SCRIPTURE UNION DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR JANUARY 2, 2023 (ASSEMBLING JESUS TEAM)
TOPIC: Assembling the Jesus team
OPENING PRAYER: Grant me grace dear Lord to apply what you will teach me today as I read this passage.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Mark 1:14-28
QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
• Q 2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
MESSAGE
One of the very first things Jesus Christ did is one of the last which leaders often consider: choosing those who would continue the work after them. In picking His team to fight the devil and all his agents, the choices Jesus Christ made were totally different from what we would expect. He did not go for the learned theologians of the day or their students but to the seaside where fishermen were mending their nets (vs.16-20) and to other venues where the most unlikely were plying their regular trades (ch. 2:14).
This shows us that Jesus Christ is able to call anyone into His service even today, whatever their background and profession. The question is how willing we are to follow the example of His first disciples (vs.18, 20)?
Take note of where Jesus Christ encountered the man with the unclean spirit. He did not go looking for evil spirits to cast out (v.23)! He had gone into the synagogue to worship. Sadly, even though they do not usually manifest in the same way today, people with evil spirits exist in our places of worship too. How do we recognize and deal with them?
PRACTICE/WORD APPLICATION
And so: Pray for the leadership team in your church to be equipped to recognize and to deal appropriately with evil spirits.
HYMN FOR TODAY – Praise to the Lord
1 Praise to the Lord,
The Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him,
For he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear;
Now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.
2 Praise to the Lord,
Above all things so wondrously reigning;
Sheltering you under his wings,
And so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?
3 Praise to the Lord,
Who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness
And mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.
4 Praise to the Lord!
O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath,
Come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Luke 11:9 ‐ 10
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Genesis 2, Psalms 3,4.
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Monday, 02-Jan-2023
PRAYER FOCUS
PRAY AND PLAN
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:3
THANK GOD FOR:
► His help over our lives that has kept us thus far in faith.
► Giving us the wisdom to plan as we diligently follow His guidance and leading daily.
PRAY FOR:
► Grace to wait on the Lord so our plans will be in tune with His desires over our lives.
► Daily believing God to do things that will bring glory to His name as we indulge in our daily activities.
► God’s revelation about the best strategies to use in all we do this year.
PRAY AGAINST:
► Failing to seek counsel from God thereby failing to apply Godly wisdom in all we do this year.
► Refusing to go along with God’s thoughts and ways and in every transaction this year in our lives, families, and in SU fellowship.
Scripture Union Daily Guide 2nd January 2023. Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God.
