I read Matthew 6 today and took comfort in what Jesus prays as part of the Lord’s Prayer. Verses 9-11 are the things that I have been praying for because of some events in my life recently. In the past few weeks, I’ve experienced the loss of friends as they have gone to join our Father in heaven. Here is what Matthew 6 says:
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.” – Matthew 6:9
I know that our Father loves me, and he promises me that I will be with Him forever. I look forward to spending each day on Earth with Him and to one day be with Him forever in heaven. Our Father has received some of my family and friends in the last few months, and I look forward to seeing them again in our Father’s presence.
“May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10
I know that one day we will all see our loved ones in eternity if they have given their lives to Christ. Eternity with the Lord is real to me and those I have served with for all these 40 years. The will of God for us is to be disciple-makers to all the nations and to all whom I cross paths with daily. Some we walk with for a long time, and others it is just a season. But we are to do the work every day that is assigned to us. Here at CSM, we have an incredible opportunity to serve with God’s churches and reach out to those lost and seeking to be brought into a new relationship with our Father. We love working with our local churches to see this done here on earth.
“Give us today the food we need” – Matthew 6:11
I love spending time with the Lord every day and get what is needed to accomplish His will and way in my life. His guidance is what lights the way for my daily living in ministry and life. He recently encouraged me about a tree planted by a river of water. The roots of this tree are fed every day by the water that never runs dry. These roots are deep but spread out to connect to the sources that give life to produce fruit. Our lives should produce fruit: the fruit that will be with our Father forever in eternity. This fruit is the lives we touch and with whom we share the love of the Father. We cannot produce fruit, however, if we are not connected to the life source. I needed this word today that is very personal but not private. It is available to all who will follow the life-giving tree of life.
The scriptures guide us into the way we are living our lives here on earth. The mission at CSM is to build these relational partnerships so that we are connected as One Church doing One mission which is to make disciples here on earth until the Kingdom comes for us all.
