Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. (Eph 6:10)
I attended a YWAM talk by Dean Sherman on spiritual warfare yesterday, and learnt so much. I will probably be blogging more on the subject in the coming days. One thing Dean shared was that the spirit of intimidation or fear is from Satan. God gives us a spirit of love and power, and of a sound mind. Why should we not fear taking on enemies greater than ourselves? Because in any warfare, he said, we are going not in our own strength, but in the strength of His might (Eph 6:10). I was thinking of this and it struck me that one manifestation of this is how when God is with His people, He always gives them victory, even when they are overwhelmingly outnumbered.
Here are some examples:
1. Battle between Israel (Jeroboam) and Judah (Abijah) 2 Ch 13:13-15
"Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush was behind them. 14 Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out to the LORD. The priests blew their trumpets 15 and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah." Judah was attacked at both front and rear, and it seemed disastrous! But they cried out to the Lord and it was God who routed the enemy.
2. Battle between Assyria (Sennacharib) and Judah (Hezekiah) 2 Kings 19:35
"And that night, the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies." Amazing! God's people did not even have to lift a finger in this battle, God himself smote the enemy.
3. Battle between Israel (Gideon) and the Midianites, Judges 7
"That same night the LORD said to him, "Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand." With 300 Israelites versus 135,000 Midianites (Israel outnumbered 450:1), Israel won the victory, because God was on its side!
4. Battle between Israel (Elisha) and the Syrians, 2 Kings 6
"When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
5. Battle between Israel (Joshua) and the Amorites, Joshua 10
"The LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword. At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
"Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
I love this! God killed the Amorites with hailstones, and caused the sun to stand still, until victory was complete!!! Woohooo!!!
In every situation, victory was won because God was on the side of His people. It didn't matter how weak Israel/ Judah was, or how outnumbered they were. In the natural, it was unthinkable how they would win. But they won because they warred in the strength of his might.
Prayer today: Father God, when I am plagued with doubt over whether I can take on the enemy, help me remember that on my own strength, I cannot. But you are strong, and mighty, and when you are with me, surely nothing is impossible. Your word is replete with examples of how when we are weak, then we are strong! Hallelujah, Amen.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The right view of success
Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. (1 Chr 28:10)
I was reading this morning the account by David of his plans to build the temple. It struck me in the short passage how utterly God is the architect of our success...how utterly dependent we are on Him...and how utterly foolish we are when we are prideful, when we think our success comes from our own hands.
Here it is. In the building of the temple, a glorious structure, all the plans did not originate in the mind of David because of his intellect, but came from the Spirit (1 Chr 28:12) The courage and strength to carry out the work came from God (1Chr 28:20) The wealth and honor bestowed to David and Solomon came from God (1 Chr 29:12) The ability to stay faithful till the end, any wholehearted devotion to keep God's commands and requirements and decrees, are by the grace of God (1 Chr 29:19)
Our inspired thoughts come from God. Our desire to obey comes by His enablement. Our wealth and honour is from Him. Our ability to love Him and persist in His ways are by His grace. Everything, and everything, that I do that is good is because of Him.
So when reading the passage, the only right response to all of the above is the one given by the people of Judah:
Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king. (1 Chr 29:20)
Prayer today: Father God, forgive me when I foolishly think my hands have earned me success. Everything, and I mean everything, that I do that is good is because of you. You are the author and finisher of my faith. Help me not to forget that, and so, to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly before my God. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I was reading this morning the account by David of his plans to build the temple. It struck me in the short passage how utterly God is the architect of our success...how utterly dependent we are on Him...and how utterly foolish we are when we are prideful, when we think our success comes from our own hands.
Here it is. In the building of the temple, a glorious structure, all the plans did not originate in the mind of David because of his intellect, but came from the Spirit (1 Chr 28:12) The courage and strength to carry out the work came from God (1Chr 28:20) The wealth and honor bestowed to David and Solomon came from God (1 Chr 29:12) The ability to stay faithful till the end, any wholehearted devotion to keep God's commands and requirements and decrees, are by the grace of God (1 Chr 29:19)
Our inspired thoughts come from God. Our desire to obey comes by His enablement. Our wealth and honour is from Him. Our ability to love Him and persist in His ways are by His grace. Everything, and everything, that I do that is good is because of Him.
So when reading the passage, the only right response to all of the above is the one given by the people of Judah:
Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king. (1 Chr 29:20)
Prayer today: Father God, forgive me when I foolishly think my hands have earned me success. Everything, and I mean everything, that I do that is good is because of you. You are the author and finisher of my faith. Help me not to forget that, and so, to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly before my God. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Class the Stars Fell On
I've been thinking and writing on the role of our generation, and what God purposed for us to do, in this time and season ... so these thoughts by Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong, published this Sunday on the Cornerstone Community Church bulletin, really resonated with me. His words in the article "The Class The Stars Fell On" struck a chord deep in my spirit. I think it's worth a read, and hence, am reproducing it below in full.
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I was recently reading an article that Lance Wallnau wrote entitled, “The Class the Stars Fell On” and it impacted me greatly. Here’s a little excerpt which I believe will bless you.
“The West Point Corp of cadets, class of 1915, was no different from any other cohort until the nation entered into its hour of crisis. Suddenly, a class of ordinary students, captured in a crucible of history, was transformed into company of statesmen and warriors, set apart by God to save their nation and the rest of the world from the tyranny of ruthless dictators. This particular West Point class of 1915 is famously called: ‘The Class the Stars Fell On’. The demands placed upon this class for leadership was without precedent. After graduating, the class of 164 cadets saw more that a third of the class promoted to the rank of General. Actually, 59 in all – 24 Brigadier Generals, 24 Major Generals, seven Lt Generals, two Generals with 4-star, and two Generals with 5 stars.”
But what brought out the best in these men? It was adversity. The world had just been plunged into a world war and those were desperate times. But it’s those times of adversity that I believe we’re going to see a generation rise in the crucible of fire to be the greatest generation ever. We’re now at the brink of adversity like we’ve never seen before. The Lord calls the last period of history when history itself goes wrong the ‘Great Tribulation’. The word ‘tribulation’ comes from the word ‘Tribulem’ which actually describes a process where the wheat is crushed by a huge stone with spike on it to separate the husk for the grain. It’ll be a time of intense agony and we’re about to enter such a season. But right now, a generation is being prepared and tested to see if they qualify for promotions, new assignments, spiritual deployment and strategic appointments. These promotions are necessary for the advancement of the kingdom as nations align themselves, for or against God’s end-time plans and purposes. This is the hour that the Church must arise.
*************************************************
I was recently reading an article that Lance Wallnau wrote entitled, “The Class the Stars Fell On” and it impacted me greatly. Here’s a little excerpt which I believe will bless you.
“The West Point Corp of cadets, class of 1915, was no different from any other cohort until the nation entered into its hour of crisis. Suddenly, a class of ordinary students, captured in a crucible of history, was transformed into company of statesmen and warriors, set apart by God to save their nation and the rest of the world from the tyranny of ruthless dictators. This particular West Point class of 1915 is famously called: ‘The Class the Stars Fell On’. The demands placed upon this class for leadership was without precedent. After graduating, the class of 164 cadets saw more that a third of the class promoted to the rank of General. Actually, 59 in all – 24 Brigadier Generals, 24 Major Generals, seven Lt Generals, two Generals with 4-star, and two Generals with 5 stars.”
But what brought out the best in these men? It was adversity. The world had just been plunged into a world war and those were desperate times. But it’s those times of adversity that I believe we’re going to see a generation rise in the crucible of fire to be the greatest generation ever. We’re now at the brink of adversity like we’ve never seen before. The Lord calls the last period of history when history itself goes wrong the ‘Great Tribulation’. The word ‘tribulation’ comes from the word ‘Tribulem’ which actually describes a process where the wheat is crushed by a huge stone with spike on it to separate the husk for the grain. It’ll be a time of intense agony and we’re about to enter such a season. But right now, a generation is being prepared and tested to see if they qualify for promotions, new assignments, spiritual deployment and strategic appointments. These promotions are necessary for the advancement of the kingdom as nations align themselves, for or against God’s end-time plans and purposes. This is the hour that the Church must arise.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Serving God in our generation
For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. (John 5:36)
God gave Jesus work on earth to finish. Likewise, I believe He creates us all for a purpose and a reason. The Bible says of David, "For David...served the purpose of God in his own generation" (Acts 13:36) It is my desire that God would say that of me too at the end of my life's journey.
Was reading an Os Hillman devotional last week and it said, "Success is fulfilling the complete purpose for which God made you. It has nothing to do with wealth, accomplishments, stature in life, or standard of living. It has to do with living a life of obedience to the Father. And when we live a life of obedience to the Father, we will fulfill the purposes that God had in mind when he made you and me."
I also particularly like the prayer Os says he prays for others frequently, which is: "Lord, may you fulfill every purpose for which you made them. May there be no inheritance left on the table that he/she is entitled to."
Prayer today: Lord Jesus, help me fulfill every purpose for which you made me. At my life's end, may there be no inheritance left on the table that I am entitled to. In Jesus' name, Amen.
God gave Jesus work on earth to finish. Likewise, I believe He creates us all for a purpose and a reason. The Bible says of David, "For David...served the purpose of God in his own generation" (Acts 13:36) It is my desire that God would say that of me too at the end of my life's journey.
Was reading an Os Hillman devotional last week and it said, "Success is fulfilling the complete purpose for which God made you. It has nothing to do with wealth, accomplishments, stature in life, or standard of living. It has to do with living a life of obedience to the Father. And when we live a life of obedience to the Father, we will fulfill the purposes that God had in mind when he made you and me."
I also particularly like the prayer Os says he prays for others frequently, which is: "Lord, may you fulfill every purpose for which you made them. May there be no inheritance left on the table that he/she is entitled to."
Prayer today: Lord Jesus, help me fulfill every purpose for which you made me. At my life's end, may there be no inheritance left on the table that I am entitled to. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
A prayer by Andrew Murray
Just read this prayer by Andrew Murray - I particularly like the ending lines!
Let me have perfect quietness of heart. Let me never be worried, irritated, angry, or disappointed. I pray I will expect nothing and wonder at nothing that is done to me. I pray that I will feel no resentment at anything done against me, feel at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. I ask to have a blessed home in the Lord where I can go, shut the door, and talk to my Father in secret. I ask for a place where I can be at peace as in a deep sea of calmness when all around me is trouble.
Let me have perfect quietness of heart. Let me never be worried, irritated, angry, or disappointed. I pray I will expect nothing and wonder at nothing that is done to me. I pray that I will feel no resentment at anything done against me, feel at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. I ask to have a blessed home in the Lord where I can go, shut the door, and talk to my Father in secret. I ask for a place where I can be at peace as in a deep sea of calmness when all around me is trouble.
The privilege of the intercessor
One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 12 He said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite." So he called her, and she stood before him. 13 Elisha said to him, "Tell her, 'You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?' (2 Kings 4:11-13)
The account of Elisha and the Shunammite woman reminds me of the privilege of intercession. The lady blesses Elisha by setting aside a room in her house so he can stay there every time he visits her town. One day, Elisha calls his servant Gehazi, to her ask how they can repay her goodness. He doesn't give her a physical gift in repayment. He says, "Now, what can be done for you? Can we speak on behalf to the king or the commander of the army?"
Intercessors do that. They speak to the King and the Commander of the Army (The Lord of Hosts) on behalf of others. I find that a great privilege. When we were in Kwang Lim, there were some days when I would fast lunch. But there was one day when I felt God wasn't calling me to do that, and I joined our team for a truly satisfying meal of Kimchi, squid, veg and soup. That day was special because there were some Korea missionaries sitting at the next table, who were back for a retreat, and they shared their fried chicken with us. Like good Asians, we shared (Serena's) little anchovies with them. And we even got the convenience store to open up, so we could buy ice-cream for dessert - it was the best meal we had while up on the mountains!
Call it a divine appointment. After lunch, a Korean missionary and his wife asked if we could pray for them. Their ministry is in Argentina. His wife's mother was due to go for a simple surgery for appendicitis in October, but the doctors wrongly injected her with antibiotics and she was now in a coma. There and there, in the dining hall, a group of us from Singapore gathered in a circle and called out to our God Most High to heal the elderly lady and bring her out of the coma. The Holy Spirit's presence was so strong among us. It was electric! It was the body of Christ coming together. And we had the peace in our hearts after that, she was healed. Amen!
Even now, all I can think of is what a great privilege it was to intercede to the Great King on behalf of the missionary. These are people who have given their lives to God; who no doubt walk closer to Him than us, yet, they were willing to share their struggle with us and ask us to pray for them...
I pulled this out from the RCCM website:
Nine Attributes of an Intercessor…
1. Abandonment – Willing to abandon all self-interest about what is being prayed;
2. Acceptance – Willing to accept the assignment to pray for someone that you do not even like;
3. Accountability – Faithful to the call and life of prayer. Willing to loan God your vocal cords;
4. Advocate – Willing to go in another person’s place and plead their case before God, acting like Jesus;
5. Agonising – Willing to bear the hurts of others and feel what they feel. Jesus was touched by our infirmities;
6. Armour – Willing to be a soldier who never retreats; who faces the devil in the Name of Jesus under the authority of the His Blood, knowing that the armor is your spiritual protection for your front parts. God protects your back parts. He is your rear guard. The Blood of Jesus and the Word of God are the whole armor of God;
7. Availability – Willing to always be available for God; holy, submissive, yielded, and humble. The world looks for ability. God only needs availability He can enjoinder and equip;
8. Awareness – Willing to be sensitive, and look beyond the person to make it happen for someone else;
9. Authority – Willing to go boldly before the Throne of God without begging, understanding the authority that belongs to the born-again believer.
Prayer today: Father God, what a privilege to be used as an intercessor in your Kingdom. I pray for your grace, O God, that you may grant me these qualities and help me grow in the calling you've placed on my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
The account of Elisha and the Shunammite woman reminds me of the privilege of intercession. The lady blesses Elisha by setting aside a room in her house so he can stay there every time he visits her town. One day, Elisha calls his servant Gehazi, to her ask how they can repay her goodness. He doesn't give her a physical gift in repayment. He says, "Now, what can be done for you? Can we speak on behalf to the king or the commander of the army?"
Intercessors do that. They speak to the King and the Commander of the Army (The Lord of Hosts) on behalf of others. I find that a great privilege. When we were in Kwang Lim, there were some days when I would fast lunch. But there was one day when I felt God wasn't calling me to do that, and I joined our team for a truly satisfying meal of Kimchi, squid, veg and soup. That day was special because there were some Korea missionaries sitting at the next table, who were back for a retreat, and they shared their fried chicken with us. Like good Asians, we shared (Serena's) little anchovies with them. And we even got the convenience store to open up, so we could buy ice-cream for dessert - it was the best meal we had while up on the mountains!
Call it a divine appointment. After lunch, a Korean missionary and his wife asked if we could pray for them. Their ministry is in Argentina. His wife's mother was due to go for a simple surgery for appendicitis in October, but the doctors wrongly injected her with antibiotics and she was now in a coma. There and there, in the dining hall, a group of us from Singapore gathered in a circle and called out to our God Most High to heal the elderly lady and bring her out of the coma. The Holy Spirit's presence was so strong among us. It was electric! It was the body of Christ coming together. And we had the peace in our hearts after that, she was healed. Amen!
Even now, all I can think of is what a great privilege it was to intercede to the Great King on behalf of the missionary. These are people who have given their lives to God; who no doubt walk closer to Him than us, yet, they were willing to share their struggle with us and ask us to pray for them...
I pulled this out from the RCCM website:
Nine Attributes of an Intercessor…
1. Abandonment – Willing to abandon all self-interest about what is being prayed;
2. Acceptance – Willing to accept the assignment to pray for someone that you do not even like;
3. Accountability – Faithful to the call and life of prayer. Willing to loan God your vocal cords;
4. Advocate – Willing to go in another person’s place and plead their case before God, acting like Jesus;
5. Agonising – Willing to bear the hurts of others and feel what they feel. Jesus was touched by our infirmities;
6. Armour – Willing to be a soldier who never retreats; who faces the devil in the Name of Jesus under the authority of the His Blood, knowing that the armor is your spiritual protection for your front parts. God protects your back parts. He is your rear guard. The Blood of Jesus and the Word of God are the whole armor of God;
7. Availability – Willing to always be available for God; holy, submissive, yielded, and humble. The world looks for ability. God only needs availability He can enjoinder and equip;
8. Awareness – Willing to be sensitive, and look beyond the person to make it happen for someone else;
9. Authority – Willing to go boldly before the Throne of God without begging, understanding the authority that belongs to the born-again believer.
Prayer today: Father God, what a privilege to be used as an intercessor in your Kingdom. I pray for your grace, O God, that you may grant me these qualities and help me grow in the calling you've placed on my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
You are God, there is no other
In Korea, in my first full day in Osanri, God impressed upon me that I was not to bring my petitions to Him yet. No, the first day was to be spent meditating on His Majesty. It was to be spent giving Him praise. So I spent the day reading all 66 books of Isaiah, after which He said to me, turn the verses I had jotted down into a personal prayer (It's largely from Isaiah, but I've also added in a verse here and there from the book of Daniel, and the Psalms). Here it is - Praise the Lord!
You are God, there is no other
O God, you are the eternal King
There is no other
You rule and reign in majesty
Awesome in power, mighty in deed
You make heaven your throne
And the earth your footstool
You dwell in the high and holy place.
You are high and lifted up.
Yet, you are a God who is near and not afar off,
You are with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit
Hallelujah! Praise you O King!
You are Creator God
Before the world existed, you were
You stretched out the heavens like a tent to dwell in
And laid the foundations of the earth
You brought out the starry host by number
And called them each by name
You measured the waters of the sea in the hollow of your hand
Enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
Weighed the mountains in scales
And the hills in a balance
Hallelujah, Praise you O King!
You are the Sovereign God
And have complete rule over all the affairs of Man
You change times and seasons
Remove kings and set up kings
You call a bird of prey from the East
And a man of your counsel from a far country
All the nations are as nothing before you
They are accounted by you as nothing and emptiness
What you have spoken, you bring to pass
What you purpose, you will do
Hallelujah, Praise you O King!
You are Lord of Hosts
God over all nature, heavenly and angelic hosts
You form light and create darkness
Make well-being and create calamity
By your rebuke you dry up the seas
And make the rivers a desert
By your word, you make a way in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert
You make your messengers winds,
Your ministers a flaming fire
Hallelujah, Praise you O King!
You are Kings of Kings, Lord of Lords
A loving God, and a fearsome Judge
When you want to exact vengeance and judgement
You muster a host for battle
They come from a distant land
From the ends of the heavens
They shall come in fire
And in chariots that are like the whirlwind
You go out like a mighty man
And show yourself mighty against your foes
Hallelujah, Praise you O King!
You are God, there is no other.
You are God, there is no other
O God, you are the eternal King
There is no other
You rule and reign in majesty
Awesome in power, mighty in deed
You make heaven your throne
And the earth your footstool
You dwell in the high and holy place.
You are high and lifted up.
Yet, you are a God who is near and not afar off,
You are with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit
Hallelujah! Praise you O King!
You are Creator God
Before the world existed, you were
You stretched out the heavens like a tent to dwell in
And laid the foundations of the earth
You brought out the starry host by number
And called them each by name
You measured the waters of the sea in the hollow of your hand
Enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
Weighed the mountains in scales
And the hills in a balance
Hallelujah, Praise you O King!
You are the Sovereign God
And have complete rule over all the affairs of Man
You change times and seasons
Remove kings and set up kings
You call a bird of prey from the East
And a man of your counsel from a far country
All the nations are as nothing before you
They are accounted by you as nothing and emptiness
What you have spoken, you bring to pass
What you purpose, you will do
Hallelujah, Praise you O King!
You are Lord of Hosts
God over all nature, heavenly and angelic hosts
You form light and create darkness
Make well-being and create calamity
By your rebuke you dry up the seas
And make the rivers a desert
By your word, you make a way in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert
You make your messengers winds,
Your ministers a flaming fire
Hallelujah, Praise you O King!
You are Kings of Kings, Lord of Lords
A loving God, and a fearsome Judge
When you want to exact vengeance and judgement
You muster a host for battle
They come from a distant land
From the ends of the heavens
They shall come in fire
And in chariots that are like the whirlwind
You go out like a mighty man
And show yourself mighty against your foes
Hallelujah, Praise you O King!
You are God, there is no other.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Wisdom and counsel
The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. (1 Kings 10:24)
I've been spending some time listening to Don Anderson's sermon messages on the book of Daniel, and today's lesson had amazing lessons for me on how we should act as Christians even in a crisis. King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered all the wise men in his palace to be executed because no one could interpret his dream. And Daniel was to be rounded up and killed too.
"And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon". (Daniel 2:13-14)
In a time of crisis, Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to the very captain of the guard who had come to slay him. Wisdom and counsel. That is what Christians (and dare I say, the new guard) need in this Aware saga. Jesus tells us to be 'as shrewd as serpents, as gentle as doves'. We are to 'let our speech be always in grace, seasoned with salt' (Col 4:6). The way Jesus won the kingdom was through the way of love, sacrifice and death, not revolution.
So this quote by Max Lucado spoke much to me:
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.
I believe this is God's way.
Prayer today: Lord Jesus, I pray that you will grant us wisdom and counsel, that we may always rightly represent you and your ways. Grant that we may be as shrewd as serpents, as gentle as doves. Grant that if we raise our voice, it is only in praise. If we clench our fist, it is only in prayer. If we make a demand, it is only of ourselves. For this is your way. May your purposes shine through us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I've been spending some time listening to Don Anderson's sermon messages on the book of Daniel, and today's lesson had amazing lessons for me on how we should act as Christians even in a crisis. King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered all the wise men in his palace to be executed because no one could interpret his dream. And Daniel was to be rounded up and killed too.
"And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon". (Daniel 2:13-14)
In a time of crisis, Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to the very captain of the guard who had come to slay him. Wisdom and counsel. That is what Christians (and dare I say, the new guard) need in this Aware saga. Jesus tells us to be 'as shrewd as serpents, as gentle as doves'. We are to 'let our speech be always in grace, seasoned with salt' (Col 4:6). The way Jesus won the kingdom was through the way of love, sacrifice and death, not revolution.
So this quote by Max Lucado spoke much to me:
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.
I believe this is God's way.
Prayer today: Lord Jesus, I pray that you will grant us wisdom and counsel, that we may always rightly represent you and your ways. Grant that we may be as shrewd as serpents, as gentle as doves. Grant that if we raise our voice, it is only in praise. If we clench our fist, it is only in prayer. If we make a demand, it is only of ourselves. For this is your way. May your purposes shine through us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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