Author: dennisconrad

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Wisdom Prayer

Reach Out to Strangers?

Reach Out to Strangers?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who know they are members of the household of God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When was the last time you saw a movie or television show about the Old West?

A common plot is when a stranger comes to town, and the town’s people are suspicious. Some locals question the new person’s character while others express misgivings about accepting the new arrival.

Some parts of the country remain like the Old West. Many people are leery about associating with strangers.

Ever felt like a stranger? Fear not. The words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:19 (ESV) are comforting for believers:

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

I know a man who coordinates a food giveaway program. Unlike the suspicious townspeople, he embraces strangers and is open to helping anyone. Through his words and actions he introduces unbelievers to the love of his savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Believers: Remember you are part of the household of God. Reach out to strangers.

Share about Jesus.

Tell me what you think below.

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Wisdom Prayer

Eternal Life?

Eternal Life?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who know God gave us eternal life in his Son. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Some of the ways other religions describe what happens upon death include “to be reincarnated” or “to reach nirvana.” But for believers and followers of Jesus, there is a different testimony.

It appears in 1 John 5:11 (ESV):
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

Eternal life is God’s gift for believers, and it is not the same as that offered by Eastern religions.

False gods are not Christ’s equal.

Remember what was said in John 14:6 (ESV):
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Think of it – Eternal Life!

Let me know what you think below.

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Wisdom Prayer

A Royal Priesthood?

A Royal Priesthood?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who know they are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for his own possession. In Jesus’ name, amen.

It is hard to believe how highly God regards those who believe and follow Jesus.

Not everyone believes or follows, but those who do have a special relationship. This relationship goes both ways. We have a very high standard to live up to as it is described in 1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV):

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

We should be acting as a chosen race – and more! Realize the concluding verse of this section of Scripture deals with mercy. Asking God to have mercy on us is great. But this verse tells us: “You have received mercy.” Taken together, these two verses are good news indeed. Praise God!

Tell me what you think below.

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Wisdom Prayer

Earn Favor from God?

Earn Favor from God?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who realize they are saved through faith and not as a result of good works. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Many religions require their adherents to complete tasks in order to earn their way into heave. Martin Luther had a religious epiphany. It changer his perspective from a works-oriented theology to one focused on grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) is clear about how people are saved, and it has nothing to do with doing good works to earn God’s favor:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Ephesians 2:10 continues:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Grateful for salvation, believers are motivated to work for God. Do not try to earn God’s favor by working hard. Work as unto the Lord, so he gets the glory.

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Wisdom Prayer

Saved by Grace?

Saved by Grace?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who were dead in their trespasses and sins, but God being rich in mercy showed the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward them in Christ Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Ephesians 2:2-7 details the depravity of man, and then describes what happens to those who believe.

Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV) describes sinful man:

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV) addresses how knowing Christ and receiving God’s grace changes everything:

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

What a difference there is in a person’s life before knowing Christ compared to after knowing Christ!

Are you a believer? If not, I want to invite you to take action to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

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The 2021 Olympic Games

The 2021 Olympic Games

The 2021 Olympic Games

This week and next, the summer Olympic games are being held in Tokyo, Japan.

There was great fanfare the night of the opening ceremony as the host country welcomed the athletes from around the world. The raising of the Olympic flag, the singing of the Olympic hymn, and the lighting of the Olympic flame stirred the emotions.

As the competition began, the tension and the drama heightened. Personal profiles of the participants gave viewers a chance to get to know the athletes. Long-time rivalries between individuals and countries were revealed in beautifully filmed and edited highlight reels taking us up close and personal.

Fancy camera work made it possible for the audience to experience the competitors’ thrill of victory or the agony of their defeat.

When my wife, Diane, was a young girl, she created a scrapbook to celebrate the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy. Years later, she had a personal connection to the games. She was teaching at Whittier Christian High School when one of her students, Jenna Leigh Johnson, competed in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Diane attended one of her semi-final swimming heats. Jenna went on to win two gold medals for her participation in the 4×100 meter Freestyle Relay and the 4×100 meter Medley Relay, and a silver medal in the 100 meter Butterfly.

I urge you to reflect the next few weeks as the spectacle of the Olympics unfolds. Think about athletic completion, and remember what the Apostle Paul said about runners running the race in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV):

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Wherever you are on your faith journey: Keep fit! Don’t give up!

Closing ceremonies are scheduled for Sunday, August 8th. My wife and I plan to watch.

Later this summer, stay tuned for more athletic competition from Tokyo as televised coverage of the Paralympic Games begins August 24th. Those games end September 5th.

Blessings to you and yours,

Dennis C.

Please Join me every day as we pray for wisdom by taking part in the Wisdom Prayer Challenge.