Do You Know What To Do To Prosper?
Good Morning Friends,
The recent murders in the A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina really trouble me for even if justice appears to be served in the matter it all seems such a waste. The lives of the people murdered while praying are gone. The murderer’s life now thrown away. The whole thing is such a waste of human potential. I somehow doubt the murderer knew how to answer today’s question correctly. I wonder how those now dead would pray for their city and its people. I wonder if we might begin to think and act in a new way. Do You Know What To Do To Prosper?
Scripture: See, it is I who have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and produces a weapon fit for its purpose; I have also created the ravager to destroy. 17No weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgement. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, says the Lord.
Isaiah 54:16-17 (NRSV)
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
11For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)
Message: There is a demonic problem in this world that wastes people’s lives by blinding them to the opportunities available to them. There is a demonic problem that lashes out at people when they begin to accomplish successes because they are doing things that not only make them happy but also prosperous. I used to think the problem was a lack of leadership but I do not think that it is really that simple now. It is more people moving through life without a divine purpose and then being caught up in blaming others for their difficulties. Maybe they are mentally ill. Maybe they are used to having something for nothing…choosing spiritual procrastination instead of releasing a perceived privilege for the real purpose of life. Maybe they never had someone to disciple them in the way of love. Maybe they are just mean and evil. For sure this is difficult territory with so many walking on egg shells and others afraid to walk into the territory of this challenge at all. And some just jumping into the fray. But what is clear is that the discussion regarding human rights is not new. But this issue is heating up with a new resolve that requires much prayer. For fighting back when confronted with hate has to be full of divine purpose. Good ideas here may not be God’s ideas. I think that perhaps the key is to emulate how Christ was able to set aside what we think is status and privilege. He knew who had supremacy and it was not attached to a color and not attached to a flag. He knew his true identity. Do we know ours?
Pray we all know the glory of the unity of the Trinity reflected in the body of believers…of Christ in us. Pray we work together according to God’s timetable for His glory. Pray we help support people who are doing things that help others attain spiritual success. Pray we do not waste our lives nor rejoice when another’s life is wasted. Pray we realize that if we are not fulfilling our divine purpose we are wasting our lives. Pray we realize that the greatest of all privileges is to carry these problems to God in prayer. Pray we have a Holy Spirit power to overcome evil. Pray we battle the wasters of human potential. Pray we all gain a more meaningful sense of identity. Pray we realize that hate is an assault on all souls who believe in the unity of Christ. Pray we have an identity in the supremacy of God not man. Pray we realize that our God given prosperity is something we are to share.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 