Fall Rally 2008 Devotion
Philippians 2
Begin devotion with singing or reading the first two verses of “Hark the Voice of Jesus Crying”
Dear Lord,
We begin a new biennium with an exciting and challenging task before us - by prayer and mites to help with the work of Your kingdom. We pray, O Lord, that the Holy Spirit would bless these ministries so all who are touched by them may come to know Your Son, Jesus, as their personal Lord and Savior.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen
In Philippians 2:1-2 we read: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
It’s easy for us to gather together to read and study God’s Word, and to celebrate our unity of faith through the Means of Grace and fellowship. But there are many peoples who have never heard of Jesus and His redeeming love for them. They hunger for joy, peace, and contentment; once they hear about Jesus, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, come to know Him as their Savior, they are willing to face ostracism, criticism, and punishment so they can share the love of Jesus with their family and friends. We have an opportunity through our mites and prayers to become “like minded” with these grant recipients: Materials for God’s Mission-Training Nationals in Cambodia Ablaze! and Christian Literature for China which provide visual and written resources for school age children and adults. Trinity/HOPE assists in the learning of Haitian children by the preparation and serving of a nutritional meal. We share in these ministries that provide academic help to these children and families, but even more importantly, as the missionaries tell of Jesus, many children and families come to “see Jesus” with the “eyes of their hearts(faith).”
Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
What if you couldn’t see to read a Bible, drive a car, or fix your supper? What if you had no home to go to? What if there was no Bible for you to read? Opening an Outreach Center in Denver, CO-Lutheran Blind Mission is striving to reach out to the unsighted that they might “see” God. Sighted helpers offer comfort, help, and the saving Word to those struggling in darkness. Recovery Assistance, Inc. is working with victims of Hurricane Katrina still without homes, to help repair or rebuild the homes, as well as, helping these recipients confirm and establish Christ as their “rock and chief cornerstone.” Computers for Bible Translation-Lutheran Bible Translators are always working to bring the Gospel of Christ in the language of the people. The computers purchased through our mites will enable this work, and through our prayers, we implore the Holy Spirit to bless these efforts so that many people see Jesus both through the words of their language and the “eyes” of faith. Uplifting Human Care/Parish Nurse Program, Immanuel, Loveland, CO is another opportunity to provide encouragement and nurturing through the physical and spiritual help of parish nurses who share medical help, as well as, words of encouragement and the love of Jesus to those in need.
Philippians 2:5-7 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross.”
Being a servant is not an easy job – yet, Jesus became a servant for us so that we might in turn serve others. We can’t all be pastors, but we can all share the Gospel through our mites and prayers, helping those called by God to be His servants in the pastoral ministry. Training Pastors, Kyrgyzstan, Ghana Seminary, and Project: Southern Africa Fund-RMD/LCMS are providing opportunity for men who are willing to be God’s servants to be trained and nurtured in the Word of God so they can share the news with others in their homeland of salvation through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Philippians 2:9-11, 12b-13 “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. …continue to work out your salvation in fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”
As we continue to ‘work out our salvation” not by earning our way to heaven through works, but by celebrating each day with praise and thanksgiving, our gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We pray through the power of the Holy Spirit that our faith be strengthened so that we live all our earthly lives in Christ. We can share in helping “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” through our mites and prayers for our mission grant recipients
Philippians 2:14-16 “Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of Life.”
Because of sin, there is much trauma in the world. Whether these catastrophic events are man-made or from nature, children of all ages need the help, encouragement, and support through thought (our prayers), Word (sharing the Gospel), and deed (providing a place of peace and safety or supplying some of the simple necessities of life). At Yearning Youth Yonder at Lutheran Valley Retreat young men are offered a chance to experience peace and joy as they hear the Gospel, celebrate God’s wonderful creation, and begin to live with Christ in their lives. Orphan Grain Train Colorado West Division provides clothing, furnishings, and food for people all over the world who are hungry in both body and soul.
Philippians 2:19,22 “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. But you know that Timothy has proved himself because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the Gospel.”
Just as Timothy helped Paul share the Gospel with many, many people, we help the children and families of Gambia through Education for Evangelism/Outreach in Gambia, Africa, learn about Jesus and His gift of salvation through their academic and spiritual education. Simple tools, such as providing tables and chairs for a classroom, will allow missionaries to share Jesus and His love with the school children and their families.
Philippians 2:29-30 “Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.”
Our support through prayer is needed daily to ask God’s blessings and protection for our missionaries, their work, and their families. Some missionaries work under extreme conditions that are dangerous to their health and/or safety.
Dear Lord,
We pray for the health and safety of all your servants who labor to share Jesus with those around them. Please bless the ministries of our grant recipients and with the help of the Holy Spirit, empower those who have never heard, to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Also bless the ministries of those not selected this biennium as grant recipients, open other avenues of support for them so that their ministries may continue.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen
Close by singing or reading verses 3 and 4 of Hark the Voice of Jesus Crying