Morning Prayer for Sunday, February 8, 2026

Listen to the prayer by clicking the image above

 

Praying the Scriptures

Sunday Morning Prayer

February 8, 2026

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God” — Romans 8:14-16

Abba, Father,

The high desert air is crisp and still this morning, resting heavy over the sleeping earth of the Mimbres Valley. As I prepare myself to enter your house of worship, the silence of February feels less like an emptiness and more like a waiting room for the spring that is yet to come. I stand here in the early light, looking out toward the sharp silhouette of the Florida Mountains, feeling the winter cold against the glass but aware of a warmth beginning to kindle within my chest—a quiet invitation to shake off the dormancy of the season and step fully into your presence.

You know that I often wrestle with a spirit of hesitation, tempted to retreat into the shadows of my own weakness and doubt when the way forward seems unclear. Yet, as the sun begins to crest and flood these vast plains with morning gold, I ask that your Spirit would testify clearly to mine, drowning out the whispers of fear with the deep assurance that I belong to you. Remind me, as I dress for service and prepare my heart, that my standing before you is not earned by my own power or perfection, but is a gift of your adopting love that calls me by name and holds me close.

Lead me now to the sanctuary with a heart open to transformation, trusting that you can cultivate a harvest from even the smallest seeds of faith I have to offer today. I surrender my need to control the outcome of my circumstances, resting instead in the confidence that you are working within me, turning my fragility into a testament of your enduring strength. May my worship this morning be a true reflection of a child coming home to a Father, ready to be changed, ready to grow, and ready to walk boldly in the light of your promise.

Amen.

May the Spirit of adoption embrace us all, silencing our fears and whispering the truth of our belonging to the Father, so that we may go out into the world with confidence and peace.

---

The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Verse of the Day for Sunday, February 8, 2026

 

Verse of the Day

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Matthew 5:43-45

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.”

Introduction

The Sermon on the Mount is widely considered the "constitution" of the Kingdom of Heaven, outlining the character and conduct expected of Jesus' followers. In these specific verses, Jesus addresses perhaps the most counter-intuitive and difficult command in the entire New Testament: the command to love one's enemies.

This passage challenges our natural instincts for self-preservation and retaliation. It moves the believer from a transactional morality (loving those who love you) to a transformational morality (loving as God loves). It is not merely a rule for good behavior; it is a revelation of the very heart of the Father.

Understanding the Context

To fully grasp the weight of these words, we must look at where they sit in history and scripture.

• The Antitheses: This passage is the last of six "antitheses" in Matthew 5, where Jesus utilizes the formula: "You have heard that it was said... But I say to you..." Jesus is not abolishing the Law of Moses here, but rather deepening it. He is stripping away the convenient interpretations that had built up over centuries to reveal the absolute intent of God’s law.

• The Missing Command: The phrase "hate your enemy" does not actually appear in the Old Testament. Leviticus 19:18 commands the Israelites to love their neighbors, but it does not command hatred for enemies. However, in the first-century context—under the oppression of Roman occupation—a cultural attitude had developed where "neighbor" was defined narrowly (fellow Jews/insiders) and "enemy" was defined broadly (Gentiles/tax collectors/Romans).

• The Sectarian Divide: Many groups at the time, such as the Essenes at Qumran, explicitly taught hatred for the "sons of darkness." Jesus intervenes in this polarized atmosphere to dismantle the boundaries of who deserves our goodwill.

Commentary

"But I say to you, Love your enemies..." (v. 44)

The Greek word used here for love is agape. This is crucial for lay readers to understand. In English, "love" often implies warm affection or emotional fondness. If Jesus commanded us to feel affection (like philia) for our persecutors, the command would be impossible.

• Agape is Volitional: It is a love of the will, not the emotions. It means actively seeking the welfare of the other. It is a decision to treat someone better than they deserve.

• Praying for Persecutors: Jesus immediately links love to action: "pray for those who persecute you." Prayer is the practical application of this love. It is difficult to hate someone while simultaneously bringing them before God in prayer. This act changes the posture of the heart from defense to intercession.

"...so that you may be children of your Father in heaven" (v. 45)

The motivation for this radical love is not just to be "nice people," but to establish our identity.

• Family Resemblance: In Semitic thought, being a "son of" meant displaying the character of the father. To be a "child of your Father" means to act like Him.

• Common Grace: Jesus points to creation as evidence of God's indiscriminate generosity. The sun rises and the rain falls on everyone, regardless of their moral standing. God sustains the life of the person who curses Him just as He sustains the life of the person who praises Him. To be a Christian is to imitate this specific kind of indiscriminate generosity.

Application for Today

How do we live this out in a modern context?

• Redefining the "Enemy": Most of us do not have battlefield enemies. However, we have "functional enemies": the estranged family member, the difficult coworker, the political opponent who insults our values, or the person who betrayed our trust.

• Breaking the Cycle: Retaliation creates a closed loop of pain. When we return hate for hate, evil multiplies. When we return love for hate, we absorb the hostility and refuse to pass it on. This is the only way to break the cycle of vengeance.

• The Prayer Test: A practical step for today is to identify the person you struggle with most and pray for their good. This does not mean praying they "realize they are wrong" (which is just judgment disguised as prayer), but praying for their healing, their peace, and their connection to God.

Reflection

The command to love our enemies is the distinct mark of the Christian faith. No other religious or ethical system demands this high a standard. It is the point where the Gospel becomes most offensive to our pride and most healing to our world.

When we love an enemy, we are not saying that their actions are acceptable. We are saying that their identity as a creation of God is more fundamental than their identity as our adversary. We are acknowledging that no human being is beyond the scope of God's rain or God's sun. By stepping into this difficult space, we are not just following a rule; we are participating in the very life of God, who loved us while we were yet sinners.

---

The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Verse of the Day is a daily inspirational and encouraging Bible verse, extracted from BibleGateway.com. Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Daily Devotions for Sunday, February 8, 2026: Unhidden Light: The City on a Hill

Experience the story: click the image above to listen

 

The Daily Devotional

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Unhidden Light: The City on a Hill

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14–16

Introduction

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks to a crowd of ordinary people—fishermen, farmers, and laborers—and offers them a radical new identity. He does not say, "Try to become the light," or "One day, if you work hard enough, you might sparkle." Instead, he states a plain fact: "You are the light of the world."

This passage reminds us that our spiritual vitality is not a private treasure to be hoarded or a secret to be kept. Just as a city situated on a high hill is visible for miles around, our lives are meant to be visible evidence of God’s love. The question is not whether we have light, but what we are choosing to do with it.

Reflection

Light is a fascinating thing because its primary purpose is never for itself; its purpose is always for the benefit of others.

Consider a massive power outage in a neighborhood during a storm. The moment the house goes pitch black, your instinct is to find a flashlight or a lantern. Once you turn it on, what is the first thing you do? You don’t shove it inside a drawer or cover it with a blanket. That would be absurd. Instead, you set it on the highest shelf or the mantlepiece. Why? Because from that vantage point, a single beam can push back the darkness for everyone in the room. It allows your family to move without stumbling, to find what they need, and to feel safe.

Jesus uses the image of a "bushel basket"—a common household container—to illustrate how we often dim our own impact. We hide our light under the baskets of fear (what will people think?), apathy (it’s too much effort), or conformity (I don't want to stand out).

However, the text says that when the lamp is on the stand, it "gives light to all in the house." Your light—manifested through kindness, integrity, and compassion—is not about showing off. It is about functionality. When you live authentically and generously, you make the room brighter for your coworkers, your neighbors, and your family. You make it easier for them to see God’s goodness without stumbling in the dark.

Application

Today, challenge yourself to lift the "bushel basket" off your life in one specific way. Light is often most visible in small, practical actions rather than grand gestures.

• At Work: If the office culture is negative or gossipy, be the light by refusing to participate and instead offering a word of encouragement to a stressed colleague.

• In Public: If a service worker is having a hard day, be the light by offering patience, a smile, and genuine gratitude.

• At Home: If there is tension, be the light by being the first to apologize or the first to serve.

Ask yourself: Who in my "house" (my immediate circle) needs a little extra light today, and how can my actions provide it?

Conclusion

Being "salt and light" isn't about being perfect or loud; it is about being present and visible. When we stop hiding our faith and our goodness, we naturally illuminate the world around us. We don't shine so that people look at us; we shine so that, by our light, people can see the path to God clearly.

Prayer

Gracious God, thank You for sparking a light within me that darkness cannot overcome. Forgive me for the times I have hidden that light out of fear or convenience. Today, give me the courage to be a city on a hill—visible, welcoming, and unashamed. Help me to live in such a way that my actions bring warmth to those around me and point them back to Your incredible love. May my life be a lampstand that benefits everyone in the house. Amen.

---

Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA

The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.