STANDING IN OUR APPOINTED HOLY PLACES

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 35:4-5 NLT

"Report for duty according to the family divisions of your ancestors, following the written instructions of King David of Israel and the instructions of his son Solomon. Then stand in your appointed holy places and help the families assigned to you as they bring their offerings to the Temple." 2 Chronicles 35:4-5 NLT

Temple service was divvied out by lots. Certain families served at certain times of the year. One family always served right after another, and another, and another, until all families had participated in their duties, then the order was repeated.

This roster of service was put into practice by the organizers-extraordinaire, Kings David and Solomon.

I'm a sucker for organization! I love a good spreadsheet, a list of boxes to check off, a to-do list and a plan.

But what really caught my eye? What spoke to my heart? What convicted me of what I could be doing more of?

"Then stand in your appointed holy places and help the families assigned to you..."

While some might see this verse as another list of things to do, I see it at a release from doing everything.

I cannot, and am not called to, reach everyone.

Everyone's business is not my business.

I'm not here to save the world.

I have not been asked to spread myself so thin that I can reach all, but am very sparse and lacking in the process.

I am, however, here to love on, speak to, encourage and witness, to those God places in my path. In my church. In my workplace. In my family. In my sphere of influence.

That seems more do-able. 

And if I am standing in my appointed holy place, and you are standing in your holy place, and if other believing Christians are standing in their holy places, we will be able to reach the world--one holy place at a time!

 CLINGING

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 10-12

"Be careful to obey all the commands I give you: show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and clinging to him." Deuteronomy 11:22 NLT

Allow me to draw the curtain aside, sit down and pull the curtain back in place as I make a confession to you...

I've always thought of Christian maturity as being stalwart in God's ways, outspoken on His Word and mighty in doing great deeds for the Lord.

When I think of all the greats in faith, I think of what has been said, what has been accomplished and what miracles have been performed.

But today I read that I show my love to the Lord by walking in His ways (as stated previously) AND clinging to Him.

Clinging to Him.

Not performing any Lone Ranger acts.

No one-horse pony shows.

No independent acts of faith.

Clinging, to me, means that I'm doing all for God I can WHILE holding on to Him for life with the other hand. 

Clinging means staying close to someone because you need them...emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically. It's realizing how little we can do and how very little we are expected to do on our own.

It's clinging to Jesus...

It's remaining in the Vine...

It's drinking from the Well...

It's living beside the Still Waters...

It's trusting our Anchor...

It's living under the Shadow...

It's holding our Father's strong right hand...

That, believing friends, is the Christian walk!

 THE LORD PROVED

Today's reading: Acts 13-14

"...The Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders." Acts 14:3 NLT

Are you wearing yourself out attempting to share the Good News AND trying to prove it at the same time?

The sharing part is our job to do. Proving it, is not.

We aren't created to 'help God out'. He doesn't need any assistance in being God, performing miracles or proving His rightness.

Paul and Barnabas had the tough task of sharing the Gospel with folks who were worshiping emperors and idols, Jews who were dead set on keeping traditions and people who had widely mixed views on all things God-related.

These two heroes of faith did what was asked of them, and God did His part.

He will do the same for us!

Let's attempt to be obedient, trustworthy and intentional in sharing the news about Jesus--then watch as God proves the message of the Cross by His power.

GATHERING THE WANDERERS

Today's reading: James 4-5

"My dear brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back again, you can be sure that the one who brings that person back will save that sinner from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins." James 5:19-20 NLT

As you wall through the doors of your church this morning, greet one another with warm smiles and kind 'Hello's'.

Allow the Spirit of the Living God to permeate every conversation, every reaction and all your words.

Worship with your whole heart.

And while you are doing all of those things with a grateful heart, look around your church--for the empty pews.

For the folks who used to come, but you haven't seen in a while.

For the ones who have dropped out of church attendance.

For the ones who you haven't noticed for a few Sundays, a few months--or a few years.

For the older kids of church members who have let God go by the wayside in their lives.

For the Christmas and Easter attenders you see but twice a year.

Make note of them, and attempt to get in contact with them.

Do your dead level best to draw them back into fellowship.

Attempt to encourage them to attend church, yours or another Bible-preaching one that needs them.

Let God lead you in being one who gathers in the wanderers.

INDIFFERENT TO THE LORD

Today's reading: Zephaniah

"I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem's darkest corners to find and punish those who sit contented in their sins, indifferent to the Lord, thinking he will do nothing at all to them." Zephaniah 1:12 NLT

I was presented with this quote last week, it was brought back to my mind with this verse :

'Hate is not the opposite of love, apathy is.'

Apathy, a feeling of no feelings at all. No decision one way or another. No passion. No preference. Not caring.

Can you imagine the feelings God has toward people who don't care about Him one way or the other?

He lavishes His love on those who love Him. Those who believe in Him, follow His ways and want to introduce Him to others.

He woos, seeks and wins over those who hate Him. Those who have been hurt by life and want to lash out at Him.

But those who don't care? Who don't have any emotion toward Him at all?

Indifferent to the Lord.

Unmoved by the enormity of Him.

Un-awed by His creation.

Dismissive of His control over all.

Unmoved by His grace.

Unaffected by His gift of salvation.

It's beyond me how anyone might take this stance in regards to God, but there are those--and we must make sure we aren't one of them.

FOLLOW GOD'S LEAD

Today's reading: Ecclesiastes 3-4

"There is a time for everything...A time to be quiet and a time to speak up." Ecclesiastes 3:7bNLT

I'm begging you to follow God's lead as you step into the voting booth this next week.

Vote for the right reason, vote for the right to bring godliness into our dark world, vote for the person who best stands for God's rules.

Then?

Then, I beg you to watch your words.

No matter the outcome of the election.

No matter which 'team' wins.

No matter who gets seated on the throne of our country.

Watch what you say.

You see, there is a time to be quiet and a time to speak up.

Listen for God's leading on that as much as you listen for His leading on the ballot itself.

As Christians, our words have a very powerful influence on our culture, on our witness and on our faith in God.

Choose what you say wisely, when you need to say anything at all.

Choose silence when your words would not magnify God, bring peace to a conversation or bring glory to the cause of Christ.

Our comments, opinions, debates and remarks are important--when they are God led.