Maybe You And I Should More, "Look At The Birds"

"Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.  I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war."  (Psalm 120:6 & 7, NIV)

I read Psalms 116-120 this morning.  The text speaks of the hatred ruling among men and nations.  Then I looked out of our door window.

I saw a Mallard Duck sitting in the neighbor's yard.  Okay, nothing unusual, right?  Well, about a half hour went by and there he was, in the same exact position.  Ducks around here just don't do that.  A lot more time went by; still not moving.  The first thought was that he was injured somehow and could very well be predator soup.  I began to feel increasingly bad for him.  I uttered some non-intercessor- type of prayer, and the little guy got up.  Then he started walking in my direction.  Then he crossed the street.  Then he starting walking up our yard, then on the sidewalk, then right to our steps.  It looked as though for a moment he was going to come up the steps.  I was talking to him, moving around, and he seemed like he was saying, "No fear of you here.  How's your day?  You know the Lord God gave you dominion over us.  Let's enjoy this moment."

....maybe not.  But can I tell you the joy to see that little guy, who I thought was perhaps a "goner," get up and walk right toward me, almost right up to me?  The line of the song comes to me from time to time when I see children, when I see a "beast" such as my duck friend, "Bless the beasts and the children," the simple, innocent things of  life.  I have had dogs come to me like that, but never a "wild" animal.  It was most unique.  Now I had a great devotional this morning, but I have ended up writing this to you.  Why has today's "incident" meant so much to me?  I don't know, and I'm not going to attempt to figure it out.

While the world around us is making less and less "sense," killing, hating, warring, there is Mr. Duck, just walking up to me, no worries and saying to me, "Relax, your Lord Jesus has you in the Palm of His Hand; O, and me too."  Now what is that our Lord Jesus tells us?  "Look at the birds...; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns (or the stock market, or 401ks) and yet Your Heavenly Father feeds them....Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to you life"?  Do you really want me to answer this for you?

Father, in Jesus' Name, what a wonderful little gift you gave to me today.  Help me to never despise such.  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

"In One Hour" It Will All Be Over

"And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city (Jerusalem) is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed....Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!  For in one hour your judgment has come."  (Ezra 4:15 & Revelation 18:10b, from one of today's OT and NT readings)

This is a "battle of the cities."  Yet, "In one hour,"-------------------- it will all be over, horror for some, anticipation and glory for others.

Let's take stock of the historic and present global reality.  From Brother Andrew's Open Doors Prayer Force for March:
MEXICO:  Pray for Christian women who are struggling to care for their families since being forced out of their homes for their faith.
INDIA: Samari was recently burned to death for her faith.  Pray her son finds safety and family who can take care of him.
CENTRAL ASIA: Pray for believers caught in a raid where officers found Bibles, computers and storage devices full of evangelism and discipleship materials.

The "Central Asia" refers to a country which was in the former Soviet Union; nothing has changed.  Yet some in Christendom pedal a "gospel" which shields people from such reality.  What is happening to most of the Church around the world at this moment is not yet happening in the United States of America.  Probably few American Christians have underlined, "Yes, all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."  Yet while historically and presently this is the reality, never forget for a moment the same reality, "In one hour...." 

It will be 4 years ago next week that I entered North Korea, the absolute "worse" country I have ever visited.  Yet in that land there are hundreds of thousands of people who worship, pray, serve, and love our Lord Jesus Christ equally as anyone of us.  When so-called "bad things" happen, maybe we should read the Bible more closely.  We just may discover that what most call "bad," is in reality the Truth of Romans 5, "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces....perseverance...and... character...and...hope."

I receive equal instruction and revelation of, "the Kingdom of Heaven/God," as well as blessing, in the Old Testament as I do in the New.  If a people can only be blessed by what they underline, I really feel sorry for them.  Psalm 119:160 says, "The sum of Your Word is truth [the full meaning of all Your Precepts], and every one of Your righteous ordinances endures forever."  Notice, "....every one of Your righteous ordinances," not just Psalm 23 and John 3.  The whole of the, "God-Breathed," Word affirms the reality of today's texts.  The Bible says that, "In the last days evil men will go from bad to worse."  Those in our text who wanted to punish and destroy, "the City of the Great King," and those who attempt to destroy the Followers of Jesus are still among us.  But before them awaits the, "in-one-hour," appointment with destiny.  Under the Blood of Jesus, however, that, "one hour," will be our, "redemption draws night." 

As the song writer suggested so long ago, our Lord Jesus Christ continually says to you and me, "Be faithful, weary pilgrim, the morning I can see.  Just lift your cross and follow close to me."

Father, in Jesus' Name, in You, Your grace and mercy, I will.  Amen.
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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

"Faith In His Promise," Or, "Do As They Did"

"Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in His promise....They mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did."  (Psalm 106:24 & 35, ESV- from today's Psalm reading)

Look back over our lives and we will see that when we had,"no faith in His promise," we, "mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did."  

I think it is a good "litmus text" that if we are doing too many things as, "the nations...do...," we are probably not doing life as, "The Word of God," Jesus, has for us.  The driving force behind much "christian rock music," many church growth tactics, and it's-all-about-you books and teachings, political philosophy, work practices, etc., is nothing but, "mixed with the nations and learned to do as they do."  The only way to have, "....faith in His promise," and not be, "....mixed with the nations and...do as they...," is to give ourselves totally to, "The Words of God."  It is, "Faith comes by hearing...the Word of Christ," not by, "....do as they did."

I just deleted what I wanted to say.  At any rate, I ask you to join me afresh today in examining everything in our lives.  Is this, "mixed with the nations...," or is this, "The Word of God"?  Is this not some "what would Jesus do," but rather, What does Jesus say about this?  It is consulting the very, "Words of God," not, as Bonhoeffer called it, some "wish dream."  Speculating on what Jesus "would do," is projecting my philosophy and/or feelings on Him.  Rather than such silly speculation, we turn to His Words, all of His Words which He has given to us in the, "God-Breathed," Words.  This is what manifests, "faith in His promise."

Later we read in Psalm 106 that God's People, "....yoked themselves to...," the world system and, "....provoked the Lord...."  But then, someone among them, "....stood up and intervened...."  This is a prime calling of the Church.  When those around us may be, "mix[ing] with the nations...," we are called to, "st[an]d up and intervene[]."  This is not "judging," nor is it saying that we have all the answers.  Neither does it say, however, that we have none.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, convict me any time I am, "mix[ing] with the nations...."  Amen.
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* Read About Dangerous Developments in Israel:   jhs58.blogspot.com

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

"I...Search For My Sheep And Look After Them"

"I Myself will search for My sheep and look after them....I am the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep."  (Ezekiel 34:11 & John 10:11)

I was just with a "sheep" for whom Jesus, "....gives His life...."  There is little I can do, but oh how very much Jesus does, "look after them."

Notice that in both texts it is not the "unsaved" about which Jesus is speaking.  We have used the John text so long for "reaching the lost" that too much of the Church has forgotten, "The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep," viz., those who are already His, already of "the saved," the Church. 

Even the Bible says that there are good shepherds and bad shepherds.  Ezekiel tells us, "....Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves!...You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost....My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill.  They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.  I guess we could say, The bad shepherd gives his life for himself.  Notice that Jesus is not speaking of "the lost" here.  The, "strays," those who have, "wandered over the mountains...," of which, "The Word of God," speaks here is, "My flock."  Yes, this speaks of Israel, but also, yes, it speaks of "the lost sheep of the Church."

Jesus came to fulfill the promise of Scripture, and particularly Ezekiel 34:11 & 12, "For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'I Myself will search for my sheep and look after them....I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.'"  Our Lord Jesus tells us that He came, "to seek and to save that which was lost."  Of course this includes those who never surrendered their lives to Jesus.  But it for sure means, and this has been far too neglected by far too many, the "prodigals," those who were once in Father's house, but for whatever reason left their glorious inheritance.  Maybe it was deception, maybe it was heartbreak, maybe the pain of what "life" brought them.  But whatever the "cause," they are out there, like that one-out-of-a-hundred sheep who just couldn't seem to find his/her way back. 

"I Myself will search for...and look after them."  If this does not "make your day," nothing will.  Jesus not only "searched" for us when we were outside "the Fold," but He always does so when, as dumb sheep, we leave the safety of Him and His care and get out there in the rocks and crags of life.  Yet He still, "....will search for....and look after them....Good Shepherd," is He. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, more and more, over the more and more years, I am getting more and more just Who You Are to me.  Amen.
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* News Article at:   jhs58.blogspot.com
* Please pray with us about the continued supply for our Berlin/Wittenberg Mission

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

A Sobering Word For All "Fighters"

"You will not have to fight this battle." (2 Chronicles 20:17, NIV)

There are some "battles" in life which we just do not, "....have to fight...."  I have been in them.  And the premise is basically, "You [can]not...fight this battle."

Life reveals that there is a difference between the ones we do, "....not have to fight...," and the ones we do.  David, as all those about whom we read in the Bible who had to "get in the fight," realized that it was imperative he trust and depend totally on the Living Triune God, The Lord Jesus, "....my Shepherd," as he faced the Philistine on the valley floor that day.  But there, in that situation David had to fight.  And there are so very many more examples in Scriptures of this reality.

There are times, however, and these are somehow such precious memories, that is, if we can recognize and remember them, when we had absolutely no strength whatsoever to do any fighting.  Remember them?  I sure do.  So many of the "spirituals" will not admit to ever being there, at least since they have been "saved" and "filled with the Spirit" and know how to "declare," etc.  But I remind them, if any are reading this, there are just some days, "seasons" in life when nothing we do will bring the victory.  You are a helpless heap before life, before the Enemy.  It is then and there that the words of the prophet to the Covenant People in our text impart the very Power and Life of Jesus Christ.

It is as in Exodus, "Do not be afraid.  Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today."  One translation says, "Stand still."  This is so very difficult for some of us.  There is the thinking that we have to be "moving," doing, proclaiming, planning, setting goals, etc.  But what does one do when the energy for such a life is just not there?  "Thus says the Lord," to all who are "worn out," who are struggling just to make it through each day, "You will not have to fight this battle."  This may not be the majority of our life experience, yet for some it may.  I can say, When you can fight, fight.  When you can't, "Do not be afraid.  Stand firm/Stand Still, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today....You will not have to fight this battle."  If this does not suit one's spiritual fantasy, perhaps that one should allow Jesus to "reintroduce" Himself.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I am so very, very thankful that You are the only One Who can fight for me when I and others cannot.  Amen.
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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