Home 
Past Devotions Saturday, April 12, 2008
Past Devotions Saturday, April 12, 2008 | Saturday, April 12, 2008 | 
|
|
I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30
When people think of the apostle Paul too often they confuse what the difference between the definition of perfection and what it means to be a perfect example of a good Christian. Paul was in no way perfect and because people are sometimes convinced he was they feel they could never be as great as Paul or experience Christ the way Paul did. Paul applied the definition of what a Christian should be by living his life as best he could and realizing he couldn't do it without Christ. It wasn't by living a sin-free life, it wasn't by being strong on his own, and it wasn't by his works alone. Paul stood strong and was blessed beyond belief because of his admitting his weakness without Christ. He gave glory to Christ by living and being guided by the Lord's spirit.
His letters to the Romans show that even with all of his wisdom he still had struggles. Even with all of the love of Christ he was persecuted. Paul shows us how to live in Christ's image by striving to be more and more like Christ and to do his work but remembering that life will not be perfect and that his brothers and sisters in Christ are there for him. Just because you are a Christian it doesn't mean your life will be perfect and instead of trying to pretend like nothing is wrong, use the resources you have to your benefit as Paul does in this verse. No one expects you to do it alone and so reach out like Paul does in this verse and ask those around you for prayer.
Paul seems to have a wonderful life in the way he writes about what Christ has done but when we look further that the sign of Christ living in you isn't a perfect life but one where even when you are in shackles you lean on him and his church. That's what they are there for. Remember Paul was in prison while writing this letter. He was carried by his faith. Don't think you can't have what Paul had or that to reach the point where Paul was at during his letters from prison is impossible. Go after what God has for you and use Paul's experience to draw nearer to Christ. Even in shackles, praise the Lord, and in all you do, do it for the glory of Christ. Reach out in fellowship to your brothers and sisters and swallow your pride by remembering you don't have to do it alone.
Another aspect that we must consider is that this verse reminds us that we should pray for our brothers and sisters. We see how they are able to stand in Christ and we assume that means nothing is wrong, but they still can have moments of weakness. You should pray that they are able to continue to stand firm and you should delight with them at the foundation Christ has laid in their life. Don't become jealous of their faith but strive to be more like them and pray that they will grow closer to Christ so that you may share it in love. Just because someone is strong in Christ doesn't mean they don't still need help. Admitting weakness doesn't make them any less of a Christian but shows that they know they can't do it alone and so you should pray for them as they would pray for you. Out of love rebuke a haughty spirit and pray for those around you. Don't be ignorant of their needs for even with a Christ-filled life they still need prayer.
Dear Lord,
We just lift up our brothers and sisters and pray that your love will shine through us and touch them. We pray that they will continue to grow closer to you and stay strong in you. We praise you for your faithfulness and pray that we can be another resource of Christ to our friends in you. We thank you for the time of fellowship we have and pray that you will open our heart to the needs of those around you. We rebuke a haughty and jealous spirit that might make us ignorant of their continued needs in you and pray that we will be able to lift them up. We praise you for your spirit and just invite it to surround our brothers in sisters in Christ as a protective covering. We thank you and pray that we ourselves will be able to look up to Paul and be more like him. We admit our own weakness and pray you will help us to grow strong in your wisdom and therefore better serve our sibling in Christ. Amen.
His letters to the Romans show that even with all of his wisdom he still had struggles. Even with all of the love of Christ he was persecuted. Paul shows us how to live in Christ's image by striving to be more and more like Christ and to do his work but remembering that life will not be perfect and that his brothers and sisters in Christ are there for him. Just because you are a Christian it doesn't mean your life will be perfect and instead of trying to pretend like nothing is wrong, use the resources you have to your benefit as Paul does in this verse. No one expects you to do it alone and so reach out like Paul does in this verse and ask those around you for prayer.
Paul seems to have a wonderful life in the way he writes about what Christ has done but when we look further that the sign of Christ living in you isn't a perfect life but one where even when you are in shackles you lean on him and his church. That's what they are there for. Remember Paul was in prison while writing this letter. He was carried by his faith. Don't think you can't have what Paul had or that to reach the point where Paul was at during his letters from prison is impossible. Go after what God has for you and use Paul's experience to draw nearer to Christ. Even in shackles, praise the Lord, and in all you do, do it for the glory of Christ. Reach out in fellowship to your brothers and sisters and swallow your pride by remembering you don't have to do it alone.
Another aspect that we must consider is that this verse reminds us that we should pray for our brothers and sisters. We see how they are able to stand in Christ and we assume that means nothing is wrong, but they still can have moments of weakness. You should pray that they are able to continue to stand firm and you should delight with them at the foundation Christ has laid in their life. Don't become jealous of their faith but strive to be more like them and pray that they will grow closer to Christ so that you may share it in love. Just because someone is strong in Christ doesn't mean they don't still need help. Admitting weakness doesn't make them any less of a Christian but shows that they know they can't do it alone and so you should pray for them as they would pray for you. Out of love rebuke a haughty spirit and pray for those around you. Don't be ignorant of their needs for even with a Christ-filled life they still need prayer.
Dear Lord,
We just lift up our brothers and sisters and pray that your love will shine through us and touch them. We pray that they will continue to grow closer to you and stay strong in you. We praise you for your faithfulness and pray that we can be another resource of Christ to our friends in you. We thank you for the time of fellowship we have and pray that you will open our heart to the needs of those around you. We rebuke a haughty and jealous spirit that might make us ignorant of their continued needs in you and pray that we will be able to lift them up. We praise you for your spirit and just invite it to surround our brothers in sisters in Christ as a protective covering. We thank you and pray that we ourselves will be able to look up to Paul and be more like him. We admit our own weakness and pray you will help us to grow strong in your wisdom and therefore better serve our sibling in Christ. Amen.
Readers' Comments
No comment posted
mXcomment 1.0.6 © 2007-2009 - visualclinic.fr
License Creative Commons - Some rights reserved
Newsletters
| Subscribe |
| Unsubscribe |
| Read Past Letters |