Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
Devotion
Luke 10 tells us of an expert in the law who asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answered with the two greatest commandments: Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Wanting to justify his own actions, the man asked Jesus: “Who is my neighbor?”.
Jesus did not give him a categorized list. Instead, he told him a story. In the story, there was a man in a desperate situation who had no ability to meet his own needs. Two religious leaders passed him by without stopping to help. The one who helped him was seemingly the least likely to do so. The point of the story was clear; the neighbor was the one who saw the need around him, stopped what he was doing, and did what he could to meet the needs of a stranger.
Today, we are praying for God to do a miraculous work in Middle Tennessee among our own physical neighbors. This begs the question: do you know your neighbors? Do you know the needs in your community? Are you engaging with the people who live around you?
A Personal Prayer
- Reflect on the two greatest commandments: to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself. Ask God to draw you into a deeper, loving relationship with Him, and to shape your thoughts, words, and actions to reflect Christ to your neighbors today.
Pray for Our Community: People Loving Nashville
- People Loving Nashville is a ministry dedicated to serving Nashville’s unhoused neighbors by meeting immediate needs and providing pathways to lasting transformation. Through relief, community support, and the hope of the gospel, People Loving Nashville works to nurture growth in body, mind, and soul for those they serve.
- Pray for compassion, wisdom, and strength for the staff and volunteers as they serve Nashville’s unhoused community.
- Ask God to provide ongoing financial support and resources, enabling the ministry to meet physical needs and offer holistic care.
- Pray that each act of service would create opportunities for gospel conversations and lasting relationships rooted in Christ’s love.
Prayer for the Nations: Unreached People of Sudan
- Of Sudan’s 200 people groups, 169 are considered unreached, meaning they do not have access to the Bible in their own language. Sudan has seen some improvements in human rights, including the abolishment of the death penalty for leaving Islam, but ongoing unrest threatens these gains. Converts to Christianity face significant persecution, including violence and rejection, as they seek to share the gospel in a challenging environment.
- Pray that God will establish leaders who uphold human rights and promote freedom of religion, ensuring safety for converts.
- Ask the Lord to empower Christians in Sudan to live boldly, sharing the love of Christ despite the risks, and to bring healing to those affected by oppression and violence.