"Perhaps Today!"
Complacent – “Self-satisfied, pleased, gratified” Webster’s Dictionary
As we come out of the month of September and away from the barrage of the media’s portrayals which ignite our memories and passions of that fateful day on September 11th 2001. One of the programs I watched struck me more than the others, as I think about it, more vivid in my mind than the planes striking to towers, the smoke and rubble, and even the sight of those huge towers crumbling to the ground as if made of sand, was watching what had taken place months, days, and even hours before. In their normal routines of life were people going about their daily business, kids going to school, men and women going to work, the scenes of our country's leaders as they lead the country in those days prior, but one thing was more emphasized than anything else in this “docu-drama”, it was the complacency of us all!
There as I watched, my screen showed me people just milling around the airport, some in hurry, and some just seemingly there. It showed me that airport procedures and security were lax, as screener joked with passengers letting them through and on their way to their destinations. It reminded me that the country in those days was focused on current events which weren’t very exciting, new comedy shows, and soap operas both on TV, and the ones not scripted that took place in the White House, but in all of this, people just went about their business and never thought that what took place on September 11th 2001 ever would, but it did!
What's the point I’m trying to get at here? That complacency is a bad thing, and that we should always be on the look out, always being alert? I’ll get to my point in a little bit. I wanted to tell you that we just started a 5 week "prophecy series" at church on Sunday nights. The first night was last night, and “Wow!” The gentleman took us to Ezekiel 38 - 39 in our bibles, there he gave us information about “end times prophecy”. He gave us a lesson in current events and geography, for example when Ezekiel talks about the place called "Rosh" it’s believed to be Russia, and when it talks about “Meshech”, “Tubal”, “Gomer” it’s talking about modern day Turkey. “Persia” is Iran, “Ethiopia” or “Cush” is the Sudan, and “Put” is Libya, all very interesting stuff. If any of you guys can go next Sunday night, you should try and make it
But what struck me most about last evening was that after he talked a bit about the “tribulation”, he said that some of us Christians believe in "pre-tribulation" some believe in "mid- Tribulation' and some even believe that we as Christians will go through the whole 7 years tribulation period, but whatever you believe, the fact that you believe in the tribulation means you also believe that Jesus IS coming back! Then he challenged us, this is something I pray I never forget! He said “Take just 30 seconds of every day, preferably in the mornings before you get out of bed, and let these 2 words sink deep in your minds for the day “Perhaps Today!”” Isn’t that great! My pastor says (para-phrase) “No matter what you believe about when the rapture will take place, live your life like he’s coming back today!” I love that! “Jesus in coming back – AND - perhaps today!”
So what does this have to do with complacency? The Bible talks about “complacency” in Proverbs:
29 “Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:29-33
If we take this thought of “complacency” and the thought of “perhaps today”, how should we live our life? Should our thought be; “I need to do as much as I can for people today in case Jesus comes?” or “I need to try not to swear today, and while I’m at it, I need to walk as many old ladies across the street as possible today?” or “I need to call my boss and tell him I’m not coming in as I’m going to be fasting and praying all day long, and maybe tomorrow too?” Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with trying not to swear, or helping old ladies across the street, and there certainly is nothing wrong with fasting and praying, but I think it’s more about being available to God through His Holy Spirit in what He would have you to do today. It’s about watching for those “divine appointments” He has for you today. Turn complacency around to be positive, not a negative! Be complacent (Self-satisfied, pleased, and gratified) in the thoughts and actions of you life that Jesus is coming back, and perhaps today!
Father! It is so easy for me to write these words, and at times it is so hard for me to live them out. I want to be, and love being used by you as an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in You, so I would ask that you help me to live my life in the excitement that Jesus You are coming soon! I thank You for the “knowledge” that You give me from Your Word, and through our pastors. I pray for our pastors as they become more and more passionate to preach and teach Your Word as the world shows more and more proof of prophecy. May we also remember that WE are a “royal priesthood” and that our pastors are no different than us, they are “just one sinner leading another sinner to the bread of Truth”, that we are called to do the same. Give me a heart that shares the same passion that my pastor has when he says that we who are sure of our eternal destiny, that our heart would break for those whose destiny is not sure to them. Jesus we love you, and so look forward to the day of Your return! We pray this in Your name, Amen!
“Perhaps Today!”
Complacent – “Self-satisfied, pleased, gratified” Webster’s Dictionary
As we come out of the month of September and away from the barrage of the media’s portrayals which ignite our memories and passions of that fateful day on September 11th 2001. One of the programs I watched struck me more than the others, as I think about it, more vivid in my mind than the planes striking to towers, the smoke and rubble, and even the sight of those huge towers crumbling to the ground as if made of sand, was watching what had taken place months, days, and even hours before. In their normal routines of life were people going about their daily business, kids going to school, men and women going to work, the scenes of our country's leaders as they lead the country in those days prior, but one thing was more emphasized than anything else in this “docu-drama”, it was the complacency of us all!
There as I watched, my screen showed me people just milling around the airport, some in hurry, and some just seemingly there. It showed me that airport procedures and security were lax, as screener joked with passengers letting them through and on their way to their destinations. It reminded me that the country in those days was focused on current events which weren’t very exciting, new comedy shows, and soap operas both on TV, and the ones not scripted that took place in the White House, but in all of this, people just went about their business and never thought that what took place on September 11th 2001 ever would, but it did!
What's the point I’m trying to get at here? That complacency is a bad thing, and that we should always be on the look out, always being alert? I’ll get to my point in a little bit. I wanted to tell you that we just started a 5 week "prophecy series" at church on Sunday nights. The first night was last night, and “Wow!” The gentleman took us to Ezekiel 38 - 39 in our bibles, there he gave us information about “end times prophecy”. He gave us a lesson in current events and geography, for example when Ezekiel talks about the place called "Rosh" it’s believed to be Russia, and when it talks about “Meshech”, “Tubal”, “Gomer” it’s talking about modern day Turkey. “Persia” is Iran, “Ethiopia” or “Cush” is the Sudan, and “Put” is Libya, all very interesting stuff. If any of you guys can go next Sunday night, you should try and make it
But what struck me most about last evening was that after he talked a bit about the “tribulation”, he said that some of us Christians believe in "pre-tribulation" some believe in "mid- Tribulation' and some even believe that we as Christians will go through the whole 7 years tribulation period, but whatever you believe, the fact that you believe in the tribulation means you also believe that Jesus IS coming back! Then he challenged us, this is something I pray I never forget! He said “Take just 30 seconds of every day, preferably in the mornings before you get out of bed, and let these 2 words sink deep in your minds for the day “Perhaps Today!”” Isn’t that great! My pastor says (para-phrase) “No matter what you believe about when the rapture will take place, live your life like he’s coming back today!” I love that! “Jesus in coming back – AND - perhaps today!”
So what does this have to do with complacency? The Bible talks about “complacency” in Proverbs:
29 “Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:29-33
If we take this thought of “complacency” and the thought of “perhaps today”, how should we live our life? Should our thought be; “I need to do as much as I can for people today in case Jesus comes?” or “I need to try not to swear today, and while I’m at it, I need to walk as many old ladies across the street as possible today?” or “I need to call my boss and tell him I’m not coming in as I’m going to be fasting and praying all day long, and maybe tomorrow too?” Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with trying not to swear, or helping old ladies across the street, and there certainly is nothing wrong with fasting and praying, but I think it’s more about being available to God through His Holy Spirit in what He would have you to do today. It’s about watching for those “divine appointments” He has for you today. Turn complacency around to be positive, not a negative! Be complacent (Self-satisfied, pleased, and gratified) in the thoughts and actions of you life that Jesus is coming back, and perhaps today!
Father! It is so easy for me to write these words, and at times it is so hard for me to live them out. I want to be, and love being used by you as an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in You, so I would ask that you help me to live my life in the excitement that Jesus You are coming soon! I thank You for the “knowledge” that You give me from Your Word, and through our pastors. I pray for our pastors as they become more and more passionate to preach and teach Your Word as the world shows more and more proof of prophecy. May we also remember that WE are a “royal priesthood” and that our pastors are no different than us, they are “just one sinner leading another sinner to the bread of Truth”, that we are called to do the same. Give me a heart that shares the same passion that my pastor has when he says that we who are sure of our eternal destiny, that our heart would break for those whose destiny is not sure to them. Jesus we love you, and so look forward to the day of Your return! We pray this in Your name, Amen!
“Perhaps Today!”
posted by In His Grip at 4:26 PM
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