There's a Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On!

"I have set the LORD
always before me.
Because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken."
(Psalm 16:8,
see also Acts 2:25)
My home is within about 10 miles of a major military base. From time to time, I can hear (and feel!) the military maneuvers in progress. The aftershocks physically shake my home, rattling windows in the frame, popping nails in the ceiling, and shaking dishes in the cabinet. Sometimes, an explosion is so palpable that it quickens my heart, jolting and startling me, even though I'm halfway expecting it.

Today is one of those days, and, as I listen to the sound of military exercises for the practice of war, my heart is drawn to those in the Middle East, particularly those in Israel and the Gaza Strip, who are being shaken by the sounds of actual war.

I'm not sure that the Lord desires for my opinions about the current fighting there to litter this post, but I am sure that He desires my prayers for all who are being affected by it.

One thing I do know, as does anyone who treasures God's Word as recorded in The Holy Bible, is that we are commanded to pray for the peace of Israel. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels. For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity." (Psalm 122:6-9).

Another thing I know from God's Word is that there will not be lasting peace until He returns to restore it (reference, among other Scriptures, Isaiah 9:7, 49, 66:12-16; Jeremiah 23, 30; Ezekiel 13:10-16; Hosea 2:16-23; Micah 3:5; Haggai 2:1-9).

In the meantime, there is a whole lot of shakin' goin' on ... not only in Israel, not only in the Middle East, but in every city, every country, and every continent around the world. The shaking will only intensify until it culminates on the Day of the Lord (reference, among other Scriptures, Isaiah 2:6-22, 13, 24, 30; Joel 2; Amos 9; Haggai 2; Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-36).

As the Lord's shaking sifts and winnows, hold fast to Him. Be encouraged by His Spirit and enlightened by His Word.

"Do not fret because of evil men

or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass
they will soon wither,

like green plants
they will soon die away.

Trust in the LORD and do good;

dwell in the land
and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the LORD

and He will give you
the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in Him and He will do this:

He will make your righteousness
shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause
like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for Him;

do not fret
when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out
their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger
and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.

For evil men will be cut off,

but those who hope in the LORD
will inherit the land.

A little while,
and the wicked will be no more;

though you look for them,
they will not be found.

But the meek will inherit the land

and enjoy great peace.

The wicked plot
against the righteous

and gnash their teeth at them;

but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for He knows their day is coming.

The wicked draw the sword

and bend the bow

to bring down the poor and needy,

to slay those
whose ways are upright.

But their swords
will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

Better the little
that the righteous have

than the wealth of many wicked;

for the power of the wicked
will be broken,

but the LORD upholds the righteous.

The days of the blameless
are known to the LORD,

and their inheritance
will endure forever.

In times of disaster
they will not wither;

in days of famine
they will enjoy plenty.

But the wicked will perish:

The LORD's enemies will be
like the beauty of the fields,

they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

The wicked borrow and do not repay,

but the righteous give generously;

those the LORD blesses
will inherit the land,

but those He curses will be cut off.

If the LORD delights in a man's way,

He makes his steps firm;

though he stumble, he will not fall,

for the LORD upholds him
with His hand.

I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen
the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.

They are always generous
and lend freely;

their children will be blessed.

Turn from evil and do good;

then you will dwell
in the land forever.

For the LORD loves the just

and will not forsake His faithful ones.

They will be protected forever,

but the offspring of the wicked
will be cut off;

the righteous will inherit the land

and dwell in it forever.

The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,

and his tongue speaks what is just.

The law of his God is in his heart;

his feet do not slip.

The wicked lie in wait
for the righteous,

seeking their very lives;

but the LORD will not leave them
in their power

or let them be condemned
when brought to trial.

Wait for the LORD

and keep His way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;

when the wicked are cut off,
you will see it.

I have seen
a wicked and ruthless man

flourishing like a green tree
in its native soil,

but he soon passed away
and was no more;

though I looked for him,
he could not be found.

Consider the blameless,
observe the upright;

there is a future for the man of peace.

But all sinners will be destroyed;

the future of the wicked
will be cut off.

The salvation of the righteous
comes from the LORD;

He is their stronghold
in time of trouble.

The LORD helps them
and delivers them;

He delivers them from the wicked
and saves them,

because they take refuge in Him."

(Psalm 37)

Precious Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word, which enlightens and encourages us. Thank You for the gift Your Spirit, Who indwells and guides those who accept the gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23). Father, I pray for Your people, Israel. I pray so many things on their behalf, but, most of all, I pray for the complete revelation of You. I pray for those who harm them out of ignorance, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34). I do not know what to pray for those who purposefully defy You, but I trust in your justice and righteousness (reference Job 37:23; Psalm 9:8, 33:5, 36:6, 89:14, 92:2, 103:6; Isaiah 1:27, 5:16, 9:7, 16:5, 28:17, 32:1, 32:16, 33:5, 51:5, 56:1; Jeremiah 9:24; Hosea 2:19; Amos 5:24), and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, "the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1)! Amen.

" 'Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet My unfailing love for you
will not be shaken
nor My covenant of peace
be removed,'
says the LORD,
Who has compassion on you."
(Isaiah 54:10)

For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "Ready or Not"
• "Resolute ... in Absolute Truth"
• "A Holy Harvest"
• "No Flood is Greater than His Blood"
• "A Storm is Coming ..."
• "A Battle Rages ..."

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!
Copyright 2009. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.

Epiphany: Our Coming King

"Every good and perfect gift
is from above,
coming down from the Father
of heavenly lights,
Who does not change
like the shifting shadows.
He chose to give us birth
through the Word of Truth,
that we might be
a kind of firstfruits
of all He created."
(James 1:17-18)
Beloved, I pray that your Christmas was filled with the hope, love, joy, and peace of Jesus Christ!

As we begin to clean away the remnants of our celebration, and as the world moves along, expediently but blindly going about its business, I encourage you to linger in the glory of Christ. Move beyond the celebration of the manger to the appreciation of the cross. And look beyond the appreciation of the cross to the anticipation of the coming King.

Today begins a twelve-day journey from Trumpet and Torch Ministries, specifically written to keep us Christ-centered and King-focused as we move from 2008 ("The Year of the Lord's Favor") to 2009 ("The Year of the Harvest"). "Epiphany: The Coming King" provides three daily devotions (one for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), conveniently delivered via e-mail. Click here to receive twelve more days of Christmas!

Precious friends, God is so good to intersect the hearts of those who love and live for Him "at such a time as this" (reference Esther 4:14). It is indeed a divine blessing to share the privilege of serving our Lord with you.

Precious Father, I thank You for Your goodness, Your love, and Your good gifts, especially the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. As our traditional Christmas observances end, precious Father, I pray that we would remain filled with the ebuillient joy of the Wise Men (reference Matthew 2:10), the humble amazement of the shepherds (reference Luke 2:8-20), and the unshakeable faith of Mary (reference Luke 1:26-38, 46-55; 2:19). May we acknowledge that the baby in a manger is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and may we live pure and holy lives in anticipation of the establishment of His righteous and eternal kingdom. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our coming King! Amen.

"In the presence of God
and of Christ Jesus,
Who will judge
the living and the dead,
and in view
of His appearing
and His kingdom,
I give you this charge:
Preach the Word;
be prepared in season
and out of season;
correct, rebuke and encourage--
with great patience
and careful instruction."
(2 Timothy 4:1-2)

For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "The Waiting is the Hardest Part"
• "Ready or Not"
• "Time is Short: Seek the Lord While He May Be Found"

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!
Copyright 2008. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

"Now there was
a man in Jerusalem
called Simeon,
who was righteous
and devout.
He was waiting
for the Consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit
was upon him.
It had been revealed to him
that he would not die
before he had seen
the Lord's Christ."
(Luke 2:25-26 )
Oh, beloved, I am so excited! Today is Christmas Eve, and I feel like a little girl with butterflies in my tummy and joy in my heart. Yet, my anticipation is not for gifts but for the Gift. Not for presents but for the Presence. Not for fun but for the One.

It strikes me especially this year that we celebrate our Lord's birth on a day and in a season when He was not actually born, but that's another post for another day. Regardless, we celebrate. And we appreciate. And we anticipate.

We celebrate ... His birth.

We appreciate ... His sacrifice.

We anticipate ... His return.

And, it is in anticipation of His return that my stomach dances, my heart sings, and my flesh tingles. The waiting is the hardest part, but wait I must. Not passively but actively. Not dejectedly but expectantly.

"In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation."
(Psalm 5:3)

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."
(Psalm 27:13-14)

"We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His Holy Name. May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You."
(Psalm 33:20-22)

"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."
(Psalm 37:7)

"Wait for the LORD and keep His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it."
(Psalm 37:34)

"I wait for You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God."
(Psalm 38:15)

"I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry."
(Psalm 40:1)

"I wait for Your salvation, O LORD, and I follow Your commands."
(Psalm 119:166)

"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning ... O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption."
(Psalm 130:5-7)

"Blessed is the man who listens to Me, watching daily at My doors, waiting at My doorway. For whoever finds Me finds life and receives favor from the LORD."
(Proverbs 8:34-35)

"... Wait for the LORD, and He will deliver you."
(Proverbs 20:22)

"I will wait for the LORD, Who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in Him."
(Isaiah 8:17)

"Yes, LORD, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for You in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for You. When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the LORD. O LORD, Your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it ..."
(Isaiah 26:8-11)

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!"
(Isaiah 30:18)

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, Who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways ... "
(Isaiah 64:4-5)

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new each morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.' The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."
(Lamentations 3:22-26)

"But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always."
(Hosea 12:6)

"The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind."
(Micah 5:7)

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."
(Micah 7:7)

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."
(Habakkuk 2:3)

"... Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to com on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights."
(Habakkuk 3:16-19)

" 'Therefore wait for Me,' declares the LORD, 'for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.' "
(Zephaniah 3:8)

" 'Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had know at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.' "
(Luke 12:35-40)

" 'The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.' "
(John 3:29)

"... 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from His mouth. You will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.' "
(Acts 22:14-16)

"The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
(Romans 8:19-25)

"Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed."
(1 Corinthians 1:7)

"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God."
(1 Corinthians 4:5)

"... They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, Who rescues us from the coming wrath."
(1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men ... while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good."
(Titus 2:11-14)

"And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised."
(Hebrews 6:15)

"... Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him."
(Hebrews 9:28)

"But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
(Hebrews 10:12-14)

"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."
(James 5:7-8)

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through Whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him."
(1 Peter 3:18-22)

"Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."
(Jude 1:21)

"When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?' Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed."
(Revelation 6:9-11)

In the commercialized craze of the season, let us still ourselves as we wait at the manger. But let us never stop at celebrating only the infant Jesus. For the baby will soon return as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Our glorious Savior will soon visibly rule with unmistakable, undeniable, and eternal justice and righteousness. And the waiting will be over.

As you celebrate His first coming and anticipate His second, may your Christmas be richly blessed with the love, hope, joy, and peace found only in Christ Jesus.

Precious Father, oh, how I thank You for the gift of Your Son! Oh, how I wait for Him! Lord, the waiting is hard, and some days I feel as though I can not wait another minute. Yet, as I wait, and until He returns, I stand firm in Your power and authority, completing the task that You've given me and all who belong to You: to proclaim the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I remember how He Himself waited for more than thirty years to fulfill the reason for which He was born, and I stand amazed that even we wait for Him, He is waiting for us and preparing a place for us in our eternal home (reference John 14:2). Father, I pray that the secular is superceded by the spiritual during this Christmas season and that the world will be on notice to acknowledge Your Gift and to anticipate His return. "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Price of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:6-7). It is with celebration, with appreciation, and in anticipation that I pray in His Holy Name. Amen.

" 'My righteousness
draws near speedily,
My salvation
is on the way,
and My arm
will bring justice
to the nations.
The islands
will look to Me
and wait in hope
for My arm.
Lift up your eyes
to the heavens,
look at
the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish
like smoke,
the earth will wear out
like a garment
and its inhabitants
die like flies.
But My salvation
will last forever,
My righteousness
will never fail.' "
(Isaiah 51:5-6)

For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "Homeward Bound: I'll Be Home for Christmas
  (if Only in My Dreams)

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!
Copyright 2008. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.

A Star is Born ...

"... A Star will come
out of Jacob;
a Scepter will rise
out of Israel."
(Numbers 24:17)
Oh, precious friends, how I've missed you! I was ill during Thanksgiving but still counted my blessings. I pray that regardless of your circumstances, you, too, were richly blessed!

Since I last wrote, I have been star-gazing, marvelling at the wonder of God's creation. About two weeks ago, I noticed two bright stars, or what I thought were stars, in the sky. As they did not appear to be part of a commonly seen constellation, I was drawn to them and wondered why I had not noticed them before. Before I was able to research them, I became ill, but while I was bed-ridden, I learned that the stars were actually the planets of Jupiter and Venus, and on the evening of December 1, 2008, they appeared in close proximity with a crescent moon--a rare astronomical phenomenon not mathematically predicted to occur again until November 2052, 44 years from now.

For a brief time, the three brightest objects in the sky (following, of course, the sun) formed a smiley face in space!

(Stargazers at Kathmandu.
Photo courtesy of Gopal Chitrakar/Reuters.)

The heavenly "smile" filled me with delight and drew my heart to remember the joy of the Magi, who traveled to Bethlehem for the occasion of Christ's birth. They "saw His star in the east" and came "to worship Him" (reference Matthew 2:2). In Matthew's account of Magi's visit, " ... the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." (Matthew 2:9-11).

The Magi were "overjoyed" to see the star--not because of incredible phenomenon of the star itself but because of what the star indicated: the arrival of the Messiah, the King of the Jews.

Oh, precious ones, even today and ever since, the Lord posts indicators all around us. Every day, we, too, are blessed by demonstrations of His mercy, His grace, and His love. Every day, there are signs of Messiah's impending return. Are we overjoyed by what the signs represent? Are the indicators what we expect? Are we even noticing them?

When Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, most missed it. He was not what they were expecting. Isaiah records, "... He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him." (Isaiah 53:2). (Sob! This Scripture always brings a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes!)

Oh, beloved, the Lord moves among us even now, but we must refocus our eyes to recognize Him! In this precious Advent season, stress often crowds our joy of His birth. Activities encroach upon our time at the manger. Excessive spending robs us of our true gifts. Noise blunts our hearing. Commercial decorations blind our eyes. Our elaborate stage sets overpower the Star.

The Star has been born. For those who recognize Him, the Star shines among us. One day soon, He will return in full glory. And, this time, no one will miss Him.

Precious Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ! Oh, forgive us, Father, for relegating Him to a backstage prop when He is the Star of the show! During this Advent season, may we recognize Your Light, and may we reflect it to others (reference Daniel 12:3; Matthew 5:14-16; Philippians 2:14-16). I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, "the Bright Morning Star" (reference Revelation 22:16). Amen.

" 'I, Jesus, have sent My angel
to give you this testimony
for the churches.
I am the Root
and the Offspring of David,
and the Bright Morning Star.' "
(Revelation 22:16)

"And we have the word
of the prophets
made more certain,
and you will do well
to pay attention to it,
as to a light shining
in a dark place,
until the day dawns
and the Morning Star
rises in your hearts."
(2 Peter 1:19)

" 'Only hold on to what you have
until I come.
To him who overcomes
and does My will to the end,
I will give authority
over the nations ...
I will also give him
the Morning Star.' "
(Revelation 2:26-28)

For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "Ready or Not ..."
• "A Holy Harvest"
• "Cling to the King!"
• "Making Scents ..."
• "Time is Short ..."

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!

Copyright 2008. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.

Ready or Not ...

" 'So you also must be ready,
because the Son of Man
will come at an hour
when you do not expect Him.' "
(Matthew 24:44)
Oh, precious friends! I am so delighted to be back at the keyboard! The past week and a half has been busy, and while my flesh cried out for time to write, my spirit patiently waited upon the Lord's timing.

Many reflections are swirling about in my head and in my heart. I want to write about faith in the fire, as righteously exemplified by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. I want to write about greed, deceit, and the love of money, as unrighteously demonstrated by Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. But the word that the Lord has given me for today is "ready".

Among the definitions for "ready", this particular one struck me: "completely prepared and in fit condition for immediate action or use".

Completely prepared for immediate use. Completely fit for immediate action. Oh, beloved, does that description fit you? Does it fit me? Does it fit the Church, the bride of Christ?

Much is being said, written, speculated, predicted, and prophesied right now about end times. I suppose there are such signs in each generation, and there are certainly many indicators of end times present in today's world. But, dear friends, it really shouldn't matter whether Christ returns tomorrow, next month, next year, or a hundred years from now. We should be ready, regardless.

We do not know when Christ will call for His bride. " 'No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.' " (Matthew 24:26, see also 24:50, 25:13; Mark 13:32; Luke 12:46). We do have signs of the end of the age as recorded in God's Word (reference Mark 13 and Luke 21). But, dear ones, I believe that our purpose is not to live in conscious analysis of current events and select passages of Scripture. Rather, I believe we are to live in the unconscious synthesis of the Holy Spirit (reference Galatians 5:16-26) and the entire Word of God. That seamless manifestation of His Truth, His Light, and His Love can radiate from us only when we are completely surrendered to the Lord.

The Bible states "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings." (Proverbs 25:2) and "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7). The Lord reveals Himself everyday ... in every way. But, precious ones, I don't believe that we are to seek to exist in the ecstasy of His signs and wonders. In order to be of service to the Living Lord, we must descend from the joy of our mountaintop experiences and live in His Truth and in His Light, down on the ground in the midst of the battle.

Living every day as a soldier in the Lord's ground troops is not for the weary, the uncommitted, or the faint of heart, and the Lord winnows His warriors (reference Judges 7:1-8). It is hard work, often requiring us to slog through some most undesirable circumstances. But, precious ones, faithfulness and obedience in those seemingly unglorious assignments are precisely what readies us for His return.

What glory does He get from a watching world, which perceives Christians as incubated and intubated in a Holy bubble? If I may be so bold, I submit that the Lord's greatest glory comes not from periods of untested joy and prosperity, but from periods of proven faithfulness and obedience, purposefully independent of earthly circumstances. From faith in the fire, a la Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3). From faith in the absence of fact, demonstrated by Noah (Genesis 5:28-9:29; Hebrews 11:7). From faith in fearful circumstances, characterized by the obedience of Abraham (Genesis 22:1-18; Hebrews 11:8-10). From faith in circumstances beyond human control, reasoning, and understanding, characterized by Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38, 46-55, 2:19). From faith in the face of death, represented by Stephen (Acts 7:54-60), and ultimately, embodied by Jesus Christ Himself.

The faith of these, and the faith of countless others--known and unknown, named and unnamed, past and present--was and is a ready faith, cultivated by a carefully chosen lifestyle, which consistently honored and glorified the Lord. None were perfect, but all were faithful. Long before (more than 500 years before!) the Lord directed Noah to build the ark, "he walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). Long before Abraham became our Divinely appointed patriarch, his life was characterized by prompt obedience to and faith in the Lord (Genesis 12:4, 15:6, 17:23, 22:3, 22:8). By continually walking with God, by constantly seeking His face, by consistently searching His heart, they were--and we are--made ready for the day of our greatest test of faith.

Beloved, let us cast off every shred of complacency and mediocrity, clothing ourselves instead with the full armor of God (reference Ephesians 6:10-18), including "the readiness that comes from the gospel" (reference Ephesians 6:15). Let us be ready. Let us be completely fit for His service. Let us be completely prepared for His immediate use.

He's coming ... ready or not.

Precious Father, oh glorious Lord, I thank You for incomparable and inconceivable eternal kingdom plan! I thank You, Lord, for the treasured glimpses of Your delight in our faithfulness, which encourage us as we trudge forward on the ground below. Please help us remember that our plodding is not without purpose and that our sole responsibility is to remain rooted and ready in You. I pray that our witness would go before You, "... in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17). May we " 'be dressed ready for service ...' " (Luke 12:35), and may we sound a clear call so that others will ready themselves for battle (reference 1 Corinthians 14:8). On the day of the Lamb's wedding supper, may we be found worthy to hear those precious words, " '... For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.' " (Revelation 19:7) I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Leader and Commander (reference Isaiah 55:4). Amen.

"Praise be to the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In His great mercy
He has given us new birth
into a living hope
through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and into an inheritance
that can never perish, spoil or fade--
kept in Heaven for you,
who through faith
are shielded by God's power
until the coming of the salvation
that is ready to be revealed
in the last time.' "
(1 Peter 1:3-5)

For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "A Battle Rages; Stand Firm!"
• "Because He Says So"

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!

Copyright 2008. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.