April 25, 2020 (today’s lectionary)
Be humble, and do not sin. Let God’s gift, cast in love upon you, come when it comes. You can’t hurry this thing along. God’s timing is the only timing that counts, and God’s shoulders are wide and strong. Cast all your cares upon him. You don’t need to ask his permission. He loves you.
The Devil disagrees. But if you just take a step back and watch, he makes such a fool of himself! Prowling around like a roaring lion indeed! But you have to be silent. You can’t say a word when he screams in your face. You mustn’t move away when he runs at you with his fangs dripping and mouth wide open.
Easier said than done, yes. So difficult when I’m afraid. But look, everyone around you, the ones you love and who love you, all your brothers and sisters – they are going through the same thing!
Consider this carefully: the God of ALL GRACE who called you will also himself
restore you
confirm you
strengthen you
and establish you, yes YOU!
… after you have suffered for just a little while.
No longer a slave to sin, you are a child of God …
So my holy children, my beloved brothers and sisters, kiss one another and receive God’s peace through me. You no longer need to be afraid. (1 Peter 5 – the end of Peter’s first epistle)
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Again, I see O Lord there is nothing to fear. You confirm once more your faithfulness deep inside my soul. Who in the skies ranks with you?
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever
With my mouth will I make known your faithfulness
I will declare His love stands firm
I will declare His love stands firm
O Lord God Almighty who is like You?
You are mighty and Your faithfulness surrounds you
O Lord God Almighty who is like You?
You are mighty and Your faithfulness surrounds You
There is none in the heavens who is like You
The holy ones in the heavens greatly fear You
The heavens praise Your faithfulness
The heavens praise Your faithfulness
O Lord God Almighty who is like You?
You are mighty and Your faithfulness surrounds you (Andy Park, Vineyard Worship)
Blessed are the people who know the joyful shout! (Psalm 89)
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Jesus insists that we get things in order. We won’t be picking up any serpents before we believe. These signs will accompany those who believe. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief! I won’t be picking up serpents any time soon with that attitude.
I don’t know, though. Does Jesus frown down like that on me? On any of us? These promises are rich with power to change the stolid minds of the stuck-in-the-muds, the self-righteous, the proud, those certain only of what they see, doubting Thomases to the grave. When I see someone
stand up and drive out demons,
speak new languages
pick up servants with their hands
drink deadly things and not be harmed
laying hands upon the sick and they recover!
Oh, Lord, I believe!
I’m just not sure if this might not be the roaring devil-beest Peter talked about, in slight disguise. His mouth hangs open, eyes glare white and wide, he shouts wildly (or is it holy?), “I see Jesus, Jeeee-suuuuussss! He has come to us in visitation here down inside this sweating nightly tent. We have to pay rent for this tent, so put your dollars in this hat!”
Elmer Gantry, who are you anyway? Help me see, O Lord, help me see. I believe!
Then the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and seated at the right hand of God the father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. Mark is clear about this, at least in this disciples’ history, and by association in his instruction to us:
They went forth and preached everywhere while the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word, through those strange, more than faintly frightening, accompanying signs. (Mark 16 – the end of the book, there’s no more, take it or leave it.) BELIEVE!
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