Never be the same

Father, you have opened wide the door to your throne room.  Forgive us for spending so much of our time on the outside trying to figure things out for ourselves.  You are the God of all creation!  The God who has saved us from eternal death!  How can we ever doubt that you can meet our current needs?  And yet sometimes you desire for us to wait and learn to trust you when we lack.  We are reminded that even your most beloved Son did not enter this world in luxury as he lay in the unusual bed that you provided.  We realize that even with so much blessing and abundance, our tendency is to take our eyes off of your kingdom and spend our days trying to build our own.  Lord, we want to trust you in every moment!  And we need your help even for this.

Father, forgive us for how little we speak your name.  It grieves us that sometimes we are more concerned about offending people than we are about offending you.  Sometimes we forget why we are here.  We forget that you have saved us so that we can tell others about you.  We are more concerned with people liking us and thinking well of us.  But then, if we can only get a glimpse of Christ!  If we can see his unwavering obedience in the midst of opposition...we can see that sometimes the truth is not so well received.  For even though he spoke the truth in perfect love they still wanted to throw him off a cliff (Luke 4:29).  Even though he healed a man, tormented by demons, living in a cemetery, crying and cutting himself...breaking the chains that the people tried in vain to bind him with, the people still wanted Jesus to leave their region.  

"The incessant screams echoing through the night must have frightened even the strongest men.  Only the demons wanted to be near this nobody in the cemetery.  

Until Jesus showed up, that is.  When he showed up, the world changed.  The demons knew their reign in this man was over.  They were no match for the one they recognized as the Son of the Most High God.

The  change in this man is striking, in fact.  The crazy man became sane.  The naked man was clothed.  His screams of demonic control would be replaced with shouts of praise.  So dramatic was his change that the townspeople were frightened when they saw him.  After all, Jesus had done something amazing in his life.

This man did what you and I would likely do: ask to stay with Jesus, who had changed him remarkably.  That wasn't Jesus' plan though.  He doesn't work miracles in our lives so that we can just hang out with him.  He changes us so we can proclaim his power and grace to others.  'Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you,' Jesus told the man...and that's the way it's supposed to work.  A nobody amazed by Jesus tells everybody what Jesus did..." 

(From "Nobodies For Jesus" by Chuck Lawless)

Only Jesus could set him free from the chains that weighed heavy on his soul (Mark 5).  Father, it grieves us that some of our friends and loved ones do not even realize that they are bound.  They are accustomed to life as they have always known it and do not know of the beautiful relationship they are missing with you.  Father, we pray you would open their eyes to the truth.  We pray for the light of the gospel to shine in the darkness.  Help us not to forget that we should be lights that shine for you.  It's not just a cute little saying for kids.  Letting our light shine is everything!  It is why you have made us your own...so that others may see it and glorify you!  

Father, help us to remember that obeying your commandments is just as New Testament as it is Old.  You have not changed.  You have always been merciful, gracious and holy.  You character did not change when you gave us your one and only Son.  In fact, he showed us who you are.  In Jesus we see your glory, full of grace and truth.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:1-5

Lord, let us never be deceived into thinking that anything apart from your perfect will is good for us. Let us never think that our sin will offer the true and lasting satisfaction that can only be found in walking in your ways. Your "commandments are not burdensome". On the contrary, your commandments are freedom, joy, life and light! We find all of this in you and in your word, Lord. Give us the grace to never forget that we are over comers through faith in Christ. We have believed that Jesus is the Son of God and we will never be the same.