May 18
What do believers do to assure the spiritual growth and deepening faith of those to whom they’ve witnessed—or of the body of Christ in general? The answer to that lies in Colossians 1:9, 10. It is an important and awesome responsibility that we cannot begin to achieve apart from the enablement of the Holy Spirit within.
Here we are told what the Apostle Paul considered his privilege and obligation regarding the churches he’d planted and the souls with whom he’d shared his faith in Christ. It is no less our privilege and obligation to give ourselves to the same purpose that Paul and the other apostles of the faith took upon themselves.
“…since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord…pleasing Him in every way…bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”
The reality is that it hardly matters how intently we serve the Kingdom of Christ through our sharing of our faith or how many are converted to the Lord through our witnessing. If we do not pray for those who are converted, if we do not assume an active, diligent role in prayer to establish them in His truth, they will fall away.
Thank you and Phil so much for being my active role takers in establishing me in the truth while I faced all my difficulties. God bless you both. Tell Phil no rollerskating yet.
ReplyDeleteTo, "Bear one another's burdens," is an opportunity the Lord lays before those who profess faith in Him. What kind of children would we be if we would not try to be like our Heavenly Father into whose family Jesus' sacrifice has allowed us to be adopted!
ReplyDeleteOur prayer is that the One to whom you have been a true and faithful child--through all your pain--will give you peace that passes understanding and allow you to have joy in your salvation.