Good Morning Unified, Focused, Body of Christ! PTL! That is you and us as we come together as His Body for His purposes, learning to die to self and work for the better good of Kingdom advancement together. And that is built as we seek to become the people we are created to be, ding what we are created, gathered and empowered to do ad built on the foundation of Christ and informed by His Living Word. Amen! Pretty cool stuff! One in Christ, gathered, activated and sent to transform the world as we bring Christ and His Word alive, as we live and love more like Him! Amen! Now that is plenty to contemplate, process with some friends and pray through this morning. What's God saying to you and will you do about that? he does have great plans for you and us and they are coming alive in '25! PTL!
Just a very brief update: I had a great nights sleep as did Karen. Today we are involved (and thrashed some this morning as Karen is already out the door) in the baby shower and dedication of the 3 month premature twins of her boss that we have been praying for. What a miracle! They were born before they could have the baby shower. So today is that and why not dedicate the babies as well. Fun but busy morning. The coming together of friends to host this reminds me of the coming together of our Body to encourage, spur on, plan, pray and go love. many parts coming together for one big happy day and event. I pray and contemplate how God may want to do that with us as we consider some new opportunities and connection points where we get to, want to, go live, love, share the Good News and make disciples of Jesus and in His way. The cool part is we get to be who we are in Christ and do what we are gifted and inclined to do anyway to make it all happen. Pray into us seeking, hearing, processing, planning and doing His will. He is working all things together for good--including us. And He has some awesome things to discover and enact over the next few months. What ideas, dreams and visions is bringing to you? Let's start praying and planning! We are family, united in Christ and better together as we follow Him! Amen!
Check out these devos as you prepare your heart this morning and abide before going in Christ. We do need each other. Let us stay unified and focused on Christ and His mission of love! Shalom
I to We
ODB
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A seemingly plain table with thirteen simple cups divided across separate panels make up the contemporary painting, “That They May All Be One,” which hangs in Wolfson College at Oxford University. Its simplicity actually emphasizes the significance of the event: Jesus’ last supper with His disciples. The most prominent panel, containing bread and a cup representing Jesus, is surrounded by twelve individual panels to signify the disciples’ presence.
The painting is a beautiful reminder of the meal where Jesus took bread and a cup to start a new celebration for all His followers, the practice of communion. And I appreciate the row of empty panels that complete the picture because the space seems to invite the viewer to join them at the table.
Paul encourages us that “whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Everyone who believes that Jesus’ death and resurrection provides the way for peace with God has a space waiting for them at the table.
And when we proclaim, or remember, Jesus’ sacrifice when we take communion, we act as one community of believers across the world and throughout time. It is as a beautiful image of the unity of the church.
By Lisa M. Samra
REFLECT & PRAY
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What is meaningful to you about communion? How does communion point to believers’ unity in Jesus?
Jesus, as we take part of the celebration You gave us, remind me that we do it as one community.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul’s use of the words “on the night [Jesus] was betrayed” (1 Corinthians 11:23) underscores the serious nature of the matter he was addressing. It was Christ who implemented the first Communion (Lord’s Supper), and He did so on the Passover night before His crucifixion. Paul revisits the importance of this ordinance to correct a serious error in the church at Corinth. He leads into this section by saying, “In the following directives I have no praise for you” (v. 17)—stern words to hear from an apostle of Jesus. The apostle pointed out how there were “divisions” among the people (v. 18). Some were eating too much while others went hungry, and some were even getting drunk. Paul found such behavior appalling and warned of God’s judgment on those who were offending in this matter (vv. 27-32). He concluded by appealing for their renewed unity (v. 33)—a unity we can enjoy today with other sisters and brothers in Christ.
Tim Gustafson |
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UR: Grow in Faith
The Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. - Acts 17:11 (NIV)
After waiting three hours to have some blood work done, I went to a vegetarian restaurant close to the hospital. When I went to the register to pay, I placed the book I had been reading in the hospital by the counter. Quickly, the person standing behind me read the title and said aloud, “Clement of Alexandria. How interesting!” When the person asked what had motivated me to read the book, I responded that I wanted to know how the ancient Christians expressed, argued, and lived their faith in a diverse society.
The scripture for today tells us that the early Christians dedicated themselves to the study of scripture. They did not simply limit themselves to listening and believing what Paul preached. They “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
We live in a diverse society with a wide variety in the ways people think, live, and believe. When we delve deeper into scripture and supplement our reading with works by Christian writers who faced great challenges because of their faith, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live and share the gospel. As Christians, we must nurture our spiritual needs so we can express, live, and share our faith according to Jesus’ teachings.
Today's Prayer
God of all knowledge and wisdom, guide us to your truth according to scripture. Grant us wisdom and increase our understanding so we can bear witness and share your good news with others. Amen.
Connection Blogs
June 7 - The Father Is Good!
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Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)
The Fatherhood of God was at the core of the teaching and prayer life of Jesus. In His own prayers Jesus continually referred to God as Father. In Matthew 7:7–11 Jesus teaches the multitudes to ask, seek, and knock. He taught them that there is a loving Father that is eagerly waiting to meet them at their point of need.
This poses a problem for many people in this generation. Because there has been so much abuse of children by fathers, the term father can have a negative, perverted connotation for some believers. Jesus teaches, however, that the nature of our Father is goodness. He is a good Father, perfect in His goodness. He said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11, emphasis added).
Everything about the Father is good. It is in His nature to do good to His children. When we focus on the goodness of the Father, it makes miraculous changes in our attitudes toward life.
Father, how often I act like a spoiled child, trying to get my way. Your heart is to shower me with Your goodness if I will only receive it! Forgive me for the times I have questioned Your love for me when things go wrong or when people I love are hurting. Teach me how to be consistently aware that my life is in Your hands, and that Your plan is always for my good, even when things look bleak. Father, change my attitude to one of complete trust in Your ability to guide my life into Your purposes for the glory of Your kingdom!
--Adapted from The Prayer Factor by Sammy Tippit. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise God for being sovereign, all-powerful, just, and gentle—all at the same time!
- Thank him for dealing gently with you in your faults.
- Confess times of lashing out at others.
- Commit yourself to reflecting the gentleness of God to those around you, and ask God to produce that part of his Spirit’s fruit in abundance in you.
- Pray that Christians who differ with one another will present a positive example to the world of how to gently disagree in love. Ask God to present that example also through you in your own conflict situations.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2025 is a free devotional published daily by OneCry Prayer. Find more resources at www.onecry.com |
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