The Christ truth

… and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

              Phil. 2.11

Here Paul suggests the universal acceptance and declaration of Jesus as Lord. In the name of Jesus the whole earth will glorify God the Father. What a wonderful expectation this is!

And I will expect this! As I look over today’s world, Christ seems to have been dismissed from most people’s perspectives. For many, it seems, He is not the Son of God, the way of redemption, and the entry to eternal life. “What is eternal life anyway?”

Is this cause for despair? I think not! The history of Christianity reflects many periods of darkness. Some indicate rejection of the Christ truth, others remind us of the distortion that human thinking can bring to the divine message. Christ has survived many a crisis and I don’t believe He intends to go under now.

No! I see no valid reason to despair. But I see many reasons to pray. Indeed, as many reasons as there are unbelievers and unsaved.

God has declared clearly that the work is His. My contribution is to intercede and ask Him to touch the souls of those unbelievers and non-believers. Some are known to me, many are not. I believe God knows each and every one. I know He wants all to be saved. Maybe my prayer can help.

Loving and Mighty God,

I thank You for my salvation. I cry out for those who do not know You and do not walk in intimate relationship with You. My prayer is that You will reach out to them, reveal Yourself in ways that will draw them undeniably to You. The world needs You. I pray for the world and its salvation, in Jesus’ name.                 Amen.

Choosing

“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.”

                                                                                                                    1 Chron. 29.14

David is not to build the temple, but he has made lavish provision of what is needed to execute the work. Having done all that he has, he realises that all things, everything he has graciously and generously given to God’s temple, in fact comes from God Himself. He is the provider, and anything we humans “give” to God is merely a returning to God of what He has given to us.

This is true, yet I see in this scenario something that David gives to God that is of his own to give. And this is the choice to donate, the choice to be active, the choice to bless God, to give to Him and to work with Him. Certainly all I might come across that I can tangibly give to God is provided by Him in the first place. But He has given me the ability to choose. He has “gifted” me with freedom in this area. This is something I can give to Him.

David recognised that God is the sovereign provider. And if David realised he was exercising free choice when he gave to God, he would no doubt have worked out that even his choice was God’s. It was God’s gift to him.

Nevertheless, David gave back to God by choosing to do so. And he blessed God by his actions. I choose to serve God with my life. I don’t know that I always make the right choice in particulars, but I give my heart to Him and ask His leading.

Lord God,

It seems that David sought Your way and was not reluctant to come to You and seek particular guidance. I want to please You with my life. And so I ask You to guide me specifically and purposely into all that You would have me do. I choose You, and Your way for me.               Amen.

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