The Word of God

I recently received an email of encouragement from my daughter in the wake of a decision to take part in a Precept Ministries study of Ephesians. She wrote in part: "Being in God's truth causes us to grow in Him, draw near to Him. We are then ready at any moment to teach or instruct with all patience and love in the Spirit."

Her passion for the Word was evident as she continued: "Oh, how He longs to spend time with us, to reveal sweet truth about Himself. He bids us, "Come," and we have a choice as how we will obey, how we will make the most of every opportunity here in earth. I don't want to miss out on anything He has planned for me. I don't want to suffer the realization that in my Spiritual laziness I missed out on all He had richly lavished upon me because I thought studying 'a burden' or 'for those who are scholars.' I am reminded that God's truth tells us: "Seek first the kingdom of God." Therefore, I joyfully seek Him first."

I give thanks, Father, that I was born into a time and place where literacy is an option for all, and Your Word is readily available. I give thanks for the endless gifts you offer in your Living Word, and for your desire to be in dialogue with Your children at all times, in every situation.

Search and rescue

I was privileged last week during an evening prayer session to hear a request to pray for members of a local search and rescue (SAR) unit – a team struggling mightily under the oppression of anger and despair.

As the story unfolded, we listened to the heart cry of the wife of one of the unit members. We also heard from the husband who serves in the unit, and from a civilian working in a SAR unit support role . All three are believers, burdened with the weight of workdays marred with grumbling, complaints and a general sense of discouragement.

How ironic, I thought to myself, that we are being asked to intercede on behalf of a team whose very name reflects our call as believers:  “Go (search) therefore and make disciples (rescue) of all nations…”

In this spiritual battle, we asked the Lord to lead believers to those in the SAR unit whose hearts are ready to receive the message of His undeserved grace; His desire for relationship with all. We asked that those in bondage to anger toward those in authority would be convicted to reconsider their attitudes, opening themselves to the question of how they can contribute personally to bringing about change.

These are, after all, people who volunteered for the challenging, even life-threatening role of searching out and rescuing people whose lives are in danger.

“These are lives at risk,” we prayed of those in the SAR unit, “and we align ourselves, Lord, with your desire to see hearts surrendered … rescued from a world of pain and death into God’s family; heirs of the Redeemer King with the associated gifts of peace, joy and hope as they live lives under Your authority.”

I look forward to hearing about God’s victories on this battlefield.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

I AM

In addition to teaching His disciples by word and actions, Jesus often asked questions to make them think for themselves … to “practice” for the types of questions they would hear after He had physically left them to join the Father in Heaven.

One such time is recorded in Matthew 16: 13:

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah, but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

Hasn’t that been evidence of Satan’s great deception since Jesus' life, death and resurrection? Haven’t we all heard at some point in our lives something like this:

“Well, Jesus was certainly a great teacher, but Son of God…”

Or, “Jesus was all about love and peace. I rank him right up there with Gandhi and John Lennon.”

Or, as some cults suggest: “Jesus was a great man, but he was, after all, a created man, just like you and me.”

I am grateful that God Himself spoke to Peter when Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do YOU say that I am?”

Peter answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

To that expression of the profound, beautiful truth, Jesus said to Peter: “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven.”

And to those today who would make the blasphemous suggestion that Jesus himself did not claim to be the Christ, I recall first the hundreds of prophecies that were fulfilled in His life, death and resurrection.

I also share Matthew 27:11, when Roman Governor Pontius Pilate asked Jesus pointblank: “Are you the king of the Jews?”

And Jesus replied: “Yes, it is as you say.”

And John 10:30, when Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.”

And finally to John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except by me.”

Precious Jesus, we worship you and glorify your name: You are indeed the king … our redeemer king. The way … promising that with our surrender you will never leave us or forsake us. You are the life … taking all sin upon yourself so that we might be justified … welcomed into your loving arms with joy and peace in this life, and the awesome hope of eternal life in Heaven.