Friday Morning Prayer:)… August 1, 2019
August 1, 2019 - 6 minutes readWithout His tears, there is no comfort
Without His death, there is no life
Without His blood, there is no pardon
Without His cross, there is no crown
Without His shame, there is no glory
Without His grief, there is no joy
Without His stripes, there is no healing
Without His cross, there is no crown
Lamb of God, You bring salvation
And with Your grace, our hearts are sealed
Lord, with Your tears of love, You bathed our sorrows
In Your eyes we stand revealed[1]
“…we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.”[2]
_____________
What encourages you in our shared faith? What brings joy, excitement, and overflowing love? The apostle Paul was greatly moved, encouraged, full of appreciation, joy, thanksgiving, and love for the Thessalonian believers who continued to fight the good fight of faith in his absence. Timothy was sent by Paul to the beloved believers because Paul had sacrificial love and genuine concern for others. He continued to pray for them and longed to know the status of their faith. Once he received Timothy back with the good news, he wrote in his letter “…in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.” Moreover, “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.”[3] Paul was greatly renewed after Timothy brought him the most encouraging news, the faithfulness of believers.
God in his mercy regenerates the calloused self-directed unloving heart. A truly regenerate heart, a genuinely changed life has supernatural love for others because of God’s love for us demonstrated through the cross. This is a radical love incomparable to any degree of human love, relational satisfaction, or emotional comfort experienced in this life.
I am encouraged by the faithfulness of believers, especially as brothers and sisters endure through suffering and various trials necessary as we live this life in Christ. You know that joy and excitement when a family member professes Jesus as Lord and Savior and the holy desires and a changed humble heart becomes increasingly evident. The world and temporary pleasures are so tempting, but there is no turning back! This same God-initiated joy and thankfulness is true when a co-worker, friend, neighbor, etc. has been stirred by God and genuinely believes and/or is persevering and excited about our shared faith.
I readily recognize my need to continually rely on our Lord to increase my love for believers and for everyone else. We struggle and some days I need renewal and so do you. “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”[4] It is certain in this Christ-life we need one another. You need the prayers of the saints; I need your prayers too. “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.”[5] We pray many times with intensity for those we love; and, we hang out, go visit, fellowship and offer what we have in Jesus that may be lacking in another’s faith.
Beloved, as we ask God to help us by his Spirit to overflow his supernatural love, we are in pursuit of holy conduct that pleases God. He empowers us and love prevails through every circumstance and in every context. Let us encourage one another, even urge in the Lord Jesus to love more and more. I pray you are continually encouraged, excited and find yourself full of overflowing joy because of our living faith that is clearly evident in you and me and the many who share God’s abundant grace every moment of every day.
Without His tears, there is no comfort
Without His death, there is no life
Without His blood, there is no pardon
Without His cross, there is no crown
______________
Sisters are meeting to pray. First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine. 0900
You are invited to join sisters in Christ for a sweet hour of prayer. Gals from various fellowships gather to love, encourage, and be strengthened. As the Spirit of Jesus empowers, we bring our humble prayers before the throne of grace.
Brothers are meeting too. Mt. View Bible. 2710 Alpine Blvd. Alpine. 0730.
Join us for a time of prayer and encouragement. If your schedule allows, it is always a joy to engage with faithful brothers! We lean and carry as the Spirit of God helps us to his glory and our benefit.
[1] http://favian-music.blogspot.com/2010/07/without-his-cross.html
[2] 1 Thessalonians 4:1
[3] 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8
[4] ibid 3:12
[5] ibid v. 10
0 Comments