Night Prayer
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Inspiration
In today’s verse, Peter describes believers as living stones, built together into a spiritual house. This imagery might seem unusual, but it tells us two important truths. First, as building stones, we are each set in alignment with the cornerstone, Jesus. And second, we are God’s temple, His dwelling place and the embodiment of worship in the world.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for making me a part of Your church. Thank You for making Jesus my cornerstone. Please work in me so that my heart and my life may be continually aligned to him. And set me in the place that You choose so that I may support my brothers and sisters in Christ and carry out Your purpose in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Night Prayer
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Inspiration
We despise the thought of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The outside is easy to clean; it's the caked-up residue on the inside that's so difficult to remove. Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees with dishes that have been wiped clean on the outside while dirty inside. The Pharisees took exceptional care of their outward appearance and neglected their inward spirits. We are guilty of allowing our hearts to be left filthy as well. We look and act as we should while our souls are full of darkness. We must continue to converse with the Holy Spirit daily and trust His guidance to cleanse our sinful nature.
Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive our sinful nature. We yearn for cleansing from within, so we are genuine witnesses to Your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
