Survivors
Good Morning Friends,
We have all had to face setbacks. Perhaps for you it was the economic downturn in 2008 or an earthquake or a job loss or the breakup of a relationship. Or perhaps a health problem. Some of you reading this have undoubtedly had a diagnosis of cancer. For my mom it was a series of strokes, but even those events were not the first time she had faced adversity. God prepares us. The amazing thing though is not that she survived. The beauty was in the transparency of her character as she bounced back.
So too it is with the biggest setback ever… the crucifixion of Christ. The beauty was that the Way’s setback set the stage for the biggest comeback in history. Friends, Jesus was beat down but not caste out. The Spirit’s transparent movement continued. Not even death could hold back the power of resurrection. Friends, we too need to be Survivors.
Scripture: God who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Romans 8:11 (NRSV)
Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.
Joel 2:28-32 (NRSV)
Message: Are you desperate enough to be transparent? Are you strong enough to overcome the challenges of life? The Rahabs and Gideons, Esthers and Daniels are witness to survival under pressure. The reality is that there always seems to be stresses in life, but sometimes they seem to go beyond the breaking point. Joel in today’s scripture faced adversity too… the largest swarm of locust imaginable. They had eaten everything. There was no food, no wine, no trees or plants, no harvest and no joy. What is one to do? Joel suggested a time of prayer and fasting to seek God. Perhaps we too on this Fourth of July need to seek God. Alright I am pretty sure that fasting will not be part of this day for you but do spend some time in prayer. As we watch parades and fireworks today let’s ask a blessing on the dream of this nation but more importantly, that the dream of Christ lives on in us for a world we are called to love.
Pray for those who mourn that they receive God’s comfort. Pray for those that turn in desperation to God. Pray that God would turn to restore what was lost for those in need…Pray we all find comfort in the pouring out of his Spirit. Pray we follow in the footsteps of survivors. Pray we follow in the footsteps of the remnant. Pray we walk in the Spirit. Pray we understand what it means to survive. Pray we are called to serve God’s purpose. Pray we escape condemnation because we have found freedom in Christ. Pray for the grace of being a survivor.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 