Final Trumpet

"I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way--with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge"- 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 (NIV).

You have been thoroughly equipped, enriched, saturated, not lacking in any area, and now you eagerly await Jesus to be revealed. Verse 9 assures you will be found blameless the day Jesus returns. God is faithful and He will work everything out for you (Romans 8:28). This is pure grace, something you didn't earn, freely given to you by the Father through the Son. Nothing today, nor tomorrow, no power...absolutely nothing...can separate you from the mercy and love God has given you (vv. 38-39). While you wait...God's wants you to be joyful, pray continually, and be thankful no matter what is going on as you wait for the sound of that final trumpet (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18;1 Corinthians 15:52). 

Rightly So

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring"- 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 (NIV).

Paul could have been writing to us. We are God's church and our love for each other continues to grow. We are persevering, our faith steadfast and maturing, during trying times Christians endure. Sometimes our strongest testimony is being joyful while enduring hardship, praising God while storms encircle us, being thankful with less and with loss. We know the source of our glad tidings and joyful countenance: "Jesus saves! Jesus saves!" We'll "bear the news to every land, climb the steeps and cross the waves; Onward!--'tis our Lord's command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!" (Borrowed from the hymn Jesus Saves.) I thank God for you...and rightly so!

Speed Bumps

“God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”- Philippians 4:19 (NRSV).

Henry Edward Manning is quoted as saying, “God loves and cares for us, even to the least event and smallest need of life.” We are unaware of the multitude of our little needs God satisfies each day. We go through our day, taking for granted that the car will start, the buttons will be on our shirt, our food will be fresh in the refrigerator…well, you get the picture. The little hiccups in our life cause us to slow down and notice…we become aware that we’re missing that button or there’s a funny smell coming from the freezer. Speed bumps in our life, like the speed bumps on a road, make us slow down and take notice, reflecting on God’s providence. We should take time to thank God for all things...big and small. Everything is from Him, through Him, and to Him. Thank God He cares about the mundane little things in our lives, which we take for granted…but He doesn't. Praise the Lord!   

Authentic Dialogue

"The Lord says: "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is based on merely human rules they have been taught"- Isaiah 29:13 (NIV).

Richard J. Foster said, "God desires authentic dialogue...what is on our hearts." A church bulletin is handed out to each congregationalist as they enter for worship...referred to as the "order of worship." It's an agenda; for some...a checkoff list, repeated every Sunday. The songs change, their may be a solo or quartet variation to the music, but the order has been the same from generation to generation. There are churches that repeat the same words, as a congregation, every Sunday: doxologies, call/responses, even prayers. To God the Father, they are words of worship from those who repeat them from their heart, but ring hollow from uncommitted lips. Our churches need revival and it must begin in our hearts! The revival doesn't come from us, but from God, by supernatural power. Show us what You are able to do, Lord, and raise your servants to new heights...a Holy quest for revival, which begins with authentic dialogue with You.

Ordinary

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus"- Acts 4:13 (NIV).

God does not show favoritism, many times He has taken the societal misfits, the underestimated and the unappreciated...the ordinary...to demonstrate His presence and power. Jesus promised to send the Helper once He ascended to the Father, which came to fruition during and following Pentecost. The indwelling Holy Spirit convicts, empowers, guides, and protects those who ask, accept, and acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. Do not underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. He is God...in you, His redeemed...and no weapon forged against you will stand (Isaiah 54:17).