Watching in Prayer

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Wednesday, October 12, 2022

A PEOPLE OF JUDGMENT

Surely the most tragic of the declarations of Israel as he was about to die is the prophecy of Dan.

“Dan shall judge his people

as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way,

a viper by the path,

that bites the horse's heels

so that his rider falls backwards.

18 I wait for your salvation, O LORD.

Genesis 49:16-18

We are all pretty good at pointing out the sins of those around us. And there is certainly plenty of sin to see. That would be serious enough if verse 16 were all of this prophecy. The name Dan, means judge or possibly judgment.

“Dan shall judge his people.”

This prophecy pictures Dan much like Jesus described the Pharisees. As we look at passages like Judges 13 we see that the tribe of Dan was among the most wicked. There are always those among us who bring judgment to light because of their own sins. We have no shortage of those whose sinful lives highlight the judgment of God upon America.

Years ago Ruth Graham said, “If God does not judge America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” We are a culture in which sin is deeply ingrained. It often seems impossible to do anything that does not bring us under the judgment of God.

But we should not miss the most positive statement in all of these blessings. It too was given for Dan. In verse 18 Jacob says,

“I wait for your salvation, O LORD.”

God poured out all of His righteous judgment upon Jesus on the cross. All Jacob could do was wait and hope for God’s salvation. It has been made available to us. I do not know if God will obliterate our beloved country because of the wickedness of our hearts, or if He will show us undeserved mercy. But I do know that in your life and mine God offers redemption though we deserve judgment for our sins.

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Tuesday, October 4, 2022

A VISION IN THE NIGHT

“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night:

a man of Macedonia was standing there,

urging him and saying, “Come over to

Macedonia and help us.”

Struggling with God’s call and timing

Listening, testing, praying, trying

Hints of paths that might be right;

Casting fleeces—spiritual lots,

Straining, seeking heaven’s sight,

Tying our souls in nervous knots;

Searching here, looking yonder,

Watching for our Guide we wander,

Knowing the seed but not the field;

At every turn we’re forced to stop.

In aching hope we’re made to yield.

Is this the place or is it not?

Finally in frustration’s burning torment

Comes a vision in the resting moment.

A man in foreign face and garb,

Calls from camelback or city bus.

He makes His words a piercing barb,

“Come over here, help us, tell us!”

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Wednesday, September 28, 2022

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF YOUR LIFE?

I find Jacob’s prophetic word about Issachar particularly apropos for many Americans.

“Issachar is a strong donkey,

crouching between the sheepfolds.

He saw that a resting place was good,

and that the land was pleasant,

so he bowed his shoulder to bear,

and became a servant at forced labor.

Genesis 49:14-15

Issachar was strong, but he spent his energy in getting out of labor and responsibility. He recognized a comfortable resting place and he saw good things that he wanted. That is what he sought with his life. As a young man he may have asked, “What is the Lord’s will for my life?” Many young people ask such questions. But he decided the easiest route and the most comfortable way of life was what he really wanted. But it did not turn out to be so good in the end. He found himself a slave to comfort, leisure and luxury. And to maintain that lifestyle, he wound up working 80 hours a week.

I need to be honest with you who have been looking at the will of God. It will not always be easy or fun. You will have to sacrifice for it. So, what benefit is it? Let me point out three things that you get from pursuing the will of God. They are Character, Purpose, and Satisfaction.

CHARACTER

One of the greatest benefits of seeking and following the will of God is what you become rather than what you attain. Would you rather drive a material Cadillac or become a moral and spiritual Cadillac?

PURPOSE

Meaning in life comes from having a high purpose. For Christians it is not finding your purpose in life, but God’s purpose in eternity. We join God in what He is doing on the earth. Anything less than that will in the end prove to be meaningless.

SATISFACTION

Satisfaction does not come from getting all the chocolate you want. In the end what we see as the sweet life will always disappoint. Eternal satisfaction is satisfying God. Nothing will be so fulfilling as hearing God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

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Tuesday, September 20, 2022

It’s Raining

It's raining here, enchanting all the trees.

Humbling summer's harshness to its knees.

Calming filtering softening every light,

Blending vivid contrasts to autumn's delight.

It’s raining now dripping from the colored leaves,

Cooling and refreshing with a gentle breeze.

Not raining cats and dogs with their noisy quarrels,

But hummingbird wings in smoky swirls;

It's misting still, undisturbed by howling gales.

In calming stillness the forest now inhales

Its final breath in calm anticipation

Of winter's freezing sleep and hibernation.

Foliage on the ground forms a musty coffin.

Dying leaves into earthy compost soften,

Entombed in peace in confident reflection

Of springtime and its resurrection.

This poem was published in the book TAKE ME TO THE GARDEN, by Jonna Padgett and David Young.

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Tuesday, September 13, 2022

A HAVEN

I love the blessing given to Zebulon by Jacob and its application to America and the church of Jesus Christ.

“Zebulon shall dwell at the shore of the sea;

he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.”

Genesis 49:13

The land of Zebulon with its place on the sea became a refuge for ships from distant lands and for foreigners who needed a haven. Have you read the poem, The New Colossus, which is on the bronze plaque at the base of The Statue of Liberty?

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus

Wave after wave of Americans came from the rest of the world. And yes, God forgive us, those who came in previous generations were often prejudiced against new people coming to our shores. They looked different. They talked different and had not learned our language. Their customs were noting like ours. But we also became stronger with each new group of immigrants.

I always enjoyed living in The Puget Sound region which, like the land of Zebulon, became a haven for those who came from other lands. God gave me many friends. I came to consider of them as my children from other cultures who spoke other languages as they were rapidly learning English. I thank God for you whom I taught and encouraged as you taught and encouraged me.

I have recently been reading the Book of Acts whose theme is the gospel reaching out to all peoples on the earth. As Paul wrote in Galatians 3

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,

there is no male nor female, for you are all one in Christ.”

The gospel breaks down every social or cultural barrier that separates people. Most of us need to struggle with this truth with one group or another. But as we draw nearer to Christ, we come into the true unity of the church of Christ.

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