Paraklesis
[‘encouragement’, ‘exhortation’, for life and ministry]
March 2024
Peter Adam
Dear friends,
I encourage you and invite you to shape every day, and to shape everyday thoughts and actions, by these simple and memorable words from Romans 11:36, the climax of Paul’s doxology.
‘From him … through him … for him … so glory to him.’
‘Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.’ [Romans 11:33-36]
Just reflect:
* This day is a gift from him, an undeserved gift of love and kindness; to be lived though him, his power, grace, and forgiveness; to be lived for him, serving him, pleasing him, honouring him: and so bringing glory to him.
* Your whole life comes from him, you live your life as a created being and as a believer through him and his sustaining power; God gave you your life so you could live for him, and enjoy him now and forever, and so bring glory to him.
* This ministry opportunity comes from him, you will do it through him and in his strength; and though it will benefit those you serve, ultimately you will do it for him, and he will use it for his glory.
* This daily task of human responsibility, not exciting, not challenging, just a job that have be done around the house, is given you from God, and you should do it through him, by his strength and power, and you should do it for him, and so for his glory.
* This pain or frustration is also ultimately from him for your good, as you serve him and love others. It comes from him, you can bear it through him, and do it for him. It is for his glory.
* This person in your life or ministry comes to you from God, and you can love and serve them by and through his power at work in you. Your main motive should be to love and serve them for God, for his glory.
* This humdrum task of ministry is an opportunity to be like the Lord Jesus, to serve as he served. It comes from God, you can do it through God’s strength, and it is dignified when you do it for God and his glory.
* This joy or pleasure from to you from God. It is precious in itself, but doubly precious as a personal gift to youfrom God. Enjoy it through him, and for him. If you do this, you will glorify God who gave you this gift!
Because:
All things come from God: so we should not fear, despair, complain, become disheartened, or lose our faith, hope, peace and joy.
We do all things through God; daily tasks and human creation duties, as well as every part of our gospel ministry. We can do nothing in our own power alone. It is God who sustains us, empowers us, strengthens us, and carries us.
We should do all things for God. We should live for God, love for God, serve for God, do ministry for God, and not just to serve ourselves, or to serve others. Those are inadequate motivations. We are created and saved for God, and so for God’s glory.
May I encourage and urge you to add meaning, dignity, joy, peace, comfort and perseverance to your daily life and ministry, by remembering, and by reminding yourself every time you turn to a new task: ‘From him … through him … for him … so glory to him.’
Try making this your daily motto. Use it in your daily prayers for yourself and your ministry. Encourage others to do the same. Write it on your daily planner, your fridge, your calendar and your computer!
This God is of course our gracious and loving heavenly Father, our glorious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth and holiness, who teaches us Christ, draws us to Christ, and who lives in us and God’s church.
Ask our God to remind all of us to live our lives from him, through him, for him, and for his glory!
With warmest greetings,
Yours,
