One of the questions we ask each week as we prepare our order of worship, choosing songs and scripture, is, “What sorts of hearts will our passage be addressing or confronting this week?” Fearful hearts? Idolatrous hearts? Weary hearts? Proud hearts? Numb hearts? Self-righteous hearts?
If you read our text for Sunday (Philippians 2:12-18), what sorts of hearts does Paul seem to be addressing when he says things like:
“As you have always obeyed, so now…”
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing”
“holding fast to the word of life”
It seems to me these all speak to our quitting hearts. The Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon, and it’s hard not to grow discouraged, weary, distracted, and weak. Praise God that our hope doesn’t ultimately rest on what we’re made of but with whom we are filled.
“It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (2:13).”
Erik Thoennes will be preaching this Sunday and Jeff Hubbard will be leading us in sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And would you read the passage for Sunday ahead of time and pray for our church?
Pray that God would call back our wandering hearts, strengthen our weary wills, and increase our zeal to run the race God has set before each one of us. And pray for Grace, that as we help one another to do this, we would “shine like lights in the world” as we hold fast to the word of life together.
Thank you, Grace. See you Sunday. Come hungry!
He Will Hold Me Fast (sung by Shane and Shane on Hymns Live)
When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast
Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast
For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight
When he comes at last
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast