Friday

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father

and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.”

~Matthew 28:19a~

Pray for Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell as she sees a doctor again today. She’s is feeling better than this time last week.

Mrs. Susie Wales is back at home. Thank God for her improvement.

Kyle Brabham will have some of his stitches removed today. Pray the doctor sees healing without any additional problems.

SRI LANKA. R is a national pastor who has been in the ministry for approximately 15 years. Within the past six months, he has become more passionate about the lost than ever before. He testifies, “I learned about evangelism in Bible school. I even taught evangelism. Now I am doing evangelism.” R says he has returned to his first love: He is waking every morning around 3:00 to pray and fellowship with His Savior. His passion is real, and it is igniting a fire in those around him. Recently R was able to lead his elderly grandmother to the Lord. Having been a very devout Buddhist, he had always thought, “She will never change.” But when he felt compelled to share his faith with her (remember he has been in the ministry for 15 years), she said, “So you’re telling me that what I need to do is pray to Jesus and accept Him?” “Yes,” was his reply–and she did! Praise the Lord! Pray that R will abide in Christ on a daily basis, bearing fruit and showing himself to be Christ’s disciple. Pray that his joy will be complete, that he will be able to love others as himself and hear clearly from the Spirit of truth (see John 15). Pray that R’s influence will lead other pastors to have a desire not only to build their own churches, but also to reach the lost with the gospel of Christ. http://www.go2southasia.org

RUSSIAN-SPEAKING MUSLIMS OF THE FORMER U.S.S.R. (RSMs). “This summer we have had the opportunity to teach a Business English class,” workers write. “Two nights a week we have approximately 15 people who come to take the class after work. This class will continue through the end of the year. Recently we were able to have all the students in our home for a meal and a game of dominoes, and we are planning a trip to the mountains together later this month. Pray that we will be able to build friendships and have opportunities to share the Good News. We know that three of the students are already believers. Pray for them, and also pray for the other students to be able to hear and understand the truth.”

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (DER-bun). “August 22-25 is the date for our Southeastern Africa Cluster Spiritual Retreat,” writes the Durban Urban Evangelism Team. “A volunteer team from California will help with the ministry in music and with the ministry to our MKs. Pray for all those involved, asking that the Lord will speak to us and that we will listen and obey.”

Today’s Devotional

 

Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers,

let them deny themselves

and take up their cross

and follow me.”

~Matthew 16:24 NRSV Bible~

 

There is a cost involved in being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I read sometime ago about William Hinson who tells about a breakfast he had with an individual who had a very prosperous business. The business leader recently had become a Christian. It did not take this businessperson long to discover how costly his decision would be. He said to his minister, “I have been engaged in price-fixing with some of my supposed competitors.” He went on to tell his pastor about rigging bids and how he and his friends profited from this scheme. The business leader said, “I cannot do that anymore, and I have told them I can’t do it. They say that if I squeal, they will get the law on me because they have proof of my past involvement. They tell me that if I drop out, they will put me out of business, too.” He decided to do what was right, and soon he went broke.

What would you have done? Take up a cross or work out a compromise? Be satisfied with being a generic Christian or would you become a disciple?

True discipleship always costs something.

Dear Jesus, help me to be willing to pay the price for being a faithful disciple of yours. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Ron Newhouse

Enjoy your Friday.

Anna Lee