Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Daily Life . . .


     Seeing and hearing of daily life within the country the Lord has called me unto, seems to daily convict my heart.
I know the Lord has me here so that I can be in a place of seeing my need to be ever more dependent upon Him. In lack, I see Him more. I need to see life through this perspective. Here are some things that gripped and taught my heart recently:

     Fire burned down her home, only ashes remained; I stood there with her and her young brothers, half dressed, flames still simmering, the smell still in memory; yet, the next morning she would stand in the house of her God, worshipping. I am humbled and convicted when I think of the little misfortunes or difficulties I commonly face that distract my worship. 

     He gladly opens the church gate rain or sun each day, always wearing a smile. I, within a car, usually thinking of how tired I am from the heat of the day, and he gladly welcomes me in. I am soon to learn that he uses only a mat, raincoat, and thin sheet within a small room as "home" during the week. No money for a proper mattress, separated from his wife and new born baby during the work week, but no lack of a smile upon his face, and joy in his serving of welcoming people into God's property. I visited his home last evening, and as I prayed for him, his humility of kneeling on the floor humbled me. How quickly I complain of too short of a night or tiredness as I awake from my mattress and bed frame, a comfortable pillow and warm sheets.

     How slowly he makes his way to the village local Bible study to find fellowship and hope within his hopeless state. A man who once ran quickly now cradles his own body in an effort to move his crippled legs to walk. A few steps, then a crawl, then a moment or two of necessary rest. The reason he became crippled, no answer can be given. His ability to come to the study is filled with adversity and discouragement; yet he perseveres. How little a difficulty I allow to keep me from getting to where I know I need to be. He knew he needed to be where hope is found, where God's Word was being proclaimed. How much effort do I put into positioning myself to hear God's Word proclaimed?

     God has placed me in the midst of a people group who convict my heart with the effort they put forth into truly living this life. Few and troublesome can be the days of man (Ps. 90:10), but oh! if we would allow the troubles to turn our eyes upon the eternal things, upon the place where there are no tears, sorrow, or pain.
     Dearest Jesus, please use these words and these stories to convict us in our comforts and blessings, to cause us to be discontent without our eyes fixed upon eternity. May we press-on and press-hard in our labor unto You within these "few" days we find ourselves upon this troublesome earth, and may we use our abundance and our blessings to give unto the least of these, knowing we are doing it unto You. Amen.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Trading Poverty for Wealth


May 20, 2013

"And He said to those who sold doves, 'Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!' " 
John 2:16

     Righteous anger had come over Jesus at the sight of the merchandisers making a profit out of the poor by selling doves. Why would such a sight spark so much zeal fro our Lord? I believe it was for many righteous reasons, but the two that strike my heart this day is: the character of the dove, and Christ's desire that all men be found rich in Him.
     Just a chapter before we read the account of Jesus' baptism when the Spirit of God defended upon and rested upon Him in the form of a dove--giving us a picture of the character of a dove. The dove serves as a representation of His Holy Spirit upon a life. 
We know that our Savior never despised the poor, but He made Himself poor for our sakes. 2 Corinthians 8:9 reads,
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."
     Christ desires that we be found rich in Him. He is not concerned with the material wealth of this life, but the spiritual wealth of His people in their living within this life.
With these two things upon His mind, I believe a sight of doves being sold at a price to harm or hinder the poor irked the heart of Jesus, and so He defended His Father's house by overturning the tables and re-establishing a call for prayer.
It is through prayer that one receives the anointing of the Spirit upon his or her life, and it is through prayer that we attain our spiritual wealth from the storehouses of His grace.
     Beloved, what need do you find within yourself this morning? Do you feel too poor to buy what you need to overcome? 
Come to your Father's house in prayer. The price of the dove has been paid for by His blood. No man can now try to take advantage of your poverty and sell you such a gift at a high price. No. The price was high indeed, but your Jesus took it for You and paid in full upon that cross. You now no longer ought to walk in poverty of Spirit, but in fullness and abundance, trading your lack for His sufficiency, and your weaknesses for His strength. This day, trade your poverty for His riches and in Him overcome. Romans 8:37. Amen.