January's prayer:
Scripture:
First words are always important. As a parent, your child’s first words are something you long
to hear, something you want to be in hearing distance when they are spoken, something you will
treasure and repeat. With the January Faith Script, I’ve been wondering what my first words
should be to you for 2023. My thoughts are drawn to Jesus’s first words to Peter: “Follow Me,
and I will turn you into fishers of people” (Matthew 4:19). WOW! One short but profound
sentence: a command (Follow Me) with a promise (I will turn you into fishers of people). This
sentence summarizes the simplicity of the Christian life – we are to follow Jesus. Following
involves trusting, obeying, sacrificing, and surrendering. Notice that evangelism (fishing) results
from following. Stated another way, if we are not fishing then we are not following.
Prayer:
I find it quite interesting that two of these original key words were the last words spoken by
Jesus to Peter when Peter was restored following Peter’s denial of Jesus (John 21:15-22 – “Then
when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love
me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed
my lambs.” Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes,
Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.” Jesus said a third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus
replied, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your
clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out
your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go.” (Now Jesus
said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.) After he said
this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me.” Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved
following them. (This was the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus’ chest at the meal and
asked, “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”) So when Peter saw him, he asked
Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I come back, what
concern is that of yours? You follow me!””). Again, the simplicity of the Christian life. Not
only did Jesus get the first words, but He also got the last words. Last words, like first words, are
always important even more so when they are the same.
Heavenly Father, thank You for being worthy to lead. Help us to follow You as an organization.
Help us to follow You as individuals in our personal and professional lives. Help our families to
follow You. In Christ’s name, amen.
(all verses from the New English Translation)
First words are always important. As a parent, your child’s first words are something you long
to hear, something you want to be in hearing distance when they are spoken, something you will
treasure and repeat. With the January Faith Script, I’ve been wondering what my first words
should be to you for 2023. My thoughts are drawn to Jesus’s first words to Peter: “Follow Me,
and I will turn you into fishers of people” (Matthew 4:19). WOW! One short but profound
sentence: a command (Follow Me) with a promise (I will turn you into fishers of people). This
sentence summarizes the simplicity of the Christian life – we are to follow Jesus. Following
involves trusting, obeying, sacrificing, and surrendering. Notice that evangelism (fishing) results
from following. Stated another way, if we are not fishing then we are not following.
Prayer:
I find it quite interesting that two of these original key words were the last words spoken by
Jesus to Peter when Peter was restored following Peter’s denial of Jesus (John 21:15-22 – “Then
when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love
me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed
my lambs.” Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes,
Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.” Jesus said a third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus
replied, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your
clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out
your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go.” (Now Jesus
said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.) After he said
this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me.” Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved
following them. (This was the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus’ chest at the meal and
asked, “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”) So when Peter saw him, he asked
Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I come back, what
concern is that of yours? You follow me!””). Again, the simplicity of the Christian life. Not
only did Jesus get the first words, but He also got the last words. Last words, like first words, are
always important even more so when they are the same.
Heavenly Father, thank You for being worthy to lead. Help us to follow You as an organization.
Help us to follow You as individuals in our personal and professional lives. Help our families to
follow You. In Christ’s name, amen.
(all verses from the New English Translation)