1 Tim. 2:1-4
Paul, in writing to Timothy, fills his letter with instructions for daily church life as Timothy finds himself in his first senior pastor position in Ephesus. Among the counsels from Paul are our verses today regarding prayer for the lost. Evangelistic prayer is vital for many reasons but primarily because it is God’s desire that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Prayer for the lost to be saved is a reflection of God’s heart of love for the unsaved.
You can begin by praying for those leaders who are in authority over you. Then begin to include those in your life you know and love that are not yet saved. Your prayers for their salvation are good in God’s sight and powerful in His presence. Make a list, keep praying, and look for opportunities for the Lord to use you to share with those you are lifting up before Him.
Praying makes a world of difference, the Lord said so!
Pastor Jack Abeelen
Psalm 34:4
You and I live in a world filled with fear. The global pandemic named COVID-19 has heightened the fear level in many. Stock market fluctuations strike fear in many hearts about their future well-being. Media reports feed on fear, keeping people on edge. Some reading this are struggling under the grip of fear right now. Fear, if not surrendered to God, causes people to act in strange ways.
The story behind Psalm 34 is a faith-filled and worshipful call to trust God over fear. David wrote these words while running in fear for his life. When arriving at Gath, David becomes fearful of Achish, the king of Gath (1 Samuel 21:12). So fearful of this king that he pretends to be insane – drooling and scratching on doors (1 Samuel 21:13). That charade gets him out of trouble but only leads to another problem. He ends up in the cave of Adullam where he becomes the commander of 400 distressed, discontented, and indebted men living in that same cave because of fear (1 Samuel 22:1).
But it is in that cave, living in fear, and trying to lead others living in fear, that David lifts his voice to God. In that cry of praise to God, you and I can learn how to handle fear. Got fear? Meditate on Psalm 34 each morning this week. I suspect your fear will be quite manageable by weeks’ end.
Pastor William Del Casale
Matthew 5:16
The passage of scripture in verses 13 to 16 describes the influence that the Christian life should have on the world. We are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17), changed from within. The light of the world that lives in us should also shine through us. The miracles performed by Jesus caused the multitudes to glorify God (Matt 15:31), and today’s verse tell us that we too can have the same impact via our good works.
When someone performs a good work, the world will question their motivation. The world will assume that their motivation is for personal gain, or that it is some angle to get ahead at the expense of others. When the Christian performs good works because of a pure heart, intent only on serving God, the world will notice because the motivation is contrary to what is within their own hearts. A godly motivation is completely opposite to the sin nature into which we were born, and therefore good works motivated by a pure heart can only point to God, the author of all that is good. Lord may your light shine through us, and may we bless and serve the world so that our good works will glorify you in heaven.
Jeff Mericle
Ephesians 4:1
After three chapters laying a massive theological foundation of Truth, Paul begins to teach us the principles of walking in the power of the Spirit for the glory of God. Notice how Paul gets under the saints to lift them up into a new way of living. There is no one lower in rank than a prisoner of the Lord. He admits that he is a lowly prisoner and wants to lift up the weakest and most unworthy to live a life worthy of our position as an adopted child of God.
But what exactly does it mean to walk worthy? Certainly, Paul is not urging us to walk in a manner that will make us worthy of His grace, because he said in chapter 2 that salvation is not of ourselves and not of works. Rather, he is exhorting us to live in a manner that is suitable and appropriate for a child of God whose ultimate purpose is to bring glory to God.
The most powerful, most stunning, most spectacular Being in the universe, has made us alive in Christ. He poured out His grace upon most undeserving subjects, making us heirs of the infinite riches of heaven. That is our calling. Walk in a way that shows how worthy He is of our adoration.
How can we do this? Paul’s Ephesian letter tells how. The Holy Spirit has been given to us for His glory (1:14). We are strengthened with power through His Spirit in us (3:16). Be filled with the Spirit (5:18). Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (6:17). Pray in the Spirit (6:18), that God would empower us to do His will today.
Tom Day
Exodus 20:17
To covet is not just to want something really bad, it’s to want somebody else’s stuff for yourself and for them not to have it. I never really understood this depth of coveting until years after being saved and my wife and I dealt with infertility. After a few years into always getting the “not this month,” it has a way of wearing on you but you deal with it trusting in God’s timing. That is, of course, until other friends or family tell you one by one, they are pregnant, sometimes on their second or third child by now.
I remember at times the feelings that entered into my heart, the thoughts I let breed in my mind, and, as much as I knew it was wrong, I found myself at times unable to defeat it, it had control of me. I think we have a tendency to think this commandment to be a lessor sin, it’s the tenth commandment and God just needed an even number and that’s how it made the list.
I can tell you from experience, coveting is a debilitating, wicked sin that speaks to the true wickedness of man’s heart. A sin that must be rooted out by none other than through the gift of God’s special grace and love for you. If not, you will find yourself living in a joyless life of discontentment, where you are a slave to your wants and lack the ability to be grateful for the needs that are met.
The ten commandments are impossible to accomplish outside of Christ. Because of our bondage to sin and inability to morally accomplish what is good for our soul, we can thank Jesus who freed us from this bondage. May we honor His sacrifice by standing each morning firm in the grace of God who liberated us to live a life fully satisfied in Jesus.
Pastor Jason Witt
Joshua 24:20
This is a harsh warning that Joshua gave to the children of Israel. There are consequences to turning away from the Lord and following after false gods. God is a jealous and Holy God and desires us to follow Him with all our hearts. This warning should have been clear to them especially after all of the false gods they went to war against. But still some of them followed after these false gods (Joshua 24:23).
After living a life of sin, I think to myself how is it that anyone would want to go back? After God has reconciled me to Him, why would I want to go back to my old way of life? I have seen the Lord do some wonderful things. He has cleaned up my finances, He has cut all of my desires for alcohol that I once had, and He has always been there for me. But Joshua had to stress the importance of following after a Holy and just God. The last thing you want is for a Holy and Just God to turn from you after He has done you good.
Forsaking the false gods and following the Lord,
Joshua Navarro
1 John 5:4-5
Today, all you have to do is turn on the TV or read the paper and you will quickly see that everything seems to be uncertain in the world and we are left wondering what is going to happen next. We need to be people of faith, especially today in this uncertain world. We cannot look to man, we must look to God.
God is still in charge, He is Sovereign, and nothing can happen that will ever escape His notice. What God allows may not be pleasant, but you can know that His love never changes and His plans will come to pass. You can know this; He is coming again and He is coming soon.
If you are a child of God, you are born of God, and you have overcome the world. You are in Christ Jesus!
Pastor Doug Hardin
2 Kings 13:19
When Elisha was on his death bed, the king of Israel, Joash, came to him for direction. Elisha responds by asking him to do something out of the ordinary. Elisha told Joash to shoot an arrow out of the window and then asked him to strike the ground with another arrow. Joash did as Elisha asked, but he did so half-heartily and only struck the ground three times.
This verse Is Elisha’s response to Joash. When we do things half-heartily for the Lord, we miss out on His best. There may be times when God calls you to do something out of the normal. When He does, follow through with all your heart. Don’t be like Joash and miss out on all that God has planned for you.
For the King,
Pastor Daniel Batistelli
Philippians 4:6-7
Anxiety is a crippling emotion. It makes your mind wander, paralyze you when you’re making decisions, and fall into sins that give us temporary comfort. From lust, gluttony, or drunkenness, people look for an answer to escape this feeling because it really comes from a lack of control.
Thankfully, the Lord tells us how He would like to handle it for us! Maybe you’re anxious about something right now. Lay your heart before the Lord and give thanks. When we stop and give thanks to the Lord for all He has done and will do, the rest will melt away as He meets you and gives you a wonderful peace and guards you from the overwhelming lies of the enemy. Let your heart be reminded of God’s faithfulness and graciousness.
In Christ,
Pastor Sean Boehm
John 21:15
I have always loved this passage of Scripture. It’s the restoration of Peter after he denied Jesus three times to total strangers. But I especially love what Jesus asks. He doesn’t say, “Simon, let Me hear your confession.” Or “Simon, are you ready to repent?” or even “Simon, do you still want to be My disciple?” Jesus simply asks for his exclusive affections.
Of course, Peter’s honest and sincere answer to this will also answer any of those other questions because Jesus knows that when we place our love on Him, everything else will follow. Jesus knew that if Peter would affirm his love he was indeed confessing his wrong, repenting of his sin, and committing to follow. Then Jesus commands Peter to take that love and pour it into those that would follow after.
It’s a simple question for all of us today. “Do we love Him more than these?”
Yes Lord, I love You,
Pastor Gerard Deleeuw
