God told us! Don’t be surprised!

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power.  (2 Timothy 3:1–5) 

Do you recognize anybody?

God told us! What should we do?

I’m in agony about current events. And yet, I know, I know, these times were prophesized. I know God is sovereign and is using these horrible events for His righteous purpose. 

I am to focus on God rather than the current calamity. 

If there is something helpful, something godly, I can do, I must, in obedience to God, do it.

But my focus needs to be on our glorious, almighty, holy, righteous God. 

An example

David returned to his city, Ziklag, and found that the Amalekites had burned it with fire and taken captive all who were in it.

David and all those with him, lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. 

The people became embittered and spoke of stoning David.

David was distressed.    

But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:1–6) 

Study and Pray and Praise

We should:

1. Remember God’s word. Review the prophesies of His prophets. Remember His promises to His children.

2. Pray with thanksgiving.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6) 

3. Praise our holy God

4. Trust Him, obeying as called, and submitting to His will.

And His peace will come

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 4:7) 

~~~

Father, Your instructions to us sound so simple. And, often, it is so difficult. Please help us grow in knowledge of You, in love for You, and in obedience to Your commands. Help us live as children of Light. 

No Matter What

God told Habakkuk He would bring judgment on Israel with the Chaldeans. In three chapters, Habakkuk went from mourning his country’s sins, to questioning why God would bring judgment on them by the country more wicked than they, to determining to praise God no matter what.

Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.  (Habakkuk 3:17–19) 

Several years ago, I had a serious eye problem many miles from my regular doctors. I received very concerning news about my condition and the possible consequences. On the long drive home, I was little help with navigation because I couldn’t read the (huge) road signs until it was too late.

During this scary time, I learned a lot about God’s sovereignty and love. He is my loving sovereign and would be with me no matter what happened with my eyesight. 

I made Habakkuk’s statement into my own. (See When Storms Come, page 193.)

In these difficult times, I urge you to use Habakkuk to develop your own prayer, identifying what is most concerning to you, and determining to praise God no matter what.

Determine now to pray:

Though [this horrible thing happens]

And even if [I suffer this specific loss]

And, even worse, if [some disaster comes]

Yet I will praise God for […]

I will rejoice in His […], etc.

~~~

Praise God!

Be Alert, Be Available

After 9/11 I found people so much more open to conversations about Jesus Christ. Now, during the health and economic effects of Covid-19, and civil unrest, some are more willing to listen.

We, as Christians, have always had the command to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8,  Matthew 28:19).  

We have been given different gifts (Ephesians 4:7), and we are to make the most of the opportunities God gives us (Ephesians 5:15-16).

The Lord will give us opportunities to speak about Him to others. We are to keep alert to see these openings. And we must determine to be available when they arise.

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.  (Colossians 4:5-6) 

We are not responsible for the (apparent) outcome. We are responsible to stay alert, be available, and, making the most of the opportunities God gives us, speak about the gospel, about Christ, with love and gentleness. 

I once heard evangelism compared to a chain. It may be that we are the first link in a chain that the Lord will use, or perhaps we’re in the middle of the chain somewhere. Sometimes we have the incredible blessing of seeing someone turn to the Lord in repentance and belief. 

Remember, people are saved by grace through faith, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). It is not our doing. 

But God will hold us accountable for taking, or refusing, the opportunities He gives us.

~~~~

Lord, please help us be alert and available to You, making the most of the opportunities You give us. Thank You for Your incomprehensible gift of salvation. 

~~~~

See also Becoming a Child of God. 

Be Ready

In heaven we, Christians, are described as having “made ourselves ready.”

The marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Revelation 19:7–8)

Now is the time to get ready.

Get ready:

For Judgment

You also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. (Matthew 24:44) 

Prepare to meet your God. (Amos 4:12) 

Judgment is coming. Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? (See Becoming a Child of God.) 

For Trouble

In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. (John 14:1) 

Expect trouble. (1 Peter 4:12) 

Prepare! See When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready?

As a Witness

If you are a Christian, you are a witness to Christ with your life and with your words.

You shall be My witnesses. (Acts 1:8) 

Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. (1 Peter 3:15) 

Are you walking in a manner worthy of your calling? (Ephesians 4:1)

Think through, in advance, what you will say about Christ when you have the opportunity. You might prepare a short and longer versions. And think how you might address common objections. 

For action

We are created for good works. We are given opportunities.

Be ready for every good deed. (Titus 3:1)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) 

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13) 

Expect opportunities. Watch for open doors. 

In General

Know the word of God.

Be alert to opportunities to speak and act.

Be “prayed up.”

Don’t be surprised at trouble. You are being sanctified, and this may be a powerful moment to witness to Christ with your actions and attitude.

Prepare! Make yourself ready!

The Ugliness of Sin

I’m in agony about current events, and realized it—ALL of it—is rooted in sin. 

Slavery is a bad evil. Sin at every step. Sin by those who captured and sold humans, sin by those who traded, transported, and bought humans, sin by societies/nations that made slavery legal, sin by those who mistreated humans. (Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7) 

Racial, ethnic, economic (etc.) prejudice is sin. (James 2:4)

Looting (stealing), destroying, violence, assaults, murder are sins. (Exodus 20:1-20)

Injustice is sin. (Leviticus 19:15)

Vengeance is sin. (Romans 12:19)

And the list goes on.

Even Covid19 stems from sin. (Romans 5:12)

God judges individuals

Individually we have responsibility for our personal sins. God holds us accountable and told us that the wages of sin is death. The great good news is that if we repent, believe in Jesus Christ, and receive Him as our Lord and Savior, we are saved from our sins. (See Becoming a Child of God.)

But if individuals do not repent and believe, they die in their sins. (John 8:24)

As Christians, we must continually live in a way that honors God, confess our sins, and receive His forgiveness and cleansing. 

We must also continually pray for others to recognize God’s holiness, their sin, and turn to Him in repentance and belief.

National and societal sin

Sins also corrupts organizations, societies, and nations leading to bad habits, customs, laws, regulations, policies, etc. 

As Christians, we have a responsibility to work towards societies that support godly behavior and condemn sin. Not all of us are called to making that our focused mission, but we cannot ignore the problem, and we must pray and act as God leads us.

What to do. What to do…

PRAY!

If we watch any news, we can’t avoid seeing violence, arson, destruction, looting, “random” attacks, unjust killing.

It is easy, at least for me, to want immediate and harsh consequences. Instant judgment.

And, certainly, the US needs a legal system that is timely and just.

But, do I pray for the perpetrators? Or just condemn?

God wants the wicked to return to Him so He can have compassion and pardon. (Isaiah 55:6–7) 

God is patient, wanting all to come to repentance, not wishing any to perish.  (2 Peter 3:9) 

I am determined to remember that I, too, was once the enemy of God. (Romans 5:10)

I am determined to pray for individuals and groups to see God’s truth and holiness, to see their own sin, to repent and turn to God for salvation.

And I am determined to pray for those individually affected by the violence. Some are not (yet) saved and I need for pray for that. Some are Christians and I will pray that they turn to God, their loving sovereign, for healing and growth. 

And I am determined to praise holy God who is working everything after the counsel of His will.

Yes, He will judge. Yes, not all will be saved.

But our glorious, incomprehensible God is calling all to return to Him so He can have compassion and save them.

Let’s pray!

I am overwhelmed.

A killer virus. An unjust death. Protests. Riots. Violence. Murders. Part of a major US city taken over. 

I believe Almighty God is sovereign. I believe that for His children, this will make us more like Christ and bring Him glory. I believe He is able to do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think. I believe that nothing is impossible for Him.

I believe we, God’s people, have the responsibility to pray. I believe His ears will be attentive, if

My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:15)

Let’s pray!

See also Pray for Your Country

Opening Up

The US is opening up after more than two months of various restrictions due to the new virus. Our individual experiences were and are very different. In my own family some continued to work, some began home schooling their children, some had their businesses closed, one lost his job permanently. Each of us had and have challenges.

During both strict and relaxed restrictions, we had and have opportunities. Our routines were affected, even if we continued to work. For most of us, we had more time at home. Shopping for essentials changed. Shopping for anything changed.

These changes generated new opportunities. How did we use the additional time at home? Did we respond with grace to shortages of items we needed? 

There are new opportunities now that restrictions are being eased. We may be out of the house more, or back to work, or in summer routine rather than homeschooling. There are new conflicts between those who wear masks and those who don’t. There is disagreement, sometimes heated, about how fast to reopen. There are long standing political conflicts. 

As Christians, we have opportunities to use hardship, disappointments, and conflicts to honor God and demonstrate to others His love and power. We have new chances to testify about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I am praying to recognize these opportunities and to speak up in love and gentleness. 

I think God gave the whole world a reminder that we are not in charge, He is. Let’s witness to Him while we can.

The US is opening up. Let us open up also.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) 

Hope Keeps Us Going

Actions often are based on expectations about the future. We do something expecting some result. (We also often act as a result of habit or settled routine. This post is not about that.)

The stronger the expectation, the more likely we will keep going through hard times. I’m sure you can think of examples in your own life: finishing a project, graduating, running that last mile, loving a prodigal child.

“It’s always darkest before the dawn.”

In that quip, the coming dawn is the hope that keeps us going.

For Christians, our dawn is the hope laid up for us in heaven. (Colossians 1:5)

We have God-given promises about the future and the present. These promises are guaranteed, not uncertain. (See Our Hope)

Scripture often links behavior to hope 

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.  (Matthew 5:12) 

Exult in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2) 

We labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God.  (1 Timothy 4:10) 

Hebrews 11

Hebrew 11 is referred to as the faith chapter, detailing heroes of the faith. It is also the chapter of hope because these men and women were assured their hope was true. 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  (Hebrews 11:1) 

Act in light of God-given hope

To act consistently with our God-given hope, we should:

Review the hope God has given us, not only in eternity, but in this world as well.

Believe Him!

Fix your hope completely on God. 

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  (1 Peter 1:13) 

Pray! 

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)