Category: Thought For The Day

Isaiah 6:1
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord…

Times of sudden tragic loss, seem pointless and painful.

Death is not something we humans were designed for. That’s why it bothers us so much. Death came with sin, a result of the Fall after Adam sinned. It is a foreign enigma that we all face far too often.

My instinctive response is futility, darkness, and often, anger.

I need the reminder that it is in precisely such times that:
-the veil is pulled aside and we glimpse the sovereign, holy God.
-we tend to hear His call to stand up and fill the gap.

Today I’m pondering both the tragedy of 9/11 and the tragic events of yesterday.

We lost several thousand Americans in 2001, and yesterday, we lost an outspoken Christian who was a husband, a father, an articulate patriot.

I don’t like it either time.
I don’t understand either one.

But I believe I should listen for God in the midst of all this, and hear the call to stand and be counted.

Here am I…

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

I not only want that kind of folks in my life…
I want to BE that kind of folks in other’s lives.

But there’s something even more:
…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Pro 18:24).

I take that to be Jesus… and HE is the foundation of BOTH ends of relationship.

We were created for relationships.
Without them we are not whole.

Without Christ, we can neither BE nor receive the kind of friends we long for.

Leaning into Him so that I can lean into others.

Proverbs 3:3
Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Seems like both Kindness and truth are in short supply these days.

Maybe that explains a lot of things.

Ironically, I’m a lot better at truth than kindness.

In fact, sometimes I find truth in the face of willful or arrogant ignorance makes me even less kind.

On the other hand, our culture seems committed to kindness without truth… with disastrous, frankly cruel results.

You cannot be kind without the truth.
Working toward truth with Kindness.

…Looking to be wise.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

This is one of those verses that my Mom made me memorize. As I got older, I understood why.

I like to think of myself as unique… special.
But… Probably not.
Turns out, the things I struggle with are pretty much what everybody else wrestles with.

What IS unique is Gods faithfulness.
Whatever my battle…
Whatever my doubt…

There He is:
-with encouragement.
-with Hope.
-with victory over the circumstances.

Now, THAT is a promise worth clinging to!

MY struggle may be common.

HIS faithfulness is Uncommon, UNdeserved, and UNcompromising

Ephesians 6:16
Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

THE SHIELD OF FAITH

The Roman soldier’s shield was an impressive piece of equipment. It used a multi-layered design, similar to armor found today. A stout wooden frame was layered with cork, leather, rawhide, and a metal outer layer, providing a good balance of resistance and energy absorption. It weighed between 25 and 35 pounds, and was designed to interlock with soldiers to the left and right, providing a very sturdy defensive front.

A Roman Soldier had to train quite extensively to use it effectively.

To the Christian, faith serves the purpose of a shield. Through study, understanding of Apologetics, experience with God in our lives, our faith is multi-layered, providing a robust defense.

When we are with other Christians, our faith is strengthened and encouraged, providing an even more impenetrable barrier to keep the Evil One at bay.

Like the Soldier, building faith takes time and effort on the Christian, including prayer. We remember… “I believe, help my unbelief!”

Striving to stay well-trained in my faith!

Ephesians 6:15
With your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.

SHOES OF THE GOSPEL

Echoes of the Great Commission.

A Roman soldier’s footwear enables movement, stability, and protection. Entering a battle barefoot would put the soldier at significant risk.

As a believer, I must be ready to go wherever the gospel leads and to stand firm during trials. Being unequipped with a ready understanding of the gospel leaves me barefoot and vulnerable against the wiles of the Evil One.

So what is “readiness of the Gospel?

• Not just “go forth”
• It is being anchored
• It is being equipped
• It is Standing Firm (defense) AND Sharing Truth (Offense)

Striving to be…
Stable
Prepared
Confident
Ready to be a tool.

Ephesians 6:14
Stand firm … with the breastplate of righteousness in place.

THE BREATPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

In addition to protecting the soldier’s vital organs, the breastplate also provided identification. On a Roman uniform, the breastplate was decorated with the insignia of the soldier’s unit. It protected the soldier, and it let others know who was beating them.

God similarly decorates us.

Righteousness is something we gain through our faith. Abraham believed, and that is when he was declared righteous.

We are made whole – righteous – by the blood of Christ.

Once decorated, we can stand boldly against the onslaught of the Evil One.

Standing Firm.
Protected by HIM.

Ephesians 6:14a
Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth.

THE BELT OF TRUTH

The Belt holds it all together. The major components of a Roman soldier’s armor strapped to the belt. The belt provided a stable point of attachment to keep everything in its proper place. If the belt failed, the rest of it was not very useful.

It works that way with our faith, also. Without authentic, objective truth, everything unravels.

Jesus said HE was the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life. We NEED truth. We need HIS Truth.

That’s why the world is so bent on promoting the idea of relative truth, which is an oxymoron, if you think about it.

Without objective truth, we cannot be held accountable to anything – or any ONE.

Striving to…

• Seek the Truth
• Live the Truth
• Spread the Truth

Eph 6:10,11
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that You may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

I made the point yesterday that THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD. To that point, all but one component of the Armor Paul speaks of are defensive in nature… and the offensive weapon depends on God.

That’s on Purpose.

It was really good to hear from my veteran friends… To wit, let me say:

1. There’s a war on. Know it. Act like it. Go onto a battle ground world with a playground mindset and you will be a casualty.
2. We are strong IN the power of HIS MIGHT. Try to do this alone and you will be a casualty.
3. We are called to be WARRIORS not WIMPS. It’s HIS might… but that includes us!

So:

• Strap up
• Man up
• Stand up

And… Armor up