DEVOTIONS FOR APRIL 20-25, 2026

based on the sermon “Breaking Bread”

Watch sermon here

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2026:  Different Voices, One Gospel

 Scripture: Mark 1:1
“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Reflection:
Each Gospel tells the story of Jesus in a unique voice. Mark rushes ahead like excitement spilling out too fast to contain. But beneath the pace is urgency: this is good news that cannot wait. God is moving in the world, even when we feel like life is moving too quickly to notice.

Prayer:
Lord, open our eyes to see your presence in the rush of our days. Slow us enough to hear your good news. Amen.

 

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026  Jesus at the Table

 Scripture: Luke 19:5
“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.”

 Reflection:
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is always at the table. Meals become moments of grace, healing, and transformation. Even Zacchaeus—outsider, sinner, and seeker—finds himself changed in the presence of Jesus. The table is where Jesus meets us, just as we are.

Prayer:
Jesus, meet us at your table. Transform our hearts as you once transformed Zacchaeus. Teach us to welcome you in ordinary places. Amen.

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2026:“Why do you look for the living?”

Scripture: Luke 24:5
“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

Reflection:
The resurrection begins with a question that still echoes today. We often search for life in places that cannot give it—fear, loss, or despair. But God is already doing something new. The empty tomb reminds us that death does not have the final word.

Prayer:
Risen Christ, redirect our searching. Help us look for life where you are already present. Amen.

 

THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026: Breaking Bread, Recognizing Christ

 Scripture: Luke 24:30–31
“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it… and their eyes were opened.”

 Reflection:
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus is recognized not in power or spectacle, but in bread broken and shared. The ordinary becomes holy. In the breaking of bread, their grief turns to joy, and confusion becomes clarity.

 Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open our eyes to recognize you in simple, everyday gifts. Meet us in the breaking of bread. Amen.

 

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026: Nothing Can Separate Us

 Scripture: Romans 8:38–39
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Reflection:
There are moments when God feels far away—when fear or grief clouds our vision. Yet Paul reminds us that nothing can break God’s hold on us. Even when we cannot feel it, we are still held in love that will not let go.

 Prayer:
God of steadfast love, hold us when we cannot hold onto you. Remind us we are never beyond your reach. Amen.

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026: God Inscribed on Our Lives

 Scripture: Isaiah 49:16
“I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.”

 Reflection:
God’s love is not distant or abstract. It is personal, intimate, and permanent. Even if a mother forgets her child, God does not forget us. We are carried in God’s very hands—marked, known, and loved forever.

 Prayer:
Loving God, when we feel forgotten, remind us that we are held in your hands. Strengthen our trust in your unending care. Amen.