Sunday, June 4
Top concern
Scripture: 1 Kings 15-16, Proverbs 13, Ephesians 6
Ephesians 6:19–20 Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak—that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.
Observation
The apostle Paul finishes this letter as he often does by asking for prayer. He asked for prayer that he would be given what to say in order to make known the gospel and to speak boldly. His top concern was his mission: to share the good news of Jesus and help others find and follow Him.
He wrote this as “an ambassador in chains.” He was in jail. If you were in jail and asking for prayer, what would you ask for? I would ask others to pray for my release. My concern would be me: my well-being, my freedom, my future.
This is another example of why Paul was such a stud! He is a model for Jesus-followers of putting Jesus first before self. I want to be more like him.
Application
At the top of my daily to-do list I write “JOY”. It stands for “Jesus-Others-You” which is how I want to prioritize and live my life. I wish I did it. But often I live me-first. Paul lived Jesus-first. I want to do the same.
I want to be on mission today. Whomever I am with, I want my top concern to be sharing the good news of Jesus and helping the person in front of me find and follow Him.
Prayer: Lord, I love You and I want that to be reflected in the priority of my life. Like Paul, I want my top concern to be Your mission: helping others find and follow You.