1 THE LOST
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of The plight of the lost is not much different. Grop- unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the ing their way through life, blinded by the “god of gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of this age,” they can walk right past the answer to God” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV). their deepest longings and greatest need, and nev- er even see it. Paul insists in this passage that the By Glenn Watson answer is not a fancier presentation or a more ap- Our youngest son was born in the middle of the pealing approach. They need to see the light of the most severe winter storm to hit north Texas in gospel, shining in the hearts of believers, piercing years. To this day, I be- the darkness and pointing the way towards the lieve that the 130 km drive knowledge of the glory of God. through the night from our rural church to the hospital Ask God today to lift the veil of blindness from was the longest four hours the minds of your lost friends. of my life. Darkness, fog, PRAY and falling sheets of ice Father, I pray you would open the minds turned a road that I had of unbelievers, my friends and my family traveled hundreds of times before into an unfa- members so they can see the light. Use me miliar and disorienting maze. What a relief to Lord to share the gospel so many would finally see the lights of the city, and to know we hear the truth. had safely arrived!
2 THE LOST
“No one can come to me unless the Father who Jesus teaches that no one can experience eternal sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the bliss (He calls it “life”.) unless they believe in him last day” (John 6:44 NIV). as the way to eternal life. (John 14:6) In the verse for today’s meditation Jesus teaches that no one By Frankie Rainey can come to him (believe in him) unless God the The possibility of life after death is something Father draws him. Then he promises to raise those to which every human being has given thought. who come to him to eternal life. Some have decided that death ends life and consciousness. They believe this life is all there is. There is a call to prayer here for us. If no one can Others have concluded there come to Jesus unless the Father draws him we is life after death and that must cry out to God asking Him to draw unbe- people will go to one of two lievers to Jesus. They cannot come on their own. destinies – eternal bliss or Thus the need for us to pray, pray, pray! eternal punishment. Good people will experience bliss PRAY and bad people will experience Father, draw people to yourself. I am thankful punishment. Usually humans you are always at work around me. Give me think that if they are good enough the ability to see where you are working so I they will experience eternal bliss. can join you. 3 THE LOST
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no anything but Jesus. Pray for confi- other name under heaven given to mankind by dence for your pastors, that they which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 NIV). would speak boldly the name of Jesus, so that your community may By Jason Shine be saved. Pray for confidence! Speaking the name of Jesus and describing His ministry in His life, His death, Pray for confidence for the leaders of and His resurrection is the ONLY way that our the convention that they would speak friends, family, neighbours and our boldly the name of Jesus that our country country will come to Christ. The may be saved. enemy is fully aware that this is the Pray for yourself that you would be bold in frontline of the battle, the very your proclamation that only Jesus is good news to point at which we push back the all of us who desperately need to be saved! gates of hell, and when we engage in speaking the name of Christ in this PRAY context we face opposition. Father, thank you for sending Jesus to die so I Our enemy would prefer we remain could be saved. Help me truly see the lost and silent, or that when we speak, we would hurting people around me. Give me boldness speak of joy, or the journey, or justice, to proclaim that Jesus saves.
4 THE LOST
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open was once for all time. And while the lamb’s life was its seals, because you were slain, and with your permanently over, He rose again from the grave blood you purchased men for God from every to life eternal. That resurrected life is available to tribe and language and people and nation” all who believe by faith that with His shed blood, (Revelation 5:9 NIV). Christ bought them their freedom. By Frank Stirk Who benefits from this supremely selfless act? Few verses in Scripture Everyone—every member of “every tribe and lan- capture so succinctly the heart of the gospel, and guage and people and nation.” But there is God’s in such dramatic fashion. Who is worthy of eter- challenge to us, because they will not be able to nity’s praise? Only the Lamb—Jesus Christ, God’s gather there unless and until they are reached here sinless Son—has earned the right to take the first with the good news of humanity’s salvation scroll, open its seals, and read it. Why? Because through the Lord Jesus Christ. He had been slaughtered like a Passover lamb to be a blood sacrifice for our sins, His life for ours. PRAY But unlike a lamb, who had no say in the matter, Father, thank you for bringing people from Christ freely chose to lay down His life for us. every nation to Canada. Open doors for And unlike the old covenant, which required a people in our churches to connect with all continuous shedding of blood, Christ’s sacrifice people groups. Give me a heart for the nations. 5 THE HEART OF GOD
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on Jesus, full of compas- them, because they were harassed and helpless, sion, saw the crowds like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 in the towns and villag- NIV). es he visited and summed up their existence as “harassed and helpless”. He By Maura Mask knew the heart of His Father never intended His Sheep without a shepherd, in the mind’s eye, form beloved creation to live without His shepherding. a pitiful image. Rooting in the dusty ground for Under the care of a shepherd; sheep are protected, sparse blades of grass, these sheep are unaware of led to rich nourishment, and thrive in the peace predators stalking at a distance. Weighed-down of their overseer. The same is true for individuals, by mangy, overgrown wool they shake their heads from the crowds we observe and live among, who nervously trying to come to experience abundant life in Jesus, the dodge pestering in- Good Shepherd. sects. One of the flock is in a dire situation; PRAY she is cast down on the Father, please give me the compassionate ground. Every attempt concern for the lost that Jesus has. Give me to get back on her feet is power to love and witness to the world that useless. you love. Abundant life is in you alone.
6 THE HEART OF GOD
“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is And, to His glory, God wants you and me to be a plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of part of His reaching them. We are the labourers the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into God wants to send. his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38 NIV). In Luke 10:3 Jesus tells us about some difficulty By Steve Fish that we may face; “Go! I am sending you out like Luke also records this saying of Jesus in Luke 10:2. lambs among wolves.” First, He says, “go”. This is Luke 10:1 reads “the Lord … sent them two by a command. Secondly, He makes it plain that two ahead of Him to every town and place where there will be opposition. And, thirdly, we need He was about to go.” to reflect on Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:20 “And surely I am with you always …” God is with us We must always re- when we go. member that it is God who needs to go to Let’s go! Let’s be those labourers! the places we desire PRAY to reach. It is He who Father, I pray you would raise up workers will draw the hearers to who have passion for the lost. Call people who Jesus. It is by Him, for love you into the harvest field in Canada. Him and through Him that we see the lost come Help me see the spiritual harvest. Send me. to faith in Him. 7 THE HEART OF GOD
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he invite them to return to the “fold.” They loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine need a deliberate effort and assurance they in the wilderness, and go after the one which is are loved. Jesus gave a picture of a shepherd lost until he finds it” (Luke 15:4 NKJ)? who picked up his sheep and lovingly car- ried it back to the fold in his arms. By Donna Hutchman As I read this verse I am reminded of youth that From Casting Crowns’ song: are raised in church and perhaps even professed “Does Anybody Hear Her?” faith. Then the world “draws them away from the Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see? flock.” Often they are met with criticism from Or does anybody even know she’s going down today their church. They are confused, hurting; some- Under the shadow of our steeple times leave never to return. With all the lost and lonely people The heart of God—is He a God who wouldn’t Searching for the hope that’s tucked away welcome back a sheep that wandered? Of course in you and me. not! If we are to show others a glimpse of God we should be careful to check our hearts, seek out the PRAY lost sheep, and welcome them back into the fold Father, help me find lost sheep and bring them without judgmental eyes and harsh lectures. to you. Give me your love for the lost and those who are wandering away from you. Our “lost sheep” need us to encourage them, to
8 THE HEART OF GOD
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and save It should drive us too, this the lost” (Luke 19:10 HCSB). passion to bring the lost back to God: praying for those who By Paul Johnson don’t know him, caring for them in practical ways; He was friendless before Jesus came, Zacchaeus Telling our story—how Jesus has changed us; was. Then Jesus noticed him, greeted him warmly Answering their questions; And yes, sharing the and invited himself to a meal. The crowd com- Good News with them. plained, irritated that Jesus would asso- ciate with such a disgraceful man. Ask God to help change you day by day until It seemed that Jesus preferred a Jesus’ statement becomes your own. Don’t be dis- sinner’s company to theirs. It was couraged if it’s not true right now. Ask, seek and unacceptable, Jesus making lost- knock! Desire to be like Jesus, who placed passion ness a priority over all else. for lostness above all. That’s why he explained: It was PRAY his passion, bringing the lost back. Father, thank you that you came to seek and Had the crowd really known Jesus, save the lost. Help me purposefully make they’d have said, of course! Jesus pas- time in my day for people who don’t know sion was finding and reclaiming lost you. Please interrupt my day whenever you lives. It drove him. want. Change me. 9 THE HEART OF GOD
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only That’s what God our Father has done for begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him you. Stop, think, reflect, and give thanks to should not perish but have everlasting life” God for what He has done for you through (John 3:16 KJV). His Son, Jesus. By Andrew Lamme Eugene Peterson in The Message writes: Have you ever had doubts about this? I have. Did/ “This is how much God loved the world: does God love me that much? I recall when my He gave his one and only Son. And this is oldest was born and the love that I felt for him. As why; so that no one need be destroyed; by be- I was driving away from the hospital with my wife lieving in him, anyone can have a whole and last- and newborn son still there I was overwhelmed ing life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending with the love that God has for me. his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help to put I asked myself would I be willing to let my son the world right again” (John 3:16-17). die for someone who literally ‘snubs their nose at me’ everyday? Someone who at times ‘spits in PRAY my face’? Wow, think about that. Think about the Father, thank you that you love everyone in people in your lives today that are closest to you. the world. Help me to have your heart for all Would you be willing to let them be sacrificed for the different people I meet. I want to love as someone who has hurt you? you love.
10 THE HEART OF GOD
“But God showed his love for us in that while Amazing! God has deep affection for each one of we were still sinners Christ died for us” us. He longs to have a relationship with us. Since (Romans 5:8 ESV). we couldn’t get to God, He came to us. By Nancy McGough *Charles Wesley proclaims: “Amazing Love! How Yesterday we read that God gave his Son so that can it be that Thou my God, should die for me!” we could have eter- * “And Can It Be” by Charles Wesley. The Baptist Hymnal, nal life. Today we 1991 Convention Press, Nashville, TN. are reminded that eternal life came at the price of Christ’s death. And when he died for us, we were PRAY dirty because of Father, thank you for reminding me that our sins. God, salvation is a free gift from you. Help me thank you that you share this message consistently. Thank you for show your love for me in that while I was still a your amazing love. sinner, Christ died for me. 11 THE HEART OF GOD
“The Lord is not slow about his promise, as till I responded to His love in the most natural some think of slowness, but is patient with you, way thinking it was entirely my idea. not wanting any to perish, but all to come to Of course it was His idea. He was not willing for repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NRSV). me to perish but was pursuing me for repentance. By Gerry Taillon I did not find the light He had crashed into my Nobody would have guessed that someday I darkness. would be a pastor. In fact had you been there God changes hearts and we can be part of the when I was in my late teens, you would never have process through prayer. The people most people believed that I was even a possibility for a rela- write off as hopeless are the people God lays on tionship with God. our hearts to pray for the most. Who are they in God has a way of changing every- your life? thing and that’s what He did in my life. He pursued me by intersect- PRAY ing my life with people who Father, forgive me for the times I have failed loved Him and He slowly reeled to be patient and persevere in prayer. Help me in like I was a fish caught on His me to keep praying and not give up. You do line. One experience after another not want any to perish. Thank you that you drew me in closer and closer to Him change lives including mine!
12 THE ROLE OF PRAYER
“If my people who are called by my name humble Let God guide you to the next themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn action He knows you need to take from their wicked ways, then I will hear from in order to come into alignment heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their with Him. land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV). Notice the progressing in your life go- By Tom Blackaby ing from a willing heart to an obedient and Here God speaks of a series of behaviours: hum- renovated servant. And then watch as the bling ourselves, praying, seeking God’s face, and Master begins moving to impact each area turning from our evil ways. All seem to be prereq- of your life and work with plans and spiritual uisite to God responding. intervention.
Notice too that God first PRAY forgives their sins before Father, work in my heart and forgive my sin. He heals the land, much Help me humble myself, pray and seek your like Christ who forgave face. Guide me to the next action I need to the paralytic his sins take in order to come into alignment with before telling him to take you. I want to be an obedient and renovated up his bed and walk. servant. 13 THE ROLE OF PRAYER
“Jesus said, ‘Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, What a privilege to come to our hallowed be your name’” (Matthew 6:9 ESV). heavenly Father in prayer. We can talk to Him anytime about anything. By Nancy McGough Jesus taught his disciples then, and he teaches us “Christ-like praying in secret will be the now, the way to pray. But it isn’t a formula. secret of Christ-like living in public. O let us rise and avail ourselves of our wonder- Our prayers can begin in differ- ful privilege—the Christ-like boldness of ent ways: Dear Father, Heavenly access into the Father’s presence, the Christ- Father, Dear God. Interestingly, like liberty with God in prayer.” Jesus never urged his disciples —Andrew Murray to pray to him or the Holy Spirit. PRAY However we begin our prayer, Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. we should address God reverently Reveal who you are to me. Keep teaching before we begin our requests. Too me how to pray. I want to be focused on you often our requests become our main and not only my requests. What a wonderful focus. We must remember who God privilege to come to you anytime about is and address Him accordingly. anything. Thank you for listening.
14 THE ROLE OF PRAYER
“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth We have the Spirit of God to convince the world as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 ESV). of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:7, 8); we have Jesus interceding daily before His Father’s By Todd Goudy throne on our behalf (Romans 8:34); and we have It is relatively easy to believe that God rules and the angels sent from the throne room to minister reigns in heaven among the angels isn’t it? Around to us (Hebrews 1:14). His throne, Daniel saw a million angels minister- ing to God, and 100 million standing before Him Let’s step through our prayer closet into the waiting do His will. (Daniel 7:9, 10) Somehow throne room of the Most High, and begin to catch though, the circumstances of life a vision for what He is able to do in our hearts, and past disappointments can bring homes, community and the world! We have not, doubts to our mind whether or not because we’ve asked naught of the King. (John Heaven’s King is concerned about 16:24, James 4:2) man’s situation on earth. Is He not? Are we not exhorted to boldly come PRAY to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) Father, I pray your kingdom would come and to meet God with His innumerable your will would be done. Reign in my life. company of angels, as well as the rest Help me catch a vision for what you can do in of the church (Hebrews 12:22, 23). my heart, in my home and in my community. 15 THE ROLE OF PRAYER
“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show A middle-aged man who them that they should always pray and not give had been hostile towards the up” (Luke 18:1 NIV). believers in his family surprised them one morning at the kitchen table and asked, By Nancy McGough “What must I do to be saved?” Thankfully this This is my favorite verse in the New Testament. family did not lose heart. They kept on praying. Sometimes we are told, “It is too late for that per- A friend emailed to say a young woman accepted son.” Or we think, “It is no use praying for myself.” Christ. Months ago this friend almost quit meet- But this verse, describing Jesus’ encouragement ing with this young woman because she was not to his disciples, tells us the opposite of these two always reliable and often didn’t show up for their despondent statements. As long as that person has Bible lesson. Through prayer God gave my friend breath…and as long as we have breath, it is never the strength to keep meeting. God was at work. too late. We must always pray and not lose heart. PRAY Father, remind me to always pray and not give up. I leave the results to you. Lord, you never Recently a friend’s mother accepted Jesus into her give up on me or anyone else. I pray I would life at age eighty-five. God is always at work. It’s have the same perseverance and not lose heart. never too late.
16 THE ROLE OF PRAYER
“Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a ness, the readiness of the gospel of peace, the message may be given to me to make known shield of faith. He provides us with the helmet of with boldness the mystery of the gospel. Pray salvation and the sword of His Spirit, the Word of that I may declare it boldly” (Ephesians 6:19-20 God. He has us covered. NRSV). When we are afraid to tell others about Him, we By Roger Ferrell tell Him. We begin with prayer. And when we When was the last time you prayed to be bold pray, we come face to face with the most coura- in sharing the gospel? Paul geous, compassionate One, the author of cour- asked for prayer that he age, the maker of our lips, our voices, our words, might be bold in sharing even the ones with whom we are sharing! He is Christ. Paul’s words here more than able to empower us to do what He has come right after his descrip- commanded us. So pray boldly and share boldly tion of the armor of God. and pray for one another for boldness. He has us God knows that it is hard to covered! be courageous in the face of opposition and rejec- PRAY tion. He wants us to know that He has us covered. Father, I pray when I speak you would give me We can stand firm because He has given us the a message to share. Give me boldness. Help me belt of His truth, the breastplate of His righteous- not be afraid. 17 THE ROLE OF PRAYER
“We have not stopped praying for you asking God tiveness for our participation to fill you with the knowledge of his will and that in the harvest. We can ask you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please God to give unbelievers a filling him in every way” (Colossians 1:9-10 NIV). of spiritual wisdom so they might real- ize their need for him, come to know him and By Stephanie Beaulieu continuously grow in Him. Spiritual maturity is the ironic goal that we pursue (and make progress in) on earth, but can only per- Join Paul in asking God to fill you with His wis- fectly achieve in heaven. It’s a pursuit that requires dom so you can bear fruit in a way that testifies continual effort for it’s not a state that is perma- to those who don’t yet know God. Pray also that nently achieved. they may also be filled with spiritual wisdom that might draw them to a saving relationship with As Paul writes, he is continually asking God to fill Jesus Christ. the believers in Colossae with godly wisdom so their lives will be fruit-producing, pleasing to God PRAY and in a continual state of growth. Father, fill me with full and clear knowledge of Prayer serves many important purposes in our your will, insight into your ways and purposes, life. These verses give us an example of how we and in understanding of spiritual things. can pray both for unbelievers and ourselves. As I pray my life would bear fruit. believers, we can ask Him to increase our effec-
18 THE ROLE OF PRAYER
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, they got down on their knees and prayed. God intercessions and thanksgiving be made for began to move, people were saved and churches everyone. This is good and pleases God our planted. Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1,3 NIV). Why do you think it is so difficult for us to do By Glenna Heidt what 1 Timothy 2:1 clearly commands? It says, A young couple worked hard at building re- before anything else PRAY. Not only does it state lationships in the country that God had clearly to “first of all” pray. But, pray, pray, pray called them to. When their time came for and pray. “For everyone” - without distinction of a break, they had not experienced one nation, sect, rank, or party. salvation. During their break they de- May the first thing you do today is pray. Pray for cided that they probably needed more the lost. This is the way our Saviour God wants training. After a few months, they you to live and pleases Him. returned to the same country. Again, applying what they had PRAY learned, they focused on reaching Father, help me remember to pray first! I pray people for His kingdom but nothing for salvation for leaders in our country. Send was happening. This scenario re- people into the harvest field to share the good peated itself two more times until news. 19 OUR RESPONSIBILITY
“It is written, My house shall be a house of Jews were allowed access to the prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers” Temple itself, while Gentiles could (Luke 19:45-46 ESV). enter only the outer court. But this secular-sa- cred space was being misused. There were too By Elaine Philips many distractions, and so sincere seekers were Enter into a sacred place with me for a mo- unable to draw near, unable to pray. No wonder ment—a sanctuary, a garden, a cathedral with our Lord displayed righteous anger and over- stained glass windows, a peaceful park. Acknowl- turned the tables. edge the presence of God. Now imagine trying to experience that same serenity while being ha- Do our places of worship hinder seekers from rassed by a pickpocket. Or coming to God? Is there anything I do that worse: a gang of robbers. prevents others from entering fully into God’s presence? Close your eyes and imagine the Jerusalem Temple—holy PRAY place of prayer for all pil- Father, do not let anything prevent me from grims—as a marketplace for seeking you. Do not let me prevent anyone else buying and selling, trading from finding you. Drive out everything that and bartering. Caged animals await slaughter; hinders prayer; rid my life of all that distracts coins are exchanged; money purses emptied. from worship.
20 OUR RESPONSIBILITY
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love This kind of love is not natural for one another: just as I have loved you…. By this us. It is easy to love people who love all people will know that you are my disciples, if us, are kind, and generous. However, you love one another” (John 13:34-35 ESV). it is very difficult to love people who are unkind or hateful. By Frankie Rainey The word “love” has many connotations. We can The good news is we do not have to manufacture say I love my spouse, hobbies, job, pet, hockey, this love. The Holy Spirit produces this love in us. and church. Obviously, we mean different things (Galatians 5:22) Thus our prayer should be, “Holy by “love” depending on whom or what we love. Spirit, please produce love in me so I can love as Christ loves”. Jesus uses a word for love, which means to place supreme value upon. This kind of love is a choice, If we love like this the watching world will know not an emotion. It involves the complete, uncondi- that we are his disciples. tional acceptance of all people as persons of worth created in God’s image. He calls the command- PRAY ment to love one another a new commandment. Father, I desire to love you with all my heart. It is new because we are commanded to love “as I Let your love flow from me to those you place have loved you”. Jesus modeled this unconditional in my life. Help me love all people, especially acceptance of all people as persons of worth. those who need you. 21 OUR RESPONSIBILITY
“As they were ministering to the lord and fasting, Him and He will continue to the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for Me Barnabas reveal to you what He wants and Saul for the work that I have called them to’” you to know about Himself (Acts 13:2-3 HCSB). and His plans. By Tom Blackaby Do not be surprised when Be prepared for God to interrupt you to reveal God’s Spirit speaks, be ready, His purposes and His ways. Let Him be in charge expect it, and do exactly what- of your time of seeking Him. Allow His Spirit to ever He says. Enjoy the moment, open your eyes write it down, bask in the revelation and heart to see that Almighty God is answering your what He has in prayers and honouring your faithfulness. mind to do in Determine never to again live without His and through and obvious presence in your life. around you. But when He speaks, PRAY stay there in His Father, help me be prepared for your call in presence until the midst of whatever I am doing. I want to He is finished. hear your voice clearly and say yes to you. Continue to seek
22 OUR RESPONSIBILITY
“If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special for the lost around utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, us is drowned out and you will be ready for the Master to use you by the noise of our for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21 NLT). restless soul. By Dan Morgan When our hearts are When we pray for the lost, we need to be praying pure, we are free to out of a pure heart. Isaiah 59:2 points out that wait on God and lis- God refuses to hear our prayer when we refuse to ten for his direction; turn away from sin. When we ask we pray boldly when God to search us and cleanse us we know what God wills us to pray. Are your from sin, then our prayers are prayers today for the lost as bold as they could strong and our God listens to be? Are you keeping your heart pure and are you our requests. Again, when ready for God to use you in some good work? our hearts are not pure, our attempts to justify PRAY ourselves and rationalize our Father, I pray I will be ready to be used by you. behavior “shout” over the top of Cleanse my heart and make it ever true. Help God’s spirit whispering to us. His me listen for your direction. direction on how and what to pray 23 OUR RESPONSIBILITY
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was you owe credit. It’s easy to with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” forget who is responsible for the (1 Corinthians 2:2 NIV). victory. By Linda Adam The song “Old Rugged Cross” re- For the Apostle Paul, there was nothing more minds us of the reward that awaits important than knowing Jesus and the cross. That a crucified life. If we cling to the old conviction is no less important in our lives today. rugged cross here, we will exchange Are we increasingly willing to die to self in order it someday for a crown in eternity. to live a resurrected life? Resolve to know only Jesus and him Are our lives characterized by death, as in death crucified. We need to continuously acknowl- to self and sin? If not, we are easily susceptible to edge our need for forgiveness. By the grace of pride. The result is our life not reaching its divine God we can live in such a way that puts Jesus potential. Christ and the cross on display.
Perhaps there was a season of your life where you PRAY were constantly reminded of your need for the Father, thank you that Jesus died in my place. cross to battle a particular sin or struggle. You May I always be mindful of this. Help me keep lived crucified out of desperation. But perhaps Jesus and the cross the main thing. once you made progress, you forgot to whom
24 OUR RESPONSIBILITY
“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s It worked! God was in it!! field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9 NIV). The plan was to meet from May to August. When Sep- By Maurice Tenkink tember came they decided Co-workers in God’s service - in 2012 three young to continue meeting and friends wanted to explore ways to share Christ the gathering became The with their larger group of friends. They looked Gathering, a house church. beyond traditional ways. Each young man would say one Each of the three had talents to form a planted, one watered, but Christ group. Aaron was the magnet, draw- made it grow. God blessed the min- ing people together. Josh was the istry of these young men in God’s logistics person , and Tyler, the harvest. man of faith who said “when God is with us it will succeed in God’s way.” PRAY Together they strategized to use paint Father, rise up an army of prayer warriors balling as the gathering event, food as and workers for your field. The size of the the connecting time, and the evening as harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. “ask anything about life and we’ll explore Send me. Use me. Thank you that we all have the Bible to find God’s answer!” a part to play. 25 OUR RESPONSIBILITY
“Because a great door of effective witness has While at times these two things can opened for me, and there are many who oppose be in sync, at others they are me” (1 Corinthians 16:9 NIV). opposed. By Jacob Mickelson As followers of Christ, we need While staying in Ephesus, Paul was writing to to discern what the Holy Spirit the people of Corinth. Even though his heart is saying versus what our flesh desired to go to Corinth he saw what God was is telling us. We also need to doing in Ephesus. He saw make sure our flesh is fully the opportunity that was aligned with God’s will. Even presented in both locations if things may seem difficult though the opportunity in Romans 8:28 reassures us God is Ephesus was where God’s always working for our good no matter work through him would the situation or who opposes us. be most effective. This is the constant bat- PRAY tle in our daily lives of soul versus spirit. On one Father, keep opening doors me to build hand we have the opportunities that our heart de- relationships with people and share the gospel. sires and on the other what the Holy Spirit desires. I pray my desires would be your desires.
26 PREPARE TO GO
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if Don’t you remember? I made the first move, you have anything against anyone, so that your stepped toward you. When you were busy choos- Father also who is in heaven may forgive you ing yourself, I chose to give you more than justice. your trespasses” (Mark 11:25-26 ESV). I chose to give you forgiveness. Remember the sacrifice. By Pamela Sigsby Justice. My sense of fairness vexes me. I am dis- So I do. I remember the sacrifice. His sacrifice. pleased that I must take the first step. And I prepare myself to share His sacrifice with those who don’t know, who don’t remember… by Why, Jesus, must I be the one to move when leaving my prayer, by making a move, by taking you know that it was he (she, them) who did a step toward the one whom I must forgive and (said) that to me? I am innocent! I am right! I offering myself in humility. am the one who was hurt! I am the one who was wronged! Can’t you see what’s really going on And a fresh wave of love washes me. here? PRAY Father, help me to let go of my pride and my Silence. Brooding. need for justice. Show me how to extend the I just wanted to spend some time with You, I gift of mercy so that I am unleashed to show mumble and kick the air. others what it means to experience your His whisper cuts through my sulk. Hot. Searing. incredible forgiveness. 27 PREPARE TO GO
“I pray that you be strengthened in your inner As Paul prayed for his Ephesian friends he wanted being with power through the Holy Spirit, and them to grasp how wide and deep and long and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through high is the love of Christ—and to know for your- faith. I pray that you may have the power to selves that love so far beyond our comprehension. know the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:16-19 (JP Philips) NRSV). Those of us who have experienced His amazing By Bob Shelton love long to find ways to express our love back to My bride of 40 years turns 60 today! When you Him. The best way we can do that is to love what look at her you would never guess she has lived He loves. He loves people. Your neighbor, those that long on planet earth. Those of us who know you work with, your children. And just like we and love her have prepared to make this a very spent time preparing to throw my wife a party special day. We want it to be beyond her wildest because we love her, each of us must prepare to go dreams. A day she will never forget. into the marketplace of life and share His love. Genuine love longs to find a way to express itself. PRAY We do this through giving flowers, a note of Father, I pray that out of my love relationship encouragement, throwing a party or just sitting with you I would be prepared for divine together over a cup of tea. Countless ways, small appointments. I am ready to share the good and big that say you matter to me. news with those who need to know your love.
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“I was shown mercy because I acted out of I found out later what was going on and it was ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord completely opposite to my thinking. It is so easy was poured out abundantly, along with the faith to judge people by how they look, what they are and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy doing or what they are wearing and we fail to 1:13-14 NIV). share with them the grace and mercy shown to us in Christ Jesus. By Glenna Heidt I distinctly remember the morning I watched, When you prepare to go today, ask God to search from a restaurant window, two police cars pull your heart to see if you have a judgmental atti- up on either side of a car in the parking lot. The tude. Ask Him to fill you with the same mercy police got out of their cars and proceeded to talk and love shown to you. Ask that He give you the with the young man standing outside the car. privilege and courage to share Christ with the They looked inside the car, under the hood and blasphemers and persecutors in your life. walked around the car looking at its exte- rior. PRAY The young man had tattoos on both of his Father, thank you for pouring out your arms, long hair and wore a leather vest. He mercy, grace and love in my life. Help me be had to be a drug dealer. Why else would the an expression of your love to others in words police be so interested in him and his car? and actions. 29 PREPARE TO GO
“Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed God’s strength and protection for ahead, and be honored, and that we may be Christ followers in these difficult plac- delivered from evil men. The Lord is faithful. He es is absolutely necessary. Is Canada any will establish you and guard you against the evil different? Our enemy is cunning and crafty. one” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 ESV). We may not fear for our lives or the people we are ministering to may not risk excommunica- By Grady Watson tion from their family if they respond to the Gos- When I think of our need for our faithful God pel, but the tactics the enemy uses here are every to strengthen us and protect us, my mind often bit as effective at hardening the hearts of people. goes to our Christian brothers in China, or cer- tain places in Africa or the Middle East. I imagine Let us pray together with Christ followers around them praying this prayer with a sense of survival the world for our faithful God’s strength and like their very lives depend on God’s strength and protection. Even though our own lives may not protection let alone their effectiveness in ministry. depend on it, the eternal lives of others do. Why? Because God uses us spread His message. In those places, the evil one uses tactics of reli- gious oppression and persecution and fear, prob- PRAY ably very similar to what Paul and his buddies Father, protect me from evil. I pray your word were experiencing when he wrote this letter to the would spread rapidly through me and be Thessalonians. honoured.
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“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love they said they weren’t interested. Or worse, they and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:5 ridiculed you. NIV). After Julie rejected the truth of Christ, I needed By Kathy Howard fresh encouragement to keep going to those who Julie longed to fill the hole in her life. On Tues- desperately need Him. First, God reminded me days, she studied the Bible with me and a few the outcome is always up to Him. He simply bids other women. On Thursdays, she met with a us go. Then, God encouraged me with His love. group of Jehovah’s The more we understand and experience the Witnesses. After three depth of God’s love, the more we’ll want to share months, Julie joined the it. Because He loves us, God came to earth and en- JW church. I felt like a dured rejection and suffering. This divine love and failure. faithful perseverance provide both our salvation Have you ever been and our motivation for taking this Good News to discouraged over the world. sharing Christ with the PRAY lost? Perhaps when you Father, direct my heart to your love and spoke to your friends or family about Jesus they Christ’s perseverance. Give me fresh simply smiled and changed the subject. Maybe encouragement to keep sharing. 31 PREPARE TO GO
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable through every temptation to sympathize with our weaknesses … Let us that we experienced yet he then with confidence draw near to the throne of did not yield and sin. This grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace priest is speaking on our ... ”(Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV). behalf to a holy God and has revealed to us the living God By Ray Woodard of grace by extending the Confidence is based upon a relationship where invitation to come into His presence. a person does what he says he will do and does it well. But how do you build a relationship like Pray that each person you know will have the that? It begins with a step of faith to trust one who seeds of confidence (faith) to trust the word of has been where you want to go and understands God and the acts of God on the cross to launch your struggle. a relationship based upon our God’s informed unconditional forgiveness (grace). Our passage today reminds us that we are ask- ing lost people who are not perfect to take a step PRAY of faith to trust a God who is perfect in every Father, thank you that I can pray with way. But more than that, He is offering mercy confidence. I pray for people in my circle of and grace to help us. Our high priest who stands influence to have faith to trust your word and between perfection and imperfection has been the cross to launch a relationship with you.
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