Thursday November 29, 2012

The cross of Christ bridges the gap we could never cross on our own.

 

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:12 - 4:10

A rallying cry often heard today in our economically challenged world is “Less and less”. Governments are called to balance their budget. People are urged to use less energy and decrease consumption of limited resources. It is good advice that we should all heed. In the realm of faith. However, there are no shortages of love and grace and strength. Therefore, as followers of Christ, we are urged to demonstrate His love on our lives in ever-increasing measure.

 

In the apostle Paul’s first letter to the believers in Thessalonica, he urged them to “abound more and more” in a lifestyle that pleases God (vs 4:1). He also commended them for their demonstrations of love for each other and called them to “increase more and more” in brotherly love. (vs 10)

 

That kind of ever-increasing love is possible only because it comes from God’s limitless resources, not from our own dwindling supply.

Poet Annie Johnson Flint wrote:

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,

His power has no boundary known to man;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

 

The apostle Paul expressed his desire for the believers: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you.” (vs 3:12)

 

How much should we love God and others? More and more!

 

Prayer:

Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

 

Adoration:

 

 

Confession:

 

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

¥ Pray that your faith and the faith of your brothers and sisters in church would not go less and less but rather more and more. Pray that the believers in your church would be standing up and attempting great things for God because their faith is growing and maturing.

¥ Pray that God would pour out His Holy Spirit and give gifts to believers in the church as He promised. Pray that the church would make the most of these gifts and seek to bring blessing, challenge and repentance to the world.

 

My Additional Prayer Points.

1/.

 

2/.

 

3/.