Praise the LORD!!!
Since early this morning, I've had two sets of verses written on my notepad. Wondering what the reason for them were. I've just finished my first round of my websites and was led to check on these and as I was doing this, it all came together.
Ephesians 5:15-20
15 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"
Isaiah 50:4-9
4 " The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. 5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up."
The reading of these verses alone could very well be a devotional in themselves. Though this is not the LORD's intent. For in this day and age, where all really seems to be falling apart in the world, the LORD has set HIS people apart, to stand out for HIM among all adversity. Unless you've been hiding within your house with all forms of media turned off, you will know that there are many of the prophesy of the Bible seemingly happening all around us. Earthquakes, floods and famine, wars and rumors of war are daily headlines in all the media types. It would only take a few minutes to see that there is a whole lot of shaking going on. Its as if GOD has taken the earth and all that takes place on it and shaken them up like one of those 'snow globes.' Everything is suddenly swirling around in a maze of excitement, seemingly all random of each other.
Though all these events may seem random, they're truly are not. For they have all been allowed to happen by the will of GOD. For what purpose? That everyone's attention will eventually be drawn to focus on the LORD JESUS CHRIST. But this is getting a little ahead of things, for the here and now, it is to wake up those that call upon HIS name, those that were called according to HIS purpose. Those that call themselves Christians, as a preferred title to amend their names. I must admit, no one ever really told me just what all being a Christian had to deal with. Sure they mentioned the forgiveness of sins and life eternal, but none ever mentioned the forsaking of all to follow after JESUS, or to be willing to die instead of forsaking HIS name and faith in HIM! Do any of you ever remember having someone tell you these? This is not the point of this though, the point is that you've made the choice to be called a Christian and done so willfully. It is your job to know that which the LORD has called you to. That which HE has ordained you to fulfill within your life, and to be able to take on this task, whenever and wherever called to do so!!! You maybe saying to yourself, "hold on a minute, how can I do all of this? These are all pretty big task in themselves!" See, that's the problem here, though these task are big and many, the ability to preform them all with excellence and in due season lies not in our own ability to preform them, but in the fact that we allow the LORD, through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, to do them through us! We are truly but the vessel, not the vehicle. We open ourselves up to the HOLY SPIRIT, and allow HIM to work through our bodies to bring about these task, not our doing them on our own.
In a way the doing of these things on our own, is what has gotten the church into the state it is today. One of following after the ways of the world, and only following JESUS one day a week! In all actuality, that is what the church is doing these days. CHRIST only comes to the forefront of their operations on Sunday, when they have to be focused on HIM to draw peoples attention to the message and the needs of the church, not the needs of CHRIST. Being a Christian is not a one day a week part time job, it is supposed to be a 24/7, "petal to the metal" relationship. Unlike anything we could ever imagine, in a way, kind of like the first time you fell in love (or thought you did!). Where every moment and every thought became captivated by the other person. This is why in scripture our love for JESUS is many times referred to as our first love, a love that is unlike any every before, and any, ever to come.
So are you, as a Christian (whether told of these things or not) ready to step up and take the place you're called to? The time is here and now, for none of us are promised tomorrow. Tomorrow is something that is out of our reach, we can only do things today, which yes, they will effect tomorrow, but whether we are there or not doesn't matter. For what we do today, is what is important and is what makes the difference. For both now and tomorrow, will be changed by these acts. If we're blessed to live until tomorrow, praise the LORD and continue to do the works HE's called you forward to do! Live every moment as if its your last, and when it truly is your last, you'll have no regrets about your life at all. So live for this time, knowing about the future, forgetting what is past, but working for the moment, that only you can make the changes in!!!
No additional verses to follow up with today, but that shouldn't discourage you from reading your Bible any way. So pray and open it up and let the LORD led you in the paths that HE has chosen just for you!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
Check out my other blog, with more on VCM at Blogs from the Vine
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
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