A Meditation
When I read the birth of the Church in Acts, I am in awe. When I look at where the Church is going, I want to laugh and clap my hands with joy. When I look at the state of the Church now, I sigh. I am so full of gratitude that God has not abandoned the Church but even now is restoring her to the glory and splendor of what He has called her to be.
I wrote/and prayed the following meditation last night. Yet as I awoke this morning, I realized that this meditation, this prayer applied not only to me as an individual but also to the Church as a whole.
We cannot get to where we want to be by trampling down those around us.
We cannot get to where we want to go by sneering at those from different cultures.
We cannot get to where we dream of living if we ignore those of a different generation.
We can't get there without them.
God has decreed it; every nation, tribe, and tongue shall give glory to His name.
The pain we feel;
the shame we experience;
the problems we face;
the dangers we endure;
others have been subjected to.
There is nothing new under the sun.
But we are not alone.
We can overcome by the blood of the Lamb,
by the words we declare,
and by not trying to save ourselves at the cost of destroying others.
Oh, God, help me stretch out my hand to someone else,
Let me see beyond my own nose.
Let me come to you, O Lord, for protection when I fear;
don’t let me be disgraced. Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. But Father, as You hold me close, let me stretch my hand out to another.
You have been with me from birth; You cared for me before I knew you; You cared for me from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
Help me to care for others. Help me to come out of the hiding place to shine with Your love and glory.
If my life is an example to many, it is because you have been my strength and protection.
I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.
Let me tell others of you more and more.
Lord, I am not young. I am not rich in money. I am not particularly wise or well-spoken, but I love you.
And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.
But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.
I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All-day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words.
I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign LORD. I will tell everyone that you alone are just.
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, Your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
Let them come to know you as I have known You; let us declare Your wonders together.
Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with You, O God?
Enable me, O God, to declare Your Truth and show Your wonders to all those lost and deceived by this word.
You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but those things drove me closer to You.
You restored me to honor and comforted me so that I could comfort others.
Oh, that others would abandon their lies and seek Your face!
Oh, that others could join me in singing your praise and entering into Your holy place.
Give me strength, O God, to be your loving hands, Your welcoming arms, Your piercing voice--
to declare Your truth,
to rescue the lost,
to heal the sick,
and to restore the broken-hearted.
The Church is called to be a glorious Bride. To become that Bride, we must admit that we are broken rebels who have turned away from God and need His deliverance and healing. We are called to do much more than just buy "fire insurance". We are called to a life of passion; a life of adventure; a life of overcoming all the barriers built of lies, deceit, oppression, pain, and fear. We are called to commune with the Father and bring others to Him through Jesus our Lord. We are called to be fearsome warriors in the Spirit who deliver the lost from the jaws of death.
We cannot do this as long as we are holding on to our old habits, traditions, or offenses.
We cannot do this as long as we want to "blame" every problem on the pastor.
We cannot do this unless we cry out to God, "Lord! Help us to be willing to obey You in all things!"
The Good News? He does!
