...It's time to tell the Devil he's barking up the wrong tree.
Do what you will to me, I AM NOT SWITCHING SIDES.
Hand me the sorrows and loss you have intended to destroy me, I WILL NOT DENY MY CREATOR.
I've blogged about this before, but it's time again. There have been too many children lost in our community. Accidents, still births, and lots and lots of miscarriages. It's STILL happening! I know a portion of that is "just life", but the frequency and depth of sorrow we are seeing, leads me to believe that the enemy has his eye on us. I don't know theologically how that all works out, but I do see a pattern. A dear friend of mine reminded me just the other day of the times in the Bible when the killing of children occurred: RIGHT BEFORE SOMETHING GREAT.
Think of when Israel was enslaved to Egypt. Orders were given to kill all male, Hebrew babies. Lots and lots of babies were killed! But Moses survived and in partnering with God, years later freed all the Israelites!
As we watch this pattern of loss in our community, let's not cower in fear:
John 16:33
...here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world! -Jesus
I don't think Jesus meant "take heart" as "carry on peacefully, skipping and frolicking". Peace, yes. But I don't think that's all. Jesus goes on to pray and pray and pray for his disciples, and for US, saying that while He is leaving and going to Heaven, WE are still here, and the world hates us, and He prays for protection from the enemy! I read this with goosebumps, knowing He knows where my heart is and has been:
17- After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. ...(v11) I will remain in the world no longer, but they (disciples) are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name- the name you gave me- so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that scripture would be fulfilled. I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; you word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message (that's US, guys!!), that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Jesus goes on a little bit more, and the VERY next chapter he is arrested, tried, mocked and brutally crucified, with the public watching. No skipping and frolicking for the disciples, after Jesus spoke this prayer. I think that's why he started it with, "take heart, for I have overcome the world". WE know the rest of the story, but at the time, the disciples didn't.
Right now we don't know the rest of OUR story. How much more loss will we have to endure? I've been frustrated with God, that my plan doesn't match His plan! I've been feeling rather like a 2 yr-old, wanting to throw myself on the floor and holler, "noooo!!! FIX IT!!!".
In the chapters after the trial, mocking and crucifixion of Jesus, comes the most important part of this all. Chapter 20 is titled, "Empty Tomb", and then "Jesus appears to mary", "Jesus appears to his disciples", "Jesus appears to Thomas" (who was, at the time, doubting Him!) Then Jesus does miracles, and hands Peter His torch (symbolically, of course).
Currently, WE ARE HOLDING HIS TORCH. Carry your portion of His torch, knowing you will have tials, sorrow... but that He has overcome the world.
A portion of the "torch" He has handed me, is to pray for our children- both born and unborn. Rise to this challenge with me. Refuse to be destroyed. Refuse to deny your creator. Pray for these tiny warriors, growing into their roles in our ranks, who will someday carry on His torch.
"Take heart."
Do what you will to me, I AM NOT SWITCHING SIDES.
Hand me the sorrows and loss you have intended to destroy me, I WILL NOT DENY MY CREATOR.
I've blogged about this before, but it's time again. There have been too many children lost in our community. Accidents, still births, and lots and lots of miscarriages. It's STILL happening! I know a portion of that is "just life", but the frequency and depth of sorrow we are seeing, leads me to believe that the enemy has his eye on us. I don't know theologically how that all works out, but I do see a pattern. A dear friend of mine reminded me just the other day of the times in the Bible when the killing of children occurred: RIGHT BEFORE SOMETHING GREAT.
Think of when Israel was enslaved to Egypt. Orders were given to kill all male, Hebrew babies. Lots and lots of babies were killed! But Moses survived and in partnering with God, years later freed all the Israelites!
As we watch this pattern of loss in our community, let's not cower in fear:
John 16:33
...here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world! -Jesus
I don't think Jesus meant "take heart" as "carry on peacefully, skipping and frolicking". Peace, yes. But I don't think that's all. Jesus goes on to pray and pray and pray for his disciples, and for US, saying that while He is leaving and going to Heaven, WE are still here, and the world hates us, and He prays for protection from the enemy! I read this with goosebumps, knowing He knows where my heart is and has been:
17- After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. ...(v11) I will remain in the world no longer, but they (disciples) are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name- the name you gave me- so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that scripture would be fulfilled. I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; you word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message (that's US, guys!!), that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Jesus goes on a little bit more, and the VERY next chapter he is arrested, tried, mocked and brutally crucified, with the public watching. No skipping and frolicking for the disciples, after Jesus spoke this prayer. I think that's why he started it with, "take heart, for I have overcome the world". WE know the rest of the story, but at the time, the disciples didn't.
Right now we don't know the rest of OUR story. How much more loss will we have to endure? I've been frustrated with God, that my plan doesn't match His plan! I've been feeling rather like a 2 yr-old, wanting to throw myself on the floor and holler, "noooo!!! FIX IT!!!".
In the chapters after the trial, mocking and crucifixion of Jesus, comes the most important part of this all. Chapter 20 is titled, "Empty Tomb", and then "Jesus appears to mary", "Jesus appears to his disciples", "Jesus appears to Thomas" (who was, at the time, doubting Him!) Then Jesus does miracles, and hands Peter His torch (symbolically, of course).
Currently, WE ARE HOLDING HIS TORCH. Carry your portion of His torch, knowing you will have tials, sorrow... but that He has overcome the world.
A portion of the "torch" He has handed me, is to pray for our children- both born and unborn. Rise to this challenge with me. Refuse to be destroyed. Refuse to deny your creator. Pray for these tiny warriors, growing into their roles in our ranks, who will someday carry on His torch.
"Take heart."
Comments
Post a Comment