Heavenly Father,
Jesus has clearly told us to watch and be ready for his return.
Your word repeatedly reminds us that he is coming soon. We do not want to neglect that major biblical point.
Help us to watch and be ready. Help us to be zealous for good works while we wait. Help us to be faithful to worship you, live for you and encourage one another till Jesus comes.
In Christ,
Amen.
Heavenly Father,
We learn from Jesus in this chapter that our lives need to be totally committed to you. Help us to love you with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind and all of our strength.
Help us to love our neighbor as ourselves – to put the needs of others, even our enemies, on the same level as our own.
Help us to be good citizens, faithful taxpayers, loyal participants in the life of our earthly community.
But help us also to remember that we owe you so much more – that in fact we personally belong to you.
Help us never to desire a reputation for being more godly or more spiritual than we really are.
Jesus was an example of humility and we will do well if we continuously follow him in that – knowing that he is truly God and the author of our salvation.
In Christ’s name we pray,
Amen.
Jesus makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. When he exercises his messianic authority, however, that authority is immediately challenged.
Dear heavenly Father,
Your people have often fallen into times of deep hypocrisy and in this chapter we see Jesus confront a group of people who were in one of those times.
Help us to be especially sensitive to the ways that our lives do not line up with your desires for us.
Let us always remember that you get to set the agenda in our lives individually and in the church.
And help us not to forget the importance of prayer. We know it can be really effective when we truly believe and consistently bring our requests before you.
We also know that before prayer comes a heart of forgiveness. Help us to be those people that refuse to hold grudges and refuse to let unforgiveness cloud our relationship with you.
And we thank you for all the ways and the times that you have forgiven us.
In Christ,
Amen.
Central Reflections 