“Pray Without Ceasing” (1Thessalonians 5:17)

By Linzy

Notwithstanding, even those of us who have been believers since we can remember are still on a journey; a spiritual one that is most often excruciatingly long and slow. Therefore, we all naturally go astray even in believing; going years without daily prayer even though we are a saved child of God. However, daily prayer that is not solely born of routine, but heartfelt and meaningful, changes everything.

And that being the case, it is hardly presumptuous to assume that it’s at that moment when the revelation for the need of continual prayer hits, most of us experience a turning point. That glorious day we decide to commit ourselves to prayer is a pivotal and phenomenal one; the day spiritual growth blooms and a sweet-smelling aroma captures the attention of our LORD GOD.

For the immature believer, prayers of petition are key and bedtime prayers are pretty much it on a routine basis. However, although routine does enter into the continuum, it is beside the point, for our goal ought to be the new and exciting blossoming of our relationship with God through Christ. Like an open flower emits a sweetness like the calling card of nature, we have become hungry for constant, open communication with our Father in Heaven; to know and comprehend everything He has to say about our decisions, our joys and our sorrows. Suddenly, we crave Him in good times and bad, in need and in praise and thanksgiving, no matter what the occasion or circumstance; we find we are compelled to seek His Face.

Moreover, the prayer life of the spiritually mature brings God into every aspect of life; there are no longer any hidden places of the heart.

God does indeed call His children to Himself, but like any relationship there must be at least two and if we fail to do our part,

God is left talking to the back of our heads. It’s up to us to make certain that God is with us fully in everything we go through by bringing Him into it all: every problem, challenge, obstacle, worry, fear and decision, as well as every moment of rejoicing and thanksgiving.

Prior to this revelation of daily heartfelt prayer and a constant open door, we may find ourselves still feeling lost, tired and even

Immanuel Reformed Church

M-89 (500 East Main Street) & Wilson Avenue (57th Street) Post Office Box 434, Fennville, Michigan, 49408 Telephone: 1-616-283-1546

Outdoor Drive-In Worship Service

¼ mile North of Fennville on 58th Street.

June 11, 2023 - Lords Day 24 6:00PM

Special Music: John Taylor and Friends

Guest speaker: Jason Parks

A FREE WILL offering will be taken during the service. Gifts will be used to continue the Outdoor service.

If there is thunder and lightning or a Tornado warning at 5:00pm or it’s been raining ALL day the outdoor service will be cancelled.

Telephone: 616.283.1546 or 616.990.5976 bored with daily life and feel the dreaded meaninglessness, much like that of the unsaved, regardless of our salvation status. God is calling all of His children to seek Him and, thereby, grow in Him and He doesn’t require

All Welcome – Join us as we praise and thank God by worshipping with Him and His creation!

Do Something

By Jeff Munroe

Read: Matthew 25:14-30

anything other than our love and commitment to HIM.

To pray without ceasing means we are not ever really done talking to Him and we talk to Him about everything;

(Continued on page 9)

Enter into the joy of your master. (v. 21)

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 is one of the most often-used stewardship texts. I’ve heard of pastors who have given members of their congregation amounts of money and a limited time period to see what they can do for the kingdom of God with that money.

But there are problems with reading this parable exclusively as a financial lesson. To begin with, not everyone has that gift (or wants the burden) of making money. On top of that, making this parable solely about money opens it to misinterpretation. Is Jesus advising us to make risky investments? Buy stocks instead of bonds? Gamble?

These readings distort how parables work. For example, when Jesus told the parable of the sower, he wasn’t really talking about farming. In this case, Jesus isn’t really talking about investing: he’s talking about like. He’s saying do something with what you’ve been given, do something with the gospel that has been entrusted to you, do something with your life!

If we free this parable from only speaking about money, we see almost limitless possibilities for application. It can speak to topics as diverse as the care of our planet to the came of our most significant relationships. The message of Matthew 25 is much more than “invest wisely.” It’s live, love, work, and serve in such a way so that when you stand in front of your master one day, he says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Jeff Munroe is the editor of the Reformed Journal.

This devotional is reprinted by permission from Words of Hope. To receive Words of Hope’s daily meditation, and learn more about their international ministry, please visit woh.org.