As the rain and snow

“Encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 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. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

“Brothers, pray for us.

“Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss...

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11-26,28

Paul never minces nor wastes words. He packs his writing full of cogent truths and instruction. To cogitate on a sentence or two of his inspired letters is to be convinced, convicted, or compelled. Indeed, God’s inspired word is living and powerful for all of life, steeling into our senses and prodding us to action. (Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16)

God intends that His instructions have their potent way both in and through us. Encourage and build one another up. His end is our sanctification. Respect and esteem your leaders. Be at peace and patient. Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak. God’s words encompass all His children and concern their spiritual development and welfare. Be vigilant to guard against evil and seek and hold fast to good. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks. There is no room for laziness, apathy, or grumpiness in the Christian life. Do not resist or despise or ignore Him, test everything. In all these commands, we are assured that God’s Spirit is at work and He is faithful to perform His bidding in and through us as we obey.

How carefully do we discern and heed God’s words? Are we in the practice of quenching His Spirit with excuses, disinterest, or deliberation? What commands have we chosen to ignore? What areas of spirit, soul, or body is He intent on sanctifying that we have resisted? When will we confess, repent, and yield, trusting His grace and enabling?

How thoughtfully do we consider our written and spoken words? How can we better pack a punch of gospel truth in secular conversations and opportunities to witness? With our children or others we teach, is instruction vague and benign, or direct and substantial? Do we waste words on insignificant trivialities, or when we speak, do others pay attention because our words build up and nourish? For every audience the Lord provides, may He help us prayerfully think through and communicate for maximum eternal effect. (Proverbs 25:11)

Father, fill me with truth and love so my words convey Your grit, grace, and glory.

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

“To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

“Grace to you and peace.

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you [there], but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere… For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

The salutation was warm, effusing from hearts saturated with love and care and gratitude. The vibrant faith of this church was colorfully evidenced in powerful transformation, lively joy, generous hospitality, and meaningful testimony. Those who had by faith planted, ministered among, and prayed for them were naturally full of delight to learn of the Thessalonians’ ongoing labor of love, steadfast hope, and loud, potent faith.

In the Body of Christ, the working of faith by the hand of God has many components, and can be seen, heard, and felt in a variety of ways. It is expressed in individuals, the church, and culture in ways visible and invisible, silent and spoken, gripping, changing, releasing, and compelling. Active faith results in personal boldness, encouragement in prayer, comfort in distress and affliction, joy in assurance of loved ones’ security and progress in Christ. Are we experiencing this going forth of God’s gift? (Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10; 3 John 4)

In a culture punctuated with persuasive and perverted voices, what priority does a growing, widespread faith take for me? Am I more concerned with expanding knowledge, notoriety, and worldly success, or living out and speaking forth the gospel? How am I pursuing and exercising faith in Christ, and how has He worked in response?

How often do I ask others about and speak good news of faith, expressing thanks for all God has done? How can I direct conversations to encourage this gracious gift, and exalt the sovereign Savior? If this is my desire and earnest prayer, God will open opportunities. (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

“Like a mighty army
moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod;
Hell’s foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise!” ~S. Baring-Gould (1865)

Lord, please increase my faith and multiply its effective going forth in Your kingdom, for Your glory.

“O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.“

“The Lord is in his holy temple;
    the Lord’s throne is in heaven;
    his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.”

“On every side the wicked prowl,
    as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I… have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?”

“The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,
    to see if there are any who understand,
    who seek after God.” Psalm 8:1; 11:4; 12:8-13:2; 14:2

Vileness is exalted, enemies are exalted, but God is exalted above all. The highest things of earth strut below the Highest God of heaven. Wicked men rise up and wreak havoc with cities and families, worldly gods and godless efforts permeate the seen and unseen, but the supreme Lord reigns in absolute power and perfection over all. Whatever troubles or forces, His rule prevails and His love never fails. (Psalm 97:9; 113:3-4; Romans 8:33-39)

As the psalmist well knew, our times are saturated with a loud exalting of vileness, corruption, and influencers who have wicked sway. We cannot escape the drone of coarse language, violence, injustice, and salacious enticements. The enemy sometimes prowls in quiet disguise and sometimes roars with such volume we’re deafened to reason and beauty. It’s crucial for daily victory to acknowledge Who is eternally exalted and reigning over all. Reminding ourselves of God’s unshakable sovereignty readjusts perspective and reinforces our clutch on Him.

“Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.” ~Matthew Bridges (1851)

Where and when are we tempted to despair? Are we so consumed with the ills that take prominence in the world that we’re more prone to fear, anger, and negativity that trusting the King of kings?Lift our eyes! God alone is truly exalted!

What practices keep us from lifting high the Lord? What needs to be turned off, tuned out, or rejected altogether? How can we magnify Him this day?

“Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o’er earth and heav’n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv’n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord and judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!” ~Charles Wesley (1744)

Lord, keep me rejoicing in and trusting and exalting You as supreme Lord of all, forever.

“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent…

“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Colossians 1:18; 2:9-15

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Words are packed with meaning, sentences swell with description, messages conveyed are replete with power to convey the fullness of our Lord and Savior. Ponder the fullness of deity, grace, and light within the flesh- limited Christ, bursting with the perfection and love and goodness and power of God the Father. Can the mind hold it all in? He is completely sufficient and able and fills all in all. (Romans 8:31-32; Ephesians 1:22-23)

And this divine fullness is available to His children! We who know Christ and have been saved by His blood own within His limitless Spirit. His grace availed toward us enables us to avail ourselves of all His supply. (1 Corinthians 2:12; Philippians 4:19)

Yet often we live in the lowlands and allow this wondrous reality to get lost in the mayhem of daily life. We fuss and dicker and fritter around in foolish frenzies of fear and fretting. We accept forgiveness but forget all it affords. What could be daily hope-filled experience and fullness of joy gets shoved to the wayside by lesser things.

How do we go about tapping into the fullness of Christ? Can we identify the insignificant concerns that consume us? Would we confess our weakness and self-absorption and ask God’s help to desire and employ His riches? How will we avail ourselves of His wisdom in challenging situations? How readily will we wield His power over temptation and besetting sin habits? We own these heavenly treasures! (Ephesians 1:3-10)

“All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all!

Let every tongue and every tribe
On this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all!

Oh, that with all the sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.” ~Edward Perronet (1780)

Lord, help me rejoice in and live out the fullness of all You are and share, so You are exalted and desired.

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:29

“Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2

“Leave the presence of a fool,
    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.”

“Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
    nor go with a wrathful man,
lest you learn his ways
    and entangle yourself in a snare.”

“Iron sharpens iron,
    and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 14:7; 22:24-25; 27:17

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.'” 1 Corinthians 15:33

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For… what fellowship has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Since God pronounced that it was not good for man to be alone, and created Eve for Adam, man has lived in community with others. The Lord works through the delights and challenges of relationships to teach, refine, and sanctify His people. The company His children keep dictates the direction they put down roots and the nourishment they take in to grow and flourish. (Genesis 2:18-25)

People come in numberless varieties, and a great joy in life is intermingling with those of different upbringing, experiences, and perspective. Ideas and personalities stimulate mind and senses and stretch horizons. Righteousness believed and exemplified stokes godly creativity, while foolishness entertained and espoused can taint attitudes and rob of wholesome productivity. In keeping company, it’s prudent to make wise choices and maintain healthy boundaries. In order to be effective salt and light in an unsavory, dark world, it’s crucial to remain in robust, godly fellowship.

If we are languishing in purpose or rigor or fruitfulness, it would be wise to consider the company we keep. If we have fallen into apathy or sloth, regularly waste precious resources, or constantly entertain meaningless intrusions, we might have welcomed detrimental companions. They come in human form or by way of media, visual input, or imagination. With whom and what am I spending the majority of my attention and time? Do those things or people drain or enrich my energy, outlook, and output? What companionships need I release? We cannot avoid every uncomfortable interaction and relationship, but we can be fortified to wisely make the most of them.

With whom do I share friendship and fellowship that mutually builds up in wisdom, faith, and boldness? Who helps sharpen a godly perspective, and holds me accountable? How am I encouraging others in truth? Where am I stimulating integrity and eternal fruitfulness? Investing time, affection, and prayer in healthy relationships benefits all. (Proverbs 27:9)

Lord, help me walk with the wise and wisely, that Your people and kingdom might flourish to Your glory.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,  so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:3-11

Yearn: to be filled with longing or desire; to feel tenderness or sympathy

Paul’s letter to the Philippians begins with such grace and gratitude that what he has to say could not help but be received in the loving joy with which it is written. He is compelled by Jesus and affection for this church. The Spirit has unified them in a gospel partnership and as mutual partakers of grace, so he holds them warmly and close in his heart. Because of that love, his divine compulsion is that they grow more and more Christlike, and be filled with the fruit of Christ’s righteousness. He yearns that their lives and ministry bring glory to their Savior and God.

As people of flesh, our hearts have great capacity for affection. We can use the word love loosely, connecting it to people and things and experiences. While a hard heart may not entertain a benevolent intimacy with many people, even the most rigid will attach itself to objects or beliefs that it holds dear.

In Christ, godly affection looks different from that of the world. When we’re transformed by the Spirit, our passions and the objects of our desires change. For what do we yearn as we begin our day? For what do we yearn with our children, careers, and future life trajectory? Do we seek things of this earth that are transient or subject to decay? Do we seek praise or esteem in the eyes of others we value more than the God we cannot see? Do we yearn for pleasures that are fleeting? What would change if we set our minds on things above where Christ is seated? (Colossians 3:1-2; 1 John 2:15)

Yearning for Christ and His formation in others affects our perception of difficulties and difficult people by redirecting our hearts. When we are bent on the divine progress of God’s will, we earnestly pray for others and can set aside persnickety complaints and chafing differences. We seek to build them up in Christ and grow together. How will we elevate our passions and align them more closely with the Lord’s heavenly purposes? How are we praying for and prodding on our siblings in Christ? (Ephesians 4:15-16; Philippians 1:12-18,21-25; Hebrews 10:24-25)

Lord on high, teach and transform my yearning to be for You and Your best good in Your people.

“If the congregation sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the assembly, and they do any thing that by the Lord’s commandments ought not be done, and realize their guilt,  when the sin… becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull for a sin offering… The elders shall lay their hands on the head of the bull.., and the bull shall be killed. The anointed priest shall… dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord… [and] make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven…

“When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of the things that by the commandments… ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, or the sin is made known to him, he shall bring a goat, a male without blemish… a sin offering…  So the priest shall make atonement for his sin, and he shall be forgiven.

“If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally.., and realizes his guilt,.. he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed… And the priest shall make atonement for him.., and he shall be forgiven.”

“If anyone sins.., though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. He shall bring a ram without blemish… for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him.., and he shall be forgiven. He has indeed incurred guilt before the Lord.” Leviticus 4:13-17,20b,22-24,26b-28,35b; 5:17-19

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

“Every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices… But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God… For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:11-14

The detailed atonement process described and carried out repeatedly by God’s ordained priests reminded of inherent sin, and foretold the once-for-all atonement to be carried out by Jesus Christ. Sin was and is a serious affront to Holy God, and by grace, from the beginning, He made a way for it to be forgiven. What might seem disgusting and extreme to a sanitized eye unaware of daily depravity is a vivid picture of how the Lord perceives our rebel nature and the extent to which He loves in order to make things right. (Genesis 3:21; Hebrews 11:24-25; 1 Peter 3:18)

How seriously do we take our sin? Do we pause long enough from busyness, duty, and criticizing others to confess our sins against God and others? Do we ignore or justify happy, pleasurable sin that offends the righteous Sovereign? Would we value a clean heart and clear conscience, and ask Him to search us and reveal fault? (Psalm 51:1-10; 139:23-24)

The beautiful truth of confession is the gracious cleansing that freely follows. Why carry weighty soul burdens when we can be relieved of guilt and shame? Rejoice in Christ’s atoning sacrifice!

“What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
was all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but Thine the deadly pain.
O make me Thine forever!
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for Thee.” ~Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153

Lord, convict and cleanse me of sin, so I freely love and honor You.

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain…’ So Moses… rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,  keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.’  And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. And he said, ‘If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.’

“And he said, ‘Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.'” Exodus 34:1-2,4b-10

From the start, Moses had the blessed grace of the Lord’s protection and pursuing, and responded in gradually, consistently growing faith. Whenever the Lord revealed Himself, Moses bowed in reverence, and the more he knew of God, the more he wanted to know. For him, throughout his long life and in spite of brief spates of doubt and disobedience, to be conscious of God’s name and nature and presence was to worship. (Exodus 2:1-10; 3:1-6; 15:1-3; 24:3-5; 33:11-14,18-19)

If we know the Lord by faith in Jesus, we too have been pursued and welcomed into a relationship of increasing knowing. God reveals His mercy, patience, steadfast love and faithfulness in a myriad of ways in dealings with men and nations, through creation and history. The more we desire to know Him, the more we will seek His presence and look for His signature in His visible and invisible handiwork. Recognizing His majesty and might, we will bow before His worth and authority.

And the soul posture of worship will bear itself out in obedience, lofty thinking, manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, and reflection of His glory. Knowing the Lord changes us.

How determined are we to know Him, and to comprehend all His name contains? When are we deliberately spending time in the Lord’s presence to behold his perfect holy character, to thank Him for His graces and blessings, to seek to understand how He works and wants to work? And how do we respond? Is it our impulse to bow? May we never just check off a duty, but have our mindset, countenance, and attitude toward difficulties transformed by the pledge of His help, sovereignty, justice, and redemption.

Lord, may I ever strive to know You, and increasingly delight in and worship Your magnificent Name.

“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd…

“[Jesus] said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer… ‘ And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!..’

“While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?'” Luke 22:3-6,15,19-22,47-48

Judas, who had spent three years following and sharing fellowship with Jesus, broke faith with and betrayed Him, proving the crack in his own heart. Such deliberate rebellion, borne out in knowledgeable, insidious rejection, sealed his eternal fate. Representing fallen man who rejects the Savior, Judas refused the salve and forgiveness Jesus offered, even when confronted, and so died without hope.

Only the broken body of Christ makes the way for repair. The broken, perfect law of the Father foretold the broken, perfect body of the Son. He is moved to compassion by our lost estate, and gave His all to save us. He pledges a new heart when we receive His sacrifice by faith, redeeming the broken, making us a new creation. (Ezekiel 36:26; Matthew 9:36; 23:37; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

“No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.” ~Isaac Watts (1719)

Where have we broken faith with our Lord? Perhaps we have never understood the error of our proclivities nor had a broken heart over our heinous sin against Him. When will we get serious about listening to the Spirit’s conviction, and repent of our sins? (2 Samuel 12:13; Jeremiah 17:9)

Perhaps we have acknowledged Him in the past, and yet wearied or grown lazy in devotion. What have we allowed to chisel cracks in our faithfulness? Are there particular areas of idolatry, greed, temper, deception, bitterness, ingratitude, or impatience that have broken communion with Him? Look to His breaking heart, His broken body, and find forgiveness and healing!

“What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
was all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
look on me with Thy favor,
vouchsafe to me Thy grace.” ~St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Lord, break my heart with what breaks Yours, unto confession, forgiveness, and Your high praise.

“Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
    and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and health to the body…
A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends…
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:20-24,28,32

“Though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law… that I might win [them]… To those outside the law I became as one outside the law… that I might win [them]. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

The living, powerful Scriptures are full of people potent in speech and persuasion. Solomon’s instructions outline the prudence of thoughtfulness, discernment, graciousness, and honesty to add persuasiveness to speech, while Paul exemplifies them all. For the Christian, the Holy Spirit applies both teaching and role model in our spiritual development so we can match the art of loving persuasion with passion for the gospel to make an eternal difference. (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16)

Wisdom and good sense are the backbone of sturdy speech, while grace, sweetness, calm, and care do much to smooth the way for meaningful interactions with others. People might listen to a strong message, but they will be more apt to absorb what is said and consider its merit when they know they are understood. Once trust is established, the power in any spiritual persuasion comes from the Word itself, the Truth that opens eyes, breaks chains, and saves. Blessings shower down when people take hold and find the gospel to be their own. (John 4:7-15; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 4:20)

How committed am I to making the gospel known? Am I serious only about the facts of the matter, or do I make room in my heart for the people whom I address? Indeed, passion for Jesus must include a love and devotion to the people He came to save. If that is missing, if I care more about my message than those with whom I share it, something is wrong and must be confessed and corrected.

Do I trust the Lord and seek His opportunities to persuade? In what cases have I known His discernment and experienced His grace to and through me? With whom does my heart need more tenderness and compassion? How can my speech be more judicious and clear?

Lord, help me love whom and how You love, so the gospel is attractive and clearly communicated to all You place in my path, for eternal good and glory.