Prayer, not panic

"Israel demands a king" J. Winter

TODAY'S SPECIAL: 1 Samuel 5-8; Psalm 79

TO CHEW ON: "Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, 'No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.'" 1 Samuel 8:19,20.

The people of Israel are tired of being the only nation without a king. At least that's what their elders make it sound like when they come to Samuel begging for a change in government style.

Samuel is hurt. It feels to him like the people are rejecting him. (And in a way they are, for his two corrupt sons, the fruit of his own fathering, are the catalyst for the peoples' request.)

But God makes it clear that Israel's rejection of the judge mode of government isn't a rejection of Samuel or his sons so much as a rejection of God himself and His sometimes unorthodox but effective methods and people (e.g. a cloud by day and fire by night, judges like Samson and Gideon).

How little things have changed. These people are operating like we see most people around us still today. If something is wrong, figure out a human way to change it. Surely a new leader or political party will be able to keep us safer, make us more prosperous, leave more money in our pockets, guarantee we have jobs, houses... Forget "most people," I often find myself thinking that way too. Don't you?

Contrast that with some of the Bible declarations of where our real trust should be:

• "Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless (Psalm 60:11; 108:12).

• "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes" (Psalm 118:9).

• "Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man in whom there is no help" Psalm 146:3.

• "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord'" Jeremiah 17:5.

The challenge for us, for me, is to acknowledge that God is behind our human governments and governors. If our countries need change, we bring it about most effectively by going first to the power behind the throne, or oval office, or wherever our leaders make their decisions. That is, going to God in prayer about our governors and the things of government.

We can do this on a personal level too, as we put our trust in God over our CEO, or boss, or supervisor, or whoever seems to be pulling the strings in our life or career.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to give more than lip service to the fact of Your sovereignty in human affairs. Remind me to go to You first with all my problems and concerns. Amen.

PSALM TO PRAY: Psalm 79

MORE: When we are in fear...

"When we are in fear we can do nothing less than pray to God, but Our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His Name should have an understanding confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the reliable ones. Our trust is in God up to a certain point, then we go back to the elementary panic prayers of those who do not know God. We get to our wits' end, showing that we have not the slightest confidence in Him and His government of the world; He seems to be asleep, and we see nothing but breakers ahead..." - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 12 reading.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Ripe for a fall

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Nahum 3:1-19

TO CHEW ON: "All your strongholds are fig trees with ripened figs;
They fall into the mouth of the eater." - Nahum 3:12

I wonder how the people living in Nahum's time felt about his prophecies. Did they think he was crazy, predicting the fall of such a strong, brutal nation and in graphic detail? Or perhaps they thought his writings were patriotic wishful thinking? Or maybe they did take him seriously, shining his words onto the bleak future like a miner's lamp lights an underground tunnel?

His predictions remind me of a book I read a while back. Implosion: Can America Recover From its  Economic & Spiritual Challenges In Time? by Joel Rosenberg (Tyndale House, 2013) predicts the possible implosion of America unless there are turnarounds on many fronts, especially the spiritual. He begins:

"Is it possible that the American economy—and more broadly, American society in general—is not simply facing serious challenges or a season of decline? Could America actually collapse in the not-too-distant future if serious, fundamental, and sweeping changes are not made soon? Once, such a question would have struck most Americans as ludicrous—even offensive. But times have changed ....

"Many Americans genuinely fear that God is preparing to remove his hand of protection and blessing from our country—or perhaps already has. They fear that unlike previous dark times in our national history, God may not intend to help us turn things around and get us back on the right track" - Implosion p. 1, 10.

He goes on to detail the situation the country is in, delving into many subjects in chapters titled: "America's Rising Anxiety," "Signs of the Times," "The Significance of the Rebirth of Israel," and "What Happens to America in the Last Days?"

He paints several possible scenarios of catastrophe in "The Financial Implosion Scenario," "The War and Terrorism Scenario," and "The Natural Disaster Scenarios," showing us how little it would take to bring a country even as strong and seemingly vigorous as America to its knees. (Of course, we have only to remember back to the impact of the terrorist attack of 9-11, the ongoing devastation that is left in the wake of recent hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters, and the jitters caused by tiny North Korea's nuclear capability, to grasp the truth of even America's fragility.)

Rosenberg feels that America is not unlike that Assyrian fig tree with its conquest as easy as shaking fruit from a tree, and that only a great spiritual awakening will turn the situation around.

Though I live in Canada, where many things aren't in quite the same state as the U.S., the moral climate here is, if anything, even more secular. The question for us is, what can we as individual citizens of these countries—that seem intent on marching to their doom—do about our ripe-for-judgment nations?  Here is the answer suggested by Rosenberg at the end of his book:

"... I believe with all my heart that if we are to avoid implosion as a nation, we must repent of our sins and turn to Christ—personally and nationally.

"Will you join me in that endeavor? Will you pray with me for our nation, for the church, and for a Third Great Awakening? Will you examine your own heart and seek your own personal revival? Will you work to engage your church and your culture with the truths of Scripture? Will you ask God to show you whether he wants you to be involved in political change, and if so, how? .... What are you and I willing to devote to saving this country?" -  p. 348

 PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to see Canada as You see it, and to do what I can to be salt and light in my little sphere of influence. Amen.

MORE: Christians and politics

In the last chapter of Implosion, Rosenberg suggests five answers to the question: "What role—if any—should Christians play in politics?" (Of course in the book he elaborates on each suggestion.)

Christians need to:

1. Pray faithfully and consistently for wisdom and direction for our national leaders.
2. Exercise their right to vote and mobilize others to vote as well.
3. Some Christians need to run for elected office, serve in some other governmental capacity, or serve as advisors to national leaders who are affecting the future of our country.
4. Some Christians need to stay completely away from the political arena.
5. Christians must not become addicted to partisanship - pp. 336-344.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

A nation under God?

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

May gratitude to God for all His blessings fill your day.

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Psalm 67:1-7


TO CHEW ON: "God be merciful to us and bless us,

And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah." Psalm 67:1

In the book The Armageddon Factor author Marci McDonald theorizes that there is a conspiracy of the Christian right in Canada to take over the reins of government, enforce righteous standards, and thus hasten what they believe will be the end of the world, signaled by the Battle of Armageddon. As you can imagine, this book is not sympathetic to Christians.

Among other things, it has unmasked to me the fear and loathing secular society feels at the idea of God's rule. Trouble is, that resistance to Christ's lordship isn't only present in secular society. I have seen evidences of it in my own heart. Do you find it in yours? This psalm reassures us we have nothing to fear. Here are some of the positives the psalmist sees for an individual and nation living in the smile of God's approval.

1. His "way" becomes known, His salvation is broadcast at home and internationally (Psalm 67:2).

[Way - derek means way, journey, direction, manner, habit, course of life (figurative), moral character (figurative).]

What is His way? It is the humble, gentle, free-from-guile lifestyle of Matthew 5, 6 & 7.

What is His salvation? It is Jesus, come to pay the penalty for our sin so we can be reconciled to God - John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.

2. He is a righteous judge for individuals and nations (Psalm 67:4).
Who of us hasn't been troubled by the apparent unfairness of human legal systems, how slowly their wheels turn, and how they appear to be in the control of those who have the most to gain from things being drawn out? What security to have a judge who sees and knows everything and has the power to administer it fairly - Hebrews 4:13.

3. Under His righteous rule, even the earth—nature, soil, plants—prospers (Psalm 67:6).
The promise of a flourishing natural world where God is honored and obeyed is repeated many times in the Bible: Leviticus 26:1-4, Psalm 85:8-12, Ezekiel 34:26-27, Zechariah 8:12.

So let's not be afraid. Let's put Jesus alone on the throne of our hearts and pray that in our nation He becomes Lord, not through laws that dictate it must be so but because individuals have willingly yielded to Him.

PRAYER: Dear God, I recognize the rebellion and independence of my own heart. Help me to put and keep You on the throne of my life. Amen.

MORE: A mixed bag

The Armageddon Factor has shown me that Christian culture in Canada is a mixed bag. The book is a worthwhile read if you want to:

- Find out about the beginnings and history of many of the faith-motivated organizations and movements active in Canada today. (McDonald delves into the EFC, the National House of Prayer, the Manning Centre to barely begin the naming.)

- Pray intelligently for those in the forefront of political power.

- Understand secular society's opposition to people of faith and their presence in Canada's political arena.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

God's covert operators

TODAY'S SPECIAL: 1 Kings 18:1-19

TO CHEW ON: "And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets, and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.)" 1 Kings 18:3-4

Here's an interesting scenario. Ahab married Jezebel, a Sidonian princess. Fanatical in following the religion of her homeland—Baal worship—she commanded the massacre of all Israel's prophets of God.

But one of Ahab's chief servants (the one in charge of his house) was a dedicated servant of Yahweh. He secretly hid 100 of those prophets from Jezebel. Tucked away in a couple of caves, he had made sure that these God-followers got bread and water for the duration of the famine.

This modus operandi was not untypical. Some other instances when God placed His person in the top echelons of government were Joseph, Esther, Daniel, and Nehemiah. In each case the person stayed loyal to God and wielded unusual power and influence for good.

God still works in this way. In early April this year I attended the MLA's Prayer Breakfast in Victoria (our province's capital city). It was so encouraging to see members from all political parties there, acknowledging that they needed more than just their own wits and intelligence to govern well. I think of these folks as covert operators, undercover agents for the Kingdom. They are working on the side of all that is good for the benefit of all of us.

We're told to pray for our leaders in any case (1 Timothy 2:1,2).  How much more should we do this for those leaders who are also part of the "household of faith" (Galatians 6:9,10?

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for putting people who love and fear You in positions of power in my country and city. I pray for the ones I know ______ (name them) today. When I am critical of government, please remind me to pray for leaders instead of complaining. Amen.

MORE: William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) is another example of a person of faith in a position of influence. He worked tirelessly for the abolition of slavery and saw his dream come true just weeks before he died.The Abolition Project website describes how he got involved in politics and why he decided to stay there after his conversion:

"He enrolled at Cambridge University and became friends with William Pitt. At the age of 21, Wilberforce was elected to Parliament.  He was well suited to politics as he was an extremely eloquent speaker and very witty. In 1783, he met James Ramsay and, for the first time, discussed slavery. Around 1884-6, he underwent a gradual but 'intense religious conversion' whilst traveling with a friend. He considered leaving Parliament but his friend and mentor, John Newton, advised him against this, so, instead, he decided to serve God in public life."

 Read the entire article.

Amazing Grace  is a 2007 movie about Wilberforce's life.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Do your 8-12-year-olds have daily devotions? Point them to Bible Drive-Thru.

God's covert operators

TODAY'S SPECIAL: 1 Kings 18:1-19

TO CHEW ON: "And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets, and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.)" 1 Kings 18:3-4

Here's an interesting scenario. Ahab marries Jezebel, a Sidonian princess. Fanatical in following the religion of her homeland—Baal worship—she commands the massacre of all Israel's prophets of God.

But one of Ahab's chief servants (the one in charge of his house) is a dedicated servant of Yahweh. He secretly hides 100 of those prophets from Jezebel. Tucked away in a couple of caves, he makes sure that these God-followers get bread and water for the duration of the famine.

This way of operating is not untypical. Some other instances of God placing His person in the top echelons of government are Joseph, Esther, and Nehemiah. In each case the person stays loyal to God and wields unusual power and influence for good.

God still works in this way. Right now in Canada our Prime Minister is a born-again Christian. The mayor of my city is too, as is the city manager of Surrey (the second-largest city in BC). I know there are many others. I think of these folks are covert operators, undercover agents for the Kingdom. They are working on the side of all that is good for the benefit of all of us.

We're told to pray for our leaders in any case (1 Timothy 2:1-2).  How much more should we do this for those leaders who are also part of the "household of faith" (Galatians 6:9-10)?

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for putting people who love and fear You in positions of power in my country and city. I pray for the ones I know ______ (name them) today. When I am critical of government, please remind me to pray for leaders instead of complaining. Amen.

MORE: William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) is another example of a person of faith in a position of influence. He worked tirelessly for the abolition of slavery and saw his dream come true just weeks before he died. The Abolition Project website describes how he got involved in politics and why he decided to stay there after his conversion:

"He enrolled at Cambridge University and became friends with William Pitt. At the age of 21, Wilberforce was elected to Parliament.  He was well suited to politics as he was an extremely eloquent speaker and very witty. In 1783, he met James Ramsay and, for the first time, discussed slavery. Around 1884-6, he underwent a gradual but 'intense religious conversion' whilst traveling with a friend. He considered leaving Parliament but his friend and mentor, John Newton, advised him against this, so, instead, he decided to serve God in public life."

 Read the entire article.

Amazing Grace  is a 2007 movie about Wilberforce's life. It's excellent. If you haven't seen it, you might want to rent or buy it.

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The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. - Used with permission.