5/31/2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” (Revelation 11.3,6)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

The work of the prophets is the work which is given to them by God for the sake of His people and for the sake of His Name. From the very beginning, God has “made known” things to His people (believers and unbelievers) which defy understanding and challenge the imagination. I often consider that we are not intended to understand everything God makes known. We are to be challenged within ourselves to seek a deeper understanding of the Word of God. But, that does not mean we will actually grasp that which we seek. This is the challenge of “faith in God.” We must believe, even when it is most difficult and trying, that God is working all things together for our good. I am not speaking of things which we would consider “good for us” as necessarily being those things which God has determined are for our good. Our viewpoint and understanding is more often defined by our knowledge derived out of this broken world view. The Enemy, the Father of Lies, and his cohorts work diligently to prosper the idea that this world is all we need. The “lie” is that we can generate by our own industry and self-will all we need and more. We are convinced that “this is all we need” or “this is all we will have.” But, God’s word says something different. The Apostle Paul wrote in his instruction to the community of faith in Corinth: “Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Rather, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2.6-10) It is by the Holy Spirit of God that we are given insight, support and wisdom by which we may effectively live in this world. Without it, we would be limited only to life in this world. We know, as Christ Himself declared, “This world is not My Home.” His actual words were “My Kingdom is not of this world.” He affirmed this with His disciples in the Upper Room on the night when He was arrested, “If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” (John 15.19) These words encourage us to consider that our means of seeing life in this world is not derived by a “world” perspective. Rather, we are to be informed, inspired and engaged by the “Kingdom” perspective. This comes from trusting God to act with integrity even when understanding the “ways and means” defies our worldly logic.

We can experience this dialectic as we read the Old Testament Prophets as well as John’s Revelation from The Lamb of God. Some of its imagery and messages are better understood within the confines and context out of which it was written in the late first century. It was with such context, such as Greek tragedy so popular throughout the Roman Empire at that time, that the audiences in the seven churches of Asia Minor would have attempted to understand what was said. It was probably too fantastic to wrap one’s mind around especially the first time hearing it (very few would have read it.) But, with ears to hear and eyes to see, the proclamation and presentation of this Revelation was framed by “God’s will be done.” It was a simple surrender which would have led to casual listening or an easy dismissal. We certainly have too much of that today. We hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see. Usually we hear only what we want to hear and see only what we want to see. Sure, we hear more and see more than that but we choose to ignore it with a “that doesn’t matter to me” attitude. But, then there is this introduction to the “Two Witnesses.” From a legal perspective, the testimony of two witnesses provides validity and the affirmation of truth. These are not just “any” two witnesses. These are “olive tree” and “lampstand” witnesses. They are grafted into God and filled with the light of truth. They are given a power and authority to exercise demonstrations of confirmation as to the authenticity of their word. That is, it cannot be overturned or dismissed. Their word concerning the day at hand and the condition of the world as it is is immutable. It cannot be silenced except as God wills it. Once again, we will be exposed to the testimony of resurrection which comes by God’s design and at God’s command. We do not have to understand it to benefit from it. We are encouraged to believe it and from it benefit from the understanding it gives. This was and is the way by which Jesus ministered to the people in the world. He worked at God’s command being obedient to God’s will, even to the point of death on a cross, in order that we might benefit from the wisdom of resurrection. Resurrection validates the truth of God’s mercy, grace, love and justice. Don’t let your focus on “the details” divert your attention to the greatest detail of all: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” God’s will is for us. We can make it be against us. Regardless, we cannot escape the will of the Lord. We are His witnesses to that truth as we “walk by faith and not by sight.”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

You are our God and we shall be Your people in spirit and in truth. Continue to dwell among us. Let the revelation by Your Holy Spirit inspire us to greater service in a more refined identity. We do not live as ourselves for ourselves. Rather, we live in Christ as He lives in us. We declare it with all the elders and angels in Heaven, saying “Holy, holy, holy is He who was and is and is to come.” In Jesus’ name we live, serve and pray. AMEN.