August 3

1 Peter 2:9-11

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Today we reflect on Peter’s words in his epistle that we are called “a royal priesthood.” We belong to the King! And the King invites us in to where only the King deserves to be. Through the blood of Jesus we can approach the throne, sit at His table, and enter the holy of holies. We are accepted as the beloved of God. So let us pray that as we realize that Christ has sat us near Him, we can abstain from fleshly passions that we each battle daily. 

August 2

Jeremiah 31:33-34

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

This is the new covenant made to us that are in Christ, His church. What was revealed to the prophet Jeremiah was that God would not only save His people but draw nearer to them than ever before. This is the blessing we possess in Christ today; we know God, our God knows us, and we are called His people forever. Pray today with thankful hearts that we have a covenant keeping God who remembers our sin no more. 

July 30

Acts 2:42-47

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

What a glorious picture of what Christian community should look like. They were a people devoted to the Word and the apostles teaching, fellowship and sharing material goods, breaking bread together (Lord’s supper and eating together) and praying together. We don’t have to be lone rangers in life. That certainly won’t be effective at all in a life on mission for Christ. We have been given a community of people to do life with. Pray for our Church to be a community of believers who embody the life and teachings of Christ, and minister to a lost and lonely world. Pray that the Lord will help you be a part of that very same mission. 

July 29

Jeremiah 29:4-7

 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

In this passage, Jeremiah writes a letter to those exiled in Babylon. Notice the things mentioned: build houses, plant gardens, grow your family. And seek the welfare (shalom) of the city. Pretty extreme, right?

Seek the shalom (welfare) of the place that the Lord has sent you.

Let it click that even if you’re from here, you’ve still been sent here from the Lord. Pray for the people in our city, for your neighbors, for the city to thrive and prosper, and that it all happens for the Lord’s glory. Stay rooted, become a regular. Pray for our Church to be a community of people on mission in our city, truly seeking the welfare of it. 

July 28

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

This passage is one that you should run back to often in life. We have been saved by grace, and grace alone. Not our works. There’s nothing we’ve brought to the table, no merits of our own. Grace is truly God’s undeserved favor towards us. Will you pray that verse will continue to sink in your heart? Pray for it to click for Redeemer Baptist Church as well. Pray that it propels you into a life of wanting others to know the same grace and hope found in the gospel.

July 27

Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Go and make disciples. With this verse, we see Jesus himself calling His followers to evangelism and vocally sharing the gospel. There are times and moments where you may not feel like you can do that, maybe even that you are ill-equipped. To be honest, you can’t do it in your own power. Clearly in verse twenty, he shows the source of power for this entire command. “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We aren’t the ones doing the work. So who does? The one who has all authority in heaven and on earth. Pray to trust and follow the Lord faithfully, and to be reminded that He is the one who saves, and He is the one that equips. Pray the same for the other members of Redeemer Baptist Church.

July 26

Psalm 119:97-104

Oh how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,[a]
    for I keep your precepts.
I hold back my feet from every evil way,
    in order to keep your word.
I do not turn aside from your rules,
    for you have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts I get understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.

This passage shares a glimpse of how we are to treasure the Word of God. The Psalmist is explaining his delight in the Lord and going into great detail of how His Word is all he needs. David is showing that he’s truly satisfied with the Lord and this entire song is poured out in a deep cherishing and admiration of the Word. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” My encouragement to you is to start off your day and week running to the source of comfort and strength, treasuring the Lord and His word, hoping to hear from Him, and letting that propel you into a heart of gladness that overflows with deep joy. Pray to treasure His word, and pray the same for your family, and Redeemer family. If we want to make Christ known, prioritize truly seeking to know Him each day. 

July 23

Revelation 15:2-4

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

This passage contains the song of the Lamb, a song John saw in a vision being used to worship the slain and risen Lamb who will subdue all His enemies and make all things new again. Get a head start and use it to worship Jesus today! Pray it as a prayer of praise or even sing it (to whatever melody you choose) to the only One Who is worthy. Pray for the rest of our church body, that we, too, would view His deeds as "great and amazing," that we will fear and glorify His name, and that with the nations we will come and worship Him.