Numbers Or Spiritual Growth?

I Thessalonians 3:6-7

But Timothy has just now come to see us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. . . . Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

Paul was not concerned about numbers. The church in Thessalonica had most likely grown numerically, too, but Paul focused only on their spiritual growth in faith and love. This is not so easy to quantify, like numbers are, but is so much more important! Each of us needs to see about our spiritual growth to maturity, both in ourselves personally, and as a group together. Then we need not worry about the numbers.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

To Understand

Luke 24:45

Then He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures.

O my Father, open my mind to understand the scriptures.Thank you for Your promised Holy Spirit to dwell in me and enlighten my understanding as I seek to learn of Your ways. Let me not put obstacles in the way of obeying Your edicts. Humble me before You that You may be glorified in me.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Business

Matthew 20:15

"Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?" 

(See Matthew 20:1-16, The Parable of the Workers In the Vineyard.)

Already in America business owners don't have the right to pay what they want to their employees when unions have legislative support to hold them over a barrel to do what they want instead; and owners cannot be generous when they are forced to pay more than the business can sustain. The City of Detroit is an example of the results of these policies. Envy and jealousy are rampant today, and they are officially encouraged.

O my Father, please continue to wake up Your church. Teach us how to be Your hands and feet and voice to do what each of us can do to bring Your righteousness back to America before the end. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

God's Promises

Matthew 6:8

. . . Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. . . .

O my dear Father, Thank you for your promises, and Your faithfulness to keep them. Please, as a mercy to me, Father, draw my adult children to Yourself. Please show them Yourself, redeem them and teach them Your ways. Save them from themselves, and the poor decisions they have made. Lead them in Your ways of righteousness, and grant them new, eternal life. Teach them to be the Godly, gifted persons You designed each of them to be. Show me how I can be used of You in their lives, saying Your words, with Your compassion, and lead me in Your ways, open their eyes to observe my life as a demonstration of how Your ways benefit us, and You will receive all the credit. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Perfect!

Colossians 1:22

But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

Reconciled = Made to conform, changed to agree with, like I reconcile my checkbook to agree with the bank statement.

Holy = Set apart, separate from the world.

Without blemish = Perfect, whole, without any defect or imperfection.

Free from accusation = Above reproach, not blamable for anything.

O my Father, continue to work Your work in me, make me holy, perfect and above reproach. I cannot be any of these without Your supernatural working in me.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

My Words

Job 2:10

. . . In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

O my Father, help me, teach me to not sin, not miss the mark by my words. Keep Your arm around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth. I put a guard on my mouth to think before I speak, write or type a word. Father, I know that my words have in the past missed the mark so far that much trouble and heartache resulted. 

Strengthen me to always remember to consider how my words will affect the hearer, to realize how I will be heard, and not just my own selfish motives.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The Race Of Life

I Corinthians 9:27

. . . So that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Paul took great pains to discipline himself for the "race," so that, even after helping others to be able to "win the prize," he himself did not want to miss out. To enter into a race, the participant has to qualify, according to the rules of the race, whether running, swimming, driving, shooting, whatever. If a participant tries to compete without following the rules, he will be disqualified from receiving any rewards at all, and probably punished for interfering with those who do qualify. It would be ironic for a trainer who prepared other athletes, to try to compete himself and be thrown out, while his students win!

We need to be sure we know the rules, and that we're following them, in the race of life. We want to be sure to qualify to compete for the rewards we are promised, and not end up being disqualified from receiving anything.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!