Good Morning Servants of the Most High God! We cannot serve two masters. That is a biblical truth. We can be wishy washy or double minded as the Bible reminds us. Too often we can tend to be more in the world than of it. We do have responsibilities as citizens of the Lehigh Valley, PA, and the USA that the law requires us to do. And we are called to steward well and meet the responsibilities of taking care of our families, residences, jobs while at the same time, being about the Father's business. How do we balance our responsibilities well as Kingdom citizens with those of having a dual citizenship on earth? That's the question of the ages, isn't it? How can we be all-in for God while we live here on earth? Help us Lord! It is a constant battle! But one that some have come to do well. So, we can too. Honestly, that will look different for all of us throughout all the stages of life.
Can you tell today that I am in a pensive place. Satan seems to be attacking and trying to steal my joy and focus on God and His plans for me and our church. I all bound up in things that I need to just give to God and trust and move on. Satan be gone! I am a child of the King that whooped your butt! I am an overcomer! I am enabled and empowered to be victorious in Christ, to serve Him and to live in this world as His reflection. I'm putting on that armor, tightening that chin strap and standing ready with His Sword and in my spirit.
Questions of faith and how to live well as a child of God often plague us, especially when life happens and Satan pounces on that seeking some to destroy. As the days get darker, more carnal and depraved it will also become harder to bring Light and walk in God's ways. Yes we are in a battle, BUT GOD! We know the Victor and we are His. Jesus is standing beside you whispering in your ear, You are mine! I got you!" God promises to hold us in His mighty hand. The Holy Spirit is living in us, directing us and reminding us of all the promises we have to wield against the enemy. Cast all your anxiety unto God and He will comfort you and bring you His peace. And pray on His armor today. Pray in the spirit at all times and keep on choosing to be all-in and trusting that God knows what He's doing and why things are happening. You were created for such a time as this and placed right where God wants you for His purposes. PTL! Worship. Fill up your faith tank. And go love well no mater what you are facing today. God knows, cares and is working all things together for the good of those who believe, even when it may not seem like it in the physical realm. Amen! Check out ODB below and David's prayer during a time of hurting. Continue to pray for Israel. The Lord promises blessings to those who pray for the peace of Israel. And continue to lean on the God who is always with you and always at work.
So how do we balance our dual citizenship today? What are your priorities? Someday, maybe sooner than later we will leave this world or Jesus will return for us. That is a fact and a promise. So in what are you investing? God promises to provide the essentials for life. Yes, we'd all like and work towards having more than the essentials. The trick is realizing when enough is enough and choosing trust and contentedness like Paul did. Karen and I used to pray a lot, as commanded, for God to give us just enough--not too little or too much. But we all know that in our minds, too often, enough isn't enough. That is the thing we all need God and others to help us with and our responses determine how well we are living out our dual citizenship according to Kingdom standards. Check out the UR below? Life is short. How well are you living.
All around us we see people that don't know God striving for all kinds of things to fill their emptiness, cravings and delights. But we are called to delight in the Lord and all things we need will be given. We were not placed here to out do the Joneses. Nor do we need all the things they clamor after to enjoy life in Christ. We know that, but it can be hard to live through that. Again, that is why we need encouragers, prayer warriors, and accountability partners in our lives. People of God helping each other to thrive as Kingdom citizens first and to let God handle the rest. We are learning to balance better and live more fully into our God-created potential and purposes. Let's stop the comparing game! Even churches do this as they tout what they are doing as if we are called to one-upmanship. Each church, as each individual, is a unique creation of God placed where they are for seasons of life. So the real question we need to ask is, "Are we doing all we can with all we got to honor God as we follow His plan for us?" I think for St. Matts. the answer is yes. Sure there's always more we can do. That will come as we continue to grow in Christ. But we are following peace and God's provision well. As He promises, when He leads us to new things, the provision will come as we step through that open door in faith.
Now our responsibility shifts to seeking God, discerning, and taking those first steps through the open doors. As we become equipped and ready for the greater things He will lead us there. BUT, we have to keep seeking and planning and following. There is no resting on our laurels in the Christian journey. The bishop has called us to become a dynamic movement of God. To do that well, we have to be willing to break camp from our comfort, be all-in with Christ, and follow the Holy Spirit to what's next. And Jesus promises to be with us apostles (sent ones) each step of the journey. So ask God to search your heart and cleanse the junk and help you to put on His armor and be ready to move into battle with Him as we enter His harvest field. And find some partners that God is raising up for you to march with.
In our reading through the gospel of John, we are encountering all the "I AM" statements of Jesus. He's proclaiming to be God and identifying aspects of God's character that He is incarnating and bringing to life before the watcher's eyes. In John 8:12 that we discussed Sunday, He said, "I am the light of the world." In John 9 that we are studying this week Jesus heals the blind man and the Pharisees get all twisted up about who Jesus is claiming to be. They are so focused on trying to live for God according to their standards and expectations that they totally miss that God is walking among them. They just can't accept it because He doesn't meet their preferences and standards. They are closed minded and hard hearted, like many around us today, even some church people and leaders. We asked Sunday for you to seek God for the answers to these two questions: Who is Jesus? How does He impact my life? Ask God to open the eyes of your heart to His Truths and how He desires for Jesus to affect your life and those around you. Jesus is the Light that brings sight to the blind. Pray for sight for the blind around us, even church leaders and members who are missing the new things God is doing. In John 9:39 Jesus said, "I entered this world to render judgement--giving sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind." Can you see? Do you want to? Who is this man to you? How is He impacting your life right now--today? Ask for eyes to see, mind to understand and a pure heart to go love like Him everyday. That is living as a child of Light in this world today and God blesses that. He promises! We were created for such a time as this for our part in expanding God's Kingdom. It's time to start worrying about that more than all the noise and darkness around us. Be the light! God's got the rest covered!
Our Daily Bread:
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“Most people carry scars that others can’t see or understand.” Those deeply honest words came from Major League Baseball player Andrelton Simmons, who opted out of the end of the 2020 regular season due to mental health struggles. Reflecting on his decision, Simmons felt he needed to share his story to encourage others facing similar challenges and to remind others to show compassion.
Invisible scars are those deep hurts and wounds that can’t be seen but still cause very real pain and suffering. In Psalm 6, David wrote of his own deep struggle—penning painfully raw and honest words. He was “in agony” (v. 2) and “deep anguish” (v. 3). He was “worn out” from groaning, and his bed was drenched with tears (v. 6). While David doesn’t share the cause of his suffering, many of us can relate to his pain.
We can also be encouraged by the way David responded to his pain. In the midst of his overwhelming suffering, he cried out to God. Honestly pouring out his heart, he prayed for healing (v. 2), rescue (v. 4), and mercy (v. 9). Even with the question “How long?” (v. 3) lingering over his situation, David remained confident that God “heard [his] cry for mercy” (v. 9) and would act in His time (v. 10).
Because of who our God is, there is always hope.
By Lisa M. Samra
REFLECT & PRAY
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How can you express your struggle to God when experiencing deep emotional anguish? How have you experienced His healing, mercy, and rescue?
Heavenly Father, give me courage to express my deepest pain and to welcome Your presence and healing into my situation.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The superscription to Psalm 6 tells us it was written by David, but we’re not given any information about what prompted him to pen this poem. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “This is one of the penitential psalms. David had been suffering from some illness that brought him near death. It’s difficult to associate this psalm, however, with any known event in his life.”
A penitential psalm is a song of repentance, where the singer pleads for forgiveness (see vv. 2, 4), but Psalm 6 also carries the strong overtones of lament, as David sorrows over his treatment at the hands of his enemies. And for this, he also seeks God’s grace and mercy. Even though we don’t know the specific events surrounding its writing, the psalm is deeply personal, as the author bares his soul to God and the world.
Dive deeper into this study of the different Psalms.
Bill Crowder |
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Upper Room: "I Can Serve"
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. - Psalm 68:19 (NIV)
Several months ago, my 49-year-old nephew passed away after years of dealing with a debilitating disease. I, along with so many others, drew strength from his testimonies about faith, hope, and peace. He was an example of how blessed we are to love and be loved by God, who bears all our burdens.
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus tells us, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” We are the hands and feet of Christ. Our testimony allows others to learn about the love and eternal life Christ offers.
I see so many problems in the world, and I often feel ill-equipped to help alleviate others’ burdens or provide comfort to them. Then I remember my nephew, who served God by starting a street ministry traveling in his wheelchair. Christ’s strength is in all of us — the gift of the Holy Spirit. So let us all do our best to share the comfort and love of Christ with those around us.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, help us to serve you by sharing scriptures and examples of hope and comfort. Give us the strength to share our faith. We pray as Jesus taught us, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” (Lk. 11:2-4, NIV). Amen.
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