In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (II Timothy 4:1,2)
Dear Father,
You may call some of these children to full time ministry and I pray that those called will answer. But I also pray that you instill in the others that "preaching the word" does not require a Sunday morning pulpit. Help them to see that their lives are a sermon with the world around them reading every line. May they prepare themselves for life so that their lives preach in season and out of season - when they are strong - when the force of your Spirit in their lives is contagious to those around them and when they are weak - when they suffer hardship and heartache and their faithfulness and the evidence of your comfort speaks to those around them. May their words and their example both rebuke, as those living as they should not live will feel remorse at their behavior as they see the godly lives of these children, and encourage, as they carry others along on their Christian walk. Let their lives preach loud and true.
Amen
Monday, July 1, 2013
Terrible Times
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. (II Timothy 3:1-5)
Dear Father,
There is much handwringing today by Christians concerned by how they think our country is crumbling into immorality. But the truth is that immorality has always been pervasive throughout this fallen world and our country has been no exception. There were no "good ol' days" when people were pure and righteous. Immorality took different forms and some occurred more in secret. One cannot look at the immorality of slavery, child labor, abuse of workers, the breaking of treaties with the native Americans and the stealing of their land and conclude that somehow our nation was more moral in its past. We had a form of godliness, but we denied its truth and its power.
Paul's concern was not society at large, but immorality in the church. And the immorality he warns of is not sexual immorality, rather it is the immorality of unloving behavior. People who may attend church, but everything else about their behavior is despicable. May these children fully comprehend their responsibility, not to campaign against immorality in our society, rather it is to stand firm against those who would use the cover of Christianity to use and abuse others. Give them the courage to stand against this and defend those being mistreated by fellow Christians and give others the courage to stand with them so that they do not stand alone.
Amen
Dear Father,
There is much handwringing today by Christians concerned by how they think our country is crumbling into immorality. But the truth is that immorality has always been pervasive throughout this fallen world and our country has been no exception. There were no "good ol' days" when people were pure and righteous. Immorality took different forms and some occurred more in secret. One cannot look at the immorality of slavery, child labor, abuse of workers, the breaking of treaties with the native Americans and the stealing of their land and conclude that somehow our nation was more moral in its past. We had a form of godliness, but we denied its truth and its power.
Paul's concern was not society at large, but immorality in the church. And the immorality he warns of is not sexual immorality, rather it is the immorality of unloving behavior. People who may attend church, but everything else about their behavior is despicable. May these children fully comprehend their responsibility, not to campaign against immorality in our society, rather it is to stand firm against those who would use the cover of Christianity to use and abuse others. Give them the courage to stand against this and defend those being mistreated by fellow Christians and give others the courage to stand with them so that they do not stand alone.
Amen
Don't Get Distracted
No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (I Timothy 2:4-7)
Dear Father,
It is easy in life to be distracted by all of the activities we have. Certainly we have no choice but to work for a living and you want us to spend time with our families and some time in recreation to refresh ourselves. The mistake is when we look at those activities as somehow separate from Kingdom work. We look at work at church or mission work or benevolence work as Kingdom work and we look at our jobs and our leisure activities as not Kingdom work. It is only when we realize that all of life is Kingdom work that we are able to stay focused on our purpose and mission in this life.
May these children never fall into the trap of compartmentalizing their lives. Show them the opportunities for good that exist all around them in every breath they take, opportunities to be a witness to the world of your transforming power in our lives, opportunities to speak comfort to those who are struggling, opportunities to lead spiritually family members, fellow Christians and those not yet believers, and opportunities to glorify you and your boundless love for a broken creation. Keep these children focused on the totality of life being ministry, service and offering as your raise them up to be your lights shining in the darkness. May these children reflect on these principles as you give them insight.
Amen
Dear Father,
It is easy in life to be distracted by all of the activities we have. Certainly we have no choice but to work for a living and you want us to spend time with our families and some time in recreation to refresh ourselves. The mistake is when we look at those activities as somehow separate from Kingdom work. We look at work at church or mission work or benevolence work as Kingdom work and we look at our jobs and our leisure activities as not Kingdom work. It is only when we realize that all of life is Kingdom work that we are able to stay focused on our purpose and mission in this life.
May these children never fall into the trap of compartmentalizing their lives. Show them the opportunities for good that exist all around them in every breath they take, opportunities to be a witness to the world of your transforming power in our lives, opportunities to speak comfort to those who are struggling, opportunities to lead spiritually family members, fellow Christians and those not yet believers, and opportunities to glorify you and your boundless love for a broken creation. Keep these children focused on the totality of life being ministry, service and offering as your raise them up to be your lights shining in the darkness. May these children reflect on these principles as you give them insight.
Amen
Do Not Be Argumentative
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, (II Timothy 2:24,25)
Dear Father,
Though I pray these children value truth, your truth, I ask that they take this teaching to heart. It is difficult for a discussion of truth not to become a contest of egos. Discussion of such matters can quickly devolve into a contest to be won or lost. It is so very difficult to avoid this outcome. I pray that you give these children that special wisdom to choose words and approaches to conversations about truth that lead to honest and open dialogue about important matters, which avoid putting the other person on the defensive. May that wisdom also give them the talent, when they are being attacked for their views, to lower the temperature and bring the conversation back to reasoned discussion.
This does not mean that they water down or compromise truth, but that they have the ability to engage in these discussions so that they own conclusions about truth can be rightfully tested and honed and so that truth is learned by all to your glory. No winners, no losers, just truth.
Amen
Dear Father,
Though I pray these children value truth, your truth, I ask that they take this teaching to heart. It is difficult for a discussion of truth not to become a contest of egos. Discussion of such matters can quickly devolve into a contest to be won or lost. It is so very difficult to avoid this outcome. I pray that you give these children that special wisdom to choose words and approaches to conversations about truth that lead to honest and open dialogue about important matters, which avoid putting the other person on the defensive. May that wisdom also give them the talent, when they are being attacked for their views, to lower the temperature and bring the conversation back to reasoned discussion.
This does not mean that they water down or compromise truth, but that they have the ability to engage in these discussions so that they own conclusions about truth can be rightfully tested and honed and so that truth is learned by all to your glory. No winners, no losers, just truth.
Amen
Supporting God's Servants
May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. (II Timothy 1:16-18)
Dear Father,
I pray these children will be of the pattern of Onesiphorus. It is our tendency to stand back and criticize your servants when their performance doesn't suit us. Show these children that what you, rather, want from them is to be those who encourage those who are devoting their lives to ministry, particularly when those servants are under persecution. May they search for wounded servants in the dungeon of the heart during their dark days and minister to them with the salve of your love shown through them. And by the efforts of these children, I pray you will restore the soul and heart of these discouraged servants and put them back on the battlefield and into the field of souls.
Amen
Dear Father,
I pray these children will be of the pattern of Onesiphorus. It is our tendency to stand back and criticize your servants when their performance doesn't suit us. Show these children that what you, rather, want from them is to be those who encourage those who are devoting their lives to ministry, particularly when those servants are under persecution. May they search for wounded servants in the dungeon of the heart during their dark days and minister to them with the salve of your love shown through them. And by the efforts of these children, I pray you will restore the soul and heart of these discouraged servants and put them back on the battlefield and into the field of souls.
Amen
Keep It Simple - Don't Argue Over Words
Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.(II Timothy 2:14,23)
Father of wisdom,
I pray these children develop the ability to avoid being pulled into petty religious arguments. Guide them into understanding that the New Testament is not a replacement for the Law of Moses and was never intended to be analyzed with a fine tooth comb, arguing over every detail. Such behavior has led to heartbreaking division within the body of your Son.
You want unity. Your Son wants unity. Your Spirit wants unity. Unity will never happen so long as we choose to argue over words. Help these children to understand that the principles of following your Son were intended to be simple. Believe that He is your Son, that he lived, was crucified and rose again, that he ascended to heaven and is at your right hand and that he rose again, that believers in him are to be baptized into him and that from there we are to attempt to love others as He has loved us. All the rest is just noise. Help them to understand this and be a force for unity in the church of your Son.
Amen
Father of wisdom,
I pray these children develop the ability to avoid being pulled into petty religious arguments. Guide them into understanding that the New Testament is not a replacement for the Law of Moses and was never intended to be analyzed with a fine tooth comb, arguing over every detail. Such behavior has led to heartbreaking division within the body of your Son.
You want unity. Your Son wants unity. Your Spirit wants unity. Unity will never happen so long as we choose to argue over words. Help these children to understand that the principles of following your Son were intended to be simple. Believe that He is your Son, that he lived, was crucified and rose again, that he ascended to heaven and is at your right hand and that he rose again, that believers in him are to be baptized into him and that from there we are to attempt to love others as He has loved us. All the rest is just noise. Help them to understand this and be a force for unity in the church of your Son.
Amen
Flee The Evil Desires of Youth
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (II Timothy 2:22)
Dear Father,
The temptations of youth as hard. Peers encourage to "try" things. Maintaining sexual purity when the hormones are flowing at fever pitch is extremely difficult. In Paul's instructions to Timothy, though, he wisely tells Timothy that one cannot simply focus on the negative - don't do this or don't do that - rather it is critical to focus on the positives.
I pray these children focus on what they wish to do - pursuing righteousness, increasing their knowledge and faith in you, loving and ministering to people and working to secure peace - peace in their community, in their church and in the world. And by that focus, Lord, help them to push temptations to the side so that they do not have so strong a pull. May they understand the importance not to simply say "no" to temptation, but to flee - to run. Give them your strength in this, because the human will is simply not sufficient.
Amen
Dear Father,
The temptations of youth as hard. Peers encourage to "try" things. Maintaining sexual purity when the hormones are flowing at fever pitch is extremely difficult. In Paul's instructions to Timothy, though, he wisely tells Timothy that one cannot simply focus on the negative - don't do this or don't do that - rather it is critical to focus on the positives.
I pray these children focus on what they wish to do - pursuing righteousness, increasing their knowledge and faith in you, loving and ministering to people and working to secure peace - peace in their community, in their church and in the world. And by that focus, Lord, help them to push temptations to the side so that they do not have so strong a pull. May they understand the importance not to simply say "no" to temptation, but to flee - to run. Give them your strength in this, because the human will is simply not sufficient.
Amen
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