Direct Question
Friday, June 12, 2020 Good morning, Lord V.O.D.: Psalm 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. M.O.M.: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 In a year: Ezra 6-8 John 21
Direct Question
In light of all the unrest in our country, what should we do? What would Jesus do? What should a good man/woman do?
Herein is the great problem. We are directing our question in the wrong direction. All of the above questions are lateral questions. Many think they have the right answers-many think they know without question what Jesus would do in any situation because they have been taught by someone else 'how Jesus thinks'.
We have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 ►for, "Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
You make a decision to drive downtown. Between here and downtown, how many steps do you take? How many buttons do you push? What key do you use? What road do you travel? Much of this is almost muscle memory-a sort of mindless repetition-I get that. But every movement follows decision. Decisions based on the best information gathered over time are our habits.
Is asking God what to do a habit? Is using the mind of Christ the way you live?
The old testament is full of failures by the people of God to follow His rule-failure to obey. This brings on the wrath of God and harsh judgement. In Chapter 7 of the book of Ezra, Artaxerxes, king of Persia, gave Ezra a letter and in it said this: Ezra 7:23 Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons. Ezra and the people prayed for safe passage back home: Exra 8:23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. Ezra 8:31 The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way.
The point to all this is to say that God's people, asked God before they moved one step. Even the king of Persia, who was not one of God's people, was afraid of the wrath of God.
Whatever we do-whatever our reaction or our 'pro-action'-in obedience to God we must act only after we have asked God directly His direction.
It starts with what we are thinking. If it is not of faith, it is sin. Romans 14:23
If we wonder what to do, it is because we have not given our thoughts over to God and asked Him from the mind of Christ, "In your love, oh God, what can I do?"
Put the phone down. Turn the TV off. Sit in silence, or kneel if you can, before God. We are no longer objects of God's wrath, Ephesians 2, and are being made together and inhabited by God's Spirit, also Ephesians 2.
Don't waste what you have been given. Life in Christ is real and must be personally realized.
Ask God and rest in Him. He will listen and He will lead-always.
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven, Forgive me my fear of the tension in the world. Show me what to think and do-I will follow. Mighty God of mercy and forgiveness and restoration, In the name of Jesus, Amen