Anything is possible . . .

Alexander the Great was born in 356 BC. He notably tamed a horse when he was 13, convincing evidence of his ambition and ability. Seven years later, he succeeded his father Philip II to the throne. Most of his ruling years were spent on a military campaign through Asia and northeast Africa. By the age of 30, he created one of the largest empires of the ancient world stretching from Greece to northwestern India. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered one of history's most successful military commanders.

What are the odds of such a thing? I cannot imagine this happening in our day. Yet it happened then because God had a plan. God wanted a united world and a common language, and because of this brave young man,

When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law . . . (Galatians 4:4)

Jesus was born. The time was right. The world was united to the point that most people understood Greek, and the good news of God’s grace could be shared among them freely. Even for those who spoke other languages, God gathered them together soon after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and had His disciples speak in other tongues (other languages) so all could hear the Gospel. Anything is possible with God.

I cannot help but connect this with the events in our world. What is God up to? We have tyrants and evil leaders. We have ambitious politicians that are hated or tolerated. Our world seems ripe for someone to come with strong leadership abilities to take over and ‘fix’ the mess it is in. Is that what God is planning?

I’ve no idea of what tomorrow’s headlines will be. However, looking at the way God prepared the world for the arrival of His Son, I’m not anxious about the news or the mismanagement that seems to prevail. God can bring diverse cultures under one ruling power if He so wishes, even under the rule of a mere youth. Alexander proves God can do whatever He wants to fit with His purposes.

Some interpret the Bible prophesies to mean we will experience a one-world leader. Others have varying ideas about the ‘end times’ and the fate of our civilization. Whatever comes next should not produce anxiety for anyone who knows the power of God. His plan will prevail and because He is good, gracious and merciful, I am clearly in favor of trusting Him.

^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, the end of this age seems nearer now than it did a few years ago because of all the disasters and general lack of righteousness that is all around us, but I don’t know that for certain. What I do know is that You are God and You are a good, good Father. I can trust You to work out Your plan. Besides, I’ve read Your book and at the end, Jesus wins. Your people win. We live forever with You in a new heaven and new earth. You don’t need a twenty-year-old warrior to bring it to pass either. It will happen because You willingly gave Your life more than two thousand years ago . . .

You were in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Yourself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, You humbled Yourself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted You and bestowed on You the name that is above every name, so that at Your name every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that You are Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5–11)

 Amen!

Ready to die? Ready to live?

This morning we are talking about the value of sleep, exercise and good food. My devotional reading is about the priestly prayer of Christ towards the end of His time on earth, but the author eventually gets to the importance of those values. In His prayer, Jesus said…

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours…. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:9, 20–21)

What did Jesus pray concerning us? One of His requests was about our lives in this world. “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15)

Many Christians assume that the normal attitude of a Christian is supposed to be like that of Peter when he said, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” (John 13:37) However, that is not how Jesus prayed. He asked His Father not to take us out of this world, not to let us “lay down” our lives for Him, but keep us from the clutches of Satan. Dying for Jesus might be a testimony, and some say the church grows on the blood of the martyrs, but a living witness has more power than a noble death and a gravestone.

At one point in the life of Elijah, he also wanted to die. He won a major confrontation with idol worshipers but when the king’s wife, Jezebel, threatened him with death, he ran for his life. After a long journey, this prophet sat under a broom tree and said…

 “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” (1 Kings 19:1–5)

The angel supplied food then Elijah slept again and was soon ready to serve God again.

The days that I feel like I want to “go home” are often stressful days when my work is difficult or life is not much fun. I understand Elijah’s plea. But, as today’s devotional reading says, when people are whining that they do not want to live, often what we really need is food and sleep and exercise!

These thoughts make me feel like a wimp who complains too much instead of doing the right things to be ready to serve God, sometimes as simple as sleep, food and exercise.

Presenting this year to God

My husband is a big picture person. He likes standing at the top and looking down. He prefers an overview to details. I am the opposite. I like details and have trouble seeing the big picture, so he often has to help me with the overview.

The new year begins with a big picture verse. It invites me to stand at the top, not that I might look down on anything or anyone, nor that I might see an overview, but to present myself to the Lord.

Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. (Exodus 34:2)

Christians often speak of “mountain top” experiences with God. He draws us closer to Himself in some way or does something that brings us to a deeper vision and relationship with Him. We appreciate these experiences, and like the saints of old, use them as markers in our spiritual lives.

However, this verse is about my side of this type of experience. Normally a “mountain top” high has nothing to do with what I do, but here God asks me to prepare myself. I am to be ready each morning to come and present myself to Him for a deep relationship experience. In other words, I’m to keep on doing what has been my practice for the past forty years.

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Lord, what will 2012 hold? I have no idea, yet by Your grace, I hope to begin it --- and each day of it --- by presenting myself to You. Then, no matter what happens, I am ready. You are with me in the high places as well as the low. So this bright morning, I present my life and yield the days to come into Your loving and capable hands.