In His Service

September 29, 2009 Struggling To Kneel

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Colossians 4:1-12 (New International Version)

Colossians 4

1Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because
you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray
for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may
proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I
may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5Be wise in the way you act
toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your
conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you
may know how to answer everyone.
Final Greetings

7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother,
a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8I am sending him
to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[a]
circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9He is coming
with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They
will tell you everything that is happening here.
10My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does
Mark, the cousin of Barnabas.(You have received instructions about
him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11Jesus, who is called Justus,
also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers
for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends
greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may
stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

Footnotes:
Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand
perfect and complete in all the will of God.—Col. 4:12
Just before John Ashcroft was being sworn in as a US senator, he met
with family and friends for prayer. As they gathered around him, he
saw his dad trying to get up from the couch where he sat. Since his
father was in frail health, Ashcroft told him,“That’s okay, Dad. You
don’t have to stand up to pray for me.” His father replied,“I’m not
struggling to stand up. I’m struggling to kneel.”

His father’s effort reminds me of the exertion it sometimes takes to
intercede for a fellow believer. In Colossians, Paul refers to
Epaphras as a bondservant who is “always laboring fervently for you in
prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of
God”(Col. 4:12).“Laboring fervently” is the translation of a Greek
word from which we get our word agony. It was used of wrestlers who in
the Greek gymnastic games strained to overcome an opponent.

Epaphras interceded for other believers to become mature in their walk
with the Savior. Asking God to overcome obstacles to spiritual growth
in the lives of others requires our concentration and discipline. Are
we willing to labor “fervently” in prayer to ask God to meet the needs
of our loved ones?— Dennis Fisher

There’s a holy, high vocation
Needing workers everywhere;
’Tis the highest form of service,
’Tis the ministry of prayer.—Woodworth

Intercessory prayer is life’s real work.

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October 28, 2009

Almost-Perfect Disguise

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Revelation 12:7-12 (New International Version)

7And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against
the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8But he was not
strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9The great dragon
was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who
leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his
angels with him.

10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
11They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
12Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short."

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

The accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and
night, has been cast down.—Revelation 12:10

Radovan Karadzic, once the leader of the Bosnian Serbs and accused of
genocide, had been one of the most wanted men in the world. By growing
a long, white beard, carrying false papers, and practicing alternative
medicine, he fooled everyone—for a while. After 13 years in hiding, he
was finally arrested.

The Bible tells us that Satan is also in the business of fooling
people with disguises. Right from the beginning of human history, he
pretended to be an enlightened advisor, telling Eve that God was not
honest with her (Gen. 3:4). He “masquerades as an angel of light”(2
Cor. 11:14 NIV), but the Lord Jesus Christ has unmasked him as “a liar
and the father of it”(John 8:44).

People often err at two extremes in their view of Satan. Some dismiss
him while others attribute more power to him than he deserves. Let us
not be deceived. Satan is powerful as the “god of this age”(2 Cor.
4:4). But Christians need not cower before him in fear, because “He
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world”(1 John 4:4).
The day is coming when Satan will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev.
20:10).

Until that day, let’s not be deceived but rather live godly lives that
reflect the image of Christ, for He is “a man of truth; there is
nothing false about Him”(John 7:18 NIV).— C. P. Hia

In our day-to-day existence,
Evil often wears a mask;
Trust the Lord for true discernment—
He gives wisdom when we ask.—Hess

Satan offers nothing but tricks and deceit.

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November 8, 2009

The Persecuted Church

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1 Peter 4:12-19 (New International Version)

Suffering for Being a Christian
12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are
suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But
rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you
may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted
because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of
glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a
murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise
God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin
with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the
outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And,
"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"[a]
19So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit
themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Footnotes:
a.1 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31

If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him
glorify God in this matter.—1 Peter 4:16

One October morning in 2006, a woman and her six children were forced
to witness an attack on their husband and father. His assailants tried
to force him to deny Jesus but he refused. He continued to proclaim
Christ as Lord and died praying for his family. The family is
determined to follow Christ, even in their grief.

Another man was sentenced to 3 years in prison for allegedly insulting
another religion. He’s an outspoken Christian with a passion for
Christ. He and his wife and children continue to be faithful and
refuse to deny Him.

Persecution for the Christian faith is as real in our world as it was
for the Jewish believers in the early church to whom Peter wrote. He
prayed,“May the God of all grace,... after you have suffered a
while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you”(1 Peter 5:10).

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.
These prayer points from Open Doors USA, a ministry that’s committed
to encouraging persecuted Christians, can help guide us as we pray:

• Pray for the safety and faith of the secret believers in countries
where it is illegal to share about Christ.

• Pray for the health, perseverance, and encouragement of believers
who are imprisoned for the gospel.

• Pray that those whose loved ones have died due to martyrdom will
rely on God for their strength.

Together, let’s bring our fellow believers before the Lord in prayer.
— Anne Cetas

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.—Tertullian

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November 10, 2009

God’s Embrace

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Romans 12:3-11 (New International Version)

3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of
yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with
sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given
you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these
members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are
many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We
have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift
is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[a]faith. 7If it is
serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is
encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of
others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern
diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be
devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above
yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual
fervor, serving the Lord.

Footnotes:
a.Romans 12:6 Or in agreement with the

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor
giving preference to one another.—Romans 12:10

Soon after her family left for the evening, Carol started to think
that her hospital room must be the loneliest place in the world.
Nighttime had fallen, her fears about her illness were back, and she
felt overwhelming despair as she lay there alone.

Closing her eyes, she began to talk to God:“O Lord, I know I am not
really alone. You are here with me. Please calm my heart and give me
peace. Let me feel Your arms around me, holding me.”

As she prayed, Carol felt her fears beginning to subside. And when she
opened her eyes, she looked up to see the warm, sparkling eyes of her
friend Marge, who reached out to encircle her in a big hug. Carol felt
as if God Himself were holding her tightly.

God often uses fellow believers to show us His love.“We, being many,
are one body in Christ.... Having then gifts differing according to
the grace that is given to us, let us use them”(Rom. 12:5-6). We
serve others “with the ability which God supplies, that in all things
God may be glorified through Jesus Christ”(1 Peter 4:11).

When we show love and compassion in simple, practical ways, we are a
part of God’s ministry to His people.— Cindy Hess Kasper

Teach me to love, this is my prayer—
May the compassion of Thy heart I share;
Ready a cup of water to give,
May I unselfishly for others live.—Peterson

We show our love for God when we love His family.

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November 11, 2009

Humble Valor

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Philippians 2:19-30 (New International Version)

Timothy and Epaphroditus
19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also
may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20I have no one else
like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21For everyone
looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But you
know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father
he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23I hope, therefore,
to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24And I am
confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my
brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger,
whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26For he longs for all of you
and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27Indeed he was ill,
and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but
also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28Therefore I am all the
more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad
and I may have less anxiety. 29Welcome him in the Lord with great joy,
and honor men like him, 30because he almost died for the work of
Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give
me.

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men
in esteem.—Philippians 2:29A report by the Chicago Tribune said:
“Scores of Americans, from clergymen to lawyers to CEOs, are claiming
medals of valor they never earned.” Fabrication of war records and
bogus claims of bravery are more widespread than imagined. One man,
who falsely claimed a Navy Cross, later felt shame and said that real
heroes rarely talk about what they’ve done.

Heroism is marked by an unselfish risking of life for the benefit of
another. In Philippians, Paul commends two of his colleagues as true
heroes of the faith. Timothy’s unselfishness and proven character
gained Paul’s praise as a true son who had served with him in the
gospel (2:22). And Paul described Epaphroditus as “my brother, fellow
worker, and fellow soldier”(v.25) who risked his life for the work of
Christ (v.30).

Paul told the believers in Philippi to “hold such men in esteem”
(v.29). Honoring fellow believers for their unselfish service to God
is a biblical mandate. It is not hero worship, but an attitude of
respect for a life well lived.

Through a word of encouragement or a tangible expression of
appreciation, who can you honor today for their humble valor in
serving the Lord and helping others in His name?— David C. McCasland

Heaven’s heroes never carve their name
On marbled columns built for earthly fame;
They build instead a legacy that springs
From faithful service to the King of kings.—Gustafson

Faith in Christ can make extraordinary heroes out of ordinary people.

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