The Day Is Near

¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature (tniv)

"...make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires (rsv).

Sometimes the most obvious is what we least expect! We would rather have some deep psychological analysis that lets us off the hook, but life need not be that complex--just simple steps in our walk with the Lord. If you do not want to sin, don't feed it!

Matthew 5^{43 -47}"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. –Jesus

I truly believe that God can work miracles. Maybe, even the miracle of changing our hearts to see and do his will. Jesus lived in an oppressive environment ruled by the Romans, yet He never once called for the overthrow of the government/ruler. From His birth Herod dogged Him, through out his ministry the powers-at-be were after Him, and upon His death the religious segment and the governing ruler sanctioned his death. Yet, he did not cry out for elimination—but that they come to the Truth!

As believers should we be crying out to God for our tax breaks and our comforts? or should we be praying for a change of heart , insight, and commitment of our leaders? Most of our prayers are not for God but are for us! We tend to skip over “Thy kingdom come” that Jesus told us to pray when he taught the disciples (and us!).

I guess the question that I ask myself is "Does God want me to pray that the one we oppose be eliminated (that is, lose the election) or that his heart be comforted to heart of Jesus? Since both candidates profess to be Christians, then it is incumbent that we pray for whoever wins!

The other morning on Fox and Friends, the hosts interviewed a pastor who was encouraging his congregation to burn their credit cards and live debt free. They were questioning whether or not a church should be involved in the financial life of the people. This really brought home the fact of how modern society segments life--economics, politics, social; religious. People just don't get it--Christ demands all of life. He is not a tacked on extra. He is the core; the center of life and everything else originates from him. Why is Christ interested in one's credit cards? Because He is life and all things comes from Him--even credit cards!

t5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and do not rely upon your understanding.

6. Know Him in all your ways,

and He will direct your paths.

7. Do not be wise in your own sight;

fear the Lord and turn away from evil

8. it shall be healing for your navel and marrow for your bones.

9. Honor the Lord from your substance

and from the first of all your grain,

10. and your barns shall be filled with plenty,

and your vats will overflow with new wine (Proverbs 3, Tanakh).

This is one of those passages that everyone claims--at least in times of trial! I know a number of years ago, when the rug had been pulled out from underneath me, I turned to this passage for comfort! It was the sustaining power that led me through the situatuion.

What troubles me with this passage--well not the passage, but my attitude toward it--is the comprehensiveness of the text!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart/and do not rely upon your understanding./Know Him in all your ways,/and He will direct your paths (vvs. 5,6).

To what extreme does on take this text? And do I apply to everything in my life? Upon what (or whom) do I rely? On God, on myself, on my financial advisor? On Whom?

What is the promise here? What are the conditions? Who is in charge?--that's the ultimate question (to be continued!)