I remember when the World Trade Center fell, and one tragedy after another unfolded on that day, September 11, 2001. The following Sunday we were celebrating our 20th church anniversary. It was a difficult time to process for everyone, with so many people losing their lives, but our nation pulled together, and laid our politics aside, long enough to be the United States of America. People turned to prayer, as they tried to make sense out of the events. Only, it didn’t make sense to us, because people lost their lives that day.
My question is, Why is it that when tragedy strikes, we do forget our trivial and sometimes petty grievances long enough to show compassion on others?
Lately, I find myself having to remind myself of why I do what I do. I know that I am rambling tonight and I try to feel after God and what he wants me to share with you. I sometimes wonder…
Am I where I want to be in my walk with God? No, when I become complacent and stop striving to do more, be more effective, hone in on the skills that the Lord has given to me, I will have lost out with God.
Being satisfied with your walk with God is a dangerous place to be.
Why? Because, if I am satisfied, I will not seek the Lord the way that I need to seek him. I must always be prepared spiritually to do battle. My spirit is stirred up when I know that the Lord is dealing with me to go deeper in him. That requires that I lay aside some things that occupy my time, so that He is at the forefront of my life. Are we only putting a toe in the waters, when he wants us to get out of the boat and walk with him on the water. We can, you know, if we dare to believe God.
Our troubled sea too often paralyzes us with the fear about drowning. It’s time to stop listening to all the voices that tell us that we are not going to make it.
I admit that at different seasons in my life I have been guilty of falling deeper into despair as the tempest claimed my footing. Aren’t you tired of being tossed to and fro; of never recognizing the joy in your life because you’re too busy looking at the trouble all around you? It’s time to plant your feet, raise your hands towards heaven and declare that you believe God.
His sheep know his voice. It is a voice that can make all things clear. His voice is the only one that matters, today.
2 Corinthians 4:8-18
King James Version (KJV)
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
In the Time of the Lattereign 