Another year is about to conclude. For more than 100 years, this Reform Movement has upheld the gospel of Jesus Christ and the sinner’s need of sanctification before the people of God and the world. At the end of each year, the Week of Prayer readings are distributed internationally. Written by pastors, after much meditation and prayer with the hope of strengthening the faith of the flock of God, these collective articles address one common theme and goal.
In this Week of Prayer, we will read seven articles related to Peter’s Ladder of eight rounds mentioned in 2 Peter 1 :5-7. It is a spiritual ladder of sanctification which all must climb to reach heaven. Jesus is the ladder, and theeight rounds make reference to His holy virtues which He desires to see reflected in His saints and the elect. As every believer, by God’s grace, works on the plan of addition, climbing step by step up Peter’s ladder, God promises to compound the saints’ efforts by working on the plan of multiplication. He will multiply and bless every sincere effort to adopt the holy attributes enumerated by the Apostle Peter. A new and symmetrical character resembling Jesus Christ will be the result.
“Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to god li ness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 1:5-8.
‘”We must climb this ladder, round after round, remembering that God is above it, ready to help us in our efforts. We must live upon the plan of addition, and God has promised that He will multiply His grace to us. Then with earnestness and enthusiasm he added ‘Let us begin today to climb Peter’s ladder, never looking back.. .’II -The Signs of the Times, October 22, 1885.
“A new and symmetrical character may be formed by laying up one grace and good deed upon another, thus climbing Peter’s ladder of eight rounds in sanctification. A character thus built wil l be ha rmonious i n all its paths. Fa ith wi ll sustain works, forfaith works by love and purifies the soul-” -Signs ofthe Times, May6, 1880.
During the Week of Prayer, it is of utmost importance to gather at the church, i n homes, or virtual l y to read the articles contained herein. Moments should be set aside to stop, med itate, and comment about th e principles presented. Short prayers should be offered on behalf of God’s cause.
The last Sab bath of the Week of Prayer is a special day. It is a day of fasting and prayer. The arti cle schedu l ed for that Sabbath should be presented as a sermon du ring the divine service. A special offering shou l d be collected at the end of the sermon for the General Conference This offering is to expand the work of God worldwide. Each donor should place thei r f unds in an offeri ng envelope and annotate their favorite Bible verse on the back of the envelope. The deacons, chu rch elders, or pastors present should read those verses aloud. The treasurer should add up the sum of the offeri ngs col l ected and later report it to the local chu rch The offeri ngs received from the Week of Prayer constitute a very significant and meaningful portion of the tota l expendit u res of the church’s international mission expansion.
May God bless the readings, the prayers, and the meditation of His word as we enter a new year. May H is Spirit abundantly bless each one who participates in this holy endeavor.
-The Brothers and Sisters of the General Conference