“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” – 1 Peter 5:8-9
Do you ever feel like a certain sin is hunting you down?
You know what I mean. It’s a sin you try not to do, but find you do all too often. Sometimes it may even make you feel like,
“Why not just do it? I know I’m going to end up doing it anyway.”
You are being hunted.
We often like to think that we are just strolling through life in control of our own lives, aware of the influences for us and against us. However, there are influences and threats that we don’t see with our physical eyes. The devil prowls around looking to pounce on our weakness.
Be alert! So, Peter warns us, “Be self-controlled and alert.” Alert, because temptation lurks all around us and we need to be aware. Self-controlled, because when temptation does come, we need to resist.
Temptation comes in many forms.
Sin – This is probably the most obvious form of temptation, to try to lure you to sin. Sure, God says not too, but it looks so good, the devil tells us. It’s the same lie as the in the garden.
Complacency – This is a less obvious form of temptation, but one we face a lot in the U.S. Life tends to be pretty good. We have food, shelter, safety, and plenty of distractions. You could read the Bible, but, then again, you could binge-watch Cobra Kai on Netflix.
Suffering – Peter mentions this, specifically, in our passage. Life was hard. Suffering and persecution were abundant. The temptation is either to think, “It’s just not worth it,” or to think “God must either not care or not be the true God.”
Misery Loves Company No matter what form of temptation the devil brings, his goal is always the same. He wants to devour you and everyone else, especially Christians. The devil stands condemned and is destined for an eternity of suffering in hell and he wants to bring as many with him as he can.
Satan wants you to abandon God, whether because you love your sin more than God, because you don’t think you need God anymore, or because you are angry at God for allowing you to suffer.
So, Stand Firm in the Faith
God will never leave you nor forsake you. Don’t abandon God. God’s ways are better than sin. God’s love and life are real, not like the empty distractions of this world. God is greater than your suffering and He will carry you through your suffering.
Paul, also spoke of standing firm in the faith in the face of suffering in his letter to the church in Rome.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18
Heavenly Father,
I face temptation every day of my life. Give me discernment to see it, wisdom to resist it, and strength to stand firm in the faith You have given me. Hold me in that faith that I may always say with Paul that I consider the present sufferings (or sin or distractions) are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.
“Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.” – Proverbs 10:2
Have you ever stolen anything?
No? How about fudged the numbers a little or withheld information?
Not too long ago there was a guy named Bernie Madoff. He pretended to be a brilliant investor, but he was actually running a Ponzi scheme. He made millions while many people lost everything they had. In Bernie’s case, he was caught and is now spending life behind bars. However, some dishonest people are never caught.
Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater is something we used to say when I was a kid if we thought someone was cheating in a game. This passage reminded me of that…or maybe it’s just that I’ve got pumpkin pie on my mind. What is the problem with ill-gotten gains?
Is it just a question of whether you get caught or not?
The Bible says no. In fact, in the above Proverb, it doesn’t even say deceiving people to get a treasure is wrong (though it is), it says the ill-gotten treasure itself is of no value.
“No value?!” you say, “But Pastor, millions of dollars seem like a lot of value!”
What the proverb is speaking to is the reality that all the treasures of the world are fleeting and will pass away. In the end, money won’t help as you stand before God…
“but righteousness delivers from death.“
So, what is righteousness?
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” – Romans 3:20-22
Saving righteousness is not about doing the right thing, not cheating, or even following God’s Law, for none of us would ever be justified before God by our works. Our righteousness comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. It is a righteousness by faith, not by works which delivers from death.
If all we seek in life are the treasures of this world and are willing to do anything to get them, we will reap nothing but death in the end. If, however, we seek Christ and His righteousness by faith, we will overcome death and receive eternal life.
Heavenly Father,
Help me to be honest in all my dealings, to neither steal nor deceive for personal gain. Forgive me for the times I have sought money over honesty. I know that by my own works I could never stand before you. Thank you that I do not have to, that you offer forgiveness and righteousness through faith in your Son. I know that I am righteous in Your sight, not because of what I have done, but what Christ has done.
“I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.” – Ezekiel 36:23
When is God’s Name Holy?
In this passage from Ezekiel, the people of Israel have been exiled from Promised Land and scattered all over the place due to their unfaithfulness to God. Now, God is about to gather them again and return them to the land He gave them, but the way He tells the people this through the prophet Ezekiel is sobering.
He is not doing it because they have started to be faithful in their exile, but rather He is doing it to show the nations that His name is holy, despite the continued unfaithfulness of the people of Israel…and He wants that to be very clear to the people.
God’s Name Is Holy When is God’s name holy? Always. God is holy. His name is holy. He does not need us to make His name holy. He does not need us to proclaim His name as holy. God is holy and He will make His name holy among the nations whether His people (Israel or the church) are faithful and show His name to be holy or not.
It can be humbling to know that God is bigger than any of us and bigger than the church. He can act on His own, and He does.
If God were to need us or wait for us to glorify His name and proclaim it as holy in our words and deeds, it would always be tainted at best and, often, His name would be profaned.
Great in Mercy and Grace One of the greatest ways He makes His name holy among the nations is through the grace and mercy He shows His people despite our unfaithfulness. To be holy is to be set apart for God. How much more set apart can God show Himself to be than when He shows mercy and grace unseen in mankind.
Even when we don’t keep His name holy, God is still holy and He continues to make His name holy among the nations.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name. You are a holy and righteous God. By Your grace and mercy, You have put Your name upon us and call us Your people and, in doing so, You make us holy. Forgive us for those times we defile Your name and help us to live in a way that honors You and to readily proclaim the works of You, Lord, among all people. Let Your name be glorified throughout the world as the holy God that You are.
You are invited to worship with us at 11:00 am on Sunday, October 18. Below, you will find the Order of Service so you can follow along and participate in the worship service. If you would prefer, you can also download a bulletin here:
Before we start, please share the live stream on Facebook and invite your friends.
Worship Service for October 18, 2020 at 11 AM
Welcome
Opening Song: How Great Thou Art
O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works thy hand has made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Your power throughout the universe displayed
Chorus:
Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art
Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
(Chorus)
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”
(Chorus)
Invocation
Confession and Forgiveness:
P: Come into the presence of the Lord our God.
C: Have mercy, O Lord. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? Yet, You tell us if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(a time of silence to reflect and personally confess our sins)
P: I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Let us confess our sin before the Lord.
C: Heavenly Father, we confess that we are sinners. We have sinned against you and our neighbors. We have not loved you with our whole heart and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
P: The Lord is gracious and merciful. He promises to forgive our sins. Therefore, upon this, your confession, as a called and ordained servant of the Lord, in the stead and by the command of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Song of Praise and Thanksgiving: Come Thou Fount
Come Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Steams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Here I raise my “Ebenezer” Hither by Thy help I come.
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood.
Oh, to grace how great to debtor, Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.
Old Testament Reading – Psalm 127
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.
Gospel Reading – Luke 22:39-46
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Children’s Message
Sermon Hymn – As For Me & My House
Verse 1:
Let our foundation be Built on your majesty
Let every word you speak Fill this home
Jesus our cornerstone. The anchor for our souls
Your glory will be shown By our love
Chorus:
As for me and my house, As for me and my house. We will serve you. We will serve you
As for me and my house, As for me and my house. We will serve you. We will serve you
Verse 2:
We stand on Holy Ground. This is where lost get found
Your goodness all around, It’s pouring out
Your presence is new wine. The old is left behind
There’s nothing but new life To be found
(Chorus)
Bridge:
This is a house where idols fall. This is a house where dead man walk
This is a house where freedoms calls. Can you hear it now, hear it now?
(Repeat)
(Chorus)
Sermon – Series: Households of Faith
Week 2: “Practices of a Spiritually Vibrant Household”
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Prayers
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen
Words of Institution
Peace
P: The peace of the Lord be with you all.
C: And also with you.
P: We greet each other in the peace of Christ.
Distribution
Prayer
Benediction
Closing Song: All the People Said, Amen
Verse 1:
You are not alone, if you are lonely
When you feel afraid, you’re not the only
We are all the same, in need of mercy
To be forgiven and be free
It’s all you got to lean on but thank God it’s all you need
Chorus:
And all the people said Amen, woah
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen (Last line repeated on last chorus)
Verse 2:
If you’re rich or poor, well it don’t matter
Weak or strong, you know love is what we’re after
We’re all broken, but we’re all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And He so loved the world, He sent His son to save us all
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” – Isaiah 6:1
When I mention, God, what do you think of?
Do you think of Jesus on the cross, a shepherd caring for his sheep, a king on his throne, or maybe a giant grey-bearded man in the clouds?
Our passage from Isaiah 6 describes what Isaiah saw when God called him to be a prophet. There are many ways we think of God; Father, friend, savior, teacher, shepherd… All of these are good and true descriptions and many of these titles and descriptions bring us comfort as well as helping us to understand God more fully.
However, it is good to also remember that He is the God of all creation, He made us just by speaking. He is Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Almighty, and most holy. He is beyond our comprehension. He is greater and holier than we can imagine.
Fear and Trembling When Isaiah saw the Lord seated on His throne, his immediate reaction was fear and an overwhelming recognition of his sin.
“And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’” – Isaiah 6:5
As we begin to contemplate the glory, might, and holiness of God, we cannot help but begin to sense the depths of our sin. There is no hiding it. And it is absolutely terrifying.
How wonderful, though, is it to continue reading about Isaiah to see God’s response to Isaiah’s terror over his sin:
“Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’” – Isaiah 6:6-7
Heavenly Father,
Were I to enter into Your presence I could not stand. My sin is too great. I am lost. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus, and His bitter suffering and death, please forgive me and cleanse me of my sin.
Amen.
Upon your confession, know that you, too, have the same declaration as Isaiah by the blood of Jesus. These words are for YOU through Christ Jesus:
Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for!
“He also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.’” – Mark 4:26-29
Who Grows God’s Kingdom?
We often feel responsible for growing the Kingdom of God, but are we really the ones who grow God’s Kingdom? In this parable, Jesus is telling us that while we are the ones who are to go out and spread the seed of the Gospel, we don’t do the growing.
That’s His job.
After all, it is “God’s” kingdom, not ours. We can surely spread the seed of the Gospel, but it is God who works through His Word to create faith and grow His Kingdom.
What a relief it is for us!
We don’t have to figure out which people are good soil or which are bad. We don’t even have to be conservative with the seed. Spread the Gospel all over the place! And, we aren’t the ones who must convince people to have faith. That is the work of the Spirit.
What About Once a Person Has Faith?
That’s God, too. Once someone has faith, we can’t make them grow in their faith. God does that. And that work couldn’t be in better hands. That said, we can do some things to help water and tend to people’s faith. We can continue to share the Word together. We can worship together. We can encourage, correct, and build each other up. However, in the end. It’s still God’s work to grow people’s faith.
So, feel free and unburdened!
You get the easy part. Just love people and tell them about Jesus. Then let the master gardener do His work.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us Your Word and working through that Word to grow your kingdom. Please forgive me for the times I didn’t trust you to do your work and tried to take Kingdom growth into my own hands. Please cause Your Word to go forth throughout the world so that all may hear and believe. And, as you taught us to pray, I pray that Thy Kingdom Come.
“The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel…Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them.” – Judges 2:7, 11-12
How important is it that we raise our children in the faith and see to it that they experience that faith for themselves?
(Before anyone puts this devotion down thinking, “I don’t have kids. This isn’t for me.” When I say it’s important to raise our kids in the faith, I mean all the kids of the church, not just your own. The whole church is involved!)
They Experienced God When the people of Israel entered the Promised Land, they experienced the work of the Lord first hand. They had been sustained in the wilderness and they saw the walls of Jericho fall by the mighty hand of God. They experience first-hand God’s provision and protection and they had leaders, like Joshua, who led faithfully. That generation remained faithful.
They Did Not Experience God The next generation was a very different story. They didn’t have those experiences and they fell away from God. They started ignoring God’s law and even worshiping false gods.
What About Our Younger Generation, Today? We see that same type of thing over and over in the church today. Parents, who have experienced the work of God in their lives, being strong of faith and then, sadly, their children falling away. There are many reasons that can happen, but one can be experiencing (or not experiencing) God’s work in their lives.
This past week in our worship service we talked about committing our households to being households of faith. This has a huge affect on the next generation as they grow up in that faith. Over the next several weeks, we will continue this conversation in our services.
How can we be sure they experience God’s work in their lives?
Teaching: It is important to teach children about the faith. This should be done in church, in our households, and in life’s various teachable moments. Allow for open conversation even about difficult topics.
Live out that faith with them: Actions speak louder than words. Praying together, reading the Bible together, serving together, and worshiping together, even from a young age, has a huge affect as kids not only see faith being lived out but experience it themselves. This includes difficult times as well. Be age-appropriate, but let your kids experience some of the more difficult aspects of living in faith.
Giving Responsibility: Giving our youth responsibility to participate in worship, go on service projects, lead family devotions, etc. shows them they are important in the church and that the life of faith is theirs as well.
By hearing the Word and experiencing the faith, our children are given a strong foundation.
This is why “Pass It On” is one of the 5 primary Values at Faith Lutheran Church. We believe that if we, as a church, aren’t committed to passing on the faith to the next generation, many of our youth will lose their way.
Heavenly Father,
You have blessed us with children, whether in our own family or the greater family of believers. Help us raise our children in the faith, teaching them Your Word and helping them to experience the faith first-hand. We also know that faith only comes from You. So, we pray that you will graciously give our children faith and keep them in that faith all their days.
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” – Acts 2:17
What do you think of the Holy Spirit?
Who is He? What does He do?
Has this always been how the Holy Spirit works or has this changed?
The Effect of Making Information Generally Available Western society has changed dramatically over the centuries. One of the greatest changes has been the democratization of information. It used to be that only a small percentage of people were educated. Very few people could read and very few people had information about anything outside of their job and basic living skills.
It was generally the wealthy and powerful who received some form of education. The rest of the people were seen as little more than beasts of burden.
However, when people of all class levels were allowed to attend school, learn to read, and grow in knowledge, something amazing happened. The world saw a rapid increase in the development and growth of a wide variety of fields, from manufacturing, to technology, to medicine, and more. Why? Instead of only a few people being able to contribute to the advancement of these fields, now, anyone could.
The Trickle In the Old Testament, God put His Spirit on a select few and sometimes only for a given time. The first King of Israel, Saul, was given the Spirit of God, but after a while, he started getting full of himself and started going against the Lord. So, God removed His Spirit from him.
We see this throughout the Old Testament. The Spirit would be given to the prophets, some kings, and a few others, but most people did not have the Holy Spirit upon them.
However, God promised that one day it would be different.
The Roar On Pentecost, shortly after Jesus’ ascension, the Spirit came in power to the disciples. He came in a literal roar and the disciples were filled with the Spirit and began to preach. The Spirit then was given to all believers.
The Holy Spirit continues to be poured out on all believers.
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” – 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Some people look for the “supernatural” gifts of the Spirit. God can give spiritual gifts of prophecy or visions, but the primary way He speaks to us is through His Word, the Bible. When we only look for these gifts, however, we miss the truly miraculous nature of the other gifts God’s Spirit gives.
It is a miracle of the Spirit that we have faith. It is only by His power that we understand God’s Word. You have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit and He is your comforter, advocate, guide, He bears fruit in you, He reveals the Scriptures to you, He creates faith and sustains you, and He is a guarantee of your salvation and the resurrection to come.
Much like the effect of the democratization of information, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit now means that the ministry of the church is not limited to just a few. All believers have God’s Spirit. All believers can minister to one another and share the Gospel with the world.
When the whole church is ministering to each other and the world by the power of the Holy Spirit, amazing things happen!
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for sending your Spirit. May Your Spirit guide me and protect me and keep me in true faith to life everlasting. May I be filled with Your Spirit and minister to my Christian brothers and sisters as well as share the Gospel with all those around me who do not know You.
“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” – Psalm 62:8
When do you trust God?
Do you trust Him when things are going the way you want? How about when things are not going the way you want?
The other day I told my 3-year-old it was time to take a nap. He immediately fell to the ground and started whining, “But I want to keep playing!” I told him I understood and that he would be able to play after his nap, but it was time to rest for a while. He, of course, immediately calmed down and accepted my answer.
Just kidding!
He kept whining, “But I want to keep playing!” He clearly didn’t like my answer, so he kept complaining.
Prayers Left Unanswered? You have probably heard a lot of people say something to the effect of:
“I’ve been praying about this, but God hasn’t answered my prayer.”
The assumption with a statement like this is that there is only one answer God can give. What we are really saying is,
“I asked God for something and He hasn’t given it to me.”
The truth is, God doesn’t have to answer our prayers with a yes to have answered our prayers.
Yes, No, or Maybe God always answers our prayers. He has promised that He does. He always listens to the prayers of the saints and answers them. He just doesn’t always answer them the way we want. That’s because we don’t always ask for good things. Like a good parent, God knows what is best for us and isn’t going to give us something bad just because we asked for it.
Sometimes God answers, “No.” It’s not an easy answer for us to accept, but we must trust that God is good even when He disagrees with us.
Sometimes God answers, “Wait.” He will give us what we want, but we have to be patient and trust His timing. That also isn’t easy for us. We want what we want and we want it now!
Sometimes God answers, “Yes.” This answer we tend to like ;).
Trusting God In All Situations God tells us that He is our refuge. He will protect and care for us, even if it isn’t in the way we want Him to.
He asks us to trust Him no matter His answer. God doesn’t always remove the hardship we face. Sometimes He knows it’s best for us to walk through it. Can we trust Him as we walk through it? Can we trust that we know He is good and if God’s answer was, “No,” or “Wait,” it is best? Yes!
Thy Will Be Done For a long time, I thought praying, “Thy will be done,” in prayer was essentially a relenting of my will. Like the child who realizes his complaining isn’t going to change his Mom or Dad’s mind, he gives up trying. However, a while back someone showed me a different perspective.
“Thy will be done,” isn’t a relenting, but a confession of trust. I’m not praying, “Thy will be done,” because I know I can’t win, but because I know God’s will is better than mine. I want His will to be done over my will when we disagree because I know it will be better. I know I can trust His will and His ways and I understand that my will and ways are corrupted by sin and selfishness.
So, let us pray, trusting in God’s good and perfect will. Let us do it looking forward to His answer, even when His answer is, “No,” or “Wait,” for we know that, “No,” or “Wait,” is the best thing we can hear and receive.
Heavenly Father,
You are a good, good father. You promise to hear and answer all my prayers and I know You do. You promise to work all things for good. Help me to trust Your goodness so that even when you tell me, “No,” or “Wait,” I can rejoice in the answer I have received.
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” – Ephesians 4:15
How do you handle it when you need to say something to someone you care about that is true but will be painful to hear?
I remember hearing a comedian once talking about difficult questions from his wife. He said one time they were getting ready for an evening out. She put on a dress and then stood in front of the mirror and asked,
“Honey, does this dress make me look fat?”
He said you need to know how to handle these types of questions delicately. So, he looked at her and smiled and said,
“No, dear. That dress doesn’t make you look fat at all…The extra 30 pounds from eating junk food does.”
Speaking the Truth The comedian spoke the truth, but I doubt his wife appreciated it.
It is important to speak the truth. However, the truth can be a hard thing sometimes.
In our culture, today, there are many who do not believe there even is anything that is a universal truth. They say, “it’s all relative.” God says something different. There are truths…eternal truths. God’s Word is eternally true. We need to understand this and not be afraid to both say there is truth and what that truth is.
In Ephesians, we are told that we are one body in Christ and that are supposed to build each other up in truth and love so that we are not blown around by every “wind of doctrine”, human craftiness, or deceit and so that the body of Christ is equipped, unified, and working properly.
In other words, we need to speak the truth or people are going to be deceived and buy into lies. We see that a lot in our culture today. So, we need to speak the truth, but that’s not all. The passage continues.
Speaking In Love How you say something can be just as, if not more, important than what you say. A true word spoken harshly can turn someone away in anger. Instead of being enlightened, the relationship is damaged. So, we must speak that truth in love.
Speaking the truth can be hard. It can offend. However, when spoken in love, it builds up. The truth and love always go together. There is a quote from William W Wiersbe,
“Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.”
The truth is not something with which we are to attack others and hurt them. However, at the same time, it is not loving to lie or avoid the truth. Instead, we are to lovingly share the truth that all may be built up in Christ.
Heavenly Father,
You are truth and You are love. Your Son came telling us to repent, but also laid down His life for our forgiveness and salvation. Teach us the truth, the truth that can only be found in You. Help us to also speak the truth to others, but always in love.