Pray First

Re:Verse reading–Mark 1:21-39 (day two) Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 1:35

The day before was filled with healing, and that day was to be filled with preaching. Jesus was busy, but not too busy to pray. As our example Jesus knew that those who would follow him would fill their lives. Their lives would be filled with a call to family, to work, to serve, and to a thousand other things. Those who would come after Christ would be busy. So, Jesus demonstrated how to recalibrate one’s heart and mind during those times. He prayed. He began his day communing with the Father.

We have begun a campaign to “Pray First” as we search for the next under-shepherd to come and lead us. Our responsibility to pray first does not begin or end there. It is simply a reminder. This is how we walk, by first bending our knees. In this great season of Advent will you Pray First?

No More Night

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 21:1-8; 22:1-7,16-17 (day two) 

And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. 22:5

Have you ever been in a “dark place?” Or have you heard someone describe their circumstances as dark or gloomy? There is more here than just colorful language. The idea of being in darkness has real spiritual significance. For John  to say that in the New Jerusalem there will be no need for lamps or sun means freedom from the things that have continually clouded our view of the savior. We will see him clearly, as we are meant to. Have you been to Alaska in the summer? People are outside at midnight walking, playing, enjoying the sun. It does something to your body and to your mind. The sun is life-giving. It is more than a metaphor: Jesus is the light of the world – Jesus is life. Look up, there is light in this dark world.

The Great Hallel

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 19:11-21, 20:1-10 (day two) “After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” vs 1

Psalm 136 is known as the Great Hallel (the singular form of the more familiar Hallelujah). This word can be translated “Praise.” There are several portions of the book of Psalms that, depending on your translation, begin “Praise the Lord”, or “Hallelujah.” The over-arching theme of the psalter one of praise, and as you move toward the later chapters it is inescapable. What is even more profound is that even in the psalms of lamentation there is some element praise. There is a recognition of God’s ultimate sovereignty in all things, and that in all circumstances we are to praise him. Psalm 136 is a great reminder of that. After every verse is the refrain his love endures forever.

How appropriate then, after the fall and destruction of Babylon, and the pouring out of God’s righteous wrath upon the world, the multitudes shout Hallelujah! God is sovereign. He is in control. Set your gaze not on what is falling apart, but on his face, and then Praise! Hallelujah!

A Prayer

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 17 and 18 (Day Two) “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.” 18:3

Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought together out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom whose to whom in they Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

BCP 820

Worship in the Midst of Chaos

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 15 and 16 (day two) “They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb.”  vs. 2b-3a

The beast has been defeated. The harvest has taken place. The seven plagues and the bowls of God’s wrath have been distributed. And in the midst of all of this, there is worship. To those who have rightly aligned their hearts and lives with the Lamb, all of these events are no surprise. They are not wavering in their devotion because a lost world is being judged. Those who see a world falling apart around them are remembering the eternal promise of deliverance, and they will not be shaken. Look around you. This world is not our home. Where is your gaze fixed? Set it on the eternal promises of God, and all that is crumbling about you will lose its power to bring you down with it. Worship in the midst of chaos.

Rest

Re: Verse reading–Revelation 14 (day two)   

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” vs. 13

Serve well, then rest. Live according to your call. Pursue God with every breath, each gift, every relationship, conversation, circumstance, and opportunity, then rest. For the truth, according to this scripture, is that your work does not rest. Those moments that you labored and toiled for the work of the Kingdom will continue to make an eternal impact. Nothing done for the Lord is in vain, nothing. Every day our witness is made stronger by the work of a saint we will never meet until Heaven. Their sacrifice adds to God’s beautiful design for the Kingdom-work here on Earth. Pursue God and then rest.

Don’t Be Fooled

Re:Verse passage: Revelation 12:1-6, 13-17; 13:1-4, 11-18 (day two) 

I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 13:3

Do you remember the Exodus story? When Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh they performed many wondrous signs, but so did the magicians of the court. We often hear people claim that if they could behold something really amazing and miraculous they would follow God. There are several things wrong with that statement. God doesn’t have to convince us of anything. His wonders are clearly on display for all to behold. But the other thing to think about is the deceiver can perform wondrous things as well. If we are lured by spectacle, we must resist the temptation to follow blindly. How does any work or wonder point to Jesus? How does it show us more of his character. Be on guard.

Stand to Worship

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 10:1-9; 11:1-15 (day two)
Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshippers there.” 11:1

Locusts, beasts, dragons, plagues, famine, war, calamity, and most certainly death…yet there are still those remaining who refuse to give up the hope that is promised in Jesus Christ. What does adversity do to your faith? When push comes to shove and everyone, and everything you hold dear is falling away can you still gather together with other saints and cry out to the Lord? No one can truly know how far they can be tested, but we can gird ourselves for the trial. Our spiritual training that comes through our time spent in reading the Word, communing in prayer, worshipping with others is all the pre-requisite to building that spiritual muscle need for the day when we will face the challenge. May we all stand to worship when the world around us falls.

 

Change for Good

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 8 and 9 (day two) The rest of mankind…did not repent of the works of their hands.” 9:20

Have you ever heard of someone narrowly avoiding death or some terrible disaster who gratefully exclaims that they will live their lives “better” from that day forward only to fall back into patterns and habits that had previously defined them. They were stirred by something catastrophic, but they never let it penetrate their hearts that they truly needed to change.

Most of us don’t live in peril everyday, and we become numb to our eternal condition. These people in Revelation completely skipped the ‘grateful to be alive’ part and simply refused to repent. We aren’t that different if we are continuing to surrender to sin rather than Christ. The fact is that death, plague, destruction, or famine did not sway the minds of those in John’s revelation. We cannot change ourselves, we must submit to that same Lamb that John saw opening the seals.

No Tears

Re:Verse reading–Revelation 7 (day two)

“…and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” vs. 17b

What was it about having your mom or dad kiss your boo-boo that made it better? Did it change the nature of the injury or the circumstances that caused it? No it did not. Did it give you a sense of comfort to know that you had shared your pain with someone you loved, and who you knew loved you? Absolutely. Consider for a moment the story of the prodigal son. When he came back home, even when he was far off his father ran to him. He didn’t wait for him to come groveling. The price had been paid, the deed was done, and now it was time to celebrate redemption. God cares for each of us enough to run to us, and wipe away each of our tears. Is there a more tender picture of our great God than that? The deed is done, time to rest and fill ourselves with the Redeemer.