The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18 (day five)

“because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;”

As we think about “growing” in our faith this week, Paul gives a specific indicator of spiritual growth and maturity. It is a litmus test for the progress and authenticity of discipleship. Here’s how Websters defines litmus test: “a decisive indicator that evaluates the true nature, quality, or authenticity of someone or something based on a single factor.”
Not only Paul, but John also echos that love for other believers is a clear sign of the presence and activity of God in the life of believers. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14).  This is not only a New Testament concept. David also writes in Psalms, “As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.” 16:3
Our actions and attitudes toward other believers indicate and testify to spiritual growth as well as the presence of Christ in our lives and hearts. Is it clearly evident (to ourselves and others) that we love other believers?  And is it clearly evident that our love for one another is dynamic in that it is growing (deepening)?  Do we “pass this litmus test”?

Delighting in Christ’s people is normal, healthy Christianity.”- Donald Whitney

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18 (day four)

Take a moment to think back on your walk with Christ so far. What has caused the most growth in your spiritual life? Was there a particularly moving sermon? A helpful Bible study? A retreat?

All of those things can be helpful in my spiritual growth. But I have found that the conversations and prayers I have shared with my brothers and sisters in Christ have propelled some of the most profound growth in my life. Second only to daily time in prayer and Scripture reading, relationships with other believers is essential to becoming more like Christ. When we are willing to be vulnerable and move beyond Sunday morning pleasantries and invite others into our questions, hopes, and fears, we will find that Christ meets us there. When we open ourselves to the encouragement, exhortation, and correction of other believers, we will be challenged to grow in ways we never would on our own.

Who in your life encourages and challenges you? How might you take a step to deepen your relationship with someone so that they can encourage and challenge you? Who has allowed you into their life to do the same? Spiritual growth requires deep relationships. Deep relationships require vulnerability. Vulnerability requires trust. Fortunately, when Christ is at the center of a relationship, we can move in confident trust that he will use that relationship to form us into his likeness.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18 (day three)

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

I have had the privilege to be at this church long enough to watch several grades of children grow from preschoolers and graduate from high school. It has been a joy to watch! I am always a little shocked when I see the senior grade come through, and I am reminded of how quickly the kids grow up. But growth is expected! It is what God made us to do. My hope and prayer for all the kids that come through or “graduate” out of our Kids’ Ministry is that they grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man, just as Jesus did (Luke 2:52).

Peter closes out his letter with this perfectly summed up line. Through his whole letter, he tells readers to be on guard and to be ready for Jesus’ return. Then he sums it all up with verse 18 where he implored everyone to keep growing in their faith. We are not meant to become followers of Christ and then plateau in our knowledge and understanding of the love of God. Growth in Christ is expected. It is what God commands us to do. Discipleship helps us in this. We are reminded of the importance of good, sound discipleship throughout the Bible. As I teach kids, I try to help them understand that we can be disciples of anyone or anything, and that not all things help us grow up in our relationship with the Lord. We either grow in the Lord or grow in something else. May they grow in Christ and not follow another!

Is your relationship with Him today different than it was last year? Have you “grown up” in your relationship with Him? Is there someone else that you are helping “grow up” in their relationship with the Lord?

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18
(day two)

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Peter’s words in the third chapter of his second letter offer us a picture of discipleship that is purposeful and practical. We are talking about growing in our faith this week, and every disciple should be constantly growing. Our hearts should yearn to be more Christ-like in every aspect of our lives. Part of Peter’s words tell us that very thing. We are to grow in the knowledge of the Lord, to become more like him. This is part of the process of sanctification. We should resemble Jesus in thought, word, and deed more each day.

There is also a note of practicality to this passage. To grow in our knowledge of the Lord also arms us against the influences of the world. The more we are aware of the work of the Spirit in our lives, we are more able to recognize what is not of the Spirit. This strong defense will also guard us to be able to continue to…grow.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:4-5, 9-11; Acts 8:9-13, 34-39 (day seven)

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:4

We as a church, and historically as Baptists, hold to the belief that believer’s baptism by immersion is an important step of obedience in the early moments of a new believer. However, the water is not what saves you. Salvation happens inside of the heart of the new believer as they recognize that Jesus is Lord. If we want to get technical here, Salvation is absolutely nothing of our own doing, but truly a gift from God in response to our faith:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

With that said, Baptism is the outward expression of this inward grace. It is symbolic of us being buried with Christ in His death and raised to walk in new life (Romans 6:4). Not only is it commanded and exampled by Christ, but there is something solidifying in telling the world that you are unashamed of Him:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16

It is also an opportunity for the Body of Christ to celebrate with you and to promise to walk along side you. Baptism is not just about the person being immersed; it is about all of us being united together in His Church. So help us fill our baptistries with people and praises as we all celebrate this Gift that has been given to us all!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:4-5, 9-11; Acts 8:9-13, 34-39 (Day Five)

When was the last time you clearly saw God at work?  May I suggest that every time we witness a person following Christ in believer’s baptism, we clearly see God at work. God has not only saved them from their sins, but He has also continued that work (Philippians 1:6) calling and leading them to take the next step in their faith walk- baptism.

Maybe all of us need to be reminded that God is still at work growing His Kingdom. Maybe all of us need to be reminded of the sermon that each person being baptized is preaching: Salvation has come by the grace of God (Titus 2), and that baptism portrays that we have died with Christ and have been raised with Him (Romans 6).

Maybe we all need to remember what new and fresh faith feels like- the honesty and vulnerability on display to publicly profess and testify about our faith in Christ. Maybe we need to remember names, faces, and relationships that were a part of our faith story (2 Timothy 3:14).

So, the next time you see a baptism:
Will you be reminded?
Will you remember?
Will you rejoice?
God is clearly at work!!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:4-5, 9-11; Acts 8:9-13, 34-39 (day four)

The story of the Ethiopian eunuch is one that Pastor Chris reminds us of often, and it has become a significant text in the life of our church. It displays the kind of obedience, urgency, and joy over the gospel that believers ought to have. Once the Ethiopian eunuch understood the gospel, he had an urgency to live in obedience to it by getting baptized. He was not content to let the gospel remain head knowledge. He quickly took a step of faith through baptism, and “went on his way rejoicing” in his new life in Christ. He practiced immediate obedience.

When was the last time you practiced immediate obedience – where you felt the Lord calling you to do something, or to stop doing something, and you quickly took a step of faith to physically do what the Lord asked you to do? When was the last time you were so impacted by God’s Word that you felt a sense of urgency to obey? It’s possible that our sense of urgency might wane the longer we walk with God. But part of discipleship is maintaining our sense of joy and urgency to obey our God who so mercifully saved us. In what ways is God calling you to have the faith that the Ethiopian eunuch displays here?

• Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:4-5, 9-11; Acts 8:9-13, 34-39 (day three)

⁹ But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 

Here in this Re:Verse section of Acts, we find a man (Simon) that thinks very highly of himself. The man was, no doubt, a very popular man and had followers (disciples) of his own. The people that followed him and observed him even compared him to the power of God. Luke tells us that Simon heard Philip’s preaching and observed his miracles; and he believed and was baptized. But then Luke keys us in on how the man followed Philip, constantly being amazed by the great works that were done.

Did Simon truly believe in God or was he more enthralled with the power on display by Philip? He obviously was drawn to power as he called himself a great man. We are not told if Simon praised the Lord after converting. But Luke is quick to point out later in this chapter that the Ethiopian eunuch went on praising the Lord even after Philip was whisked away by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus alluded to this kind of belief in John 2:23-25. Many people saw Jesus perform miraculous signs and wonders and trusted in Him. But Jesus also knew that many of those same people were not true believers because He knew what was in their hearts. They were amazed at the things Jesus could do, but were unchanged in their own lives because of what they observed. Take a survey of your heart with the Lord right now. Why are you following Him? Why do you trust Him? Are you changed by the Lord, or are you merely following an idea of Him? Do you fall in more with Simon or with the Ethiopian man?