God can use a ‘scattered’ mind . . .

Our Bible study group discussed the amazing gift of eyesight. One man wondered if our eyes are created to see certain things and not others, just as the eyes of animals, birds, insects, etc. see what they need to see. Because of devotions in Revelation, I agreed. John saw things that we cannot normally see. He saw the future and was given a glimpse of spiritual realities that are usually invisible to our eyes.

For instance, he saw Satan and his cohorts cast out of heaven and thrown to the earth. He saw this Liar and Destroyer pursue Israel and try to destroy them. He saw God’s protection as He rescued them and then saw the battle between the devil  and God’s people, a battle that is ongoing and furious. He could see what we know happened then and later, but our eyes cannot see this spiritual war. We just know the reality of it.

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. (Revelation 12:7–17)

This enemy accuses me and does other nasty things, usually to keep me from praying. One devotional book says that all these battles “are given by the Master for the explicit purpose of enabling you to win your crown.” This book also challenges me that his efforts are not about ideal situations or far-away emergencies, but the conditions of life today. That is, my crown lies embedded in the hardships and trials that pressure me right now — namely keeping my focus and not allowing distractions to sidetrack me from the work of praying, a work that God has affirmed many times.

Satan tries accusation but I know that Jesus has totally forgiven everything. If the enemy says I am unworthy to pray, that only drives me to pray in the name of Jesus. Satan is more successful with distraction. Today I am encouraged by a devotional writer who says my crown lies there. If I am faithful to pray anyway, God can use my easily distracted thoughts to pull me, to draw my mind to His will and give me the issues and words needed for praying accordingly. God uses the very issue that Satan uses, not to stop me from praying but give me thoughts that He wants me to discuss with Him. Today I realize that my ‘problem’ is God’s design for me!

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Jesus, I know that Satan opposes everything You do and Your will for my life. I shouldn’t be shocked or annoyed at the trials of life that threaten the work You have given me. I need to always be prepared and even rejoice. As I’ve been told, these battles reveal I am “a threat to Satan’s system and an asset to Christ’s Kingdom” — and that is totally amazing.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- an especially intimate time of prayer today.

- a good whack at my to-do list.

- a long and needed nap.

- the herb Aero garden that is producing more than we can use!

- the smell of fresh bread.

Scattered but with a Purpose . . .

Today’s world is mobile. I’ve moved an average of one move every 2.5 years of my life. However, this is not the case for everyone. Our children had school friends who had never been out of the city where we happened to be living. My parents moved six times in their whole lives and most of those were from retirement to nursing care to hospital.

I’ve wondered if people moved often during the time of the New Testament. I cannot find that information yet surmise that because people depended on foot travel or animals, they likely didn’t move very far. That begs the question: how would these words of Jesus come true?

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

How would the new Christians witness to the ends of the earth? It seems obvious they needed more than an easy way of travel — they also needed motivation to go from where they lived and worked to the ‘ends of the earth.’ What would influence them to do that? The book of Acts tells how God helped them, not in a way that they would have chosen on their own . . .

And Saul approved of (Stephen’s) execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. (Acts 8:1–3)

The Jewish religious leaders felt threatened by this ‘new’ religion and began persecuting them. It began very soon and continued, yet the narrative in Acts shows God’s plan. As His people fled for safety they fulfilled those prophetic words of their Savior:

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:19–21)

Today if this happened in my part of the world, Christians might think it was a horrible thing to be uprooted and scattered because of persecution. We might not suspect that God had something greater in mind than our comfort and security. I’m marveling at what God was doing back then, but would I marvel if it happened to me?

The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. (Acts 11:22–26)

In parts of our world, persecuted Christians are still fleeing in fear for their lives. Our church has supported newlyweds from Syria who lived in bombed-out buildings for several months until they could escape to safety. We also are supporting families who fled from their homeland to another country only to find themselves in refugee camps, also unwelcome and persecuted. I’ve moved many times but cannot relate to what these people are experiencing. Relocating by choice or necessity is one thing but moving to escape death is quite another.

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Lord Jesus, I compare the attitude of these early Christians with mine and marvel at their faithfulness and steadfast purpose. They turned to You in faith and that faith carried them, even as they were threatened. I must admit that a forced move would challenge me. Would I share the Gospel as I fled or if I wound up in a foreign land? I know that many people are suspicious of immigrants here because of persecution. I pray that You will use them to share the Gospel even as you did in the early church. Sadly, our land is ‘free’ yet many of our citizens still need to hear the Gospel because many of Your people are too comfortable rather than being focused and faithful to that purpose.