Don Guthrie – Page 28 – The Everyday Prayer

The Wrath of God

Re:Verse reading–Romans 1:18-32 (day one)

“For the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of men.”—v 18.

Can the LOVE of God be reconciled with His WRATH? Does the Eternal One have two perfectly balanced, internally consistent aspects to His nature? “Yes”, say the Apostles.

Wrath is the other side of God’s love. Protective. Strong.

None of us is surprised, or offended, to see a Father rage against an enemy who threatens the daughter he loves. So, God rages against sin and its terrible consequences. Except, He doesn’t rage. His wrath is not a burst of anger. (wrong word in Greek). Wrath is a settled, fierce, eternal opposition toward evil. Dangerously calm it is.

Two attitudes are desirable from us toward this Great Mind, Great Power. “You shall LOVE the Lord with all your heart.”—Deuteronomy 6:5.

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, He is to be FEARED.”—Psalm 96:4

All called

Re:Verse reading–Romans 1:1-17 (day seven)

“Paul . . .called to be an apostle. . .to all who are in Rome. . .and called to be saints. v 1, 6.

It is finally here! September 6. “Forward in RE Verse”. The beginning of a new year for our church. New classes. New schedule. A new study in Romans. Exciting!

In preparation for this day, the leadership team sponsored an “all call” initiative. The goal was for every member to receive a phone call (or text or email or tweet) inviting them to be a part of the new, next chapter.

It makes sense. By the CALL of Christ that we become Christians. We are “those who love Him, who are CALLED according to His purpose”–Romans 8:28. By the CALL of Christ we know our assignment. Apostle. Saints.

Did you get a call? This week? From one a leader in our fellowship? Hopefully. Have you, over time, received a call from the Lord? Yes! Yes, you have!

Not ashamed

Re: Verse reading–Romans 1:1–17 (day one)

“I am not ashamed of the gospel.”–v 16.

Do you know what shame feels like? I do. Hesitant to say what you think or feel. Worried what people will think. Anxious. Inhibited.

The Bible says that a new sense of self, a new confidence comes to people who are in Christ! On the day of Pentecost, as an effect of being filled with the Holy Ghost, the disciples experienced a confidence they had never dreamed of. (Acts 3:13) God intends this same boldness for us.

In Romans 1, Paul uses a powerful word. Aischuno meant deformed. Epi-aischuno (literally “upon the deformed”) referred to feelings common to people with handicaps, feelings of being inadequate or incapable.

I DON’T feel that, says Paul. Not any more. I am competent in Christ! God loves me and has given me His powerful message. I am NOT ASHAMED!

Do you know this Christ-confidence, this release from fear? You can.

Something > fear

Re: Verse reading–2 Corinthians 5:11-21; 1 Peter 3:15-16; Colossians 4:2-6 (day seven)

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something is more important than fear.”–Franklin Roosevelt.

It is a virtue ignored in the modern world. Dismissed. Sometimes, even by believers. The fear of God! A holy self-suspicion. A fear of God’s unbending and coming and holy judgement on our lives and choices. A fear of offending Him, or making (and believing) excuses. Not alarm and anxiety, but assurance of mercy offered to those who serve Him with sincerity. Our Re: Verse passage this week says, “Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men.”–2 Corinthians 5:11. Do we? Do we know this fear as a real and motivating experience? Does it MOVE our hearts and DISLODGE our silence? Does it cause us to face our fear of rejection because we fear something ever worse? Is Paul alone here or do we also know the fear of the Lord?

New life, new logic

Re: Verse reading–2 Corinthians 5:11-21; 1 Peter 3:15-16; Colossians 4:2-6 (day one)

With new life comes new logic. Christianity is a new way to think! The Apostles, who recorded the truths revealed in Christ, were bold to declare a revolutionary equation that came to the world after the cross and resurrection. 1) He died for all. 2) We should live for Him. 3) Therefore, we should live for all, including and especially lost people. (2 Corinthians 5:15) It’s missionary logic! Those who receive grace from God, are obligated to give it away. (Romans 1:14) “Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men.” (2 Corinthians 5:11) How can we do otherwise? Did the first followers repeat this logic over and over? Did they write this new equation in their journals in an disciplined effort to “be transformed by the renewing of the mind”. Probably. Want to try it? Want to love Him with your mind? Say the words to yourself! Write them down! Repeat them every day! New life. . .new logic.

Self-excluded

Re: Verse reading– Acts 4:32-37; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25 (day seven)

“I don’t even remember the season. I just remember walking. . . and feeling for the first time that I belonged somewhere.”–Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Remember when you were a kid? You wanted to be ON a team, IN a group? You wanted to belong. Some adults try to forget this longing. God wants us to remember it.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul describes a miracle. When we are reconciled to God, we are placed on a team. God’s team. We become members of a body. The body of Christ.

Sometimes we fall short of this lofty truth because we self exclude. “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong”, says v 15. Sad. You DO belong, you just don’t experience the encouragement of it.

What could you do this week to discover and embrace this idea? Say it! Say it loudly ! “If I am in Christ, I belong!”

Corpus Christi

Re: Verse reading–Acts 4:32-37; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25 (day one)

“Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.”—1 Corinthians 12:27.

Familiar words. The Roman Catholic Mass reaches a traditional climax when the priest holds the bread before the communicant and declares “Corpus Christi”, or, “the body of Christ”. The Scripture uses the same words in a different way–to describe what has happened to US in salvation. We became His body! Just as Christ was given a physical body in the incarnation, arms, lips, legs–all which served His purposes and connected Him to the physical world, so, now, Christ-followers serve that purpose in similar fashion.

Every year in our nation, millions are spent on cosmetic surgery, diet and exercise plans. We are very “body” conscious. O that we would be AS conscious of our privilege to be members of Christ’s body. Responding to our Head, available for the doing of His will, Corpus Christi–for us both truth and prayer.

Thank God for Pastors

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17-18 (day seven)

I thank God, this morning, for my Pastors. Shad Rue. Carlos McLeod. Lonnie Hayter. BO Baker. Dan Yeary. They have inspired, challenged and coached me.

I thank God for calling me to be a Pastor. For the privilege to “speak His word”. For the lessons I’ve learned from the people I’ve led. The patience. The wisdom. The encouragement.

I thank God for the church. For the Savior who purchased this people with His blood. For the Spirit who empowers and guides us. For the Scripture which is the foundation that never shifts under our feet.

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to YEARN FOR THE VAST AND ENDLESS SEA.”–Antoine de Saint Exupery.

For 45 years, God has been faithful to send people into my life who have taught me this yearning. I thank God for them.

From sheep to sons

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17-18 (day one)

” He gave. . . some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints. . .until we all attain to the unity of the faith. . .to a mature man. . .the measure. . .which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”–Ephesians 4:11-13.

It begins low, but ends high. God’s vision for the human race. First we are sheep. Helpless/foolish. Then, in salvation, we become saints. Eventually, by His grace, we attain unity, maturity as sons of the Most High! “Conformed to the image of His Son” shouts the scripture! No longer infants. Stable. Strong. Loving. God’s provision toward this miraculous transformation is to send shepherds. (Pastor means shepherd in the original language). Pastors protect/feed sheep, but they also equip/lead lead them toward maturity. At the end of life, it won’t matter who your Pastor was. It WILL matter whether you gained strength from him/her to get forward on the road from being a sheep to a son.

A prayer for good government (and good Christians)

Re: Verse reading–Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (day seven)

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, SO THAT WE MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS AND DIGNITY.”–1 Timothy 2:1-2. “In this world nothing is certain, except death and taxes”–Benjamin Franklin. No avoiding it. Government is a given! So, the Bible tells us to pray for those who govern with an eye to the way God uses them to provide things we need to get on with the business of living godly lives. To the believer, government is incidental, the larger goal is holiness! Will you, today, thank God for the roads, the armed forces, the economic opportunities that we enjoy in this nation? Will you pray for those who work hard to provides these privileges? Will you, then, pray for yourself the grace to get forward in a life of holiness?