Today I looked again at one of the emails that sends a daily verse. I enjoy looking at those and considering what God wants me to know from them. Today, one grabbed my attention right away. “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Paul had just mentioned the opposition he faced and requested prayer from evil men. He states, “not all men have faith.” He then speaks to the Thessalonians who are believers that they can rest in the faithfulness of the Lord. Significant in the next sentence is the word, “will”. Not the word, “can”, or “is able.” Based upon the Lord’s faithfulness, He will establish you and protect you. I first thought of the bad religions and theology that have to develop a “work around” for this verse. OK, that’s was a good place to start because it ignited my praise to God for the truths here. However, God wasn’t satisfied with that and the “back patting” I was enjoying. Truly, those who don’t trust God to keep what He redeems is not my problem. It’s his. I then thought about the prayer requests that I ask for and share that express doubt in these truths. “Will the Lord be faithful this time?” “Will He really protect me from the evil one and establish me from the truth if I don’t qualify with enough prayer, Bible time, and physical ministry? What if I don’t have enough people praying?” I understand that “effectual, fervent prayer of those made righteous accomplishes much,” and pleases God. But it doesn’t earn brownie points that must be cashed in to get all my “Christian benefits.” Those things were paid for by Jesus Christ. As a result of my lack of faith, I worry far more than is necessary, and that worry does burn energy that is best spent elsewhere. Perhaps I should learn to not pray for what Christ has already purchased and guaranteed for me and pray for other believers and their realization of the assurance we have in Christ. I could pray more for the lost and/or fruitless who are struggling in life. And, I could pray for those whose every day is a question of survival or torture for professing faith that I am free with express in my situation. Lord, help me live in my confidence in You, and spend my prayer time not expressing faithlessness, but standing in the gap for those who need it.
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AuthorTim White splashes wit with wisdom gained from too many mistakes. You are welcomed to enjoy his current blog or view blogs from earlier. Archives
February 2019
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