Continuing the Battle for Christ - Week 3

 How should we respond to persecution?

            Jesus said, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:44, 45 NIV84).          

            When someone wrongs us or says evil things about us, how easy it is to forget that they, too, were made in the image of God.  Jesus did not call us to love only those who love us—that’s easy!  He calls us to love those who are evil, even those who persecute us.  That kind of love requires the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The more we know Christ, the easier it will become to love as He did.

How should we pray for the lost?

            “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect” (I Peter 3,15 NIV84).

            As we develop a heart for those who are lost, our efforts to reach them must begin with prayer, seeking opportunities and words to share the saving grace of Christ with them.  Telling someone about Christ is not as complicated as we think.  We don’t have to be Biblical scholars, although we should be constantly growing in His Word.  The best witness we can give is our testimony.  Tell them what Christ has done in your life.  Always be prepared to tell your story, for that’s one aspect of the Gospel that they can’t dispute, and it may open the door to future conversations.  Pray for guidance and boldness as you prepare to testify to what Christ has done in your life.

Leadership Prayer Focus This Week: Principals and School Administrators

“6We have different gifts…8…if it is leadership, let him govern diligently” (Romans 12:6,8 NIV84).

            Our School Principals and Administrators have a tremendous impact on the direction of our schools and the selection of those who will teach our children.

             Pray: That they will lead both faculty and students gently and firmly, with honor and integrity.

That they will encourage and lift both faculty and students.

  That they will have both patience and wisdom.

  That they will apply discipline as direction, not just punishment.

  That they will see each teacher and student as individuals.

 For all our leaders, pray that if they do not already know Christ, they will accept Him as Lord.  For those who do know Christ, pray that they will stand firm on His Truth and His Word, never compromising it or minimizing it.

                         “Pray continuously” (I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hi, I'm the Sun Porch Lady

  Hi, I’m the Sun Porch Lady. I recently retired and while most of the world thinks that is a wonderful thing, I've found it to be anything but wonderful. I've been going to school and/or working since I was six years old so finding myself with nothing, but free time is a whole new experience.   I have no structure, no daily schedule, and seemingly no purpose in my life.   While that may sound like heaven, I believe that Christians never retire.   God just repurposes them. As I struggled to find new purpose and bring some structure back to my life, I turned to writing.   Over the years, I have often written devotional thoughts or put various ideas to paper.   I can’t say that I’ve ever been very good at journaling but from time to time, I have written about events in my life that taught me values or made me more aware of God working in my life.   So, to keep busy and hopefully spark an interest in others I've decided to create this blog. I’m callin...
Read more

My Dad

                 Yesterday would have been my father’s 98 th birthday.   He’s been gone for 13 years, and I still miss him.   He wasn’t perfect, but he loved his family.   His letters home while he was in the service reflect his love for my Mom—Mandy, as he called her.   They were married for almost 65 years, and his love for her was never more evident than when she became sick in 2007.               As Mom underwent several surgeries due to an infection that ravaged her body, he was always by her side.   He became her primary caregiver as well as the cook, house cleaner, and laundry person, but you never heard him complain.   When she went to the hospital with another round of pneumonia, he was right there, remaining by her bedside until just a few hours before he died.             His lov...
Read more

Jesus Prays to His Father

                 A few weeks ago, I wrote about the need to “abide” in Christ.   I think every Christian desires to develop that deep, intimate relationship with our Savior.   That is the definition of “abide.”   The question is always, “How do we do that?”             This week my Bible study group looked closely at John 17, which I believe allows us to examine the deep, intimate relationship between the Father and the Son.   As Jesus prays, not a prayer of teaching as is found in Matthew 6, but a prayer of love and devotion to His Father and the “Mission”, we get a glimpse of what it means to “abide” in God or Christ.             He begins the prayer with humility, seeking glory for Himself only so that the Father might be glorified.   His mission of bringing salvation to the world was done.   ...
Read more