"Abide in My love"

Find a friend, and pray for one another!

Read John 15:1-17 together.

If we belong to Christ, then we must grow in Him. Just as how a branch of the vine depends on the root to supply water and nutrition, so we must depend on our Lord for grace. This dependence is total, for without Christ, we can do nothing.

• Do we realize that everything we have comes from God? Are we humbled by this?
• The result of abiding in Jesus Christ is that we will bear fruit in our lives, for the glory of God the Father. Do we share this purpose? Then God will answer our prayers.
• Here is a warning that we do not cease to be fruitful, lest God punish us in eternal fire. Since we were, undeservedly, ‘grafted’ into the church, we are to be useful servants of Jesus Christ. Are we ungrateful sometimes, when we forget to honour God? Ask for forgiveness.

For us to abide in the love of Christ, we must obey His commandments. What wonder it is, then, that He gives but one simple commandment: to love one another just as He has loved us! Jesus would go so far as to lay down His life for us, while we were enemies, to make us His friends.

• Likewise, our love should be unconditional – since love covers a multitude of sins. Do we freely forgive our brothers and sisters too? Do we love our neighbour as ourselves?

What privilege it is for us that the Son of God should call His servants friends! Yet even the apostles still called Him Lord, and we should too. For although we now we have peace with God, we recognise that we were chosen out of love. Yea, we had to be redeemed by Jesus’ blood before we could bear fruit; therefore we are forever indebted to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

There is not another government or religious system which is so thoroughly grounded in love. Jesus would have His kingdom founded upon love. As we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ this month, let love become the motivation of our evangelism.

In conclusion, Jesus commanded us to love so that our joy may be full. Rejoice, for we are saved! Rejoice, for if we abide in His love, God will give whatever we ask in Jesus’ name. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

1. Pray in thankfulness to God: He loves us, and has given us everything we need, most of all salvation through Jesus Christ.
2. Pray that we might always speak the truth in love.
3. Pray for one another.

This is part of a series of prayer guides which was originally written by Timothy for a christian fellowship, to be used when groups of two or three would meet to share and pray. The idea is to hear God speak to us through His word first, and afterwards we speak to God in prayer. It is reposted here in case anybody would like to use it like a devotional, and to encourage us to pray together. Bear one another's burdens in love; cast all your care upon God, for he cares for you.

“LORD, open his eyes that he may see.”

Find a friend, and pray for one another!
  

Read 2 Kings 6:8-23 together.

God wrought many miracles through his prophet Elisha. In this particular account, we find a glimpse of the war between Israel and Syria, when events led to an army of Syrians becoming blinded upon a word spoken by Elisha.

• Notice first, how the life of the king of Israel was protected by the prophecy of God, as long as he obeyed it. When we feel anxious, do we also turn to God’s word?

Elisha’s servant was scared out of his wits when the Syrians surrounded the city. Yet Elisha prayed for his eyes to be opened, and the servant saw the awesome power of God’s angelic army.

• Sometimes we feel trapped by our struggles in life: although our lives are rarely at stake, do we entrust ourselves to God, believing that if God is for us, none can be against us?
• Elisha already had a calm confidence in God’s power to save, but he wanted his servant to have that comfort too, and so he prayed for his servant. Let us strive to follow Elisha’s example, and always be willing to pray for those who are in distress.

The second time Elisha prayed for eyes to be opened, it was for the Syrians. How we ourselves were like them, when our eyes of faith were first opened! We saw God’s almighty power to destroy us, and trembled at his righteous judgement. Yet, just as how the Syrians were shown mercy, God had mercy upon us, and forgave us by the blood of Jesus Christ. So we too are set free, howbeit not to return to our old master, but to serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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For it is written in Colossians 1 that the Father has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins … And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death … if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel.

1. Pray, giving thanks to God for salvation.
2. Pray for our friends (if not ourselves) who are struggling to believe or are still unbelievers, that their eyes might be opened so that they may see the light of the gospel.
3. Pray for one another.

This is part of a series of prayer guides which was originally written by Timothy for a christian fellowship, to be used when groups of two or three would meet to share and pray. The idea is to hear God speak to us through His word first, and afterwards we speak to God in prayer. It is reposted here in case anybody would like to use it like a devotional, and to encourage us to pray together. Bear one another's burdens in love; cast all your care upon God, for he cares for you.