2024 08 04

Psalm 11:3 New King James Version
3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?
Free translation: What is a good person to do when things fall apart?
     The answer comes in the next verse: "The LORD is in his holy temple." We need to keep remembering that.

Ephesians 4:1-16 New King James Version

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
     Jesus, from a prison cell we hear you calling us to unity in your Spirit.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
     Holy Trinity, you are one; help us maintain unity in your Spirit.

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
     Father, thank you for your grace - free grace and unending love.

8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
     Holy Spirit, you have made my heart captive to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
     Jesus, help me use the gifts and calling you gave me to build up your Body, the Church.

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
     Father, please help me to remain childlike in my faith yet growing in maturity.

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
     LORD, let my speech help knit the Body, your Church, together in one. Thank you.

A Word Received: Strive to enter my rest. (See Hebrews 4:11)

Albany Intercessor