“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Deuteronomy 5:29
God’s desire for us, His children through faith in Jesus Christ, is that our hearts would be changed from selfish and sinful hearts into hearts that honor Him, love Him, and trust Him above all things — hearts that gladly and willingly obey His holy commandments — that all would be well with us, and our children. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10).
O gracious and merciful God, for the sake of Jesus and His cross, forgive me for the evil thoughts and desires of my heart, and cleanse me that I might live for You and serve You with all my heart and soul. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised Webster Version of the Bible.]
“Nathanael answered and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’” John 1:49
After Jesus revealed His knowledge of Nathanael — that Nathanael was a true Israelite and not self-deceived concerning his sinfulness and need of a Savior (cf. Psalm 32:1-5), and that Jesus saw him under the fig tree — Nathanael confessed his faith that Jesus was more than just a Jewish rabbi. He was and is the Son of God and the King of Israel!
O Holy Spirit, grant that I believe the witness of the Scriptures and confess with Nathanael that Jesus truly is the Son of God and the King over the true Israel of God. Amen.
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus’ words and teachings are foundational truth, and those building their lives on that truth will not fall when the storms of life rage. Those who reject or ignore Jesus’ words and teachings and do not build their lives on them will find their lives ruined and in shambles when life’s storms strike. Those who hear and heed Jesus’ words and repent of their sinful ways, looking to Jesus and His cross for mercy, will stand in God’s judgment; those who do not will be swept away in that judgment.
Grant that I hear and heed Your Word, O Lord, my Rock, and look to You and Your cross for pardon and forgiveness and to Your Word as my guide, that I may not fall in Your judgment but stand, clothed in Your righteousness. Amen.
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’” John 1:47
What did Jesus mean when He said of Nathanael that he was “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit”? In light of Psalm 32, Jesus was saying that Nathanael didn’t try to hide or cover up his sins. Rather, he acknowledged his sinfulness and shortcomings and trusted God to graciously forgive his sins for the sake of the Messiah and Savior who would “redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Psalm 130:7-8).
O gracious God, I am a guilty sinner deserving of Your anger and punishment. Pardon and forgive me, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
“One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” John 1:40-42
Andrew, after hearing John the Baptist testify that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, first found his own brother, Simon, and told him they had found the Messiah and Savior. We, too, can point people to Jesus and tell them that Jesus is the one who died for the sins of all and rose again so that we might have forgiveness and eternal life through faith in His name.
Gracious God, give us love for others that we might tell them of Jesus, the Messiah and Savior of the world. Amen.
