Friday Morning Prayer:)…. March 15, 2018
March 15, 2018 - 7 minutes readSoftly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?[1]
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?[1]
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell I him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”[2]
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Who are you? I was asked this question as I gave out Bibles to people downtown willing to take one. I am a Christian. What kind of Christian are you? He asked as he looked at me puzzled. Well, I said I could be categorized as a protestant who very much appreciates the Reformers. The gospel, God’s grace through the Lord Jesus, the cross and my sins forgiven because of his shed blood. He smiled, thanked me for the Bible and continued on his way. Although we see a world full of evil reflecting human depravity at every turn, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing. Why? Faithful believers like Epaphras are sharing the good news as faithful ministers of Christ.[3] Through God’s mercy and the prayers of many, people are hearing the gospel, they understand and God’s abundant grace takes hold of them.
The old hymn sings, “Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing, passing from you and from me; shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming, coming for you and for me.”[4] We pray unceasing for the lost. God knows the elect and uses us to proclaim grace in all its truth. O God, give me a small measure of Paul’s inspired truth. “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”[5] Tears flow for those resistant and unwilling to be reconciled to God. Despite ridicule and rejection from those alienated from God, we fervently pray for mercy and trust our sovereign God. “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”[6]
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Of all I would wish to say this is the sum; my brethren, preach Christ, always and evermore. He is the whole gospel. His person, offices, and work must be our one great, all-comprehending theme. The world needs to be told of its Saviour, and of the way to reach him….”[7] I pray others are told of my love and yours too in the Spirit,[8] especially as we readily proclaim Jesus, the whole gospel.
Beloved, you have been reconciled to God through Christ, his death, burial, and resurrection. We in Christ are called to a holy life, “…without blemish and free from accusation−if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”[9] We are saved by grace through faith and this living faith has to be personal. “Your faith” has to endure. Perseverance is the test of reality, a necessary condition of my faith.
I do get fired up and sense the power of the Spirit when given opportunity to share the gospel. However, there are those days when I just don’t feel the supernatural power of our indwelling God. I still believe. I pray for grace to trust him more. I cry out in prayer and know God is forever present despite the absence of those comforting feelings. Our shared faith relies on gospel truth firm and well established. In fact, God being seemingly distant calls me and you too, to a deeper maturing faith that holds fast without wavering when that subjective sense of God is not there.
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.
Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
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Sisters are meeting to pray. First Baptist. 1912 Arnold Way. Alpine. 0900.
You are invited to join diverse gals who gather week after week to encourage and pray. Our common bond is the cross and when gals gather there is supernatural power because of the indwelling Spirit. Join if you are able for a time of encouragement and humble prayer.
Brothers are meeting too. First Baptist. 3rd Friday. 0730.
Those in Christ Jesus are welcome to join brothers in fervent prayer. Faithful guys from various churches have been meeting for many years now. I am thankful and full of joy to be able to fellowship with diverse brothers. You too can overflow with joy as you join us for a brief time of encouragement and intentional prayer.
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