All Scripture …

𝟭 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝟯:𝟭𝟲-𝟭𝟳 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗱-𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.

The Word of God, the Bible, has been denigrated. It has been assigned as a noteworthy set of writings, perhaps useful in their time. It has been the subject of humiliation and abrogation, canceling any importance it could have in the lives of readers. There are, of course, passages that are both puzzling and in need of contextual explanation. There are popular misinterpretations that have been co-opted to justify even the evilest doctrines and actions.

None of that sullies its intent and overall accomplishment in the lives of people of faith. It arrests sin, does not promote it. It corrects, does not condone. The righteousness it engenders testifies to the voice that speaks through the human lives used to record its words.

Paul was describing only the part of the Bible we call the Old Testament. He had the equivalent of a modern day PhD in theology and the Tenach (with the Jewish Talmud – rabbinic teachings) was his specialty. He had no way of knowing his letters to Timothy and the early churches would be incorporated into the canon – the books making up the New Testament. Yet his words here apply to his own writing.

Critics of the Bible – and they are nothing new as a group – harp on things like details (where the oral tradition was not as concerned) and historical accuracy (erecting their own criteria). All the while, combining their reading of the text with faith and being inquisitive as to its ability to teach and correct is avoided for reasons of fear (Hebrews 4:2). If the Bible had those attributes, it would imply change and repentance. Those things are not acceptable to devoted critics.

It is the proposition of scripture that humankind NEEDS teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness – and that, only from the hand of Almighty God. We are not righteous in ourselves, indeed so sinful that Jesus needed to die to set things right with His Father. That story is the primary one to allowing scripture to do its work – or rather, we could say it is the first work scripture does.

The sorrow of the unrealized fruit waiting for anyone who neglects the jewel which is the Bible is great, but it’s also waiting patiently to be discovered for all. I remain eternally thankful for its work in my life.

Stories that span generations

𝗣𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝟳𝟭:𝟭𝟴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘆, 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲, 𝗺𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗜 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲.

The old are discarded. That is nothing new. They are disregarded. Though they tell stories of their adventures, it’s presumed that they are either delusional or exaggerating. And sometimes they ARE. Their view of the world is assumed to be as the world was, not as it is. And sometimes their perspective IS dated like that.

It is easy, then, for an old person to think God has also cast him/her aside as yesterday’s news and an artifact only of how things were. That person can grow to expect only impoverishment of spirit and death. The slow descent into bodily decline can be seen to mirror one in the spirit. “Not so!” says the psalmist.

The lessons learned and experiences had are of vital importance to the next generation, without exception. The verse says nothing about the reception the declaration of God’s power will be received by those who are younger – and the old person will do well to consider how s/he received the same testimony. The acts of God among the lives of humans is BEST passed on by eyewitnesses, as it is an ongoing narrative for those of any age who believe.

𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴:

Stories may be dismissed as hyperbole and myth. If you’re old and have seen, tell them anyway. The speaker may be maligned and humiliated due to ageism and prejudice. God’s stories find their way across the generations nonetheless.

Nor is the immediate response of the younger listeners a gauge as to net effect of the testimony of the old. It never was. Nor is the complete embracing of all that is said, for it is only God’s Word that doesn’t return void, not the word of humans. As the trustworthy statement goes – “God has no grandchildren”. Faith is not passed on via DNA. God will touch whom he will; be in prayer that he amplifies the word of your testimony, O veteran of spiritual warfare. God has not abandoned you, don’t you abandon his work in you. 

Leaving scorn behind

Acts 17:9-10 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.  This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

There are those who make the decision to become a rock in your shoe.  Often, they are searching for prominence and affirmation that has been lacking, so they go on the attack.  Other times, they cannot assume the humility that is required to walk with Jesus, aligning it with human shame, which is a very bad mistake.

The one being led of the Lord in life becomes subject to their scorn and the life-giving message is cast as foolishness or worse.

Paul’s response was to simply leave and go somewhere else.

He spoke for two years in the lecture hall of Tyrannus!  Given his pedigree of scholarship and academic theological acumen – the guy loved to teach – that would be the equivalent of graduate study at a seminary, the absolute finest training one could receive.  Students can spend multiple semesters studying just one of his letters.  Those in Ephesus received the letter itself, spelled out and expounded upon by the author himself.

And his audience was not a contentious group of aspiring graduate students, it was the common Greek folk of Ephesus.  They would bear great fruit for Jesus and become arguably the strongest church outside of Jerusalem.  Yet they would also need to have their love restored later (see Revelation 2:1-7).

There is no need to put up with abuse. That extends way beyond preaching and teaching the Word, but it is particularly true when the discipleship of God’s people is going on, and I would argue discipleship happens in all kinds of places and circumstances.

Also, the fruit borne by giving one’s gifts with abandon far exceeds the investment of time and energy.  When there is an open door, if one is measured in giving, the church is cheated out of part of its inheritance, for Jesus did not give a toe or finger for the church, he gave his life’s blood and entire body surrendered on the cross.  That bought my salvation; may it inspire my giving all.

Speaking truth to power

Scripture:

John 7:51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”

Observation:

Jesus had a popular message and persona that threatened the ruling class and its system in Jerusalem. He was being named the Jewish Messiah – or Christ. As is common when the privileged are threatened, they cited things to disqualify the threat. They brought up Jesus’ origin – Galilee – as proof that he could not be the Christ. Galilee was a place of low esteem, on the far end of the despised nation of half-breeds, Samaria. The Messiah was to hail from Bethlehem, descended from King David – both criteria fulfilled in Jesus. And they described his followers as an uneducated rabble, deceived in their beliefs. Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier, then brought up a principle of the Law of Moses. He was convinced that Jesus was who he claimed to be – and wanted his peers to at least hear what Jesus had to say for themselves. The tone of his question was hardly incendiary – it was only a gentle reminder. But they would have none of it, accusing Nicodemus of being a Galilean himself (an insult). There was to be no honest inquiry, no legal process. In the tyranny of the ruling class, every system meant to establish justice was twisted to serve the powerful.

Application:

Things haven’t changed. People don’t want to hear who Jesus is. And his followers are accused and maligned. As Jesus said – “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18). But this is no call to stop working for the truth, no resignation to defeat by the “powerful”.

For God’s Word would triumph, people would – and still do – hear and learn from Jesus. Let me not – as Nicodemus did not – resign myself to defeat because powerful people and tribes write me off. They write everyone off who doesn’t exalt them or contribute to their gaining an holding power. Yet they don’t even understand true power. Jerusalem fell 70 years later. These rulers and their descendants were either killed or dispersed forever – their system of rule would never be re-established (even (or especially) in modern-day Israel). That’s not to celebrate their demise, but unlike them, Jesus said that his words would last forever and so they have.

Let me not ignore the general application of fighting for justice. There’s a sense that Nicodemus cared for Jesus as he cared for anyone in Israel. May I find those unjustly excluded from even being heard and advocate for them, even – of especially – if they are tribally maligned and opposed by the privileged. For imagined threats can actually uphold true government, but only if they are heard and understood.

Prayer:

Lord, let me be as unassuming as Nicodemus but as unafraid to speak truth to power. And let me be patient and never give up hope for justice and redemption. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Flesh, blood and disciples

Scripture:

John 6:66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

Observation:

The popularity of Jesus was very high. People traveled for miles and across water to see him. But in this passage, he confronted their motives, saying they were really after a free lunch (after he miraculously fed 5000 the day prior). They asked what sign would he show them that they might believe (suddenly forgetting the prior miracle). He cited the mark of a true disciple – one who would eat his flesh (as bread of life) and drink his blood. The people recoiled before this saying “This is a hard teaching, who can listen to it?” (verse 65).

And with that, there was a mass exit of those who would follow, as the verse above recounted. It was a turning point where those who would sacrifice even the need to understand – they did not yet know what “eat(ing) my flesh” meant – in order to follow Jesus as Lord. In this, the point of miracles is made clear. Despite the propensity people have for turning the miraculous into a sideshow event (reaping in profits from ticket sales), Jesus performed his miraculous signs to display the nature of the Kingdom of God and to establish who he was. At this point in the journey, it was time for his (remaining) disciples to get it right.

Application:

This is not a word against the miraculous, far from it. It is a call to be a disciple, calling Jesus King of my life and following my King no matter what he leads me through. The scorn of those who turn away, with any number of attitudes and foregone conclusions about the person of Christ, rings fresh in the air and hangs there in protest. Let me never call this some kind of achievement – another theme of this passage is the utter election of God to be a disciple. But let me remain pliable and humble, rejoicing in the miracle of salvation and healing and deliverance all the while knowing its cost and path. For I do eat the flesh and drink the blood – that given for me on the tortuous cross. My Savior scorned the shame and endured the pain for me and he saw the joy of my (and your) salvation before him. There is nothing earned by the disciple, only received with the right heart. There is nothing gained by being obstinate, only spiritual destitution and the need to start all over again. It is nearly certain that among those who turned away and no longer walked with him were some who later reconsidered. As long as there is life there is hope and Jesus gives life.

Prayer:

Father, if it takes misunderstanding and cluelessness to follow Jesus, let me embrace it. But never let hard sayings dull my heart but instead humble it before you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Itinerant purpose

Scripture:

Luke 4:42-43 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

Observation:

While in the synagogue of his hometown of Nazareth Jesus had pronounced his commission, citing Isaiah. He traveled to Capernaum in Galilee and beginning to deliver and heal the people. At the end of Luke 4, he left the people to be alone in “a desolate place”. But his celebrity and the needs of the people inspired them to seek him out. By popular demand he was to continue his work with them as he had been. And the passage says that the people would actually have kept him among them, ministering to their needs indefinitely – until they deemed it fit for him to move on. He was to be, in their mind and intention, their private prophet. But that was not to be. He announced that his news – the setting free of captives cited in his commission – was not only for their one town but for many. It was the purpose for which he was sent.

Application:

People invade privacy if you let them. Jesus went to a desolate place not to have people follow him, but very likely to be alone. The crowds did not allow that. He would do this vanishing act many times over the course of his ministry, and it was to be alone with God and pray. Do I make that a priority? I have nothing like the celebrity of Jesus of Nazareth but I do have busyness and people vying for my attention. Do I have a desolate place and a time to go there? If not, I need that. And when people are around me, do I cave to their requests or stay on mission?

And I cannot miss the motivation of Christ in this passage. He is NOT after larger crowds and yet greater celebrity. He would absolutely rise to national notoriety, but not because it was his goal or purpose. His goal was to spread the good news of the Kingdom to as many people as he could, accompanied by miraculous signs and wonders. It was the latter part that got people’s attention though the former – discipleship – that the miracles led to. Because, indeed, the work of the Kingdom was not even His alone to do. He would raise up apostles and disciples, sending them out to preach, heal and deliver as he had. The delegation of Kingdom work required that he not just do by himself. He was launching the church. Am I making disciples? Am I delegating the work of the Kingdom? Or at least do I pray and plan to be? I hope so, for the sake of the investment in me. And rather than allowing the crowds to exalt me, let me be found seeking the other gifted ones with no cause, just waiting for the call to glory they do not know exists.

Prayer:

Father, let me not settle for celebrity or notoriety. For you have much more for me to do. The glory is Yours alone; grant that I might live for it. In Jesus’ name amen.

Baptized in Ephesus

Scripture:

Acts 19:4-6 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

Observation:

Having been “relieved” by Apollos in the church of Corinth, Paul’s traveled to Ephesus, where he immediately met some “disciples”. These were people who had heard of the ministry of John the Baptist; some perhaps had been baptized by John himself. But that was where their knowledge ended. Paul referred to John’s actions and words to point to Christ, which was exactly as John had ministered. The baptism they were familiar with was preparatory – one of repentance, or turning toward God. But then came Jesus, fulfilling John’s prophecy and likewise, the purpose and ordinance of baptism. Paul’s account had a direct effect upon his listeners – they were quickly baptized in the name of Jesus. Following that, Paul laid hands on them – an act of imparting, a sharing of a gift – and the Holy Spirit descended upon them, filling them and enabling them to speak in another language and prophesy. Thus began the church at Ephesus.

Application:

It is tempting to take the patterns of this account or the aggregate of all such accounts in the book of Acts and build formulas. Indeed there are common, essential elements of the story which span into our lives today. The eager, prepared hearts of people, seeking after God and wanting all He has for them, the preaching of the gospel, the application of faith to the message and the act of baptism into Christ and the infilling by the Holy Spirit were all repeated throughout the history of Acts. And these are the landmarks along the path to faith in Jesus people take today. But more than a set of instructions about “how it’s done” (and leave it at that), we see the completion of knowledge and faith through the inductive process of taking people from where they are, with what they know and believe, to a new, saving faith in Jesus. Do I meet people where they are like that? Do I make links to all Jesus Christ is by means of what I know and what we all know? Do I listen to their objections, answer their questions and be patient with their slow progress (as I would call slowness – a different measure than that of the Lord)? It happened fast in Ephesus; these disciples were “ripe” – well-prepared by the ministry that came before. Am I comfortable and useful with first sowing the seeds or watering them to lead to the fruition we see here? I should be. And I should never expect the same thing twice. That is the real story, the whole story.

Prayer:

Father, it is Your incalculable patience – long-suffering really – that makes our faith story possible. Such wondrous and persistent love cannot be understood or contained. Only let me walk in it and let it speak and act through me, for I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.             

Authority over knowledge – Luke 4:31-32 (January 4, 2014)

Scripture:

Luke 4:31-32 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

Observation:

Jesus had been rejected in his home town of Nazareth. He was, after all, Someone who had grown up in their midst, now claiming to be a person of standing and indeed, the Son of God. They were furious at His claims, for in them was an indictment of their own spiritual state. And they tried to kill Him, to no avail. Then we have the verses above. Capernaum was not far away and we’re not told that He went to the synagogue to teach, but only that He taught on the Sabbath, a day the people would be in the synagogue. But it’s the last part of verse 32 that makes this stand out – the people were “astonished”; it does NOT say “impressed”, “informed” or “enlightened”. And what He taught was not necessarily something they had not heard before, for we know He taught from the Old Testament. But when He taught it, it was done so with authority. The passage goes on to describe His casting an unclean spirit out of a man, as an example of this authority in practice.

Application:

The tendency is to settle for information. Jesus was a “teacher” after all and that’s what teachers do in the school systems of the world – convey knowledge and make their listeners more qualified as they are enriched (or even “armed”) with newly acquired data with its application and utility. As the saying goes, and it is true to an extent: “knowledge is power.” Yet that power pales in the face of the teaching of and by Jesus. There were experts in the Law back then, and they promoted its transference across the castes and across the generations. Even foreigners could glean knowledge of the Word through them. But the astonishment of the people of Capernaum speaks of a power that dwarfs the power of knowledge. The Word had authority, in the person of Jesus, to heal and deliver. It was not a theory or mere historical anecdote that identified the nation of Israel or made it special in its mere mention. It was now something that touched lives in the present. It changed people and brought an entirely new entity – the Church – into being. If I am found in any retreat from that authority, from that hands-on touch by Jesus, I have forgotten my roots and given place to the knowledge-hording of the world. For sure knowledge matters, but this same superior authority is applied by the risen Christ to the making of disciples in the church age.

Prayer:

Lord, it is Your will to call me back to simple faith, to basic trust and reliance upon Your authority, which is astonishing. Do so this day I pray, in Jesus’ name, amen.    

The cycle of discipleship – Matthew 9:36-38 (April 22, 2013)

Scripture:

Matthew 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Observation:

This occurred as Jesus went from town to town, healing people. A pattern was established that first people would be set free from suffering and delivered from bondage, then they would be discipled and pastored. This would be backwards from the practice in the temple, where, if people were healed at all, it would be after they had established faith, adhered to the Law and probably done other works to prove their piety and devotion. The compassion of Jesus upon the people was pastoral love. He saw people under the burden of religious rule, not knowing they were loved for simply existing. The system that held them captive had them vying against one another and they were helpless to escape its traditions. The leadership over them could not be described as pastoral .. for they were sheep without a shepherd. And Jesus made an appeal to those who were already disciples, inviting them to see the “harvest” – the potential for redeemed humanity right in front of them – but saying that the workforce to really do the harvesting was inadequate. Then He gave a command that stands to this day – the it become an ongoing prayer concern that God the Father would sent more and more servants to bring in the huge bounty of people into freedom and forgiveness.

Application:

Do I see the harvest? Or just people, some that I like and some that I do not? Do they annoy me or intrigue me with vision? Do I see my own potential as harvester, one who has been equipped to reap the grain that God has sown and watered by His sovereign will over the years preceding? Or am I a converter, with only a distinct opinion among many equal others? This is God’s work. Say it again. THIS IS GOD’S WORK. If my compassion has grown small or my love has grown cold, let me pray for God’s eyes. If my work has become unclear, let me pray that God would give me ensigns of His kingdom, impossible to miss or mistaken. All belief systems apart from Christ bind people in their insatiable ideologies. All observance of religion is inadequate; all adherents only compare themselves with others who “get it” and/or “do it” just a little better than they do. Woe to me if turn service to Christ into that kind of circus. Instead, let me live and spread the freedom won on the cross. Then I will reap the harvest; then I will be a shepherd of lost sheep. I am a found sheep myself, and those I am honored to find will also become harvesters and shepherds. That is the cycle of discipleship.

Prayer:

Lord, I pray for Your eyes to see the harvest, white as it is. Show me where and how and when, in Jesus’ name, amen.  

Reversing unbelief – Mark 9:21-24 (June 26, 2012)

Scripture:

Mark 9:21-24  Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?””From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“’If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Observation:

Jesus had broken up an argument between His disciples and the people surrounding a man whose son was demon possessed and oppressed.  The disciples had unsuccessfully attempted to cast the demon out and so Jesus stepped in.  After chiding their generation for its lack of faith, Jesus briefly interviewed the man in the passage above.  The boy had been like this for years and the spirit that controlled him had attempted to take his life on multiple occasions.  The father’s phrase “But if you can do anything” displayed both his exasperation that neither the disciples nor anyone else was successful in helping the boy to that point AND also his own unbelief that anything even could be done.   Again speaking against the doubt that characterized the times and the people of those times, Jesus parroted back the words “If you can?” because it really meant “I know you can’t” – holding out the smallest glimmer of hope but being comfortably prepared to accept the oppressive status quo as the way things were just going to be.  Then Jesus unearthed a nugget of truth – “Everything is possible for him who believes.”  The challenge of that statement to the immediate problem drove the man to his senses.  He was stopped cold in his assumptions, his heart and mindset exposed before everyone.  Could it be that his own lack of faith had let his son be possessed for all these years?  We aren’t told that, but only that his lack of faith contributed to the lack of deliverance at the current time.  Immediately, the father spoke up “I do believe; help me in my unbelief” which was a statement of self-contradiction.  But all observers there and readers since know his sentiment – there are things he could believe and things he could not.  His son’s healing was in the latter category and he needed Jesus help to get past that.

Application:

There are so many faith prognosticators who would condemn this poor father.  Yet, despite the rebuke, Jesus did NOT condemn him but delivered his boy from Satan.  And thus, He taught the man and DID help him overcome his unbelief.  We don’t have the story of the rest of this man’s life, but we can strongly assume he became a believer in Christ and was perhaps part of the Jerusalem church in the early book of Acts.  Let me likewise refuse to be condemned and know that Jesus can and will help me with MY unbelief and to deliver me and mine from oppression.

There are those who wear their faith and/or their spiritual gifting like a badge; Jesus ferrets out the weaknesses through the veneer of pride to make healing, deliverance and the abundant life all available and vital.  So in detail, where’s my point of unbelief?  I have many, to be truthful.  And I need to hear what Jesus said, not just with ear drums vibrating but with a spirit stirred forever within – “Everything is possible for him who believes.”  This is not just for the immediate, hands-laid-on moment in a deliverance service, but for my long term marathon of a life.  For the enemy does not just beat back those of faith with one blow, he wears them down – let my soul learn this well.  So “him who believes” is lived out every day and against all manner of sights and sounds to the contrary.

So let this story strengthen me, encourage me and spur me on to believe no matter what I see.  For brokenness and oppression is the rule not the exception in the unbelieving world yet Christ, even through me, enters that space with a new word, a word of power and faith and hope.  Let me be there doing that.

Prayer:

Father, it is a ministry of proximity I am called to, to be one who believes amidst the dead and dying hearts around me.  Let Your light shine in me before people that they might see my good works done in You and glorify my Father in heaven.  Grant me the faith I need; help me in my unbelief, in Jesus’ name, amen.