AND AFTERWARD!

 

Sunday, January 31, 2021

 

AND AFTERWARD!

 

Ps 73:24

24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

 

Ps 32:8

8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

 

           The life of the believer is not a series of accidental happenings. We are children of the Most High God and we are called to a glorious purpose. While we have freedom of choice in the decisions we make, God leads us along and guides the events of our lives to accomplish His goals for us. Roadblocks, detours and potholes are actually guides. The Word of God is our roadmap, and our destination is sure.

 

           Much of my life has already been spent and I can see His loving hand guiding me all along the way. I thrill at what he has yet in store for me. I am more settled now than ever before and yet more restless. It is a conflict I have learned to accept as normal for me. My gifts and my calling are more acceptable to me and I have left off trying to accomplish someone else’s dreams. This is the backward look.

 

           Our text offers a forward look. It says: “and afterward!” Ah! Afterward! I take that to mean the end of life. Like Stephen when he was being stoned, I expect to see Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand. I shall see angels waiting to congratulate me on finishing my course. I look forward to seeing loved ones gone before and I shall receive an inheritance that does not fade away. Afterward! This is the forward look.

 

Mark 9:2-4

2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for daily counsel and guidance but most of all, thank you for a bright “afterward!” AMEN

COME THOU HEAVY LADEN!

 

Saturday, January 30, 2021

 

COME THOU HEAVY LADEN!

 

Gal 6:5

5 For every person will have to bear his own load [of oppressive faults].

AMP

 

Matt 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

KJV

 

           We all carry our very own heavy load which are personal and specific. Each day we shoulder them soldierly and march toward the day’s duties. We hope nobody will notice as we trudge along like Pilgrim in John Bunyan’s classic.

 

           Many are not aware that the self-incrimination from a wounded conscience, fear of rejection and worry for the future greatly effects our relationship with others. We gravitate to others who are like us. Many members of oppressive and condemning churches are there because they can’t forgive themselves. They are miserable and so they find and join a congregation of the unforgiving. They soothe themselves by pretending some superiority over others who sin differently.

 

           There is no escaping these burdens because the problem is me and not my geography. I am just as miserable in the city as I am in the country. The answer is to drop my load; to cast my heavy burden upon the Lord who promises to sustain me. This is easier said than done!

 

           Pilgrim carried his growing load over mountains and through swamps until finally he reached the foot of the cross where he found Jesus. This small poem describes his encounter.

 

"Thus far did I come laden with my sin,
Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in,
Till I came hither. What a place is this!
Must here be the beginning of my bliss!
Must here the burden fall from off my back!
Must here the strings that bound it to me crack!
Blest cross! blest sepulchre! blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me!"

                                                          

Dear Lord, let me not stubbornly continue to carry my heavy load. Let me yield to your offer of relief. AMEN

THE HEART OF THE KING!

 

Friday, January 29, 2021

 

THE HEART OF THE KING!

 

Prov 21:1

21 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. KJV

 

Dan 2:20-22

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. KJV

 

           Daniel served six kings! He had to be flexible! None of those kings were aligned with the King of Kings! He had to be careful while maintaining his devotion to godly principles. Several times that devotion threatened his life!

 

           Daniel had just been threatened with death if he did not reveal the interpretation of a dream which the dreamer had forgotten. Daniel prayerfully appealed to the only One who knew all secrets. Of this Mighty King Daniel said: “He is in control of the times and seasons. Climate change do you think? He removes kings, even good kings, and replaces them with wicked kings according to his purpose. He gives or withholds wisdom and understanding.”

 

           The dream of Daniel’s earthly king was a prophetic timeline of all nations! It forecast the decline of human government and predicted the coming of the final Ruler. We seem to be at the fragment of the giant’s little toe. The Stone seems to have crushed the feet, the very platform of human rule. We may suffer its collapse, but we should not be greatly disturbed.

 

Dan 2:20

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

 

Dear Lord, let us not fear “though the earth be removed.” Let us serve our kings carefully knowing that You, O Lord rule in the affairs of men. AMEN