"THEN THEY WILL...EARNESTLY SEEK ME"

"I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense.  Then they will seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me."  (Hosea 5:15)

If we can say that our Lord Jesus Christ has a "purpose" in any afflictions which come our way, we can say with certainty that His purpose is, "Then they will seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me."

"....Earnestly seek Me?"  Do we?  Just as in Ezekiel where He says at least 58 times, "....then they will know that I am the Lord", the glorious love of the Godhead for humanity is revealed.  

"Come to me, all you who are burdened and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  Oh, that you and I may never forget so great a love.  I pray that the world, in all, "....their affliction...will earnestly seek Me," our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for Your purposes.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

LOVE, BLAMELESS, HOLINESS

"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all...so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."  (1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13)

What I took particular note of in today's text is the connection between, "....love to one another..," and, "....blameless in holiness...."  I think it would be accurate to say that if we do not, "....increase and abound in love (which is doing loving things) to one another and to all...," there can be no, "blameless in holiness...."

The Bible is full of commands to walk in holiness, such as in Leviticus 19, "Be holy, for I Am holy."  I have felt for a long time, however, that there is more to holiness than just, "set apart." 1 Peter 1:2 tells us, "....elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."  

No matter what we may have heard about holiness over our life times, it is not just abstaining from things; it is doing things, as the Holy Spirit says in 1 Peter, "....for obedience."   

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for today's "revelation."  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

INSTEAD OF SAYING, "MY MINISTRY," SAY, "MY SERVICE"

"And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry (service) which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.'"  (Colossians 4:17)

"Service," is the best translation of the Greek word translated, "ministry." 

Too many people equate "ministry" only with the likes of preaching, teaching, missions, prophecy, singing, etc.  "Ministry," is, "service," not personal identity.  Every Follower of Jesus Christ may not preach, teach, sing, etc.  What we can do, however, is serve. 

If you think that you cannot say, "my ministry,"  try saying, "my service," instead, and you will find that you do have a ministry; we all do.  

Service is love manifested, love lived out for others.  Galatians 5:13 says, "For you, brethren have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."  

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray I be, "as one who serves," Your People, everyone. Amen.  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

OVER 365,000,000 FOLLOWERS OF JESUS AT RISK

"They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service."  (John 16:2)

When I was a young man, especially in my teen years, my "sheltered life" made it difficult for me to relate to many of the Psalms, and all passages which spoke of suffering.

Then at age 25 I read God's Smuggler and life began to change.  Over the years I personally met Followers of Jesus who had been in prison, beaten, watched by neighbor-informers, and had close relatives who had been killed for following Jesus.  Yes, and there are still 365,000,000+ people who are going through all of the above.

Two things:  First, I am thankful to live here in the United States of America where it is extremely rare that anyone is killed for being a Follower of Jesus.  Secondly, however, there is a call for you and me to do all we can to serve those who daily face the reality of our text.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for the millions of the Brethren who face death daily for Your Name.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2