Bible League: Living His Word Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me.Every Christian takes up a specific role in the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ and has struggles as a result. The struggles that the Apostle Paul had in mind in our verse for today were struggles he anticipated having when he returned to Jerusalem to deliver a donation for the poor Christians there. He was concerned about struggles he might have with "those in Judea who refuse to obey God" (Romans 15:31). Christians who have struggles, however, should not have to struggle alone. Every Christian is a member of the body of Christ and the members of the body should be concerned for one another. Paul himself had concern for others. He said, "I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?" (II Corinthians 11:28-29). Given our concern, we should do what we can to alleviate the struggles of those who are having them. Put in Paul's words, we should "join in" the struggles of our fellow workers in Christ. There are many ways that we can join in the struggle. We can join in by helping with the actual ministry of those experiencing the struggles. We can join in by supporting their ministries financially. We can also join in by doing what Paul asked for in our verse – praying for those who are struggling. When the church joins in with prayer, powerful things can happen. Jesus said, "If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them" (Matthew 18:19-20). Indeed, prayer may be the most important way to join in the struggle. After all, in the final analysis our struggles are not against people, "but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). We need heaven's help if we are to overcome the opposition of powerful spiritual forces of evil. Thus, look beyond your own struggles to the struggles of your fellow workers in Christ. Pray for them. Pray that God will rescue them and deliver them. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 41, 42 Isaiah 41 -- God's Promises to Israel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 42 -- Behold, my servant, whom I have chosen; A Song of Praise; Israel's Blindness NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Colossians 1 Colossians 1 -- Thankfulness and Prayers for the Colossians; Christ Is the Image of God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen. Insight Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away. But if that were always so, people would turn to God only out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for him. We must understand that being comforted can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer, the more comfort God gives us. Challenge If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort you. Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Matthew 15:23 But he answered her not a word.Genuine seekers who as yet have not obtained the blessing, may take comfort from the story before us. The Saviour did not at once bestow the blessing, even though the woman had great faith in him. He intended to give it, but he waited awhile. "He answered her not a word." Were not her prayers good? Never better in the world. Was not her case needy? Sorrowfully needy. Did she not feel her need sufficiently? She felt it overwhelmingly. Was she not earnest enough? She was intensely so. Had she no faith? She had such a high degree of it that even Jesus wondered, and said, "O woman, great is thy faith." See then, although it is true that faith brings peace, yet it does not always bring it instantaneously. There may be certain reasons calling for the trial of faith, rather than the reward of faith. Genuine faith may be in the soul like a hidden seed, but as yet it may not have budded and blossomed into joy and peace. A painful silence from the Saviour is the grievous trial of many a seeking soul, but heavier still is the affliction of a harsh cutting reply such as this, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." Many in waiting upon the Lord find immediate delight, but this is not the case with all. Some, like the jailer, are in a moment turned from darkness to light, but others are plants of slower growth. A deeper sense of sin may be given to you instead of a sense of pardon, and in such a case you will have need of patience to bear the heavy blow. Ah! poor heart, though Christ beat and bruise thee, or even slay thee, trust him; though he should give thee an angry word, believe in the love of his heart. Do not, I beseech thee, give up seeking or trusting my Master, because thou hast not yet obtained the conscious joy which thou longest for. Cast thyself on him, and perseveringly depend even where thou canst not rejoicingly hope. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.Psalm 119:140 Your word is very pure, Therefore Your servant loves it. Psalm 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. Proverbs 30:5,6 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. • Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. Psalm 119:11,15 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. • I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 1 Peter 2:2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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