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A Prayer for Co-Laboring with God
By Laura Bailey
“I planted, Apollos watered, however God gave the expansion. So neither he who vegetation nor he who waters is something, however solely God who offers the expansion.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 ESV
A couple of months in the past, my center daughter accepted Christ, it was a day we’d prayed for since her beginning, and my husband and I had been past excited. We attend church usually, pray, learn the Bible as a household, and have quite a few godly influences. I wasn’t stunned when Abigail, my daughter, started asking questions on accepting Christ a couple of months earlier.
It began with a query on the way in which to high school about what an individual ought to pray to obtain salvation. Then it was a number of questions earlier than bedtime, with the ultimate pronouncement that “ Sure! I wish to settle for Jesus,” was exclaimed on the dinner desk.
Afterward, my husband and I prayed together with her, listening as she admitted her sin, requested for forgiveness, and introduced that she desired to be saved and for Christ to rule her life. We invited our pastor to return over and converse together with her in preparation for baptism within the following weeks. When our pastor left, he checked out my husband and stated, “ It’s apparent you might have spoken quite a few occasions in regards to the gospel, she is aware of it, and I’m assured she is a brand new sister in Christ!”
Strolling again inside, making an attempt to cover my annoyance, my husband requested what was flawed. I knew it shouldn’t have mattered that our pastor was simply speaking usually, with no slight to me, however I couldn’t assist however really feel resentful that he didn’t acknowledge my position in serving to lead my daughter to Christ. In any case, I spent hours at residence studying Bible tales, taking part in Sunday College, singing hymns, speaking about God within the automotive, and continually reminding my women of God’s grace and mercy in our lives. As quickly because the phrases left my lips, I wished to grab them from the air and toss them within the trash the place they belonged.
The reality was that whereas sure, my husband, our church, and members of the family all performed an element in encouraging Abigail to just accept Christ, it was solely by God’s grace that she obtained the reward of salvation. Whereas I may share the gospel with my daughter, I couldn’t open her coronary heart to obtain the message, nor may I save her; God is answerable for the center change leading to her salvation. Whereas we are able to’t save others, God, in His graciousness, invitations us to be co-laborers with him within the course of!
In our key verse, the church at Corinth was arguing about which chief they adopted within the church. In 1 Corinthians 3:6-10, Paul reminded the church that slightly than following folks, we’re referred to as to comply with God; he’s the one One worthy of our worship. Paul and Apollos had been each referred to as to minister to the Corinthians, God assigned them duties that differed based mostly on their skills, however the duty to share the gospel remained the identical. Paul, Apollos, and different leaders within the church had been equal in that they labored collectively to share and unfold the message of salvation.
Lest the leaders of the church fall prey to considering their roles are extra vital than others; Paul was fast to level out that solely God offers salvation and religious development. As believers, all of us have kingdom assignments that require planting the seeds of salvation within the lives of others. However let’s additionally humbly bear in mind who we serve. God, alone, deserves the glory when a sinner repents and accepts Christ.
Simply because the Lord graciously labored in my daughter’s coronary heart, He nonetheless works in mine. I responded to the twinge of conviction for my perspective and thanked God for permitting me to co-labor with Him. Could all of us work collectively to plant religious seeds, encourage different believers as they water, and pray that God will present development within the lives of the unbeliever.
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, thanks for loving us a lot that you simply made manner for us to have everlasting life by the sacrifice of your Son on the cross. Forgive us after we pridefully boast about our personal means as an alternative of at all times providing you with honor and glory. We pray for individuals who don’t know you as Lord and Savior. Could we joyfully serve to share the gospel and assist lead others to Christ.
In Jesus’ Identify, Amen.
Photograph credit score: ©Getty Photographs/fizkes
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