SU DAILY GUIDE DEVOTIONAL READING

Scripture Union Daily Guide 5th February 2023, SU Daily Guide Devotional Reading for Sunday. Read SU Daily Guide Message

TOPIC: Purposeless Visit!

OPENING PRAYER: May my heart, O Lord, be receptive to your word as I meditate on it.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Mark 7:1-13

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
• Q 2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?

Scripture Union Daily Guide 5th February 2023 MESSAGE

Compare the end of the passage we read yesterday (6:53-56) with the opening of today’s passage (7:1). Jesus was still around the Sea of Galilee, in Judea when the Pharisees travelled all the way from Jerusalem to see Him (7:1, NLT). While some people were struggling to see and touch Jesus and be healed, what main purpose of the Pharisees’ visit can we observe from v.2? Fault finders they all were! Their complaint was failure to wash hands in line with the rituals they practise before eating. They thought the ceremonial washing of hands, cups, pots and copper vessels cleanses them from unclean thing they might have touched (vs.1-4).

It is important to note that these activities were not wrong in themselves. For example, washing one’s hands (with soap) after using the toilet or before meals is an important discipline if one is to avoid infection. The problem is when these rituals become prerequisites for religious acceptance and when we are not emphasizing the things that matter in true worship of God and so end up paying only lip service to Him. What are the things that matter in true worship of God? See John 4:23-24 (cf., Christ’s response in vs.6-13).

Examine your personal worship of God. Are you worshipping with all your heart or are you concerned only about external rituals – baptism, church attendance, offering and tithing, etc?

• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?

CLOSING PRAYER
Help me, dear Lord, to daily worship you in spirit and in truth.

Offer a prayer of faith in line with Proverbs 1:8 ‐ 9

One Year Bible Reading Plan
Exodus 15,16, Hebrews 2.

NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Sun, 05-Feb-2023

PRAYER FOCUS
FOCUSED DISCIPLES

Jesus said ‘‘if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’’
– John 8:31

THANK GOD FOR:
► Releasing us from the guilt of enslaving power of sin.
► The grace to continue in what the word of God says and walking in obedience to His teaching.

PRAY FOR:
· Grace for daily transformation of our lives as we follow Him daily in total surrender.
► Strength by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as we remain focused and continue to teach, train and entrust the work of SU to younger generation for continuity.
► Deliberate decision to deny self, take up our cross and follow Jesus daily.
► Pray for SU National Chairman and Exco as they travel back home in safety.

PRAY AGAINST:
► Failing to let go of personal and contrary life style that will jeopardize the work in SU.
► Not working in love, thereby failing to apply the distinguishing mark of Jesus disciples.

Scripture Union Daily Guide 5th February 2023. Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God.