Verse of the Day: James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Memory of the Month: Proverbs 15:1-A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Today's reading: PROVERBS 25-26 2 CORINTHIANS 9
Get In The Fight
I have a friend who follows Christ. He prays everyday for the names on his prayer list, maintains a written journal, reads the scripture daily, and works on scripture memory. In other words, this man attempts a life of piety in the Lord Jesus.
As we visited, he told me that when he prays, lately, he has become aware of a greater sickness than any physical sickness that exists. He then spoke of the illness of a people-the deception of the hoards. Worse yet, what seems to be the apathy of those who call themselves 'believers in Christ' is widespread.
"I don't want to sit in judgement, but this is heavy on my heart. I have cancer yet I feel a little odd praying for physical healing for some when the greatest need is inner healing-spiritual and mental healing. So many people are like me with cancer and the list grows but how do I pray for the inner healing? That list is endless"
The only answer, of course, is the righteousness of God in Christ. What my friend described is the age-old 'good versus evil' war that rages.
Evil is a sickness-soul sickness. Jesus came to heal this sickness and set us all free. Sadly, existing evidence of this 'real freedom' is rare. People are afraid to leave their homes in some quarters. Those who have to get out are immunized and masked and practice 'distancing' and yet carry fear like a chain around their necks.
Proverbs 26:13: The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
And, yes there is a lion..., but God tells us through Peter,
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8
When we walk in Christ as sober and vigilant followers, his love is made perfect in us and we fear not.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
So, pray for those who are ill to be healed but pray also for those who are lost and the sick in spirit-those tormented by fear. Think of the difference in our world if all those who call themselves followers of Christ--who are tormented by fear just because of disobedience--would seek God and His kingdom and His righteousness with all their hearts and souls.
The lost would see the message lived out before them. These captives would be set free.
God's true love would be perfected in all of us as we live sober and vigilant lives for Him.
When we do pray, and I pray it is often, remember the weight on my friend's heart because it is grieving God's heart. God sent His son so that 'whosoever believes' would come to His saving knowledge and that the believer would be changed into the image of His son.
"You see, He knew those who would be His one day, and He chose them beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of a new family of believers, all brothers and sisters. As for those He chose beforehand, He called them to a different destiny so that they would experience what it means to be made right with God and share in His glory."(Romans 8:28, 29, THe Voice trans.)
God makes us right to share in His Glory and then says:
“Be holy, for I am holy.”1 Peter 1:16
Spiritual healing has been provided by the blood of Christ on Calvary. It is the ultimate healing for eternity--God's medicine for 'whosoever will'.
God wills it...but how about our will? He provides all the love we need to walk in any street and never fear so His love will be perfected in us. This is the one thing the enemy fears most-our being perfected in God's love. This is where the enemy puts all energy and resources to war against God's righteousness-to take us out of the fight-to make us sick-so the lost will not hear.
But God is the ultimate defeat of darkness, weakness, and hate. You know where you are. Get in front of God and confess it and He will heal all and get you back into the good fight.
Through Him, Christ, we can do whatever He wills...
Romans 8: 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Get in the fight...
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven,
Forgive me for not seeking, dropping the ball, being lazy. Have mercy on me and get me back in the fight. I will follow You.
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