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Someone God Can Work With. And Through.

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“For how can I endure to see the calamity which shall befall my people, and how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”

Esther 8:6, NASB

Someone God Can Work With. And Through. ID-10075996Her heart for her people transcends time. Queen Esther’s sacrificial concern for fellow Jews still stands out, beckoning us to care that much. Or at least some. Any depth of concern for our neighbors, acquaintances, and loved ones is something God can work with.

Recently my husband preached about the Great White Throne, and the truth of this coming day sobers me:

“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15

After the service, I thought about a dear man we see regularly. He’s kind and talented, professional and generous. But he doesn’t know Christ. If we as the church witness Judgment Day, I can’t imagine looking our friend in the eye at that time, knowing I didn’t share Christ with him on earth. I can’t imagine the horror of seeing him thrown into the Lake of Fire. Forever…

Because that’s what awaits those who don’t trust Christ as Savior.

Remember Queen Esther? She risked her life to save her people from annihilation. Their existence meant a tremendous deal to her, so she took her feelings and put them into action. Willingly, she spoke on their behalf–to the king. Seeking his help, she pleaded for Jewish lives.

Esther’s desperate request changed everything. Though she appeared uninvited before the king, he responded favorably and allowed defensive measures to be instituted for God’s people. When destruction day arrived, the Jews fought back and protected themselves. Sovereignly, God used an orphan girl turned queen to deliver a nation.

Unlike Queen Esther, we possess a standing invitation to enter our King’s presence. Will we take advantage of this incredible opportunity to plead for those He’s placed in our lives? Do we really care? Are we willing to sacrifice?

I don’t know about yours, but my life feels like an accelerator stuck on 120 mph. Noticing individuals who need Christ and praying faithfully for them–let alone sharing the Good News with them personally–requires time and effort. But if God strengthened Queen Esther to overcome the obstacles she faced, surely He can strengthen us to reach others with the Gospel.

Because Judgment Day is coming.

I want to be someone God can work with. And through. I long to care deeply for others and Do. Something. About it. God will use us just as He used Esther if we yield to His will.

Loving Father in heaven, we bow before Your throne and acknowledge You as the one true God. You are holy, righteous, and just, as well as gracious and compassionate. We lift up the non-Christians You’ve put in our lives, boldly asking You to draw them to Your Son, Jesus Christ. Please save them. Remind us to pray faithfully for these dear ones with Godly care and Christlike love. Speak truth through us, and build Your kingdom as we reach out to others. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Emily

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A Not-So-False Alarm

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“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

John 10:10, NIV

DSC01468My husband and I simultaneously rocketed from flat on our backs with combined one-half twists and landed on our feet (minus the front somersaults, thank God) like two synchronized gymnasts.

“Burglary! Burglary! You have violated a protected area! Leave the premises immediately!”

As our security system’s 120-decibel scream split the tranquil night air, my eyes darted toward the clock: 1:48 a.m.―uh . . . far too early for visitors. My husband snatched his gun from its resting place and tried to shake off his grogginess. Bleary-eyed, I flipped on the outside flood lights and peered into the night’s shadowy stillness. Our security system indicated the garage motion detector. My husband checked it out as I answered the 911 dispatcher’s routine call.

“What’s your password?

I answered.

“Do you need assistance?”

“Not sure.”

Shortly, my husband returned from the garage and shrugged. “Nothing.”

“It’s a false alarm,” I told the dispatcher. “Thank you. All seems fine.”

Thirty minutes later, my husband and I lay in bed wide-eyed and still staring at the ceiling, adrenaline pumping. It would be so unlike my God not to take advantage of this opportunity to speak. Consequently, he did―of a not-so-false alarm: Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. He only comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

Spiritually, the thief will come . . . and he never drops in for a casual chat. Satan’s unwelcome visits always have a hidden agenda: to annihilate the children of God. Are we armed and ready for his covert entry? Do we set our alarms before we fall asleep?

The Holy Spirit has armed believers with weapons for spiritual warfare. But, like those who fall asleep, we often neglect to employ them. Subsequently, when our borders are violated there is no alarm to demand the intruder leave the premises. So he lingers. He rummages through the hidden crevices of our hearts and minds. He plants destructive doubt and fear. He steals all that is valuable. All may seem well on the exterior, but within . . . the thief secretly robs us of our comfort, hope, and peace.

Keeping our spiritual security system set assures us that when the enemy attempts to break in, our alarms will sound, the dispatcher will call, and when asked our password, we will confidently reply: “Jesus!”

Starr

Hiding in Plain Sight

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“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” 

Hebrews 4:13, NLT

White_Bird_in_Tree“Where?” I asked. “What bird? I don’t see any bird? Stop playing with me little girl!

“It’s right there, Mommy! Really! I’m not kidding, it’s right in front of you! Daddy sees it, right, Daddy?”

“Look right in the center of that tree, Ri”, my hubby said.

“Oh, I see it now”, I said! Sure enough, right in front of my face, sat a white bird, in the middle of a tree! I’d looked at that tree earlier and didn’t even see the bird sitting there, nearly camouflaged. I’d looked right past it even though it was hiding in plain sight. Seeing or not seeing that bird in the tree wouldn’t make a significant difference in my life or anyone else’s. But, what do we look past that can make a difference in a life?

Sometimes we look past our shortcomings; after all, it is easier to deny them or refuse to address them altogether, than to face them. I struggled for years to come to a place of real forgiveness towards someone that I’d decided did me wrong. I didn’t want to forgive this person at all. In my view, all about the situation that promoted my refusal to forgive was laid squarely at their feet. They did everything wrong and I did everything right. So, why should I forgive them? I looked right past any evidence of my lack of character. I couldn’t see it at all, because it was their fault entirely! Although I tried to camouflage my resentment through self-justification, it was hiding in plain sight (with every reference to this person and the situation) through my lack of forgiveness.

Today, I’ve forgiven the person and repented of my wrongdoing but I’m left to wonder how much my life or the life of that person would have been different had I let go of my resentment and chosen to forgive them earlier.

We might get resentful and toughen our hearts to the reality about ourselves but the Word of God is powerful enough to cut through our innermost denial. God sees everything about us, including those things we attempt to hide from ourselves. When we trust in him and follow his Word, he exposes our hidden things so we can change and grow more like him.

How different our lives would be if we saw, confessed, and corrected our shortcomings, instead of allowing them to hide in plain sight.

By grace through faith,

Rita