“Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
MICAH 4-5
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. (5:4-5)
REVELATION 11
7Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
JOURNAL
Obviously this scene from revelation, is much like the road to calvary. Public opinion would say "game over". God's anointed are dead, laying in the street for over 3 days. Starting to discolor and smell. Relief that finally something stopped the internal torment people were experiencing. Then it happens, God shows up in ways never expected. Turns the table, flips the script, changes the game.
It is hard to mesh the spiritual with the world. The reality is that only God can really do it. So often I wish that God would change the world to fit my needs and wants. The truth is that God only does that to serve his purposes, not my desires. This text also is a warning to not let the world's definition of success be confused with God's. Death on a cross or dead and rotting in the street would never have been deemed the greatest victory the world has ever known. Yet it is. Public opinion will never be the final authority. The world's laws and victories will never be the final scoreboard.
I don't think this means that we reject society and try to usher in the Kingdom on our own. That is a dangerous path that in essence attempts to usurp God. I think we still have to serve and love in this world in ways that reflect our obedience to God, without making the world our God and master. On my own, this is impossible, but with God it is just a "breath" away.
Obviously this scene from revelation, is much like the road to calvary. Public opinion would say "game over". God's anointed are dead, laying in the street for over 3 days. Starting to discolor and smell. Relief that finally something stopped the internal torment people were experiencing. Then it happens, God shows up in ways never expected. Turns the table, flips the script, changes the game.
It is hard to mesh the spiritual with the world. The reality is that only God can really do it. So often I wish that God would change the world to fit my needs and wants. The truth is that God only does that to serve his purposes, not my desires. This text also is a warning to not let the world's definition of success be confused with God's. Death on a cross or dead and rotting in the street would never have been deemed the greatest victory the world has ever known. Yet it is. Public opinion will never be the final authority. The world's laws and victories will never be the final scoreboard.
I don't think this means that we reject society and try to usher in the Kingdom on our own. That is a dangerous path that in essence attempts to usurp God. I think we still have to serve and love in this world in ways that reflect our obedience to God, without making the world our God and master. On my own, this is impossible, but with God it is just a "breath" away.
It is hard to mesh the spiritual with the world. The reality is that only God can really do it. So often I wish that God would change the world to fit my needs and wants. The truth is that God only does that to serve his purposes, not my desires. This text also is a warning to not let the world's definition of success be confused with God's. Death on a cross or dead and rotting in the street would never have been deemed the greatest victory the world has ever known. Yet it is. Public opinion will never be the final authority. The world's laws and victories will never be the final scoreboard.
I don't think this means that we reject society and try to usher in the Kingdom on our own. That is a dangerous path that in essence attempts to usurp God. I think we still have to serve and love in this world in ways that reflect our obedience to God, without making the world our God and master. On my own, this is impossible, but with God it is just a "breath" away.
We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,e 10so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified youf to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
COLOSSIANS 1:9-14
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