John says of Gaius in 3 John, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” [3 Jn. 2]

This is a pattern for prayer about those you love. If the effective, fervent prayer of a man in spiritual right-standing accomplishes much [James 5:16], you must believe that the faith of your prayer is CERTAINLY worth the effort and time to utter these words before God on the behalf of those you love.

Let’s get busy.

READ/LISTEN: 2 Jn., 3 Jn.,  Jude

God is love. He gave it to us through Christ Jesus. It is the single most obvious difference between those who love God and those who don’t.

Loving, Godly people are attractive … they have a draw that goes beyond anything superficial. You can see it or the absence of it when you watch TV. You can see it when you meet people for the first time. They are full of God.

Because we have experienced the love of Christ and accepted His atoning sacrifice for our sins, we don’t have to fear the future, especially when we stand before God at the end of all things.

God is greater. Love overcomes evil.

READ/LISTEN: 1 Jn. 3-5

Peter makes it clear that God will use fire and heat to destroy the world to set up a new heaven and a new earth. John warns us not to get attached to earthly things for this reason. It’s a constant struggle and tension between the things we see, our desire for them, and the pursuit of eternal, heavenly things.

Paul encourages, “Set your affection on things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” [Col. 3:1-4]

We will escape the fire.

READ/LISTEN: 2 Pet. 1-3; 1 John 1,2

Peter makes it clear that if we suffer unjustly, we will be rewarded by God. We have the chance to endure it, allow it to make us better, and actually use it as a Godly influence upon others.

Christ Jesus is our example of one Who suffered without deserving it. The prophet Isaiah described it this way … “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, He did not open His mouth..” [Is. 53:7]

Yet God exalted Him above all else. Christ put His fate into the hands of His Heavenly Father. We should also.

READ/LISTEN: 1 Peter 2-5

James is the practical one. His book and teachings deal with real life issues and his instructions are to the point.

He commands Christians to stop complaining about each other. His reason? … because God, the great judge, is at the door and He will have the final word on everyone. It’s too easy for us to see the imperfections in each other. They actually limit our appreciation for the strengths that should be seen in others.

Paul said it this way, “But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.” Gal. 5:15

READ/LISTEN: James 4,5; 1 Peter 1

James labors the point that Christians should avoid giving preferential treatment to some over others. It’s very easy to find ourselves making judgement calls on the value or profile of people based upon their appearance, income level, professional acumen, or racial orientation. All such judgmentalism is to be shunned.

God’s love is without reservation to each person he has created. We should be the same, being careful to see them through is impartial eyes rather than our political lens.

READ/LISTEN: James 1-3

Hebrews instructs us to “fix” our eyes upon Jesus because He not only starts us on the journey to heaven, but He sustains us and actually crosses the finish line with us.

Runners are coached to look beyond the finish line when they run. Motorcycle riders are instructed to look through a curve to keep the bike on the road.  Baseball players are taught to keep their eye on the ball as it is released from the pitcher’s hand so they can hit it.

When we focus on our problems or shortcomings, we need a readjustment. Just look at Jesus.

READ/LISTEN: Heb. 12,13

From the famous and pivotal faith chapter in Hebrews, we understand that a believer’s future is secure when lived by faith. It’s the currency that supplies every need. It’s the roadmap to Godly destinations. It’s the confidence that whatever we commit to God will ultimately bow to His purposes and fit in with His eternal plan.

We raise our children by faith when we get discouraged. We face afflictions that have the capacity to take our lives. We approach ministry opportunities with an energy and confidence that God will use us in a mighty way and bring results for His Kingdom. We act in obedience to whichever direction he sends us knowing that our finances will be sufficient. We could go on and on ….

READ/LISTEN: Heb. 9-11

Christ Jesus is our eternal great high priest. He is constantly making intercession for us before our Heavenly Father. The sacrifice of His blood paid the ENTIRE price of our redemption … our sin was appeased once and for all. As we live in Him, we have unending right standing with God, rather than a day to day, up and down relationship. God sees His righteousness rather than our sin.

READ/LISTEN: Heb. 5-8

The Word describes the security and confidence we can have in our salvation because of what Christ did for us in one word … rest. Whomever has entered into this rest has ceased from his own methods of becoming righteous before the Lord. So many labor under misconceptions about how to make God happy. Simply accepting Christ’s act of self-sacrifice on our behalf ushers us into this privileged realm of confidence and hope.

My mother is nearing the end of her earthly journey … she’s 90 and receiving hospice care. Yet, she is living in a rest and confidence that her ticket to heaven is paid for by Christ’s blood. She rests very well.

READ/LISTEN: Philemon; Hebrews 1-4