Prayer for All Christians in their Vocations


Prayer for All Christians in their Vocations
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:  Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Three Rivers,
Today is Sunday, July 2.  I am in Lebanon, MO this morning.  I am not present with you, but I am surely praying for you.  My daily prayer routine has a section where I pray for the mission of the church - the church in general and TRF specifically.  The prayer above is part of that section.

God, in Christ, is ever spreading his reign and rule over this earth.  It's his after all; he's the creator.  And he chooses to spread the Kingdom through his followers.  That's where you come in and where this prayer comes in.  Jesus is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18) - he leads us and shapes our behavior (i.e. governs and sanctifies).  The request of the prayer is that you will be loyal and faithful to Jesus in whatever you do (i.e. in your vocation and ministry).  Paul encourages the Colossians in a similar way when he says:

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Col. 3:23-24).

I am praying for you this morning.  I am praying that as you gather at church this Sunday Jesus would lead you and shape you.  I pray for your behavior to change - that you might be more like Jesus.  I pray for a life that is visibly different and comparable better to be formed in you.  And I pray that Jesus takes you and puts you in your workplace, home, or school and uses you to draw others to himself.  Remember this prayer is about the mission of the church.  Your Christian character and behavior at home, work, and school is the mission of the church.

The last line of this prayer reminds us of our amazing God.  Jesus is God's only son and our Lord.  Jesus lives (i.e. was resurrected) and rules over all things.  He is King; he deserves our allegiance.  He is a good King; it is our greatest joy to serve him.

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