You. Come, Lord Jesus.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Max
1 John 4:16
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:16 (NIV UK)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on a story that Jesus told about a King who thanked his people for caring for him, for showing hospitality to him. But the people were confused.
Read by Max
Matthew 25:37-40
[The people said] ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our house? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’
Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’
Matthew 25:37b-40 (NCV)
When Jesus was talking about the King, He was actually talking about Himself. Whenever we offer hospitality to someone – whenever we’re kind to someone, whenever we reach out to someone who is alone – Jesus says that we’re doing it to and for Him.
When Mother Teresa was asked why she worked with homeless people on the streets of Kolkata in India, she said each person was simply ‘Jesus in a distressing disguise.’*
Let’s press pause and think about how we can grow in hospitality this year. Today’s question is: How could we be more kind and welcoming towards others at school, at work, or in other places this year?
Long before we welcomed anyone else, God loved us and welcomed us.
Father God, thank You for Your extravagant hospitality – for welcoming us into Your family and including us as Your children. Nothing we give will ever compare to what You have given to us.
Who could we offer hospitality to this week? Let’s think of someone – maybe not someone who is already a close friend – who we could be kind and welcoming towards.
Lord Jesus, help us to remember that whatever we do for others, we do for 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 25:37-40
[The people said] ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our house? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’
Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’
Matthew 25:37b-40 (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 seeing You in others and being more like You towards others. Help us to love those around us – especially those we wouldn’t usually connect with – by being kind and welcoming.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
1 John 4:16
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:16 (NIV UK)
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.
* Mother Teresa, In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories, and Prayers (California: New World Library, 1997)
Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.
Max is 9 years old and lives in Melbourne, Australia with his older brother and mum and dad. He often rides his bike to school and enjoys being creative by drawing or building with Lego. Max is also learning how to play the electric guitar and loves turning it up loud!
