Chambers 3-31-23

The divisions in our country and across the world are becoming more sharply defined, unforgiving, and dangerous.  As Christians we see a growing animosity and hatred toward biblical truth and our Lord Jesus.  Our knee-jerk reaction is often the same toward those who reject the Bible and God...that is, we feel justified to hate those who hate us.  We get spun-up and seek repudiation at best and eradication at worst.  When we entertain thoughts of retaliation we play into the hands of Satan and are displeasing to God.  We make enemies of those who should be our mission field.  Did you ever think about this:  God has given us discernment to recognize evil as one of His indicators telling us whom we should be praying for?  This is the point of today’s My Utmost for His Highest:

“If we are not heedful and pay no attention to the way the Spirit of God works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites. God reveals this truth about others to us not through the sharpness of our minds but through the direct penetration of His Spirit.

One of the most subtle and illusive burdens God ever places on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning others.  It is not that we are able to bring God into contact with our minds, but that we awaken ourselves to the point where God is able to convey His mind to us regarding the people for whom we intercede.

Can Jesus Christ see the agony of His soul in us? He can’t unless we are so closely identified with Him that we have His view concerning the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied bwith us as intercessors.”

It’s been a while since I have been reminded of Jesus’ exhortation:

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may ^[a]be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  (Matthew 5:43-45)

Sometimes I allow myself to get “spun-up” by the evil I see abounding around us rather than falling on my knees and praying that God would convict and bring the adversaries to Himself.  Chambers was right, this is:  “One of the most subtle and illusive burdens God ever places on us as saints.”  The daily news gives us ample individuals and movements to be praying for God’s redeeming work.  My prayer for you and me this morning is this:  Lord, we have a natural reaction to pay back.  It’s a magnanimous thing You did not to react that way to us rebellious sinners.  May we show the same grace and mercy to those who oppose Your truth like the grace and mercy You showed toward us.  Hearts need to change.  Only You can do it.  Your plan is to use our prayer as the medium that can make that happen.  Teach us to be men and women of prayer.  Thank You Lord.  Amen.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.