Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
Forgiving Father,
Help these children to see the depth of their own sin and failure. Help them to see the enormity of your forgiveness. Help them to believe that, through Jesus, you have indeed fully and continually forgiven them. Mold them with this knowledge and belief such that they are patient with others as you have been patient with them, such that they are kind to others as you have been kind to them, such that they are compassionate with others as you have been compassionate with them and such that they forgive others as you have forgiven them.
Keep their sin and your forgiveness ever before them. Keep their sin and your forgiveness ever before them. Keep their sin and your forgiveness ever before them. Lead them to mercy.
Amen
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Christian Anger
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26, 27)
Dear Father,
I am thankful that you acknowledge our human nature. We will get angry and you do not tell us that we shouldn't. By your words you take away the guilt we might feel when anger rises in us. I know in this teaching that you are not talking about holy and righteous anger, anger we should feel when the weak and defenseless are oppressed or when people are acting divisively within your Son's body, the church. Though even in that case, in our anger we should not sin.
But this teaching is about anger that arises naturally when we, or someone we love, is slighted or mistreated. Help these children to know that it is acceptable to feel anger in that case. But help them also to understand this teaching - that they need to hold lightly to anger and drop it quickly (whether or not the issue that led to the anger has been resolved). They should drop anger quickly not only because it is part of loving others as you have loved us, but also because, as this scripture teaches, holding on to anger will give satan a foothold. Held anger will destroy them from the inside and will lead them to evil and sinful actions of retaliation. Give them the wisdom and courage to treat anger as a hot piece of coal, quickly dropped before it causes damage.
Amen
Dear Father,
I am thankful that you acknowledge our human nature. We will get angry and you do not tell us that we shouldn't. By your words you take away the guilt we might feel when anger rises in us. I know in this teaching that you are not talking about holy and righteous anger, anger we should feel when the weak and defenseless are oppressed or when people are acting divisively within your Son's body, the church. Though even in that case, in our anger we should not sin.
But this teaching is about anger that arises naturally when we, or someone we love, is slighted or mistreated. Help these children to know that it is acceptable to feel anger in that case. But help them also to understand this teaching - that they need to hold lightly to anger and drop it quickly (whether or not the issue that led to the anger has been resolved). They should drop anger quickly not only because it is part of loving others as you have loved us, but also because, as this scripture teaches, holding on to anger will give satan a foothold. Held anger will destroy them from the inside and will lead them to evil and sinful actions of retaliation. Give them the wisdom and courage to treat anger as a hot piece of coal, quickly dropped before it causes damage.
Amen
Maturing in Community
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16)
Dear Jesus,
In you we are built, together in community, not solely as individuals. Our society has become so individualistic. We speak of "personal savior" and "our faith being a personal matter" and "our (translated 'my') relationship with Jesus", and certainly those comments are partially true. But the idea of the church being an organism of which we are inextricably a part is very foreign to our western mindset. It is very much an eastern mindset (which was your mindset and the mindset of the leaders in the early church). Because our individualistic perspective is so engrained in us, we will never quite internalize the community view, but I pray you help these children with this. Help them to understand that church is not an option, but it is central to a Christian life, that a Christian life as you intended it simply cannot be lived outside of church community. Even, as this scripture teaches, our spiritual maturity does not happen individualisticly, but in community. We mature and grow together, we are built up together. This makes sense when I consider the Great Command - maturity happens as we learn to love each other as you have loved us. And we cannot learn that unless we live in community with imperfect and broken people. Help these children to learn and embrace this principle.
Amen
Dear Jesus,
In you we are built, together in community, not solely as individuals. Our society has become so individualistic. We speak of "personal savior" and "our faith being a personal matter" and "our (translated 'my') relationship with Jesus", and certainly those comments are partially true. But the idea of the church being an organism of which we are inextricably a part is very foreign to our western mindset. It is very much an eastern mindset (which was your mindset and the mindset of the leaders in the early church). Because our individualistic perspective is so engrained in us, we will never quite internalize the community view, but I pray you help these children with this. Help them to understand that church is not an option, but it is central to a Christian life, that a Christian life as you intended it simply cannot be lived outside of church community. Even, as this scripture teaches, our spiritual maturity does not happen individualisticly, but in community. We mature and grow together, we are built up together. This makes sense when I consider the Great Command - maturity happens as we learn to love each other as you have loved us. And we cannot learn that unless we live in community with imperfect and broken people. Help these children to learn and embrace this principle.
Amen
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Maturity - Speaking Truth in Love
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:14, 15 )
Patient Father,
As I first came to begin studying your word in earnest, I learned much and determined that much of what I was taught growing up was not quite correct. I discovered grace, which was never taught in my home church, and I learned that the New Testament was never intended to be a law book, a substitute for the Law of Moses. But though those conclusions were correct, I also became arrogant, looking down on those who had not become as "enlightened" as I had become. I did not speak the truth in love. Rather I was condescending. I was immature. I think I have progressed in this area, but I still have a ways to go. May these children not grow arrogant in their newfound knowledge of you, but may they be kind and patient with others, truly respecting them and their views, not patronizing. May they be this way both because that is what you ask of us, but because they recognize that they do not have all the answers. Certainly I pray they develop a point of view so that they are not "blown here and there by every wind of teaching", but may they also remain humble so that they will continually evaluate conclusions they have drawn. May they learn and impart truth, but with gentleness and kindness, so that others feel valued and respected.
Amen
Patient Father,
As I first came to begin studying your word in earnest, I learned much and determined that much of what I was taught growing up was not quite correct. I discovered grace, which was never taught in my home church, and I learned that the New Testament was never intended to be a law book, a substitute for the Law of Moses. But though those conclusions were correct, I also became arrogant, looking down on those who had not become as "enlightened" as I had become. I did not speak the truth in love. Rather I was condescending. I was immature. I think I have progressed in this area, but I still have a ways to go. May these children not grow arrogant in their newfound knowledge of you, but may they be kind and patient with others, truly respecting them and their views, not patronizing. May they be this way both because that is what you ask of us, but because they recognize that they do not have all the answers. Certainly I pray they develop a point of view so that they are not "blown here and there by every wind of teaching", but may they also remain humble so that they will continually evaluate conclusions they have drawn. May they learn and impart truth, but with gentleness and kindness, so that others feel valued and respected.
Amen
Unity
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)
Dear Jesus,
Your prayer on the night of your betrayal was for the unity of your followers. We have so botched that up. In our pride and weakness, we have divided countless times. I pray these children will play a role in mending those divides in the coming years. But more so, may they be a force of reason and unity in their local church. May they be a voice of peace and compromise and, if necessary, a voice of admonition against those who would be divisive. Give them words that mend relationships, words that give reason to place unity above personal positions and words that constantly remind of your prayer for unity. May these children never be a force of division. Give them wisdom to discern their motives and to see when their actions may be divisive. Then give them the fullness of your Spirit to hold their egos and pride in check when they realize that continuing to argue their position may lead to division.
Amen
Dear Jesus,
Your prayer on the night of your betrayal was for the unity of your followers. We have so botched that up. In our pride and weakness, we have divided countless times. I pray these children will play a role in mending those divides in the coming years. But more so, may they be a force of reason and unity in their local church. May they be a voice of peace and compromise and, if necessary, a voice of admonition against those who would be divisive. Give them words that mend relationships, words that give reason to place unity above personal positions and words that constantly remind of your prayer for unity. May these children never be a force of division. Give them wisdom to discern their motives and to see when their actions may be divisive. Then give them the fullness of your Spirit to hold their egos and pride in check when they realize that continuing to argue their position may lead to division.
Amen
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
God's Wisdom - the Church
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:10, 11)
Dear Father,
These children will experience dysfunctional churches and will have their share of church wounds if they are involved in church for any period of time. Those experiences will have them wondering about how the church could possibly show your wisdom. But help these children to see that the Church reflects your wisdom in that it has continued to exist and to grow despite flawed members and flawed leadership. That, despite its flaws, the church continues to minister to people. That we were not created as new creation to walk alone and the church is the community you designed for us.
May these children devote themselves to serving the Church, the body of Christ, the Bride of Christ in all her faults, the church your Son bled and died for. And bless them for their efforts as they touch the lives of your struggling and hurting children. Give them a willingness to serve in leadership, if that is their calling, knowing full well that such service will lead to much heartache. Help them to realize that such heartache is also them experiencing a portion of your heartache. As they share in your pain, may they also share in your joy, both now and forevermore.
Amen
Dear Father,
These children will experience dysfunctional churches and will have their share of church wounds if they are involved in church for any period of time. Those experiences will have them wondering about how the church could possibly show your wisdom. But help these children to see that the Church reflects your wisdom in that it has continued to exist and to grow despite flawed members and flawed leadership. That, despite its flaws, the church continues to minister to people. That we were not created as new creation to walk alone and the church is the community you designed for us.
May these children devote themselves to serving the Church, the body of Christ, the Bride of Christ in all her faults, the church your Son bled and died for. And bless them for their efforts as they touch the lives of your struggling and hurting children. Give them a willingness to serve in leadership, if that is their calling, knowing full well that such service will lead to much heartache. Help them to realize that such heartache is also them experiencing a portion of your heartache. As they share in your pain, may they also share in your joy, both now and forevermore.
Amen
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Saved by Grace - For a Purpose
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Father of Grace,
I pray these children fully understand and do not forget that their salvation is by grace, not by their own works. May they understand that they are imperfect and sinful people, but that you save them anyway by the blood of your son. Never-the-less, may they understand that you save them for a purpose, that you re-created them for specific works that you have in mind for them. I pray they surrender their hearts to that purpose in gratitude for the salvation you have freely given them.
Amen
Father of Grace,
I pray these children fully understand and do not forget that their salvation is by grace, not by their own works. May they understand that they are imperfect and sinful people, but that you save them anyway by the blood of your son. Never-the-less, may they understand that you save them for a purpose, that you re-created them for specific works that you have in mind for them. I pray they surrender their hearts to that purpose in gratitude for the salvation you have freely given them.
Amen
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