“He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.””
‭‭John‬ ‭8:23-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” How do we become sinless without Christ? Is it possible for us to have the power to rid ourselves of sin? No. Only Christ can transform us and He does. We don’t have the power ourselves outside of the Holy Spirit. Please pray that we and our friends believe Jesus. Please pray for Casey’s group as it’s forming.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:12-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This sticks out because Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” We have the opportunity to follow Jesus and seek His wisdom and guidance through the Holy Spirit. Why would we ever not chose to seek the wisdom of the creator and just rely on our feeble minds? It seems very idiotic, but It’s tempting because we think we are in control. When in fact, the most “control” we ever have is when we abide in Christ. Please pray that we and our friends seek God’s guidance in all our activities today. Please pray for our country.

“The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?””
‭‭John‬ ‭7:45-51‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because the Pharisees said, “Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?” There seems to be a belief today among many people that if academia, media or entertainment doesn’t believe something, than it’s not true. Do we determine truth by man’s authority or God? Man’s authority changes with the generations, but God’s is steadfast and available to us in the Bible that’s been around for two thousand years and more. Please pray that we and our friends seek the true authority when making judgements. Please pray for Brad and Jeff’s group.

“After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.””
‭‭John‬ ‭7:1-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because John says, “For not even his brothers believed in him.” Is truth true even when the world doesn’t believe? Of course. However, it’s difficult being the one to stand for truth in the moment. We know the brothers eventually realize who Jesus is and become leaders in the church. All people will eventually know the truth and we should help them understand with love and gentleness. Please pray that we and our friends stand for truth especially when everyone doesn’t see it. Please pray for Ransom and Doug’s group.

“When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.””
‭‭John‬ ‭6:60-65‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Do we recognize the Spirit as opposed to the flesh? How often are we in the spirit as opposed to the flesh? It’s tempting to live in the flesh by attempting to be in control, but the Spirit is life. Please pray that we and our friends spend more time abiding in Christ today. Please pray for our country.

“You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:33-40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because John says, “you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.” This had to sting the ears of His audience here. However, the converse is true that if we do believe Him, His Word does abide in us. Do we release what abiding means? Do we realize we are never in more “control” than when we are abiding in the creator of the universe? When we are abiding in the Son who has already seen today? By abiding, He controls our actions in ways that we don’t realize. Please pray that we and our friends chose to abide in Him today (John 15:5). Please pray for Paul Sturtz to be healed of cancer.

“Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:44-49‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Luke says, “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures”. Do you understand everything about the Bible? Have you asked Jesus to open your mind to understand? Do you think He has a plan and purpose that is revealed when we read the Bible? Would it help you make certain decisions today? Please pray that we and our friends ask Jesus to reveal Himself through the scriptures today. Please pray for a friends at the Mayo Clinic.

“That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:13-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Luke says, “But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” Could you be in the presence of Jesus and not realize it? Matt 25 has the parable of the sheep and the goats where the sheep gave food, etc. to Him without knowing it was Him. Would we treat people differently today if we knew they are a child of God? C.S. Lewis says we have never met a mere mortal. Please pray that we and our friends see everyone as a child of God today. Please pray for a friend at Mayo Clinic.

“Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:54-62‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Luke says, “And he went out and wept bitterly.” Have you ever done something so wrong that you were devastated? Are you sad when you don’t obey Christ in some manner? Were you relying on your power or the power of the Holy Spirit? Our flesh has a limited power of discipline, but we have this unlimited treasure (2 Cor 4:7) that enables us to obey because Christ died for us. Please pray that we and our friends rely on His power today and not our own(John 15:5). Please pray for college-aged men to help with Young-Life in Atlanta.

“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:7-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Like says, “And they went and found it just as he had told them”. Has Jesus told you to do something that seemed impossible or too many variables? Peter and John “went”. How much of our obedience is just taking the next step? He gives us wisdom as we obey, not before. Please pray that we and our friends take that next step today when God gives us a nudge. Please pray for Ransom and Doug’s group.