Love others by Professing the Goodness of God

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to hm, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, ‘Look, your son is alive!’ Then the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.’ ” (1 Kings 17:22-24)   
      Passage: Romans 8:35-39

         The Apostle Paul was certainly as close to God as Elijah, but he had a physical problem that God did not heal physically. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul described how he pleaded with God three times to heal him, with the three corresponding to the same fervency of Elijah over the child who had died. In Paul’s case, Jesus spoke to him and said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (v. 9) That truth helped Paul to understand and convey that the greatest thing God gives to His children is not removing us from a trial. It is giving us grace to go through a trial.
        God always answers prayer. Many times, He answers with a physical healing that comes with medications and surgery’s having their intended effect. Other times, he answers in ways that doctors can’t explain. Ultimately though, death is a certainty this side of heaven. The one thing God gives us as His children is His grace to go through whatever we face and be able to profess to the world that Jesus is Lord, heaven is our home and God is good. God is always at work and often, he opens doors of ministry through the hard times people face. Love people by being sensitive to their pain. Be present and give practical help. Pray fervently for God them and then look up and keep your eyes on Jesus. Profess His goodness and let him use you to help someone.

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)