Week: Jesus' Questions
As always, 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, the questions that You ask teach us more about who You are, who we are, and the life that You’ve called us to live. We’re listening, and we’re ready for You to ask us some new questions today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Bea
Colossians 3:17
Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.
Colossians 3:17 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
The Gospel writers – that’s Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – record Jesus asking around 307 questions! Today, we’re REFLECTING on a question that Jesus asked to teach the crowds something really important.
Read by Bea
Luke 6:46-49
[Jesus said] ‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” but do not do what I say? I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me and hears my words and obeys. That person is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the floods came, the water tried to wash the house away, but it could not shake it, because the house was built well. But the one who hears my words and does not obey is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. When the floods came, the house quickly fell and was completely destroyed.’
Luke 6:46-49 (NCV)
Jesus asks, ‘Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’, but not do what I say?’ It’s like He’s saying that it’s not enough to read or hear what He says. And it’s not even enough to agree with what Jesus says. We need to actually do what He says.
And what kind of things does Jesus say? Well, things like… Love God with all your heart and soul and strength. Love others, even your enemies. Live generously. Forgive people. Receive the Holy Spirit.
If we do what Jesus says, it’s like we’re building our lives on rock – when difficult times come, we’ll stay strong. But if we don’t do what Jesus says, it’s like we’re building our lives on shaky ground – some versions of this story say it’s like building on sand – and we know what happens to anything built on sand!
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we built a sandcastle, or some other sand creation? Did we stay until it got washed away again?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Jesus asks, ‘Why do you call me “Lord, Lord”, but not do what I say?’ What has Jesus been asking us to do recently? Maybe He’s been asking us to spend a bit more time with Him in prayer. Maybe He’s been asking us to sort out a difficult friendship.
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to give us whatever it is that we need – a bit more courage, the right words, a new opportunity – to help us do what You say.
In today’s passage, Jesus told a story about a house that got washed away and was destroyed. Sadly, for millions of people, this is a very real risk. Rising sea levels are causing floods in many parts of the world, and people are being forced to abandon their homes.
Lord Jesus, we pray for those whose homes and families are at risk because of flooding. We ASK You to save them. We also ASK You to help governments and organisations to work together to tackle some of the causes of rising sea levels. Give them wisdom!
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.
Luke 6:46-49
[Jesus said] ‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” but do not do what I say? I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me and hears my words and obeys. That person is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the floods came, the water tried to wash the house away, but it could not shake it, because the house was built well. But the one who hears my words and does not obey is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. When the floods came, the house quickly fell and was completely destroyed.’
Luke 6:46-49 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Jesus, we say YES, You are our Lord…You know what’s best for us and we want to follow You with all our hearts, our minds and our strength. Help us to hear what You’re saying to us, and give us courage to do what You say.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Colossians 3:17
Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.
Colossians 3:17 (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.
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Bea is 14 and she lives in Hampshire, in the UK, with her family. Her favourite football team is Manchester United, even though she lives a loooong way from Manchester. Bea likes horse riding and running, and when she’s older, she wants to become a vet, or a professional horse-rider.
