See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18
Now that I have wrapped my my study of the last four books of the Old Testament (Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi), I start anew using a book that I never completed but I am now going back to - an homage to my brother in Christ and mentor Warren Snyder, who introduced me to this book - The Character of Jesus. For this morning, I focus on chapter 2: Reasons for our Study where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:
- "The world is filled with the inventions of human skill and genius, but there is a vast emptiness which neither science nor art is able to fill."
- Life is full of discontent in ourselves or in the world, and Jesus shares promises of rest, the bread and drink of Life, the Light of the World, peace, power, and joy (for example see Matthew 11:28, John 6:35, and 14:27). "Bread and water, light and rest and peace and power and joy, are these not the seven elemental blessings which make human life complete? If this man promises to give us the things which the soul most desires, it is worth while to study his method and find out, if we can, how his proffered gifts can be most speedily obtained."
- Jesus' "supreme concern is for the rightness of heart of the individual man. This moulder of empires gives himself to the task of moulding individual men. This arch revolutionist starts his conflagrations in the individual soul. He draws one man to him, infuses into him a new spirit, sends him after one brother man, who in time goes after a third man, and this third man after a fourth, and thus does he weld a chain by means of which Caesar shall be dragged from his throne."
- In transforming lives, Jesus does not care about the "nature or nurture" theory, where a man is in his station or how he got there. He uses other men to change the character of a man. "It is by the changing of the character of a man that we change the character of other men, and by changing the character of many men we change the character of institutions and ultimately of empires and civilizations. When Jesus says, " Behold I make all things new," he lays his hand on the heart of a man....He will introduce golden ages by giving individuals a character like his own."
- "[T]here is no more effective worker for the world's redemption than the man or woman who in high or obscure places, strives, in season and out of season, to persuade men to conform their lives to the pattern presented to us in the character of Jesus; and no one is advancing so swiftly toward the golden age as the man or woman who by prayer and daily effort endeavors to build up in mind and spirit the virtues and graces of the Man of Galilee. Here then we find the supreme mission of the Christian clergyman: it is to help men to fall in love with the character of Jesus."
- Jesus is noted as "preeminently a man of prayer" and we are encouraged not just in our study of the Character of Jesus but at all times to be in prayer.
It is on this last excerpt where I seek an anchor in scripture, looking specifically at text that emphasizes our need for prayer. John Piper and DesiringGod.com provide a great pointer here. In this short podcast, Piper unpacks 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 and answers the question how to pray without ceasing. Piper shares first from the text that we focus on doing good in the face of evil (not focusing on revenge), and on doing good at all times, rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks. He shares that the context here is that we should be doing these things at all times and in all circumstances. He then stresses that the key themes we see in the text include a "spirit of dependence that should permeate all that we do," we should pray repeatedly and often, and that we should never give up on prayer. Amen!
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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who is SO good, and good to me. Thank You for the incredible grace You already poured out for me on the cross and for the grace You continue to pour out daily for me. I am not deserving of this grace. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.