Faith in Action

Introduction

Good morning. Do you open your Bibles with me to Matthew chapter 10? That was the reading at the beginning of worship this morning, Matthew chapter 10. In verse 27, Jesus has a powerful word of warning for the apostles, and what we might call in Matthew chapter 10, the limited commission, where the disciples of Jesus would go out and preach the good news, we might say, in its form, its fashion at the time, and they would teach it to the Jews. And yet Jesus was worried, and the text that we won’t cover this morning, beginning in verse 16 on down, is that they would be persecuted. Verse 23 says it well in Matthew chapter 10. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. For truly I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Now in verse 26, he gets more to the point. So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the house tops. Do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny, and not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father? But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.

But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Now, verses 32 and 33 are very clear and very strong passages. We must confess Jesus. We must not deny him. But it’s more than just a verbal affirmation of do I believe, will I confess that Jesus is the Christ? Do I live out that confession? Will I be unwavering in my service? I apologize this morning, and we apologize, especially to those of you who are visiting. One of our air conditioning units are out. This was not staged, but it does go really well because this morning we’re going to see faith in action with characters in the Bible story called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they come up against, yes, you guessed it, the fiery furnace.

So we want to give you just a little bit of taste of that. If you didn’t think that was funny, strap in, because that’s as good as it gets. In Daniel chapter 3, we see this faith in action. In Daniel chapter 3, as you think about Old Testament history, and you think about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, if you’re familiar with the story, you recognize these are heroes of faith. These are men who stood the test. They were willing to confess God. They were not willing to deny him, even in the face of the utmost trial, the most difficult temptation. But in Daniel chapter 3, we find these young men, the choice of the Hebrews, you might say, who had gone over to Babylon in Babylonian captivity from Judah around maybe 605, 606 BC.

And while we know Daniel and his impact on the court in chapter 1, in chapter 2, Daniel interprets this ever important dream of King Nebuchadnezzar. You may remember Nebuchadnezzar had this dream of this great statue where the head was of gold and the middle silver, and then third bronze, and then iron, and even the toes with iron and clay. And Daniel interprets him that these were kingdoms of men, but they would be broken and they would stand only by who? Verses 44 and 45 of Daniel chapter 2 tell us. And in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.

Just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure. It’s interesting that in the following verses in Daniel chapter two, King Nebuchadnezzar is said in verse 46 to have fallen on his face, paying homage to Daniel, and commanding that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, Truly your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery. And you think this is an amazing moment.

King Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, great, big, bad, powerful Babylon, was led by a king who recognized the God of the Jews as the God of gods, and certainly the king of kings. But in chapter three we see that that didn’t quite turn out the way you would expect.

Then the Satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and the herald proclaimed aloud, You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music. You are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Now, this is a powerful story in vanity, in pride, certainly in making yourself your own God. And yet that’s not the point of the story. There’s a problem, not just for the people of Babylon, who are having to bow down to an idol, to a man, whichever you prefer, both are in violation of God’s will for his people, and they displace God from the place of priority and preeminence in our lives. But the other problem is it’s not just about Daniel, but these men named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are living in Babylon. They are there, and this is a problem because what has to happen every time all kinds of the music were played, they were to do what? All the peoples, all the nations, all the languages were to bow down to this statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected.

Now, by the way, we don’t really speak in cubits too often unless we’re thinking about the ark and Noah’s construction of it in Genesis chapter 6. But this is really about a 90 foot statue that’s been placed up. This is intimidating. This is powerful, not just because of the statue and its height and its tremendous value, but because this is an order from King Babylon, the known conqueror of the local world. This would be a powerful sign to the people that King Nebuchadnezzar was in charge and worthy of this worship. Except the problem for the Jews was they have the God already. And that God is a jealous God. And by the way, that God is our God. So let’s see how they have to respond.

In verse 8, therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever. You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image. Whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning, fiery furnace. Now there are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O King, pay no attention to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Now you can see this coming from a mile away.

1. Their Faith Made Them Different From the World

In verse 8, they come to maliciously accuse the Jews, and here are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being the faithful followers of God that they were. They would not bow down to this idol. They would not bow down to this man. And we know that story. But consider a few applications with me this morning. First of all, we see here their faith made them marked and different from the world. I want to know if we have the type of faith that’s willing to confess Christ in our lives. The faith that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had in their God, in their deliverer, and who was their savior. We see in Daniel chapter 3 and verse 9 that these Chaldeans came to King Nebuchadnezzar and they fired him. O king, live forever.

Oh, you are the best king. In verse 11, you made this decree that whoever does not fall down and worship, guess what the punishment is? You said they must be cast into the fiery furnace. And in verse 12, there are certain Jews whom you have appointed, whom you stuck up for, who you gave power and ability. And they’re not bowing down to you. They’re not worshiping you. What are you going to do about these men? They do not serve you. They do not serve the gods that you have set up. They do not worship the gods that you have set up. This is a problem for you, O great King Nebuchadnezzar. The point was they were known for their faith. Modern day wisdom kind of says in America, you know what, live and let live, right?

Don’t push the envelope. We work in various corporate structures that really press down on talking about God and you have to make your decision on how to handle that. And in the school, they really press down on how you can communicate about God, even to the point of banning Bibles in various places and in various ways. And yet Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not make it a secret. It doesn’t show them in Daniel chapter 3 crying out, saying, Everybody stop, everybody knock it off. And yet they were known because they were different. They didn’t do what everybody else did. Did you notice time and again who was to bow down and who did bow down? In verse 4, you see who was commanded? Peoples, nations, and languages.

2. Their Faith Gave Them Great Boldness

In verse 10, when Nebuchadnezzar is being reminded of his decree, it was the peoples, nations, and languages. And of course, in verse 7, we see who was it that did bow down? All the peoples, nations, and languages. That’s in the text three times for a reason. We see that this is the community that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were a part of. But they were known for their faith. They didn’t stop, they didn’t think about their position. They simply did what was right, no matter the cost. And we see that coming next. They were bold. Their faith gave them great boldness. In verse 13, Nebuchadnezzar sat in furious rage, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?

Now, if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music to fall down and worship the image that I have made well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace, and who is the God who will deliver you out of my hands. Now I’ve got to say, this story is really easy to listen to in 21st century America, isn’t it? When Nebuchadnezzar sets them in front of the fiery furnace, and we know two important things. First of all, we know that they survive. So regardless of your faith level, you know, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when their faith is in action, their faith made them not just different from the world, not just bold, but it made them survive, even when King Nebuchadnezzar throws them in.

3. But If Not

So that makes the story a little bit harder to connect with. But the other thing that we know is we know our God is great. We know our God is powerful. In just a moment, though, consider if you would respond like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would. We commend them for their faith, and we say, wow, they are bold. They’re standing at the doorstep of the fiery furnace, and they tell King Nebuchadnezzar, just let us in. I have to say, if I think about the Old Testament and I think about the New Testament God, I do believe God can deliver us. I do believe that God would deliver his servants if it is his will. But consider the response in verses 16 and 17. It’s not just our God will deliver us, we will be spared.

They had a greater faith than that. Their faith was not dependent in a God who did exactly what they thought in the timing in which they construed. Look in verse 16 and 17 with me. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But if not, be it known to you, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. I think this is really powerful. Because it’s one thing, and it’s bold in verse 17 to say, our God will deliver us.

You’re asking, who’s going to deliver me? Our God, whom we serve will deliver me. But that’s not where the story ends. Did you see in verse 18 what was the response? But even if not, even if our God does not deliver us, we will not bow down and worship your image. I gotta say, they understand something. Their faith has shaped them in a powerful way that I don’t know that I always possess. Perhaps you’re tempted as I am to consider all these great Old Testament stories and examples of where God has shown his power, whether it’s the separating of the Red Sea or the bringing it back down on the Egyptian shoulders, whether it’s before that with the ten plagues, whether it’s even before that with allowing Abraham and Sarah to have a son at such an old age, you name it, our God has done it.

You name the God, our God is greater and is living, unlike the fake idol gods of times past. But when you think about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s answer in verse 18, I gotta tell you, who would among us would say, but if not, if our God doesn’t serve me, doesn’t deliver me, doesn’t make his way known to me, I’m still gonna go forward. I will still step into your fiery furnace. Because that’s what they’re choosing. This was not a choice of some sort of verbal semantics. They weren’t getting out of it. They didn’t dodge the issue. And you know what man says about this? Man would say, why would Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have to weigh such a good position? They could do far more good for the Jews and for God’s purpose if they were alive and high ranking than if they were just dead.

With this one time of bowing down before a suddenly kind of reasonable King Nebuchadnezzar, who gives them a second chance, who says, if you’ll just bow down here, if you’ll just bow down now, I’ll let you go. You can retain your position. You can take can you can maintain your citizenship. Man says, why not just do it this one time? You can do far more good for God doing that than submitting and being put to death for your faith. They understood something bigger than we do. They understand what it means to truly have your faith tested to the point of giving your life. Philippians chapter 1 and verse 21, Paul says, For me to live is Christ, and to die is gained. And we understand what that means.

4. Everyone Who Acknowledges Me Before Men

To me to live is Christ, I’m gonna dedicate my whole being, my whole purpose to serving Jesus, doing his will, teaching his life, teaching his death, teaching his resurrection. And we know to die is gained because he can be with God because living what it means to be a follower of Jesus. But we don’t actually face that. Time and again in this country, we are uniquely blessed by God with the understanding that I can proclaim my faith and I might get fired, I might be a little bit malign, but I won’t die for my faith. Allow me to make two quick points about that this morning. First of all, while that is a privilege we enjoy in this country that we should be thankful to God for every single day.

The rest of the world is not afforded that luxury. Overseas, Christians are dying time and again for being Christians, for not submitting to some fake, some awful, some imposter of a God. Christians are dying because they believe in Jesus and they will not turn their back on him. They will not deny him, but they confess that Jesus is the Christ. So we should be thankful and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are overseas, who are not afforded the same luxuries that we are. But also, can I point out that we cannot let ourselves be drowned or cushioned in luxury to the point where we don’t confess Jesus actively as we should? In Matthew chapter 10, if you’ll turn there, turn back there with me.

In Matthew chapter 10, note that Jesus gave the disciples two different options, you might say. As they were to go out on this limited commission, not only were they to expect persecution, but they really only had two options beginning in verse 32. Jesus says, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven. Great, got that. Easy. Verse 33, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Okay, got that. That’s easy. But what about us? Don’t we kind of like to sit right in the middle of the road? We’ll teach it to people who aren’t going to persecute us. We’ll talk about Jesus to other Christians or people who are believers in some sort of God.

But we remain mysteriously quiet when it might put us in jeopardy, when it might jeopardize a friendship, a family relationship. Jesus is very clear in verse 32. Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father. I have to ask myself, do I acknowledge Jesus before men? Am I bold in my faith? Am I different from the world to where people even asked or recognized that there’s a difference? And thirdly, to the point of what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood, and Daniel from other instances in the book of Daniel, do I understand that God operates in a bigger picture on a bigger scope than in my life and in my problem? Because if I have the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, if I have a faith that is true, that is strong, that is living and active, then my faith will stand no matter the trial because I know God is there.

5. God Is Good All the Time

If I am struggling, God is there. If I am flourishing, God is there. God is good all the time. One time I injured my foot and I was on crutches. Some of you may have remembered that actually, even. And as I was, as I was going to doctors and receiving different messages, it was both encouraging and discouraging as I would shockingly not do what they say, and my foot wouldn’t heal the way it should, surprising as that would be. And then when I finally stayed off of it, and I was told I didn’t have to be on crutches anymore, that was a great moment. It’s powerful, it’s awesome, and I was excited. And a professor of mine had a good point to me, a professor who happened to be a preacher of the gospel, and he said, just so you know, God is good all the time.

Not just when he does the good things, the things that make us say God is good. God is good even when your foot was hurt. God is good when your foot was healed. Our God is good all the time. We think about God and we think about the blessings of Him, and often we’re pretty good about thanking Him, although I think we could always do better. But do we understand what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did in verse 18, to be willing to say, to have the true mindset that says, But if not, if God doesn’t deliver me from this trial, if this burden, if this weight on me is not just mysteriously and miraculously vanished from my life, if, like Paul, my thorn in the flesh remains, God is still God, and God is still good.

The faith that God demands, the faith that Christ had, the submission that Jesus practiced into the will of his Father, is one that says, I will always do what God says, I will not compromise. And do you know when we find out whether or not we have that faith? It’s not just to be different from the world, although that’s a marker. It’s not just that we will have boldness, although that’s a marker. It’s not just that we understand. It’s that we will do things in the moments of crisis that show our faith. It’s easy to be a Christian on Sunday morning at nine o’clock, at 10 o’clock, 11 o’clock, and to be with other Christians and think about how wonderful it is. And I’m so happy to have many of our campers back who were in a camp that was among many Christians, both in leadership and among the teenagers themselves, and that’s great, and that’s awesome.

But where is our faith? Where is our trust in God when I’m hurting? Where is my faith in God when my family is hurting? When I get that scary diagnosis from the doctor. When I get laid off from my job. When my life seems unfair. Is God good? Yes, always. But do I know that? I will know if I do, if I act like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. If I trust God, if I submit to his will, no matter what. The beauty is it’s not just something we have to sit back and say, do it and just kind of hope for the best. Just keep grinding and you’ll get through it. It’s not that way because our God is good. He is there for us. God wants to be our refuge, and if we trust in him, our God will make us victorious with him.

And Daniel chapter 3, continuing the reading in verse 20 and 19, even. Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his faith was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was urgent, and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. And he declared to his counselors, did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king. He answered and said, But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt. And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace. He declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire, and the Satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men.

The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. This was a miracle at the highest level. God had delivered his people. Verse 29, continuing, therefore I make a decree. Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their house is laid in ruins, for there is no other God who is able to rescue in this way. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had a very important turn, and it happened in the verse we skipped over in verse 28. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him and set aside the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any God except their own God.

This is a powerful example of our good God and a moment of triumph. But I have to ask, could it be said of us what King Nebuchadnezzar said of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in verse 28, have I yielded my body to God’s will? It’s very easy, like I said, to be a Christian, to be a follower of God, and to yield up my body when other Christians are around. But when it’s hard, when it’s tough, do I truly trust God? It’s not just about this moment where it’s easy. I say it time and again, it’s when it’s hard, when I am faced with my trial, my fiery furnace, will I walk in, knowing that my God can deliver me. And even if not in this life, I will be victorious because I have trusted in my good, powerful, awesome God.

6. The Victory That Comes With Submitting to God

It’s a blessing to be a Christian. It is amazing honor to be named among those who are God’s children. In Hebrews chapter 11, you see some more faith in action. I hope you’ll turn there with me as we begin to bring the lesson to a close. In Hebrews chapter 11, beginning the reading in verse 23. Consider the victory that comes with submitting to God in total faith, in total trust, and how it makes you different from the world, how it makes you bold in a face of weakness for many. How it helps us understand how God truly works and how we will be victorious regardless of the earthly circumstance. In verse 23 of Hebrews chapter 11, you see one of the greatest examples of foregoing the good of this life, for the great that comes from God.

In Hebrews 11 and verse 23, by faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they saw the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith, Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured a seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

What did Moses give up in verse 24? To be called Pharaoh’s daughter, to be raised in verse 25, enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. And verse 26, moreover, to the point, Moses chose the reproach of Christ rather than the treasures of Egypt. Isn’t that powerful? Isn’t that amazing? Moses chose reproach over riches. Is my faith there? It’s not just about trusting in God, it’s not just about being delivered from a tough circumstance. Is my faith that which transcends all of my earthly desires, all of my passions? Because if it does, my time will reflect that. The way I think about others will reflect that. I will thank Jesus first. Others first, myself, distant and last, because I will have yielded my body to God’s service and complete humble submission to him.

But it doesn’t stop there, beginning in verse 32. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. This is powerful. This is our victorious God. You see that. You have the wisdom in the conquering of kingdoms, the enforced justice, the promises, the stopping the mouth of the lions. This is what our victorious God does. We have faith in that God, but there’s another part of having faith in God too.

And Hebrews 11 doesn’t stop with just what we called those earthly victories. Continue the reading with me in the middle of verse 35. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn into. They were killed with the sword. They went about in sins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated, of whom the world was not worthy, wandering about in deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. Our God is their God too. Yes, our God is powerful, and even in the book of Daniel that we’ve read so thoroughly from this morning in chapter 3, it was where God stopped the mouths of the lions to spare his servant Daniel.

Yes, God allowed his people Israel to conquer kingdoms.

That’s a great God that we believe in. But also these individuals who were left destitute, who were killed, imprisoned, sawn into, our God was there too. So where was God? Why is he so victorious in the beginning accounts of Hebrews 11? But seemingly not so now. Because the victory that God offers isn’t temporal. It can be. The blessings that God wants us Christians to enjoy are not merely temporal, although they can be. God wants us to be with him forever. He wants us to cling to him, to trust in him, to have a faith that pushes us to action. If we have a trust in God that says, no matter what happens, I will trust in you. We will not only make it through this life, we will make through to a better life.

Conclusion

That’s what they were living for in verse 39 and 40. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised. Since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. The truth was all of these, not just those who were tortured or killed. All of these in verse 39, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised. Because what was promised to Gideon, to David, to Moses, to Shadrach, Meshach, and Bedanego and Daniel was not about earthly release at all. It was that we do God’s will no matter what, at every turn, regardless of how many people are there, how high ranking they are, and how great our current job is. We will trust and obey in our great God, because with God, faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

Will you go to God in prayer with me? Our dear God and most gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we thank you for blessing us with a wonderful day in which we can come and worship you. We’re so thankful to you for having this ability and this time and the freedoms in this country to worship you without worry, without fear of being put to death simply for acknowledging your name, of teaching your will. We pray that you help us always enjoy these freedoms, but even if they are taken from us, that we, like the apostles, will speak with boldness, that we will not stop, that we trust and know that we must obey God rather than men. Help us to be different from the world as we strive to submit to your will.

Help us to be bold in keeping your commandments and statutes. Help us to understand the big picture of life that makes us realize that this life is not worth it. This isn’t what we’re living for. But we’re living to please you so that we may one day be with you, having the true just rewards of being faithful in your sight. Help us to trust in you for the victory. Thank you for being a God who seeks our troubles and our cares, who wants us to reach out to you in prayer. Help us to always take advantage of what you’ve offered us. And most of all, dear Lord, we’re thankful for you for offering Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Please forgive us of when we have trespassed your law.

Help us to be forgiving to others. Envelop us always in your love and mercy. And we pray all these things in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.