07/10/2024
What is God's work in the world? Different people have quite different answers to this question, but today let’s focus on removing the negative impacts of the devil on God’s creation. To do so, let’s use the words of the Apostle John helps us in this regard…
“Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
1 John 3:7-8 ESV
Pastor E. M. Bounds also sheds some light on this morning’s study. Listen to what he said in my devotional reading this morning.
"What, then, is God's work in this world? God's work is to make the hearts and lives of His children holy." – E. M. Bounds
So the work of God is to take a fallen and sinful mankind and redeem it... Make it righteous and holy... one soul at a time.
Looking around ourselves, at the world, and more specifically our individual countries, it is plain to see that His work is cut out for Him. But as I watch the festering hatred and discord on my television set I also see the tears of disappointment and hear words of forgiveness and tolerance. God is at work and all is not lost. In the midst of the "it's about me", and "I am better than you" rhetoric being spewed, we hear "love thy neighbor" and "turn the other cheek". There is hope in our streets and within our churches... But the evil one would like for our view of today’s world to be overshadowed by violence and hatred.
There was a wonderful story in the Saturday Tennessean newspaper a few years ago (7/9/16). It was about a white man who looked after a disadvantaged and mentally disabled black man... and he helped this man for most of his life. When the disabled man passed away his white friend had him cremated and his ashes are now kept at his home. The reporter ask why he kept the ashes and the response brought tears to my eye... “Because he was always afraid of being alone.”
There are other examples… In 1996 a young black woman threw her body atop a white supremacist after anti-klan protestors showed up at a KKK rally and were in the process of beating a man. Here is an excerpt from the news story…
“Miss Thomas was in the crowd of anti-clan protesters, when someone spotted a man in the crowd amongst them with an SS tattoo and a confederate flag shirt. The group, including Thomas, immediately chased the man. But, in a flash, the crowd went from controlled protestors to an angry mob, hitting the man with sticks and kicking him as he lay on the ground. In that moment, Miss Thomas separated herself from the mob and threw herself on the man to protect him. Later she said… “When they dropped him to the ground, it felt like two angels had lifted my body up and laid me down,” Thomas said." – The Huffington Post
Good people with good hearts listening to the word of God amidst the chaos and strife of the world.
These are the stories, and the actions, of love and unity that Satan seeks to hide from us. Unfortunately, our media and elected officials are often his allies in this cover-up. It seems that the fear and hatred of the world churns up emotion and sells more papers, and gathers more votes, than love and faith. But, the work of God continues despite the dark one's efforts to persuade us otherwise, and good righteous people take up the banner of Christ day in, and day out, to win souls from among the fallen.
Pastor E.M. Bounds wrote on this subject as well with these words… "God's work is to make holy soldiers out of unholy people. This is the very reason Christ came into the world."
Today as we pray, let's ask God to encourage us in the face of discord. Let's ask Him to allow our own actions and words to be a salve on the open wounds of our society. Let’s pray with the beatitudes fresh on our minds and lips because they are as true today as they were when Jesus first spoke them...
“And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:2-12 ESV
We are the children of God... We seek to do our Father's bidding... And it takes courage and perseverance to stay His course. It takes the remembrance of His Holy Word to show us what is right, and for us to hear His small still voice whispering “Help this man” or “protect this man.”
I have heard His voice too. I had met and prayed with an Ethiopian pastor on an airplane, and as I drove home from the airport that night the Lord asked me if I could pray for this man, and I said “Yes Lord.” Then he asked me if I could pray for him in my morning prayers, and again I said “Yes Lord.” Then after a short pause the voice asked “For the rest of your life?” Answering this question was much harder, but after a moment I responded “Yes Father.” Since that night I have lost touch with this pastor, but my prayers for him continue. In fact there have been three other pastors whose names have been added to the Lord’s list. So I pray for them in my morning prayers without their knowledge, but I know that in this act of obedience the Lord is using me against the devil, and to defeat the chaos in the world. He is using my obedience in secret prayer to strengthen these men in both their earthly, and spiritual lives.
So I ask again… Is there someone the Lord would have you help? Is there someone whose life you have been asked to save? Or, is there someone who the Lord would have you pray for? Could you do these things at the risk of your own wellbeing, or perhaps your life? Could you answer “Yes Father” when asked to do something for the rest of your life despite the hardship? How would it change the world, or better yet… how would it change you, and increase your sense of righteousness, and holiness?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for speaking peace into this chaotic world. Thank you for not allowing the voice of the devil to deafen us to yours, and for allowing us to hear not only your voice in the rushing wind but in the whisper of your small still voice too. Give us courage Lord when you ask us to do the dangerous things, maybe even when you ask us to love another to the point of giving our life for them. Give us perseverance Father when you ask us to do those secret things for you that will require us to unselfishly love others, even as we love ourselves, and you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who has loved the world so much that you sent your Son Jesus to suffer, die, and be resurrected for us. Holy are you who teaches us the true meaning of righteousness, and holiness, and then helps us to walk in them. Abba, this is the day that you have made, and in it we will stand with you against the chaos that the devil tries to convince us that he has won. Today we know that you have overcome the world, and that our hope reigns supreme in you. Use us Holy Father, to help those in need, to save those facing death, and to pray for all those who need our prayers. Give us courage, strength, obedience, and perseverance, that we might obey your will for us, and that we will be pleasing in your sight. Let our actions be guided by your Spirit, and our voices be the echo of yours in the mountains. Call us worthy and, let us abide in you forevermore. This is our daily prayer.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, and Amen!
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13 ESV
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:1-4 ESV
Rich Forbes