Where Are You?
Good Morning Friends,
God of course knows the answer but asks anyway. And this time the answer is not obviously linked to Jesus. The question is straightforward and designed to make us think about our relationship geographically as well as mentally and spiritually to the design God has set forth. Knowing the right perspective is important otherwise we are sure to miss the mark. Here we are likely to confuse the demonic with the divine. Here we hopefully have the Spirit of Faith on earth as in heaven. With this mindset we ask what God ask of Adam. Where Are You?
Scripture: But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 3:9-15 (NRSV)
But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—”I believed, and so I spoke” —we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 (NRSV)
and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:20-35 (NRSV)
Message: So, where are you on the topic of sin and the Holy Spirit? In today’s scripture we see how people are taught to hate and fear in a way that seemingly gives an advantage, but in truth enslaves. Jesus speaks to issue by levelled a damning indictment against stubborn unbelief of those who confuse the divine with the demonic. This is radical stuff but much more honest than the questioning of the religious power base in Jerusalem. For as long as they looked on the work of the Holy Spirit – manifested in the life of Jesus – as a work of the devil, there was no hope for them. Unbelieving religious bullies, who view every new movement within Christianity as ‘the work of the devil’ are also putting themselves in a dangerous position. We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit in a way that redefines family and culture and community. So, think what is truthful and helpful and inspiring and necessary and kind. Know that we must have both the Spirit’s comfort and conviction. The person unwilling to allow the Holy Spirit to free them is truly lost.
Pray for the souls of those who think themselves elite. Pray our relationship to Jesus transcend all other relationships. Pray we not refuse to accept forgiveness and mercy for the sins we have committed. Pray we not presuppose God’s mercy. Pray we not lose heart or hope. Pray we not be envious of another’s spiritual good fortune but instead embrace the lost virtue of contentment even as we resist the evil of world. Pray we not be bitter, sad or sorrowful. Pray we not display anger in a way that grieves the Holy Spirit. Pray we be of high character and good morals. Pray we not be obstinate enough to remain in our sins but have the humility to admit our wrongs. Pray we repent of our pride so the Holy Spirit might have room to work the will of God in us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 