04/27/2020
If you are reading this then I want you to know that I am praying for you today. Whether you realize it or not God has called out to you, and is urging you to come to His Son Jesus. Perhaps you don’t think this is true, or maybe you feel that you are so sinful that He would never do such a thing, but He has. As unworthy as you might see yourself He sees your heart, and your good bones, for what you will become, and knows that you will come to glorify Jesus, and knows that He will glorify you in return. Today I pray for you to realize your worthiness, and honor Him.
“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 ESV
My first car was a 1962 Oldsmobile Cutlass, and it cost $800. It wasn’t the coolest car for a high school junior to be driving, but when I looked at it I saw something in that car that my friends and the other guys at school didn’t see. So every Friday when I got paid at the hotel where I washed dishes, I would go to the auto parts store and buy some special little gadget to dress it up, and on Saturday morning I would wash my car, and install whatever I had bought for it.
At the end of the day my car was still an old car, but not in my eyes. There were a couple of things that made this car stand out to me, and made it worthy of the affection I looked on it with. More than anything else was the fact that my parents had bought it for me, not with cash, because with five kids they couldn’t afford to do that, but on time... paying a little each month for years. My car represented their love for me, and they gave up other things so that I could have it. That old Cutlass made me worthy because my parents found me to be worthy of it. The second reason I honored this gift my parents had given me was because they had first honored me, and by treating it with love, and care, I returned that honor to them. By fixing my car up, and keeping it clean I knew it pleased my mother and father... it honored their sacrifice for me, and the rest of the family as well. This is why I pray for you today. I want you to realize that God finds you worthy, and is calling you to receive His greatest gift.
“For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.””
Acts 2:39 ESV
You have been called by God, and He finds you worthy enough to have sent His Son Jesus as a sacrifice for you. Jesus wasn’t killed quickly by a bolt of lightning, but suffered a little at a time until at last He barely had the breath to speak, and said “It is done.” With this your note was paid, one lash of the whip at a time, one nail at a time, and you were redeemed... bought with His blood. In this way He was demonstrating to you that He not only loved you, but that He found you worthy, and now you are called to honor Him for what He has suffered for you...
“As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—”
Isaiah 52:14 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for finding us worthy of your love, and the sacrifice made by your Son Jesus Christ. Holy Father, I pray for those you are calling out to today, and ask that their ears be opened to your voice, and their eyes to the blood that flows from Calvary. Teach them Father, so that they will come to glorify your Son, and through Him to glorify you. I pray that their hearts be softened, and that the seed of faith find fertile ground there. Pour out your Holy Spirit on them Lord so that they are made righteous, and that their works to honor you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who calls to us, and has sent His Son to redeem us from our sins. Worthy is the Lamb of God, for in Him we are too are made to be worthy as well. We praise your name Father, and thank you for finding the good in us so that our works and service will bring you glory. We honor you father, and lift you up before all people, help them all to see you in your amazing glory, and to come straightway to you when they hear your voice. Hear my prayer for the lost, that they might find Jesus. Hear my prayer that they will serve you, and see that they are worthy. Hear my prayer that the lame in sin will be healed, and walk with you forevermore.
“And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’”
Acts 22:14-16 ESV
Rich Forbes