Keep Watch

Matthew 25

13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

Jesus just finished telling the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom foolishly did not have enough oil in their lamps, and thus missed the wedding party. All to bring Him to this point: keep watch! Jesus is going to return to collect His Bride, the church. So many people who think that they will be in that wedding party will be left outside the door because their lamps won’t have any oil. They believe they can be “good people” without obeying Scripture. They believe that Jesus will overlook their shortcomings (read SIN). This is NOT what Scriptures plainly teach. Help me, O Lord, to dispel such foolishness.

Trading My Sorrows

Psalm 30

4 Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.

I’m trading my sorrows. I’m trading my shame. I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord. Those are more than lyrics to me, those are my marching orders for this day and every day. My the Lord be praised, and may my life be one of joy in Jesus, no matter what life throws at me!

Why We Exist

Psalm 29

1 Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings;

honor the Lord for his glory and strength.

2 Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

Let me be clear. I believe that it is the responsibility, or the job if you will, of everything in the universe to BRING GLORY TO GOD. To do any less is to deny who we are and why we truly exist in the first place.

Source of Strength

Psalm 28

8 The Lord gives his people strength.
He is a safe fortress for his anointed king.

Our strength can ONLY come from the Lord. Thursday, I received the sad news that David Bompart dies from his wounds after being shot in Haiti while serving on a mission trip. I grieve for his wife Nicolle and her family. I also grieve for Cliff and Jane Keller who have returned to Vero after being able to retrieve the remains of their daughter Crystal, who died in a train-car collision last week. Father, protect both of these dear families as they deal with the grief of losing loved ones. May they all look to You always as the source of strength, comfort, and love that You are.

Prime Directive

Matthew 22

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Here we see the Prime Directive as laid out by Jesus. In the sci-fi show “Star Trek,” the Prime Directive stated that Starfleet personnel were not to interfere with the development of alien societies or cultures. The Prime Directive of Jesus is exactly the opposite. We are to love God with everything we have, and to love people like God loves them. That DOES mean we will interfere in the cultural and societal development of those around us. We are to help them turn from sin towards God (repentance) so they can learn to love Him as much as we do. We are to do so in a manner that reflects the love of our heavenly Father. May I follow the Prime Directive of Jesus daily.

True Rebels Follow Christ

Proverbs 6

20 My son, obey your father’s commands,
and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
21 Keep their words always in your heart.
Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, their counsel will lead you.
When you sleep, they will protect you.
When you wake up, they will advise you.
23 For their command is a lamp
and their instruction a light;
their corrective discipline
is the way to life.

Wait. You mean obeying your parents is pleasing to the Lord? Huh. You mean obeying your parents can lead you to a better way of life? Seriously? This is SO counter-cultural. Oh yeah, the true rebels in society are those who do NOT follow the crowd, but follow God. Count me among the latter, please.

Toughen Me Up, Lord

Exodus 13

17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

As a 21st Century American, I am not immune to the “microwave mentality” of wanting what I want and wanting it right now if not sooner. Patience is not a hallmark of our society, nor of me as an individual. God knows, in His infinite wisdom, that patience and stress are necessary to toughen us up. Make no mistake about it, we are in a battle. Not against flesh and blood, but agains the spiritual forces of evil. I am so glad that the Creator of the Universe, Who is the Lover of my soul, does NOT give me what I want (or need) instantly, but often has me travel the “long way around,” so that I can be significantly toughened up for the battle ahead. May I always be ready for the battle, for it looms large every day of my life.