2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, well equipped for every good work.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Most have a desire to be good and to be liked by others. We put on our masks, and some even tout their good deeds. However, the problem lies under the surface in our hearts; we have loveless thoughts of anger, greed, or other sinful desires; we become conflicted, wrestling with our portrayal image and sinful desires. We feel broken, and when we act on those desires, we become rattled with guilt and shame. Those who do not know you turn to many avenues to overcome what they do not know.
However, in Your Scripture, you tell us exactly why we have those thoughts and why we do the things we do. It is because of the sinful desires of our hearts; we are broken by sin! Our pride, vanity, and evil desires are from ourselves; our iniquities are because of us, our thoughts, words, and actions. You have given us Your Word inspired by Your Holy Spirit and written through Your selected writers. Your Word rebukes and corrects us to show us our sins so we know where this brokenness comes from because all have sinned.
Your Word not only gives us sin’s prognosis but also reveals the holy cure. You sent your one and only Son to take every one of our sins into himself, and he suffered our punishment upon the cross. Jesus died on the cross for us; then he rose from the dead, so we know all our sins have been forgiven. This gift is received by faith in Jesus; faith began by your Holy Spirit. Our reaction to Your mercy is the desire to love You and others as You have loved us; this is how You have equipped us with every good work.
So we pray for Jesus’ sake to forgive us and, through your Holy Spirit, remove our sins and strengthen our faith. Give us the courage to share the good news of your forgiveness, love, and mercy with those who do not know you. Please teach, rebuke, and correct them so they know their Savior. That by faith, they, too, will be equipped with your love for loving You and others. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
God’s word tells us that by faith and believing in Jesus Christ, you will be saved and have eternal life. He has made you good for Jesus’ sake; he has removed your every sin and perfected you by covering you in Christ’s righteousness.