“I am the Lord ... I, the
Lord, have spoken, and I will do it” (Ezekiel 17:24).
In His Word, God
tells us who He is and what He has done for us. He is the God who loves
us. He has shown us His love in the death of His Son, our Saviour, Jesus
Christ.
Tuesday 19 March 2024
Sunday 3 March 2024
Praying Through God’s Word: 3 John
What kind of influence do we have on other people? Do we do a lot of good? Do we do a lot of harm? These, Lord, are questions that we need to ask ourselves. They are questions that You are asking us. They are questions that demand an honest answer. They are questions that call for a change of direction – for a life that is less centred on ourselves and more centred on You. Give us grace, Lord, to rise to the challenge of being a good influence – not a bad influence.
Three Centuries!
When I was living in Glasgow, at the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century, I met a lady who lived in three different centuries! She was a born a few months before the end of the nineteenth century. She died a few months into the twenty-first century. When someone achieves their century of years, it is a time for giving thanks to God. We look back over our life and we say, ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life’. It is not only a time for looking back. It is also a time for looking forward – ‘I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever’ (Psalm 23:6). We look back, giving thanks to God for many precious and treasured memories. We look forward to something even better – ‘we will be with the Lord for ever’ (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Praying Through God's Word: 2 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians 1:1-2:12
Lord, we thank You that Your Son, Jesus, is coming again. For “all those who have believed”, “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” will be a great Day, the Day of celebration, the Day of our salvation, the Day of “our being gathered together in Him” (2 Thessalonians 2:1 & 1:10). It will also be a Day of judgment for “those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). You speak to us about the future – about salvation and judgment. You’re inviting us to have a heart-to-heart talk with You. From Your heart, You speak to us of Your love for us – and “Your desire for us to be saved” (John 3:17 & 2 Peter 3:9). Help us to say, from our hearts, “Yes, Lord. I believe in the Lord Jesus. I trust in Your promise – ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved'” (Acts 16:31).
2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:18
“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in all ways” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Where does true peace come from? It comes from You, Lord. You are “the Lord of peace.” Peace doesn’t depend on good things happening to us. It doesn’t come to us because we have plenty of the good things of this world. Real peace is Your peace. Help us, Lord, to “be still and know that You are God” (Psalm 46:10).
Praying Through God's Word: 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:20
When we gather together to hear the preaching of Your Word, show us, Lord, that we need more than the “words” of the preacher. Show us that we need “the power of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Help us, when we hear Your Word, to know that it is more than “the word of men” – it is “the Word of God, which is at work in us believers” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
1 Thessalonians 3:1-4:12
Lord, we need both “love” and “holiness” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13). Our love is to be holy. Our holiness is to be loving. Where do we learn to be loving? Where do we learn to be holy? We learn from Jesus, our Saviour – Jesus, Your Son. Jesus says, “I don’t condemn you” – This is love. He also says, “Go and sin no more” – This is holiness (John 8:3-11). Help us to be more like Jesus – in love and in holiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28
Lord, there are times when we feel like giving up. You never give up on us: “He who calls you is utterly faithful and He will finish what He set out to do” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). You don’t lead us on a wild goose chase – a long and winding road that takes us nowhere. You’re leading us on to a great future – Your glorious future: “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven … We shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Help us to “encourage one another” – to “comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 & 4:18).
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