YEAR 2, WEEK 35, Day 1, Monday, 28 August 2023

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 28 August 2023:

Lamentations 3:21, 22 — But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.

In your darkest hour, when there seems to be no hope, you can hold to the truth that God’s love and mercy never ceases, and He is still in complete control. He knows what is best for you though sometimes it is painful. Trust in Him.

Lamentations 3:25, 26 — The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Waiting quietly and patiently for The Lord is one of the hardest things to do.

Lamentations 3:27-42 — It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust— there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. For the Lord will not cast off forever, but though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men…. Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins? Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven: ‘We have transgressed and rebelled.’”

There is a lot of meat in these verses. Sometimes, trials are clearly self-induced — “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” (Proverbs 3:11-12) Sometimes, we don’t understand why we are suffering. In trials, don’t turn away from God but draw closer to Him and learn from the situation. God ultimately works all things together for good for those who are following Jesus. Trust your loving Father in your suffering; recognize that nothing is happening to you the He did not allow to happen for a greater good that you cannot understand – wait on Him. He is more than faithful and only deals with you in perfect love. Pain is God’s chisel as He crafts you into the likeness of Christ. If you are being disciplined accept it, learn, and grow in love.

• 1 Peter 4:19 — Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
• Hebrews 5:8 — Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
• 2 Corinthians 12:10 — For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• Psalm 141:5 — Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
• Romans 5:3-5 — …we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
• Philippians 4:4 — Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Lamentations 3:40 – Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!

You should know if you are obeying God.

Lamentations 3:42 – We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not forgiven.

Repentance is required for forgiveness.

1 Timothy 2:1-2, 8 — First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way…. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.

Paul urged Christians to pray for government officials and powerful people in a highly corrupt society and during a time when the church was greatly persecuted. He urged for this response rather than loud protests against the ruling authorities. His obvious point is that prayer is much more powerful than protest. He saw corporate prayer as the solution to the problem, not just a last resort of helpless victims. You have direct access to the Holy Spirit, the power of God Almighty. If you are living according to His will, your prayers are the most powerful force on the planet.

Today’s political scene is full of passion and protests, but far too little prayer, which Paul says is priority number one. Paul, who was persecuted, imprisoned, and executed for his faith, said we should not only pray for leaders and people in high positions, we should offer “intercessions (pleading to God on their behalf) and thanksgivings” for them. As political debate seems to grow increasingly meanspirited, Paul urges us to remain “dignified in every way…. lifting up holy hands without anger or quarreling.” Are you a ‘political activist’ like Paul who seeks to change the political landscape through intercessory prayer, thanksgiving, and shocking displays of the love of Christ? Wouldn’t that be revolutionary?

As Paul points out, praying for the salvation of our political leaders should be a top priority for Christians – “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made… for kings and all who are in high positions…. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4) Like everyone else, political leaders need forgiveness and a new life in Christ. (Acts 4:10-12; Romans 10:9) Don’t sin by failing to pray for them from a genuine heart of love which eagerly desires their reconciliation.

• James 4:17 — So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
• 1 Samuel 12:23 — Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you….
• Matthew 5:44 — But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you….
• James 2:9 — But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

We should also pray that God would move the hearts of our leaders to make wise decisions aligned with God’s ethics and principles. God is in control of the political situation and all the people involved. There are many amazing examples in the Bible of how God used unbelieving leaders to accomplish His purposes and benefit His people. For example, in Ezra 1, we read how God moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to support the return of Jews to the Homeland to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem. God inspired Pharaoh to make Joseph second-in-command (Genesis 41:41-46); God inspired the king of Persia to allow the Jews to defend themselves against slaughter and to make Mordecai prime minister of Persia (Esther 3-7); and God inspired king Nebuchadnezzar to appoint Daniel as ruler of the province of Babylon (Daniel 2:48). The most powerful thing you can do to influence the political scene is to pray.

• Daniel 2:21 — He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding….
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 — For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
• Proverbs 21:1 — The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
• Jeremiah 29:4-7 — Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

1 Timothy 2:4 – [God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Are you working to please God today by preaching the Good News to everyone around you?

1 Timothy 2:15 — Yet she will be saved through childbearing-if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Paul is not saying that salvation comes through childbearing. We know through the rest of Paul’s writings and the whole of Scripture that salvation comes through genuine faith in Jesus. Genuine faith results in an obedient life that fulfills God’s purpose in life. Paul points out that, in obedience, women play a critical role of creating and developing the next generation of believers that will continue the faith through the currently wicked generation. The most important and powerful institution on the earth is the Christian family. The greatest leadership role on the planet is that of parent. A person has no greater discipleship opportunity than being a parent. Christians think generationally.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 28 August 2023: Dedicate earnest prayers today for leaders and people in high positions. Pray that God will give you a genuine heart for those for whom you feel less inclined to pray, for those from whom you sinfully desire to withhold grace.