It seems that Occupy Wall Street has every one's attention, whether you agree with it or not. It does reveal that people are wanting change. The Book of Joshua begins with a huge change. Moses has died and Joshua is selected by God to lead the people of Israel into the promised land.
While many things on earth change, there is something that never changes. What remained constant was God. God promised Israel the land of Canaan. God said to Joshua, "I will give you everywhere you set your feet." What an incredible promise. But success wasn't guaranteed. There were things that Joshua and the people of Israel had to do.
The secret of their success is found in their desire to obey all that God commanded as well as remembering that God was with them as they stepped into the promised land. God has given us promises which still ring true and relevant today. Success doesn't come to us just because we are Christians, but does come when we seek to honor God in all we do. The Israelites were to work together. No one could rest until all of the tribes took possession of their land.
This took a willingness to obey God first in their lives, then to put others before themselves. This sounds similar to the conversation Jesus had with an expert in the Law of Moses. Jesus was asked which is the greatest command. Perhaps this was asked to trick Jesus in some way. The response surprised the religious leaders while reminding us of that which is most important. Jesus said the greatest command is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second is like it. To love your neighbor as yourself.
This was put into practice by the people of Israel as they occupied the promised land. I'm not sensing God leading me to join up with an Occupy Wall Street movement, but I do sense this: that wherever I am and wherever I go, I am to honor God through obeying His commands and by loving others. This may not necessarily lead to worldly success, but it will lead you to be right before God, which is the best success one could ever desire. Go occupy the land for the glory of God.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Are You Awake?
Romans 13.10-12 says, "Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."
Some people sleep walk. They get up out of bed and go about various activities while asleep. They might turn on the TV. Others go to the fridge and eat. Some walk around outside. But they all have this in common: they are asleep.
Many Christians live in the state of deep sleep, unaware of what they are doing or for that matter what God is doing in their lives. Due to their slumber, they are unaware that the things they are involved in are not pleasing to God. God is always present and at work, but we proceed through life unaware of His presence or activity, whether it is in our life or in anothers. Jacob had an experience like this. On a journey, he came to the place to camp for the night. Finding a rock for a pillow, he laid down and fell asleep. During the night he dreamt of a stairway to heaven, and the Lord speaking to Him about giving his descendents the very land where he was sleeping. When he awoke, he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Up to that point, he went through life unaware, as if he were sleep walking. But at that moment he became aware. He awoke up from his sleep, fully aware that God was present and promising to do great things for him and his descendents.
The Apostle Paul said, "It's time to wake up." God is present. God is at work. God will fulfill all of His promises to His people. If so, how should we be? To be spiritually awake is to be aware that God is with you always. Saints in both Old Testament and New have taken great comfort in this fact. The Psalmist said, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." And "The Lord is my refuge and strength. An ever present help in time of trouble." Jesus promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Are you going through life aware of God's presence and work? If not, you just might be asleep.
To be spiritually awake opens our eyes so we can see what God is doing. Philippians 2.13 "it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Are you aware of what God is doing in your life? I wonder, what is it that God wants to do? What is it that He needs to do? Yes, God is a surgeon and surgeons work best when the patient is asleep. This is different though, because spiritual sleep is self-induced, often brought on by a casual regard for sin. But God is telling us to "wake up." Paul reminds us that "the day is almost here." The day when our Savior returns. Will he find us awake and aware, embracing the presence and work of God or will we finally wake up on "that day" and realize all that we have missed?
Friends, the Bible tells us we are in the last days leading up to the Lord's return. This isn't a time for sleep but to be awake and to engage our world. People around us are hurting. It seems the whole world is on edge. Edge of default. Edge of crisis. Edge of war. Edge of loss jobs, illness and famine and more. Why not ask the Lord to tell you what you should do? What could our response be to so many who are hurting? Could it be that the Lord is waiting for us to wake up in order to tangibly touch people in His name?
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
Some people sleep walk. They get up out of bed and go about various activities while asleep. They might turn on the TV. Others go to the fridge and eat. Some walk around outside. But they all have this in common: they are asleep.
Many Christians live in the state of deep sleep, unaware of what they are doing or for that matter what God is doing in their lives. Due to their slumber, they are unaware that the things they are involved in are not pleasing to God. God is always present and at work, but we proceed through life unaware of His presence or activity, whether it is in our life or in anothers. Jacob had an experience like this. On a journey, he came to the place to camp for the night. Finding a rock for a pillow, he laid down and fell asleep. During the night he dreamt of a stairway to heaven, and the Lord speaking to Him about giving his descendents the very land where he was sleeping. When he awoke, he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Up to that point, he went through life unaware, as if he were sleep walking. But at that moment he became aware. He awoke up from his sleep, fully aware that God was present and promising to do great things for him and his descendents.
The Apostle Paul said, "It's time to wake up." God is present. God is at work. God will fulfill all of His promises to His people. If so, how should we be? To be spiritually awake is to be aware that God is with you always. Saints in both Old Testament and New have taken great comfort in this fact. The Psalmist said, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." And "The Lord is my refuge and strength. An ever present help in time of trouble." Jesus promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Are you going through life aware of God's presence and work? If not, you just might be asleep.
To be spiritually awake opens our eyes so we can see what God is doing. Philippians 2.13 "it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Are you aware of what God is doing in your life? I wonder, what is it that God wants to do? What is it that He needs to do? Yes, God is a surgeon and surgeons work best when the patient is asleep. This is different though, because spiritual sleep is self-induced, often brought on by a casual regard for sin. But God is telling us to "wake up." Paul reminds us that "the day is almost here." The day when our Savior returns. Will he find us awake and aware, embracing the presence and work of God or will we finally wake up on "that day" and realize all that we have missed?
Friends, the Bible tells us we are in the last days leading up to the Lord's return. This isn't a time for sleep but to be awake and to engage our world. People around us are hurting. It seems the whole world is on edge. Edge of default. Edge of crisis. Edge of war. Edge of loss jobs, illness and famine and more. Why not ask the Lord to tell you what you should do? What could our response be to so many who are hurting? Could it be that the Lord is waiting for us to wake up in order to tangibly touch people in His name?
Blessings,
Pastor Pete
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