Opening Prayer

Oh Heavenly Father, may You teach me to live out the love of Christ. Let me not be envious, not self-boast, not be arrogant, not be ashamed of the Gospel, not be selfish, not be irritable and not be resentful, but to bear all things, to believe all things, to hope all things and to endure all things. Oh Lord, let me be an ambassador of peace, to reconcile men to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Scripture

Devotion

Jesus encouraged the disciples not to be afraid of being attacked, but to be a courageous witness for Jesus, and to love Him more than anything, including their own family members. Jesus reminded the disciples, now that they have an honourable identity, those that receive them will be rewarded by God. However, why did Jesus say that He has not come to bring peace but a sword, and the disciples should distance themselves from their family, and should not love their parents and children? This is really puzzling!

Due to the distortion by sin, human beings will use methods that are beneficial to one self to strive for peace, to be amicable with others and get along well with their family members. Jesus is concerned with all these things, hence He taught us to love Him more than all these things, so that we can achieve these goals. Only by doing this, would we understand what is love, and how to love. Loving Jesus more than anything is the way to peace, the path to reconciliation and the achievement of blissfulness and happiness in the family.

Intercessory Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, hallowed be Your Name, Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen! Lord, what a privilege it is to come before You to pray for one another. We are truly blessed. Lord, we want to uphold, some special people in our community. We want Your Grace to embrace everyone; may no one be missed, for that is Your Plan and Purpose. God, we want to lift up the elderly, the widows and the widowers unto Your Hands. Father, we pray for You to release Your Holy Spirit over our dear brothers and sisters. We plead the Name of Jesus over them; renew their hearts and minds and also strengthen their bodies. Lord, there is nothing that You don’t know. We humbly ask, please see to their cry, for only by the Power of Your Holy Spirit, can they receive comfort, strength, joy and peace from above. Watch over all their needs. God, we believe they will also be salt and light in their homes. Father, we love these beautiful people and we pray Your Loving Grace will abound to them all the days of their lives. Thank You, Abba Father. We pray and claim it all in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen!