I often find myself "poor and needy" as I consider how to use the time that God has given to me. I don't want to labor for something that I don't have time for. There are so many practical and spiritual needs in the church and in the world.
I want to preach the gospel, write Christian literature and make edifying documentaries.
I want Christ to be formed within myself and within others that I fellowship with.
I want to buy more land, lot it out, build homes for brothers and sisters, orphans and widows.
I want to drill water wells for the poor who often only have filthy water to drink. I want to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
By the grace of God I am involved in these things and have begun and have established some of these works.
There are many needy souls that I am engaged with daily. There are so many good causes. There are so many worthy causes. But what I need is for the Spirit of God to lead me!
I am poor and needy Lord!
I feel that "time is too short" and that there aren't enough brothers and sisters united in Christ: that they are stitched together by religious politics rather than with the thread of the cross of Christ; that they are cut off from each other with the sword of variance rather than by the WORD OF GOD, and because there are so many unnecessary divisions I feel that we cannot "redeem" enough time in these evil days to bring forth the fruit God desires.
My heart within me is often torn and weeping. I am often crying and moved within my bowels.
I believe it is high time to focus on the weightier matters: Those things which are weighing heavily upon the heart of God from day to day.
God help me and all Your people, You know who they are, to be what you want us to be, where you want us to be, when you want us to be. We are Your people Lord! Forgive our complacency! Forgive our indifference! Forgive our pride! Forgive our independence! Forgive the grief we have caused You and others. Forgive our sins against You and against others! Humble us by Your grace and as we humble ourselves give us grace! Help us to guard our frail hearts of flesh from offenses and to be tenderhearted! Fill our hearts with grace and truth, the faith and love of JESUS! Help us to labor together, striving together, for the faith of the Gospel and to somehow "redeem the time" in these evil days (Ephesians 5). Give us the grace of devotion to You through the experience of Your presence and power at work in our inner part, so that we will not be distracted by the entertainments, amusements, and vain pleasures of this lifeless world! So that we will always live for what is eternal and for what is truly important in Your sight!
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“Reason dictates that persons who are truly noble and who love wisdom will honor and love only what is true. They will refuse to follow traditional viewpoints if those viewpoints are worthless...Instead, a person who genuinely loves truth must choose to do and speak what is true, even if he is threatened with death...I have not come to flatter you by this written petition, nor to impress you by my words. I have come to simply beg that you do not pass judgment until you have made an accurate and thorough investigation. Your investigation must be free of prejudice, hearsay, and any desire to please the superstitious crowds. As for us, we are convinced that you can inflict no lasting evil on us. We can only do it to ourselves by proving to be wicked people. You can kill us—but you cannot harm us.” From Justin Martyr's first apology 150 A.D. Martyred A.D. 160