January 22, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Luke - Choosing the twelve Apostles
Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
There is a great dearth of praying people today. If one does pray, it is scant and glib and short and trivial for the most part.
Our greatest example of prayer is the Lord. Jesus spent the entire night praying. We do not know what the prayer consisted of, we do know that He prayed all night. We also know that after the prayer He chose the twelve Apostles from a host of disciples.
What is prayer? Prayer is you talking to God. It is you entering into the presence of God, and that my friend is on a whole different level a spiritual level. It is you entering into the throne room of God’s grace communicating with God Himself.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus prayed the entire night leaving us an example of how important it is to pray and be in constant communication with God.
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Heaven is always open the prayer and God is listening.
Psalm 65:2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
Psalm 28:6 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
The greatest prayer one can utter before God is the prayer of salvation.
When the heart is convicted of sin and the sinner realizes his need to be saved, and that God is the only one who can save, and that through Jesus Christ, then that person, in repentance and humility, cast himself before the Lord and reveals his heart in prayer. He asks the Lord to save his soul.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Have you prayed lately?
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
