Rise Up

Yesterday much of my family came over to celebrate Thanksgiving together. During our awesome time of fellowship, my brother in law who is a pastor in Hesperia told me of a pastor in Hawaii who has a church for the homeless. This Hawaiian pastor has five services on Sunday and gathers in tents with the homeless. I would like to recount this incredible story of a time the Hawaiian Pastor was invited to speak in an underground church in China.

The people who came to hear the pastor speak in China travelled 12 hours by train. They sat on hard wooden floors and listened intently as the pastor spoke the things of God for over 10 hours! At the end of their time together, the pastor asked everyone how he could pray for them. One petite yet brave lady stood up and requested, “Can you please pray that we can become like you and live in a free country to worship and praise our Jesus?” The pastor responded, “No, I will not pray for that.” The lady stood there and lowed her head in great disappointment.

The pastor then said to everyone, “In my country, if people have to travel more than 15 minutes in their nice comfortable cars with air-condition and heating, they do not come to church. In my country, if the pastor speaks for more than 30-40 minutes, people will walk out of the service and not come back. In my country, people sit on pleasant soft chairs and will only go to a church that has such. In my country, people do not go to church if there is no air-conditioning and heating.”

The last statement the pastor made was, “No, I will not pray that you will become like us, I will pray that we will become like you.”

I really wonder how many American “Christians” are actually regenerated, born again, spirit led Christ followers? Mega church messages are typically self-motivated, “how to be happy and successful teachings.” Where is the cross? I also wonder, how many Christians in persecuted countries are NOT regenerated, born again, spirit led Christ followers? Maybe not even one…I suppose.

I’m sure we all have a few things we are looking forward to. A family gathering? Graduating? Vacation? Purchasing a home? As followers of Jesus Christ, the LORD at times reveals some really cool stuff to us. Maybe He has shown you the ministry He will one day put you in or He has revealed who the person you will spend the rest of your life with. I remember after proposing to my wife the next six months before we married were the longest days in my life. My heart was so exciting for June 6 to come and start my life with Nena. Knowing and anticipating something God is going to do in our life is exciting, however, God does not want us to miss the work He is doing in our life now.

When Abraham was 75, God promised him that he would have a son. You bet Abraham was stoked and excited. However, it was not fulfilled for 25 years! After Paul was converted, God had to have some time with the LORD before he could start preaching (Gal. 1:17).

Has God revealed something to you? Our Master will bring it to pass in His timing. Having said that, in between the present time and the promise fulfilled by God is crucial. The LORD wants us to enjoy the day-by-day journey of following in His footsteps. Don’t miss what God wants to do with your life today by setting your eyes solely on the future. When you rise up every morning, renew your commitment to the LORD and live your life whole-heartedly for Him. What is God doing in your life today?

I recently saw Schindler's list and the ending had a powerful impact on me. As Schindler was giving his last set of instructions to his well-trusted Jewish business partner, he finds himself surrounded by all those who worked for him in his factory. They present to him a gold ring that had the inscription, “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.” At that moment Schindler realizes how precious and valuable one life is. He breaks down and weeps because he knew he could have bought more Jews and saved many more lives.

When Jesus went about the cities it says in Matthew 9:36, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” Schindler truly did have compassion on the Jews and if it were not so, then he wouldn’t have purchased his own forced labor camp and purchase each Jew with a price. People today are in concentration camps. The bible says in Romans 8:16, “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.”

People everyday are slaves to sexual immorality, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy…and the list can go on and on. The good news is those who put their trust in Jesus can help people who are in concentration camps of sin become free. Do you have compassion on people? Do you share the Gospel of Jesus Christ? God will use anyone if they are willing? God used Schindler…have you allowed him to use you? As the LORD today to soften your heart and to make your heart like His so you can be about your Heavenly Fathers business.

Have you heard someone say, "I forgive you, but I'll never forget." I wonder is that really forgiveness? God has chosen not to deal with us according to our sins, nor punish us according to our iniquities for as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him (Ps 103:10-11). When we ask Jesus Christ to forgive us of our sins, He removes our sins from us as far as the east from the west. That means if you travel west and never stop you will always be traveling west. West continues as long as you are traveling west. However if you are traveling north you will eventually be traveling south. North and south meet therefore having an ending. If God said that He removes our sins as far as north or south than that means our sins would be forgiven only for an indicated time. That is how I have chosen to forgive people; I forget about it for a short time but then I pull the sin back up to plead my case. God said in Isaiah 43:25, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." That is what real forgiveness is all about. Jesus will never bring it up against you again. Take heart, God has forgotten your sins. Your past has been blotted out. As far as God is concerned, it never happened. His forgiveness is complete. You may have a problem forgiving yourself, but God doesn't have a problem forgiving you.

However, this great news is only for those who put their trust and faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.

Joshua 13:1, "Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: "You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed."

Joshua was said by God to be "old, advanced in years," yet there was still "very much land yet to be possessed." Maybe he had lost part of his teeth and hair and was slowing down quite a bit. But God wasn't through with him yet. Thee was still a lot of work to do.

Maybe you find yourself in your life right now making excuses why you can't do something for God. If you are still breathing then God has a purpose and a plan for you. There is still much to be completed in your life. What is it? Seek the LORD each day as you renew your commitment to Him every morning as you wake. God is not done with you. I challenge you to take a few moments and ask God what He wants you to do today?

Where God guides...He provides.