DARKNESS

I Was Just Thinking About – DARKNESS.

There are several areas of darkness that are commonly known. In creation, God made a distinction between day and night. All of us are aware and take for granted the daily hours of both light and darkness. Physically and spiritually, Jesus Christ made between light and darkness when He stated to Nicodemus (John 3:19-21): “Judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people love the darkness more than the light, for their actions (deeds) were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants (them to do).”

The spiritual lessons about darkness are crystallized by Paul when he wrote in Ephesians 6:10-12 that the follower of Jesus Christ must remain “strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” He states the specific reasons for that guidance: “your stand against the devil’s schemes.” He defines precisely what he means and intends when he adds: “our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against (1) the rulers; (2) against the authorities; (3) against the POWERS OF THIS WORLD’S DARKNESS; (4) against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

With this being true, how can the child of God survive and be engaged for the Lord amid this opposition and forces of evil. If not in one’s own strength, whose will be needed? Second Peter 1:3-4 reminds us: “The divine power of Jesus Christ  has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, NOW THAT YOU HAVE ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION IN THE WORLD CAUSED BY EVIL DESIRES.”

There is another area of darkness with which many are concerned, namely, death. Some years ago, L.E. Singer and Don Wyrtzen combined to write and compose a beautiful anthem titled: Finally Home. The contrast between Light and Darkness is expressed in the second stanza:

When surrounded by the blackness
Of the darkest night,
O how lonely death can be.
At the end of this long tunnel
Is a shining light;
For death is swallowed up in victory.

The refrain gives the joyous anticipation of passing through that moment of darkness - - -

But just think of stepping on shore
And finding it heaven.
Of touching a hand and finding it God's;
Of breathing new air and finding it celestial;
Of waking up in glory and finding it home.

There is another area of abbreviated darkness for those who have been recipients of Chemotherapy. It is sometimes referred to as “Chemo-Brain” indicating the brief and possible gaps in one’s ability to think sequentially as well as to recall well-known information. A regional Cancer Center is conducting a workshop-seminar titled “Brain Fog.” A  generalization expresses that Brain Fog is not limited to just Cancer Treatments but occurs with Muscular Sclerosis, etc. It suggests that depression during treatment can result in loss of concentration and fatigue. It can and will also impact one to have abnormal sleeping habits and a lack of energy. These can also lead and contribute to one’s problems with concentrating. It also can cause the completing of tasks difficult.

Jesus reminded His followers in John 12:35, “Walk while you have The Light, lest darkness overtake you.” One must keep looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

A MUZZLE

I Was Just Thinking About – A MUZZLE.

Muzzle is a word with multiple applications. Minimally, two of the more common are: (a) the barrel of a gun or pistol; and (b) a device placed over an animal’s mouth to prevent it from biting or eating.

If muzzle is applied to Biblical principles, the application would be to restrain one’s speech and the expression of opinions. This would include bearing a false witness; hypocritical persuasion and expression; lying and propensity toward deceit; gossiping where negatives prevail; etc.

When our children were very young, there was a neighbor who had a boy the age of our children. He was cute and was fun for the children to know and with whom they enjoyed playing. However, there was a major problem. The little boy lived in a home where the parents were given to vulgarity and profanity. It was a difficult situation for our children. The little boy had learned his parent’s vocabulary and would utter profanity often. It was an impossible situation as we attempted to “muzzle” his use of those words while he was playing with our children. Even though we would remind him that if he wanted to come to our home and play with our children he would have to be careful what he said, it was difficult for that boy to express himself without using profanity.

One of the children’s choruses we had sung with our children was: “Be careful little mouth what you say…Be careful little hands what you do…Be careful little feet where you go…” But – their little friend was unchurched and regularly exposed to vulgarities and profanity.

It is obvious that King David was mindful of the importance of the words used in public discourse. In Psalm 39:1 (ESV) he wrote, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” He would go on to pray in verse 4,  “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!” James 3:1-12 is a reminder of how important it is for one to tame his/her tongue. The way the tongue is to be used most effectively is stated in Isaiah 50:4 (ESV), “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.”

The guideline that I/We should embrace and always be mindful of is Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV), “Let no corrupt (unwholesome) word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary (and beneficial)  edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” If I/We fail to remember and practice this guideline and instruction, there is a sobering result stated in Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV), “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Verses 31-32 state what the behavior and vocabulary must be, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Do you need to be muzzled? Do your words and speech edify and impart grace to the hearer? In Matthew 12:36, Jesus said: “On the day of judgment people will give account for every careless (idle) word they speak.”  You and I are responsible before our Lord and Savior to speak and behave is such a way that our chief end will always be to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

DEVOTIONAL

I Was Just Thinking About – DEVOTIONAL.

Many church-attending people are well acquainted with Daily Devotionals that are regularly made available. Our Daily Bread is one that is most common. When people start their day with a time for prayer and Bible Reading, almost always it includes reading some comments of a devotional writer such as Streams in the Desert; My Utmost for His Highest; Daily Light; etc. There is no limit to devotional materials one can use. I usually read some myself, such as: Get More Strength For The Journey; Insight for Living; Daily Treasures; etc. There is absolutely nothing inherently wrong with doing so unless it detracts from quality time in prayer and diligent reading and study of the Holy Scriptures.

I was listening to a sermon that was given in the presence of hundreds of people who had gathered for an Awakening Conference. The speaker was clear as he stressed two convicting thoughts: (1) Do you reckon with the barrenness in one’s life because of unconfessed sin or any sense of guilt before a Holy God; and (2) Do you wonder about the desert existence of the church where there is little expectation of any display of God’s power and His presence in the midst of the church?

The early indication of what was necessary for there to be any awakening after the ascension of Jesus Christ was observable in the actions of His disciples/apostles. Acts 1:14 describes the scene for us: “With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Some translations indicate that they “devoted themselves to prayer.” Following this time of prayer, those who had been cowardly at the crucifixion became bold in their declaration about Jesus Christ. Peter became the spokesman for the group and hundreds became so convicted that they cried out (Acts 2:37): “What must we do?” As the respondents became part of the spiritual awakening that was occurring, Acts 2:42 indicates: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Where there had been barrenness, there now was life; where there had been a desert and nothing to quench their spiritual thirst, there was now the life-sustaining presence of the Holy Spirit that was satisfying and rejuvenating that which was at the throes of death.

One of the most poorly attended gatherings in any church is when a Prayer Meeting or Group is announced. Some churches have surrendered to the inevitable and cancelled any specified time for Prayer. The result is not a surprise. Christianity Today, March 6, 2019 posted a LifeWay Survey that indicated: “6 in 10 Protestant churches are plateaued or declining in attendance and more than half saw fewer than 10 people become new Christians in the past 12 months. The research gives a clear picture of the state of Protestant churches in America today. Most have fewer than 100 people attending services each Sunday (57%), including 21 percent who average fewer than 50.  Twenty-eight percent of Protestant pastors say their church has seen worship service attendance shrink by 6 percent or more compared to three years ago. The lack of growth in worship attendance in most churches is matched by a lack of new commitments to Christ last year.”

It is obvious that the Church cannot accomplish mechanically that which can only be realized spiritually. It is not in the programs devised but in Prayer that is marked by devotedness. It is not by the powerful preaching of the pulpit occupant but by the presence of God and the outpouring of His Spirit that results in confession of sin and renewed commitment to Jesus Christ. We cannot think that we can produce a result that can only be accomplished by God in Jesus Christ (John 3:21).

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.