19/07/2023 - REMINDING ME OF YOU

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Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers                                                                                    Ephesians 1.16

The examples left by Paul are extremely important. Being an ordinary citizen, he proved that he loved God, so he was used by Him to lead thousands of people to taste the new birth. When the apostle preached, one could see divine power in his words. Then the Lord worked, and many people stopped being religious and started practicing the Word. This servant had a purpose: change people’s lives.

Paul evangelized Ephesus in a time of difficulty, when many were suffering under the devil’s oppression, but this did not take away the apostle’s purpose to do the will of Jesus to the ends of the Earth, because, for this, he was always willing. Seeing that his example among the converts in that city was being imitated, Paul rejoiced in the Lord. The apostle did what he could to give everyone the good testimony. Now, he gave thanks to God for having given him so many children in the faith in that place!

I ask you with a heart eager to hear a good answer: what are you doing for your friends? Do you take the time to tell them about God’s will, or do you do nothing good for them? We must tell them what we have learned from Jesus. Friends are for these things! Allow yourself to be used by the Lord; otherwise, many will perish without knowing about eternal life. Paul said: I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise (Romans 1.14).

The city of Ephesus had a special place in the apostle’s life, for he paid a high price to preach the Gospel there, even facing extremely fierce opposition (read Acts 19). He himself referred to this, saying: If I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise? Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die (1 Corinthians 15.32). Now he does not cease to thank God for them, because, after all, he feels rewarded!

Every time you pray, do as Paul did: remember who you were until the Word was preached to you and enlightened your being. No doubt, the apostle spent a lot of time before God to receive the right message to minister to the people who were going to listen to him. His lips repeated the name of those he had led to Christ. Paul did this non-stop.

I thank the Lord for those I present to Him in prayer. Surely, God will strengthen me to continue to preach the good Word and cry out for the deliverance of the people. Something beautiful to see is the coming into the divine family of those who, previously taken by suffering, have been set free completely. It is wonderful to be used by the Lord to set Satan’s captives free and to bring the Good News that the afflicted can change their lives for the better. This will happen to you!

We are like parents to the lost. When we lead them to Christ, we can give them the blessing they need: For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you (Psalm 147.13). Be an adult in the faith; then you can beget children for the Most High and bless them always. You will be rewarded at Jesus’ return. The crown of righteousness is kept for you now, and He will give it to you on that Day!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares.