The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Revelation 5:9-10 (day five)  

Am still amazed at the radical generosity and hospitality of the Lord (every tribe, tongue, people, nation). Imagine hearing these words for the first time around 100AD. How much larger and more diverse was this Kingdom that Jesus had envisioned actually gonna be?  Much more than anyone ever thought or dreamed. Were they comfortable with a larger and more diverse vision of the Kingdom? The flesh (in me) values comfort and control. Yet, when I read passages like this one, the Spirit presses me to desire and practice God’s kind of “gospel generosity hospitality”- seeing all people (tribe, tongue, people, nation) as potential citizens and priests of The Kingdom of God, encouraging/inviting them to surrender their lives to Christ, joining in the heavenly celebration and worship both now and forever.  Want to reflect the character and kindness of God (which we were created to do)?  Then we must practice “Gospel Generosity and Hospitality”.

Re:Verse passage – Revelation 5:9-10 (day four)

“And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God.” v. 10

Jesus flipped everything upside down when He came to earth. Our purpose and identity changed with that. Back in the Old Testament, we learn how God chose the priests of Israel and how He set apart the tribe of Levi to fulfill that role. This tribe was set apart, had specific duties, and was called to a specific way of life.

Here, now, in the final book of the Bible, we learn how Jesus flipped that role. His death and resurrection caused those of us that have been born again as believers and followers of Christ to assume that role of priest for the Lord. So, no matter who you are or where you are from, when you become a follower of Christ, you become a priest for God. That means that we are set apart and called to a specific way of life, similar to the Levitical priests of the Old Testament.

As you look at your life today and how you go about your week, are you living as a person that has been created by God to be set apart?

Re:Verse passage – Revelation 5:9-10 (day three)

“They will reign upon the earth.”

What kind of God creates people and then fits them to have say over his creation forever, exercising authority over the vastness of the riches of the universe? What kind of God does that? The God who is does that. That is the destiny for which God made each human person. Each person has a future that is full of more glory than one can imagine. And this destiny only magnifies the unfathomable catastrophe that occurs when one has lost one’s way, following a path that leads away – infinitely – from all that is good and beautiful. To help all people understand and grasp this future is the kind of work that takes seriously the catastrophe of such loss.

Re:Verse passage – Revelation 5:9-10 (day two) 

You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation vs 9b

Im sitting in the hotel lobby in London about 6 hours before we have to get up and head for the airport to fly home. We are more than ready to be home. Less than ready for the heat, but it has been a life-changing mission-affirming two weeks of ministry. Informal and formal concerts numbered around 15; many kingdom conversations, and prayer over people; one life given to Christ.

One aspect of the tour that surprised me at every stop was the way people responded to the kids singing, especially when we sang Old Lang Syne set to new words. We were reminded time and time again that the Lord is alive and active across the globe. His death and resurrection was for every tribe and nation. It was exciting to see the gospel in  action.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day seven)

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son. Romans 8:29 

We tend to not like tension. It makes us uncomfortable. We view it as two opposites that are rubbing against one another, so we often try to avoid tension at all costs. In reality, or at least scientifically speaking, what we are attributing to tension is actually friction. Tension is two forces pulling against one another removing the slack that once lay between them. Tension straightens the line. When we feel tension in scripture, we should not run from it or glance over it because we are uncomfortable, rather, we should look at the the things which are causing the tension to figure out what it is that is being straightened out.

Here, many people will read the word predestined and attribute it to a certain line of thought. This may cause them to skip over the passage or jump to conclusions on what that word might mean, but if we let the tension pull us a little, we will look to see what is pulling on the other end. That would be a choice. That choice is to be conformed daily to renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). Conformity and foreknowledge are creating a tension that we may not fully understand, but we recognize that the presence of both are essential to our sanctification. That is a tension we can live in.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day six).

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

God is all in. No one is more invested in your life than he is. He is so committed to you that he is working in and through “everything.” No matter the circumstance, heartache, or disappointment, he alone is working things out for your good. Even when you can’t see it or feel it, you can be certain he is working.

Like Joseph, you can declare, “What was meant for evil, God meant for good.” (Gen. 50:20) This good is as certain as Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. You can bet your life on it.

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day five).

Our Re:verse text gives an answer to this question, “What on earth is God up to?” Literally, God is using all the things we see, sense, and experience to do something grand and glorious in the hearts and lives of those who love Him. All of life on earth is designed and purposed by God to influence and affect those that love Him for a very specific goal- making them (“those” in the text) more and more like Jesus. God creates us in His image (Genesis 1:26) and then uses our (those that love God)  lives and circumstances on earth to continue that work for the same purpose- making us like Christ/Him (Colossians 1:15).  Take heart, this just doesn’t happen by chance. No, the great comfort and truth is that God is “working” (Does that ease your mind and heart?) for this profound and transforming purpose for us (good) and for Him (glory).

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day four)

I’ve been studying 2 Corinthians chapters 3 & 4 today and now I’m connecting it to Romans 8:30, “and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified”, and I’m reminded of our glorious purpose. We have this wonderful ministry of displaying the glory of Christ to the world.

There’s an amazing transformation in our Christian journey where “we behold the glory of God with unveiled face” and we are increasingly glorified and changed into the image of Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). During this process, the Imago Dei inside us becomes completely clear and visible for all to see. The passage in 2 Cor. chapter 4 calls it, “the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (v4)” which is shining into our hearts and gives us “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (v6).”

We are meant to reflect the glory of Christ Jesus. If we aren’t doing that, then we must repent and rely upon the Father God’s providence and control, be still and know He is God, listen for His voice, pray for Him to confirm our calling and election, return to the cross to be assured of Jesus’ blood for justification, and He will complete the work of glorification in our lives. Keep shining church! Remember your purpose!

Happy Independence Day!

Re:Verse passage – Romans 8:28-30 (day two)

 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Vs 28

It is midnight in Northern Ireland as I write this blog, and the Youth Worship team has just finished an incredible day of ministry. As I sat down to write this blog, I re-read the passage and after our day today it struck me quite differently. All things worked today, and nothing did. All of the plans that we have made over the past several months were meticulous, and nothing went according to them today. We did, however, have more ministry opportunities than I could have imagined. Although the schedule was turned upside down, God orchestrated every moment for his glory. We prayed, shared testimony, sang, and shared more than we thought possible, simply because we were willing to let him interrupt or plans, and recognize his were so much bigger and better. God’s perfect plan is always the best. Our prayer should be to surrender everything to his great call on our lives. Thanks for loving these kids, and allowing them to minister at home, and across the world.