“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Though often hidden from our eyes during this life, God is, in all things, working for the eternal welfare of those called to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ — for the good of those who, as a fruit of their faith in Christ, love God.
Grant me faith, O God, to believe that You are working for my good in all things, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
[Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:19-20
Jesus and His teaching are a bright and shining light in this dark and sinful world. His Word reveals our utter sinfulness and the only way of salvation — through repentance and faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross — but people prefer to avoid the light because they do not want their sinful way of life to be exposed and reproved.
Dear Lord Jesus, grant that I let the light of Your Word shine upon my soul and reveal my sinfulness that I might be moved to repent and look to You and Your cross in faith for pardon and forgiveness and then walk in the light of Your Word. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18
How can we be forgiven and righteous before God? How can we have eternal life? Through faith in Jesus Christ — Period. Those who trust in Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross have God’s pardon and forgiveness. Those who do not believe stand condemned already because, apart from faith in Christ, there is no forgiveness, and there is no eternal life!
O gracious God, grant me faith in Christ Jesus that I might have Your pardon, forgiveness, and life eternal. Amen.
[Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17
God sent His Son into the world as a man, not to condemn mankind but to make atonement for the sins of all by His innocent sufferings and death on the cross so that we might look to Him in faith and be spared when He returns in judgment on the Last Day. We, too, bear witness to Christ Jesus, not to condemn the people of this world but to point all to Christ and His cross so that they might be saved.
O gracious God, thank You for sending Your Son to redeem us. Grant that we believe and take comfort in the Gospel so that we might be saved and have life without end. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
Because of our sinful nature, we don’t know and understand our real needs — what is good for us and what is not. How comforting it is to know that the Spirit of God, who dwells in the hearts of God’s children (cf. Gal. 3:26-27), is interceding for them in accord with the will of God — asking for those things which are for our eternal well-being!
O Holy Spirit, thank you for interceding on my behalf and asking for and seeking those things that are for my eternal good. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
