How Should We Live?
"Be on your guard;
stand firm in the faith;
be men of courage;
be strong." I Corinthians 16:13
How might we live differently if we KNEW Jesus would return today? Would we share our faith more boldly? Would we live without worry and fear?
If our sons and daughters are believers in Jesus, they are members of the Body of Christ, the Church, the Bride of Christ. We need to pray they will actively pursue their relationship with Jesus and live it out so others can see the fruit.
Today, let’s pray the Church lives purposefully (confident in our 'why') and intentionally (making it happen), ready to meet our Savior and actively sharing the hope that we have with those who don't know Him.
Pray that believers around the world are watchful and vigilant, that they will stand fast and persevere in their faith in Christ, pray they would be brave and be ever-strengthened in their faith and commitment to Jesus.
It Matters Who You Follow
Matthew 24:23-27 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
Once upon a time, two teens were leaving the house to drive to school. They’d recently moved to a different house but were going to finish at the school they attended through the year. Neither was very good at directions, so when they pulled out of the driveway and saw a school bus, they thought they were golden! “We’ll just follow the bus!” they thought. “Because the bus always goes to school, right?”
They wound their way along, past farm fields, houses and barns, neither was worried that they didn’t really know where they were. They were following the bus and that would lead them to school; they were certain. Imagine their dismay when they pulled into the school lot and it wasn’t their school at all! They’d followed a bus for a different school district. It ‘looked’ the same, but it wasn’t going to the same destination. They were fooled into believing it would because, at first glance, it was just like their school bus. They didn’t check for evidence, they just followed.
Who you follow matters. What you pay attention to makes a difference.
Far too often, there are things that ‘look’ like they’re Biblical, or they sound “Christian” enough that we don’t ask questions or dig deeper. We follow because we hear or see enough to make us comfortable. Yet, we might find ourselves following after something that isn’t really Biblical and that’s the goal of the Enemy. Jesus said in Matthew 24, that as the end of days neared, there would be great deception and if possible, even the elect would be deceived.
As parents, we need to pray seriously, specifically and continuously for our sons and daughters that as the days grow darker, they would follow Jesus without wavering. We need to pray that they would have discretion in who and what they choose to listen to and follow. We need to pray that they would spot deception. Pray that they would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit speaking and moving in their lives so that they will heed His warning when they encounter deception. Pray that they would be uneasy and alert to the present danger and wiles of the devil.
It matters who they follow and we need to stand in the gap in prayer as they navigate this life and the spiritual dangers around them. Just because they’re adults doesn’t mean they’re ‘golden’, it’s all the more reason to double-down on prayer for their spiritual growth and protection. This week, make a list of those things you want to pray over. Maybe put those items on an index card and carry it with you. Pray daily. Pray often. Pray using scripture and pray without ceasing.
Watch Where You’re Going
2 Peter 3:17-18 “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
When our children were little and getting ready to cross the street, we would often take their hand and tell them, “watch where you’re going, be careful!” Why? Because they were stepping into an area where things were coming at them from both sides. The traffic surrounding them was a danger to their safety and they had to be alert so as not to be hit, injured, or worse.
As believers, we have to be alert to those spiritually dangerous zones as well. Unbiblical teaching can come at us unexpectedly, even from sources that we may trust. And that’s often when our guard is down. Extra-biblical ideas and rules can creep in and begin to sound a lot like Scripture, yet have no basis. We begin to believe the authority of the speaker versus the authority of Scripture. Taking scripture out of context can warp the meaning and purpose of God’s words so that they become a method and means of herding believers into areas of belief and doctrine that are man-made, not God-ordained. We need to watch where we’re going and the direction of those who are teaching and leading.
Today, let’s pray for our sons’ and daughters’ personal Bible study time, that time alone with the Lord when He can teach us, convict us, encourage us and increase our wisdom and knowledge. It’s not easy...sometimes it can take years before someone really finds a way to do purposeful study of the Word and enjoy it. Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit stirs in their hearts and works in them to give them a hunger and thirst for God’s Word. Pray that they find joy in their time with the Lord. Pray that their wisdom and discretion are sharpened so that they operate in the grace and knowledge of Jesus and that they can identify and reject ungodly teaching. Pray that they are alert and sober-minded, spiritually, so they are not caught off guard or deceived by the enemy and his operatives. Pray that they will watch where they’re going.
“Father, You long to have us spend time with You each day, reading Your word and communing with You in prayer. It’s so important, yet, we often sacrifice that time with you on the altar of busyness. I pray that today, (name) would be convicted in their heart to make time with You a priority. Help me to do the same. Lord, it’s so, so very important because that’s how we will grow in knowledge and gain understanding so that we can be wise and discerning. I pray that (name) would grow to love their quiet time with You. Give them a hunger and thirst for Your word. Open their eyes to see wonderful things in Your word that would propel them to want to learn more (Ps. 119:18). Help them to hide Your word in their heart so they would not sin against You (Ps. 119:11). May Your word be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path (Ps. 119:105) so they can clearly see the path of righteousness and avoid the dangers and deceptions that might harm them or lead them in the wrong direction. Lord, I pray that they would grow in wisdom and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and they would have vibrant joy and a strong passion to follow You without compromise. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.