“We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NLT)
In these opening words of his letter, Paul is remembering with fondness his relationship with his friends in Thessalonica. He’s reminding them that the essence of what keeps their relationship alive and fresh is the connection they have through prayer. Miles and time may separate them, but the Lord is as close to them as He is to Paul, so, their connection with the Lord binds them together.
On many levels that’s how I feel about you, those of you who faithfully read the words the Lord gives me. Though my body and mind are weakening, my spirit remains strong and assured that the Lord is with me and for me and will continue to walk patiently and persistently with me every step of my journey. My energy is on short supply these days, so I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to write, but as long as the Lord is speaking and I’m able to type, I’ll continue to keep the articles coming.
In the meantime, thank you for your prayers. Prayer is our lifeline, not only to the Lord, but to each other. Realizing my physical issues pale in comparison to those with which some of you are having to deal, I’m not seeking pity, only prayer. Pity is for those who don’t yet know Jesus, so we pity and pray for them.
The words of John Newton resonate with me when he wrote: “Although my memory’s fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” It’s ironic in some ways that the closer I seek to walk with the Lord, the more clearly I see my sin, shame, and unfitness to be His servant.
It’s all by grace. As Paul wrote: “your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ,” is all because of the grace and mercy of God. We’re not followers of Jesus because we’re anything, we’re clearly not. It’s all because of who Jesus is, what He did, it’s the price of our redemption He was willing to pay, that gives us opportunity and hope for a new beginning, a new life, and a new eternal hope of heaven.
Thank you for your faithfulness, your faithful efforts to forward the work of Christ Jesus, your strong desire to love well and to live well, and for your enduring hope given to you by Christ Himself. Your life and your efforts are not in vain. The Lord hears your prayers, loves your heart, and will respond in ways that will change hearts and lives to His glory forever.
As I scan the corridors of my memories, I see many things that bring deep regret and sadness. I’ve failed the Lord in so many regrettable ways, ways that have weighed on me in this season of my life. No doubt Paul encountered remembrances of his own failures as he recounted in 1 Timothy 1:15: “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ – and I am the worst of them all.”
There is a sense in which until we can see ourselves in a right perspective in our relationship with the Lord, we’ll never fully appreciate, not only who Jesus is, but what He did to save a sinner such as me (us). In whatever time we have left. Let us labor as unto the Lord for the souls of those whose lives we can influence positively for Him. As our memories fade, may our influence for Jesus continue to thrive.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 
Hang in there brother! God is with you through all of this. Soon, we will all be going home to be with Jesus forever, in our new Spirit bodies just like Jesus has. That day could be today, or it could be years from now. But that day is coming sooner than anyone realizes. Keep up the good fight and continue to take a stand for our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, our King forever. Steve
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