Michelle Adserias

Be Thou My Vision

Photo Copyright: www.godponderings.com

Our little farm is overrun with critters – cute, but destructive, critters.

It started with one or two rabbits that are now eight to ten rabbits. It’s impossible to keep a garden! They eat everything as quickly as it shoots up.

Then there was a ground hog. She blessed us with three babies who liked the neighborhood enough to stick round. Now there are four or five ground hogs in our yard. They have expanded their tunneling efforts from under the barn to under the granary and the machine shed. Plus, I just discovered a new tunnel in the hill outside our house.

Cute or not the critters have to go before they destroy what’s valuable to us – our property.

I love to have fun – to a fault. I have a couple of pass-times that are much like those critters. They started out small and innocent enough. Ways to entertain myself at the end of a busy day. But they have grown into destructive forces in my life. They eat away precious time. I find myself neglecting to

“Redeem the time because the days are evil…” (Ephesians 5:16)

They are now burrowing in during the day. The snippets of time I used to spend in prayer and thoughtful contemplation, I now fill with fun. They distract my mind from eternal things. They compete for pre-eminence in my life. Bottom line? They burrow into my spiritual foundations and undermine what is most valuable to me: my first love.

“But I hold this one thing against you, you have lost your first love.” (Revelation 2:4)

Maybe wasting time isn’t a sinkhole for you, like it is for me. Maybe you get caught up in the pursuit of wealth or possessions. Gaining a fortune and enjoying the fruits of your labor are not inherently bad things (Abraham, for example, was a very godly, very wealthy man) if the Lord still holds first place in your heart.

Do not lay up your treasures on earth…” (Matthew 6:19-20)

Perhaps you seek a certain level of fame or notoriety – as an influencer on social media or a somebody in your own community or sphere of influence. Again, those are not necessarily bad things. But who you are in Christ must remain more valuable than who you are in the eyes of the world.

“Thou and thou only first in my heart…”

The writer of this very old hymn had an undivided heart, with one desire, and one desire only – for God to be forever and always first in everything. Fun, fortune and fame all took second place to her true inheritance in Christ. Her longing to let nothing distract her, pull her away from the High King of Heaven is clear in her desperate plea to God:

Be Thou my vision!

This lovely, ancient hymn touches a place deep inside me. Sometimes I think it’s the tune drawing out my Celtic roots, or the passionate lyrics resonating with my inner writer. Mostly, I believe it expresses the plea of my own, often distracted and divided heart better than I ever could:

“Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision of Ruler of all!”

I Know Whom I Have Believed

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I remember liking this hymn as a child. Part of it was the lilting tune. Mostly, it was the sense of security and confidence it instilled in me. There were, and still are, many things I don’t understand about my faith.

While we walk with God through our days here on earth, there are spiritual unknowns. As 1 Corinthians 13:9 says, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part…” Our minds, limited by time and space and our frail human frames, cannot fully comprehend why our holy God even cares about us, or how Christ’s righteousness is imputed to our sinful selves.

Like the hymnwriter, we don’t fully understand how the Holy Spirit works. We know that He leads us, intercedes for us, and convicts us – but how? How to we come to recognize that still small voice? Without dangling our toes too deeply into the predestination vs. free will debate, why are some compelled to follow Christ, while others turn their backs on Him? What is God’s role and what is our role in becoming conformed to the image of His Son? (Romans 8:29)

We can’t know what the future holds. God ordained all our days before any of them came to pass (Psalm 139:16) but we aren’t privy to how they will play out; whether our lives will be filled with extraordinary joy, devasting sorrow or our expected share of ups and downs.

And the greatest unknown of all is when Christ will return in great power and glory, revealing Himself to the world as the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. Perhaps it will be in our generation. Perhaps many more generations will eagerly await His return.

“… but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with.” (! Corinthians 13:10). However, the day is coming when we will leave this world behind and join Christ in heaven, where we will be perfected. Then, we’ll be able to see everything clearly. It will all make sense. All our questions will be answered.

After recounting all the things he doesn’t know, D.W. Whittle (the writer) uses the chorus to affirm what he does know:

“But ‘I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him, against that day.’”

Other than the “but,” this hymn chorus is an exact quote of 2 Timothy 1:12, taken from the King James Version. It is a statement of confident expectation. If we have put our faith in Christ alone for our salvation, we can say with certainty we know who we believe. We know what God has already done for us – bringing us into His family when we were undeserving and calling us to live to His glory.

We have a confident expectation that God is storing up all those things we’ve done to His glory for the day we meet Him in eternity. No sacrifice we’ve made has escaped His notice. No tear we’ve shed has been lost. No service we’ve rendered with the right motives will be unrewarded. When our focus is on “glorifying God and enjoying Him forever” we store up treasures in heaven.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.” (Revelation 22:12)

Trust and Obey

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Have you ever pondered why the hymnwriter paired trust and obey together? How, exactly, are trusting in God and being obedient to Him connected?

When I was in college, a very long time ago, I went to a concert put on by the African Children’s Choir, free of charge. They were amazing! It was all I could do not to sway and clap along with them as they praised God – something I would have done if audience participation had been encouraged.

The freewill offering buckets were passed during intermission to support the choir’s ministry. I had $10 in my wallet, the only money I had to my name at the time. I had nothing in savings, no secret stash under my mattress, not even a change jar I could raid.

“Put that money in the offering.” The prompting of the Holy Spirit was almost audible inside my head. An internal “discussion” (aka argument) ensued.

“But Lord, I’ll be broke, and payday is still a week away.”

“Put the money in the offering.” The ushers were making their way toward my seat in the back.

“Father, I have to have some money to live on.”

“All you have to give is that $10 bill, and I want you to give it all. Trust Me.”

As the bucket made its way down my aisle, I reluctantly surrendered to God and gave Him everything I had. God was testing me, to see whether I really did trust Him enough to obey even when it was hard, even when I couldn’t see what the outcome would be. It was an act of both trusting and obeying.

I’d like to say I’ve won the victory, and chosen obedience, every time my faith has been tested. Even though God proved Himself faithful by sending an unexpected refund in the mail the following Monday, and even though He’s proven Himself trustworthy innumerable times since that day, I’m still prone to distrust and disobedience.

Perhaps you’ve learned, as I have, it’s easier to obey God when we trust Him to take care of us. Philippians 4:19 promises:

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

We find it difficult to obey God if we don’t trust He’ll provide our needs.

It’s also hard to take a stand for Him in this anti-Christian culture if we don’t believe His assurances in Isaiah 55:11:

“So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.”

And we struggle to set our own agenda to follow God’s lead if we aren’t confident we’re glorifying God and investing in eternity. But we can count on this promise in Galatians 6:9:

“Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.”

So, let’s not lose heart. Let’s run the race set before us – trusting in our faithful Father who never breaks His word and obeying our Lord and King who is worthy of our undying allegiance.

But we never can prove, the delights of His love until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows and delight He bestows are for them who will trust and obey.

(Trust and Obey, John H. Sammis)

I Love to Tell the Story

Do you have a favorite story – one you tell over and over again?

I have one. In fact, I just told it earlier today.

My husband and I come from quite different backgrounds. He’s a city kid. I’m a country kid. His extended family would fit in a large living room. My extended family would need a convention center. He grew up in a home that didn’t prioritize church. I grew up in a home that seldom missed a Sunday.

My husband’s family gathered for a reunion a few years ago. As folks were telling of days gone by, someone told the story of family members who had run liquor during the prohibition. When they finished, I put my hand on my husband’s shoulder and said in a serious tone, “My people were praying for your people.”

We laughed then, and have laughed many times since, over that moment (seriously though, it’s probably true). Maybe your favorite story is funny, like mine. Maybe it’s a cute story about something your child or pet did, an exciting story about something adventurous you did, or an amazing story about something miraculous God has done. We’re eager to relay our stories because of the impact they had on our lives.

Our stories also give others a glimpse of who we are at the core. It can be unnerving to let people see what’s inside us.

I think that’s why I’m sometimes reluctant to tell the story that changed my life. What will people think of me if they know what’s most important to me? It’s THE story. I wanted – needed – to hear it. So, what makes me think other people don’t?

It’s the one about Jesus, and how He died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin, so I could stand in God’s presence purified and righteous.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

It’s the story about how God adopted me and called me His own, even though I’ve never done anything to deserve it.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15)

And how one day, when I die or Christ returns (whichever comes first), I’ll go and live with Him forever in a place that He’s preparing for me.

In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. (John 14:2-3)

I hope this is your story, too. And I hope you have more courage to tell it than I sometimes do. It’s a story that can bring hope to people in despair, peace to people wracked by all sorts of conflict, and joy to those who’ve known too much sorrow. It’s a timeless story with the power to transform lives.

I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love; I love to tell the story because I know ’tis true, it satisfies my longing as nothing else can do.

(I Love to Tell the Story by A. Catherine Hankey)

Abide with Me

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The world is rapidly changing. More accurately, the world is rapidly declining – and the downward spiral is exponential. At every turn, God-honoring values are under attack, as are the people willing to take a stand for Christ.

Persecution is on the rise worldwide. According to the most recent World Watch List from Open Doors at www.opendoors.org, the number of countries where Christians suffer serious to severe persecution has nearly doubled over the past thirty years, from 40 countries in 1993 to 79 countries in 2023. If current trends continue in this country, the day is coming (my guess would be sooner rather than later) when the persecution of the American church will reach beyond antagonism, hatred and verbal attacks.

Creation, an unwitting prisoner of sin’s consequences (Romans 8:20-21), is also in decline. More species face extinction, invasive species are doing untold damage, pollution continually increases, and man’s well-intended attempts to fix the problems are usually counter-productive. There are fewer songbirds, bats and bees, fewer resources, and fewer places to see creation unscathed.

None of this surprises me. It’s all in the Bible. God revealed to us that, in the final days, evil would increase

Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. (Matthew 24:9-12)

and that the earth would grow weary and worn.

In time of old You founded the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
Even they will perish, but You endure;
All of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will pass away. (Psalm 102:25-26)

It can be discouraging. But God couched these truths with encouraging words. He told us He will return to claim His own

And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)

and even when everything else changes, He will never change.

But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.

The children of Your servants will continue,
And their descendants will be established before You.” (Psalm 102:27-28)

All the ugliness we’re witnessing has its place in God’s greater plan – a plan we’re not entirely privy to. (Matthew 5:18) We’re traveling as sojourners and strangers in a foreign land, living for God’s glory until we reach our heavenly home. (1 Peter 2:11) When we’re embroiled in battles, it’s easy to think the enemy is people who oppose us, but the true enemy is Satan. Our battle is not against our fellow human beings – but dark spiritual forces. (Ephesians 6:12)

Do you ever get tired of fighting the good fight for Christ?

I do. When I’m tired, I’m tempted to hermit away in my home and shake my head at the headlines; bemoaning the demise of objective journalism, wondering at peoples’ irrationality, praying against godless forces, and wondering when God will run out of patience and intervene. I find myself crying out with the psalmist,

“How long, O Lord, will you look on?” (Psalm 35:17)

At those moments, God reminds me He’s closing the door on this world so He can usher in His kingdom. But, because He doesn’t want people to eternally perish, He’s closing the door slowly, patiently (2 Peter 3:9). My job, in the meantime, is to abide with Him, living out each day in humble obedience.

Perhaps that’s why I find the words of Henry Lyte’s hymn, “Abide with Me” so comforting.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day. Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me! (“Abide with Me”, Henry Lyte)

Holy, Holy, Holy

We, the church, have a calling on our lives. Corporately and individually, our task is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” While the expressions of that truth look different in each of our lives (based on our gifts and talents) …

And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ. -Eph. 4:11

… we each live life best when we live sold-out to our Savior. And that’s what makes the body strong enough to stand in this anti-church age.

“We do not want to a church that will move with the world, we want a church that will move the world.” G.K. Chesterton

First, we looked at holy living in light of our kinship to Christ. Last time, we considered God’s sovereignty. Today let’s look at God’s holiness, before moving on to the last reason winning the spiritual victory is so vital.

Be Holy as God is Holy

Our King, our Creator, our Savior and Lord, is a holy God. He is perfect in all things. In this, our God is singular (which is what holiness means). No one but our Triune God is sinless.

There is no one holy like the Lord, indeed, there is no one besides You… – 1 Samuel 2:2a

I love this verse from, the old hymn Holy, Holy, Holy, which captures it so well.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee;

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,

Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee –

Perfect in power, in love and purity. – Reginald Heber

Not only is God holy, He commands us to be holy.

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:14-16

If God alone is holy, how can He command us to be holy? By our own strength and will it’s impossible. But if, in humility and repentance, we allow Christ’s shed blood to wash away the sinful impurities in our lives, we can stand before God holy and complete.

“I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. – Isaiah 57:15b

This isn’t an exact quote, but I recently heard a pastor say this: “Lament is the language of worship in the church where the Man of Sorrows dwells.” That sheds quite a different light on what worship should look like, doesn’t it?

Consequences of Unholiness

God can’t tolerate unholiness, so He made a way to pardon sin through Christ.

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” – John 3:36

However, He must judge the unrepentant. It’s the only perfectly just thing for God to do. So yes, those who reject Christ will spend eternity in hell.

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

God’s holiness makes Him jealous of our undivided devotion and allegiance. In Exodus 20:5 (part of the 10 Commandments), God explains that we must have no other gods because He is a jealous God. In Isaiah, God says He will share His glory with no one – and rightly so! No created thing is worthy of His glory.

So, what happens when people reject God and worship the idols of our world?

A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; the Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. – Nahum 1:2

If we are in Christ, we’re delivered from God’s wrath. But there’s a whole world of people out there who aren’t. Living a holy life in the midst of an ungodly world will give us opportunities to invite others to find peace with God. But more about that next time.

O Worship the King

This is the second in a series looking at why it’s imperative that we, the church, are victorious over sin, over selfishness, and over cultural conformity.

In my last blog, Children of the Heavenly Father, we looked at the first reason living holy, God-honoring lives; because of who we are in Christ. This time we’ll begin looking at the second reason; because of who we serve.

We serve the great “I Am”

We serve a great God; a great, wonderful, powerful, awe-inspiring God. The God who created all things from nothing, by simply speaking them into existence.

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

– Genesis 1:3

He even created time, and therefore exists eternally free from it. He always was and always will be. God, existing in three persons, is the only eternal being. That’s why Christ alone, through His sin sacrifice and conquering resurrection, can give us eternal life.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” – John 8:58

“Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” – Revelation 1:17b-18

We serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Our God reigns, supreme and sovereign over all of creation, all of this world’s events, over all earthly authority.

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion, Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. – 1 Chronicles 29:11

We can, and should, be good stewards of the natural resources God has entrusted to us, but God still controls creation. He dictates when and where the rain will fall, and which volcanoes will erupt and whether the climate will change.

He also loads the clouds with moisture; He disperses the cloud of His lightning. It changes direction, turning around by His guidance, that it may do whatever He commands it on the face of the inhabited earth. Whether for correction, or for His earth, or for goodness, He causes it to happen. -Job 37:11-13

The Lord of Lords also orchestrates world events for His purposes, to His glory. He gives and He takes away. As one old hymn says, he sends both “bain and blessings.” His plan is playing out before our very eyes. We needn’t be distressed about the chaos around us. God’s got this!

For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My plan will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’ – Isaiah 46: 9b-10

And the King of King has ultimate authority over every world leader. God allows world leaders to sit in their positions of authority. God allows Satan to wreak havoc on this earth. God takes out leaders, too. And one day, hopefully soon, Satan chaotic reign on this earth will come to an end. We don’t understand God’s reasons, nor does He owe us an explanation. We rest in the knowledge that God has it all under control.

It is He who changes the times and the periods; He removes kings and appoints kings; – Daniel 2:21a

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. – Revelation 20:10

Our God and King, who is unlike any god conceived in man’s imagination or any earthly king, is worthy of our unabated worship, our jubilant praise and our unwavering devotion. He is worthy of our complete submission and obedience. Let’s ask God for the desire and strength to love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength.

O worship the king, all-glorious above,

O gratefully sing His power and His love;

Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,

Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Next Time: Holy, Holy, Holy

Trust in the Lord

I can’t speak for anyone else, but the chaos of these past two years has left me with some daunting uncertainties about what the future holds. Of course, we can never know what the future holds. But we usually have some idea of how it will be. For me, it was traveling after retirement, financial security, and living in a nation that looked much like the nation of my childhood.

All the changes, all the disappointments, all the swirling controversies – both here in the United States and worldwide – have left me unsettled. It’s been a real struggle! I went through my Jacob phase, wrestling with God. I went through my Jonah phase, pouting in the wilderness while God patiently extended his grace just a little longer. Now I’m in trying to settle into my Paul phase, finding contentment in every circumstance. I’m learning to surrender my plans to God’s plans.

Sometimes the “fright or flight” instinct still rears its ugly head. I have no reason to live in fear because I have a Savior who loves me perfectly.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)

So, I think about running. But where would I run to? Another state? Another country? A desolate island? There’s nowhere to flee from the realities of this broken world. There’s no way to escape, unless God chooses to take me to my eternal home.

Until then, the only safe place to fly is straight into the arms of Jesus.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your hearts before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalm 62:8)

No government or political leader can be counted on for refuge. Neighbors who once sat together on the front porch sipping iced tea have taken to turning each other in for Covid-19 mandate infractions. There are violent clashes between groups with opposing ideologies. Even churches and families are badly fractured.

Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

(Psalm 146:3-5)

Christ is our only hope; not people, not money, not possessions. That’s always been true. Perhaps recent events have just made the truth more pronounced. Living for the things of this world is pointless. That’s always been true, too. Perhaps recent events have just made this truth more pronounced, as well.

If we put our faith in Christ, relying on the sin sacrifice He made on our behalf when He died on the cross (and the forgiveness the sacrifice procures when we repent before our most Holy God) we have an eternal hope and eternal glory to live for. Sometimes I find myself more consumed with how I’m going to get through this mess unscathed than on storing up heavenly treasures.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Matthew 6:19-21)

When that happens, when my focus shifts from the eternal to the earthly, God reminds me it’s time to run to Him for refuge. It’s time to hide in the shadow of His wings. It’s time run for me to rest in His unfailing care. He wants you to flee to refuge in Him, too. Trust Him with your whole heart. Even when you face difficult times, you won’t be disappointed.

Trust in the Lord, O troubled soul, rest in the arms of His care.

Whatever thy lot, it mattereth not, for nothing can trouble thee there.

Trust in the Lord, O troubled soul, nothing can trouble thee there.

(Trust in the Lord, Thomas O. Chisholm)

*** Photo COpyright: www.godponderings.com

The Church Victorious, The Church at Rest

We, the church, are embroiled in a battle. And if we aren’t aware of it, we should be.

The church, as a corporate body needs to be actively engaged in warfare for all that God calls good. We, as individuals, (because we are the church) need to be actively engaged in warfare for all that God calls good. We cannot be “the church victorious” if we surrender to this culture which labels all God calls good “evil.”

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

(Isaiah 5:20)

But how? How do we fight this battle?

On a physical level, we fight by living our lives to the glory of God. We chose obedience when Satan tempts us to violate God’s commands. We exercise self-control when our flesh screams for satisfaction. We speak truth when other voices tell lies. We respond to hatred with God-grounded agape; not a love that gives unchecked license to bad behavior, but one that says, “I love you too much to let you continue down the path of self-destruction and eternal damnation.”

I’m not suggesting it’s easy. I fail all the time! Then the Holy Spirit reminds me I’ve done wrong. I ask forgiveness. I repent. My good Father forgives me, and by the power of the Spirit, I move forward to God’s glory. I’m so thankful for His mercy!

The statement is trustworthy: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

(2 Timothy 2:11-13)

But it’s easier when we understand our battle is not merely physical. We’re really fighting a spiritual war that manifests itself not only in internal struggles, and emotional turmoil, but in physical and intellectual earthly conflicts as well.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

(Ephesians 6:12)

It’s also easier when we go out into the world ready for whatever the enemy (Satan) throws at us. That’s why putting on our spiritual armor is so important.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(Ephesians 6:13-17)

Truthfully, there are days taking time to sit at Jesus’ feet doesn’t seem feasible. Our Father understands our human frailty, so I don’t want to make this a harsh, legalistic thing. But being prepared for battle is important. Holy habits are important: prayer, studying God’s Word, fellowship, and gathering for corporate worship. God uses these to equip and strengthen us.

As I get older, however, I find the struggle is less about preparation and more about endurance. I’m tired! I want to rest. I don’t want to run the race anymore. Yet, as long as God gives me breath, I’m called to battle. As long as He gives you breath, you’re called to battle alongside me. God left us these encouraging words to spur us on.

Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us.

(Hebrews 12:1)

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

(1 Timothy 6:12)

And He promised, no matter how dismal the odds seem at times, that we (the church) are going to win the war! In truth, the victory was won the morning Jesus left His empty tomb behind. We’re just fighting the good fight until Christ returns or takes us home.

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

(John 16:33)

For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world;

even our faith.

(1 John 5:4)

I borrowed today’s blog title from this portion of Samuel Wesley’s hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation.”

“Till, with the vision glorious (Christ on His throne)

Her (the church’s) longing eyes are blessed

And the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.”

Our day of rest is coming, but it’s not here yet! So…

Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.

(Galatians 6:9)

*Photo copyright: www.godponderings.com

These Times

A few of you may have noticed I took a sabbatical from blogging. All the crazy events of this past year toyed with my heart and my head. I had to work through some things before I could see, and hear, God clearly again.

Things are changing rapidly in our country. It was founded as “one nation under God,” but has thrown its Judeo-Christian foundations out the window. The church, when it stands with God and His truth, now stands squarely against the culture. We are more vulnerable to attack from this unredeemed world than we have been for decades.

If we live God-honoring lives, we will be targets. The church in the United States has enjoyed peace and freedom my entire life. I came to think of that as normal. But scripture makes it clear; this season of peace was a blip on the radar screen of church history. Persecution is normal, not peace.

“Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” – 2 Timothy 3: 12-13

So, U.S. church (and I ask this question of myself since I’m also part of the church) are we ready? Every day, we inch closer to losing our freedom to assemble and worship God without harassment. I believe the days of the persecution-free church are coming to a close.

^“Blessed are you when the people hate you, and when they exclude you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man. “ – Luke 6:22

We shouldn’t be surprised. These verses use words of certainty like “when” and “will” not words of possibility like “if” or “might.” Persecution is already a reality for the church in much of the world. Will we follow their example and be faithful to stand with Christ, no matter the cost?

Or maybe you’re wondering, why should we stand? Why not just go along to get along?

To borrow a phrase from an old hymn “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ through.” Our primary calling, as Christ-followers, is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. That requires obedience to God’s word, submission to God’s revealed will and ongoing direction, and unshakable hope for eternal things yet to come.

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

– Matthew 5:10

And how will we stand? How will we stand when we must give up our comforts and conveniences? How will we stand when they come for our homes? How will we stand when they come after our churches and families? How will we stand when it may require our very lives? By the power of God! By the ministry of the Holy Spirit! To the glory of God! To our eternal reward!

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

– Romans 8:16-17

I loved blogging about the amazing ways God reveals Himself through creation. I still see His sovereign hand at work all around me. But in these times, I’m convinced the church needs to prepare herself for rocky days ahead.

So, the focus of my blog will shift to these issues; spurring one another on to love and good deeds, reminding one another of the eternal rewards waiting for those who are faithful to God to the very end, and watching the signs pointing to Christ’s return as they unfold before our eyes. Most crucially, reminding all of us as this worldly battle rages on, Jesus has already won the victory.

These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

– John 16:33

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