A Prayer Using God’s Words

 

It was a long but short night. Sleep eluded me, but daily saving time turned the clock back one hour. The devotional for today is one of those that charges me to exercise my will to choose to believe God so I can receive His comfort. I’ve already learned, known, and expressed that my will is only concerned about what I want, never what God wants. If I’m filled with His Spirit and living accordingly, then my thoughts will be like those of Jesus when He said, “Not my will but thine be done.”

Enough of that. What about biblical thoughts for today? I opened a book called “Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith” by Scotty Smith. The description begins with: “How would life be different if we could think, see, and do all things in light of the person and work of Jesus?”

This appeals to me. It is about praying the Scriptures and applying them to everyday life. Maybe I’m too tired of moving boxes and sorting stuff to give away, but reading his entry for today takes my mind off my will (a long nap?) and puts it on what God has done for me. With a few changes and personalizing the ESV version of today’s reference, I’m happy to think about this:

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved me, not because of works done by me in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on me richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace I might become an heir according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4–7)

PRAY: Heavenly Father, Scotty suggested having this inked as a tattoo, but I think of it as a poster on my wall. I need to have this amazing summary of the gospel ever before my eyes. I too easily forget. Even better than a poster is knowing You’ve already written this truth on my heart with indelible ink. You’re such an outrageously generous God. Your kindness and love appeared to me out of nowhere, like a bright light in a very dark place. I was not conscious of seeking You, but You were seeking me, not to harm me but to rescue me from both crippling guilt and stubborn pride. I praise you for your multiplied mercies.

And what a “bath” in the gospel you gave me — washing me once and for all through the new birth. You continue to renew, revive, and refresh me through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, poured forth and gently healing all the painful messes in my life and erasing all the scars. All Your blessings come so freely because you’ve given Jesus so fully.

Because You have justified me by your grace, the rest of my life is defined by heirship and hope. Though I sometimes feel and act like a fatherless, futureless orphan, nothing could be further from the truth. You will bring to completion the good work you’ve begun in me, in others, even the entire universe. I am totally grateful. Amen.

A very tough assignment . . .

 

READ Jude

My mother belonged to a church that believed everyone would be saved. This doctrine is called “universalism” and helps the kind-hearted deal with Bible passages that say otherwise. I felt that angst this morning reading these verses in Jude:

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 3–4)

The line that is the most troublesome is “who long ago were designated for this condemnation” for it signals no hope. It is troublesome because some of those people are on my prayer list. At least it seems as if they are these who are described as ungodly, without faith, indulging in immorality, rejecting authority, and blaspheming those considered glorious. These are people without the Spirit of God and “for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.”

Just thinking about anyone being on a trajectory that leads to everlasting punishment makes me shudder and at the same time feel both great sorrow and a sort of pity because it seems that nothing will change their lot in life and for eternity. Yet Jude offers a hint of hope:

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. (17–23)

First, this should not be a surprise; Jesus said there would be people like this. However, this passage says to keep building my faith, trusting and relying on the love of God and praying in the power of the Holy Spirit. It says to be merciful towards those who doubt and even save “others” by snatching them out of the fire of God’s wrath. I’m hearing God say that I should hate their sin but care enough for them and their fate that I will do whatever He gives me to do that will make a difference.

The bottom line is that I don’t know who is “destined for condemnation” and who is going to be a recipient of God’s mercy. This makes sense of “love your enemies” and “do good to those who hate you” because this shows how to “show mercy with fear” —the very thing that could change someone’s eternal destiny.