Pray for Others

Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

It’s scary to think of all the evils our loved ones will face in this sinful world. There are the devil’s temptations and the attractiveness of sin. There are the trials of sickness and death. There are the persecutions that come because of faith in Jesus. It’s scary to think of what our loved ones will have to face in this sinful world. What can we do? Here’s what Paul did: He prayed. He prayed for others.

What did he pray? He prayed that “our God may make you worthy of his calling.” From the rest of the Bible, it’s clear that being “worthy” of God’s calling isn’t a matter of doing the right things. It’s a matter of believing in Jesus as our Savior. Jesus made us worthy through his death on the cross. Paul prayed that God would give the people he loved more and more faith in Jesus.

Then he added, “that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.” How often do we want to do the right thing, but we don’t do it? All the time! What do we need? God’s power to do what is good. So Paul prayed that God would give the people he loved the strength to live lives full of good deeds.

Finally, he prayed “that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you.” That’s the goal of everything, isn’t it? Paul prayed that Jesus would be glorified through the lives of the people he loved.

Could you pray like that? Yes! Every time worry or anxiety enters your heart for people you love, pray. Pray for others that God make them worthy of heaven by faith, that God give them strength to live for him in our dark world, and that Jesus our Savior may be glorified through it all. There’s always something you can do: Pray for others.

Dear God, may you strengthen my loved ones in their faith in you. May you give them the power to live a life full of good deeds, and may all of us glorify Jesus our Savior. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Nathan