by RobertCummins | Jan 11, 2016 | 02. Who Are You?
Who Are You? – Matthew 3:13-17
I had two baptisms. The first was as an infant in the First Presbyterian Church of Enid Oklahoma early in 1953. That one was not a dunking. It was a sprinkling. Judging by the results, a lengthy immersion may have been helpful. The second was a dunking that took place 23 years later in the Tulsa Edison High School swimming pool in the spring of 1976. I don’t know if it was the chlorine, but things were much different after that one. I am being silly of course. The difference with my second baptism is that I was given a new heart.
As I resurfaced in that pool I didn’t hear a voice from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” That happened a few months later after I had spent a night in revelry. (I checked the definition, and yes, it was “revelry”). I had been perfecting this lifestyle since I was 13. Based upon the emptiness I was feeling the next morning, I was certain I had lost my salvation.
Dog piling on my misery were those familiar voices; “Robby, you idiot. You could screw up an anvil with a rubber mallet. Look what you have done now. You’ve lost the best thing you ever had. How typical of you to ruin this, just like you ruin everything. You are a looser!” I had not heard these voices since surrendering my heart to Christ. This was the voice of death. It had been stalking me for years. I cried out to the Lord as I was driving back to Tulsa from Enid, “Lord, I cannot bear to live without you. Even though I deserve it, please, please, please do not abandon me. I will die without you.” I had never spoken more sincere words. God’s response to this prayer is why I am not a Baptist (or a Presbyterian). They unfriended me when I told them what happened next.
Why, I do not know, but I began to weep. My tears turned into a flood. A torrent of emotion poured out of me, the likes of which I had never experienced. I was scared. I was not only loosing my salvation, I was apparently loosing my mind. As it turned out, my fears were unfounded. Even though it was terrifying at one level (God’s presence tends to do this), the next hour was the sweetest and most powerful 60 minutes of my life. I will not relate it all here, but suffice it to say, the Lord got it across that I too was his beloved son and he was well please with me.
In this encounter, he pledged to never leave nor forsake me. He also made it resoundingly clear that the name of Jesus is majestic in ways human language cannot begin to describe. My precious friends and family may ask, “So, Mr. Mystic, in what ways have you been more holy since this encounter?” “And, Mr. Fear and Trembling, what wisdom did you came away with?” Well, as to holiness, I for sure vowed to never ever revel again but I have only been moderately successful with this. As to wisdom, make double-darn sure you have a very secure friendship before sharing a God encounter with a Baptist or a Presbyterian.
This living, real-time word put a hammer blow to the old voices but, I regret to say, it did not extinguish them. In a more subdued tone, I heard them for another 30 years. I was to learn that condemnation is every bit as potent in the context of religion as it is in revelry. Religious devotion and service were salves (and I poured it on!) … but the One who pledged to never leave nor forsake me, had freedom in mind. His process of liberation is what MwM celebrates.
Father, whatever it takes, permit us to discover our identities, in Christ. Help us to see what a generous, kind, strong and faithful Father you are. May our mouths be muzzled until our hearts are free. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Jan 17, 2015 | 02. Who Are You?
Luke 15:11-32
I love books. The atmosphere in rooms that are filled with books, especially libraries, have always done something to me. (A footnote prayer: “Lord, if construction is underway on a residence for me in the next world, keep in mind that oil-finished library panelling is exceptionally attractive.”) Excuse me. I’m getting slightly ahead of myself.
I am actually thinking, at the moment, of those many other things which Jesus did, which if they were all written down, each of them, one by one, (in detail), the world itself would not be big enough to house such a library. (Jn 21:25). Do you think at least some of these things might be the myriad works that He did in the hearts and lives of His children?
Our passage today, the Parable of the Prodigal Son (which could as easily be called The Parable of The Elder Brother or The Parable of The Father’s Heart), coupled with my own story, is what has provoked my thinking about books. We talked recently about the books of Life that will be opened on that great Day of the White Throne Judgement. I projected that we definitely want
some books on heaven’s shelves (or, at the very least a few chapters) so that when the recording angel is sent looking, he can find our stories, giving evidence of His Life in us and our compatibility with heaven. Using your imagination, what are the names of the chapters that have already been published in your book in heaven? What do you think the title should
be of the particular chapter that is currently being written?
I picture a section in this library where our stories are catalogued. There will be an area devoted to Prodigal Sons. It will no doubt cover square miles of space. There will be another area for Elder Brothers. I also envision an area given to house the stories of those Jesus rescued as both Prodigal Sons and Elder Brothers. If things are organized in this fashion, I might get to be in
three different sections.
As far as being a prodigal, I certainly left home and squandered my father’s estate. I was also in a far off country (at least a strange city – Tulsa), living loosely, experiencing loneliness and a famine of spirit that ultimately led to my return home. This was the essence of my story as a prodigal. After having the Father run out to meet me, embrace and kiss me; after receiving
a ring, a robe and a feast, it would be natural to ask how I could have ever become an elder brother and need rescued.
That would take a while. The short-battlefield report is that Satan’s strategies involve deceiving and misleading even the elect wherever that is possible (Matt 24:24). My story reveals a place where the enemy can and does easily crawl over the fence and get in the sheepfold. That place is where a believer, (even the well-fed, beloved ones, bedecked with rings and robes) has not had a revelation of belonging sufficient to solidify their identity in-Christ.
I believe all humans (beings in-Adam) leave Eden with a cosmic-sized rejection complex and identity vacuum. I believe our hearts in this condition provide juicy and tantalizing fair for demonic spirits whose mission it is to mislead. They don’t want to immediately damn and destroy all men. They want to keep them around to snack on. This way, they can nourish and entertain themselves as well as recruit to a growing flock of misled ones. Eventually, (they have likely reasoned); if the flock grows large enough – becoming a majority, the flock itself will help redefine what is called normal Christianity. Given the propensity of sheep to compare, the strategy and task of redefining normal is not rocket science for demons. A master in counter spiritual warfare; Paul taught;
When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.2 Cor 10:12
I believe all humans (with few exceptions) leave their earthly families with that cosmic rejection complex customized and amplified. This really sets us up to sell ourselves to whatever will ease the pain of our compounding rejection. For me, the church was the first group of people who told me that I had worth or potential. What do you think that might be worth to an insecure soul? What was my soul willing to pay to belong? I tell you the truth – just about anything.
Even though, as a returning prodigal, I had had a powerful encounter with the love of God and knew for certain (at some level) that I belonged to Him and was a son, I still absolutely craved the approval of men. I wanted to hear someone (on earth with skin on) saying my name and telling me, “Well done”. Without my identity really rooted and established in-Christ, I traded
my activity as a disciple (really good works) for the approval available to me from within the church. It would be fair to ask, “OK. But how would this make you and elder brother?
I don’t have exhaustive understanding of how elder brothers develop but I believe we elder brother and sister types may begin going astray (getting misled) when the heart somehow learns (very early in life) to find some solace for the soul-pain of rejection in-activity which can establish reputation (which is just a false identity) instead of a personality that is rooted and grounded in-Christ. For clarity’s sake here, I am not talking about working to to earn salvation. I’m talking about the (mostly unconscious) working the heart does to compensate where it is uncertain in who it is. The tragic thing (in this state) is that we can be doing all the right things (like the elder brother had) for all the wrong reasons.
Why do you think this might be tragic? Why do you think the elder brother stayed home, never neglecting any commands from his father? What were the possible motives of his heart?
He may have been jockeying for inheritance or (like myself) he may have just been working on an image, uncertain of his own worth to his father or others outside of a steady performance or production. Eventually the Father had to come and speak to me about my attitude toward others to whom the Christian life appeared easy (to whom I had compared myself and judged). Along with those judgements, He exposed my heart’s list of others who had welched on their end of the bargain I had set up long ago to trade performance for acceptance. All those who had not delivered approval to my standards had been written off and condemned in one form or another. At the very least, I can say (from experience) that elder brothers and sisters have lists of people that have not truly been forgiven from the heart. (Surprisingly, God Himself may be on our lists.)
I had all the elder brother symptoms. I was perceived as a leader (albeit a pretty stiff one). I got my chores done, carrying out my duties as an elder, worship leader, Sunday school teacher, preacher (or whatever the occasion required). I was depressed for reasons that neither I nor others could relate to and I was angry for reasons neither I nor others could understand. I was put out with others and prepared to help them get it together as a disciple because I had the form of following Jesus down pat.
“Oh well”, I reasoned, “in regards to my depression; I may not exactly be filled with the joy of the Lord, but at least I can fall back on my activity as evidence that God is in my life. And, in regards to my anger, it was justified because of the circumstances I found myself in. In regards to bitterness and resentment, what are those anyway but attitudes that can be better managed. And regarding the judgements against people, they were all deserving of whatever God would dish out to them as discipline to straighten them out. At least I don’t have to deal with them.” Hint; rationale of this toxic nature does not find its origins in heaven. Are you suffering with any of these symptoms? I have thought back about what a tasty religious morsel I was becoming for the opportunistic spirits that prey on those like myself, whose identities are not established.
The brothers in this parable probably did not recognize what they shared in common, which was a complete misunderstanding of their father’s heart toward them. Regardless of the directions their misled hearts took, their acceptance with Dad was never cut off by debauchery or enhanced by performance. They were his boys. Their lives could not alter their belonging to him. Oh how blessed is the man and woman who come to rest in the reality of their secure place in the Father’s heart.
Father, by all means, lead a host of prodigals out of sensual and indulgent sin. And also, by any or all means, rescue a host of elder brothers and sisters and lead them out of captivity into the light of your love. Populate the shelves in heaven with an unprecedented number of stories of those awakened from within the Church who have discovered their new identities in-Christ as well as their kingdom destinies. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Note; You may blame or thank C.S. Lewis for the imagery of demons and human personality which I borrowed from his book The Screwtape Letters
by RobertCummins | Jan 17, 2015 | 02. Who Are You?
John 10:1-18
Theology, sociology, psychology (and many other –ogies) have all weighed in and added their two cents worth on life. While I respect their academic efforts and their many theories, they have not really brought together a cohesive working understanding of human behavior and society that has relieved individual and mass suffering and oppression. Yet, man continues to look into these arenas for answers and saviors. Most wise men know that what we observe in individual behavior and society are symptoms of something systemic. In other words there is a backstory, something deeper and foundational that we must drill down into if we are to really discover cause. A single verse of scripture has served me more than all the “-ogies” in thinking about the foundations of reality.
The thief comes to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and might have it abundantly. John 10:10 NASB
A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:10 MSG
This is a one sentence pronouncement by Jesus’ on ultimate and intentional cause and effect. So, as a follower of the Shepherd, this verse naturally weighs heavily into the way I understand the whole of scripture and the whole of life. In both the bible and in life there are many things I cannot fully understand or explain. Truly, we are immersed in mystery. John 10:10 does as much to explain the foundational reality to our mysterious backstory as any sentence or thought I know of.
Its contribution for me is this; Behind the stories and scenes of our individual and corporate experience, there is a very accomplished thief and a very Good Shepherd vying for our hearts and through them, the dominion of this earth. So how does this sentence serve me? It is very
simple. When I see something that has been stolen or is being stolen, when I see something that is dead or is dying, when I see something that has been destroyed or is being destroyed, I immediately presume its the thief, the Shepherd’s enemy, who has climbed over the fence somehow and has gotten into the sheepfold.
On the other hand, If I see life, where new things are being birthed and are growing, I assume the Shepherd is involved. Since I didn’t take any courses on systematic theology I have adopted this basic premise as a cornerstone value in my systemic cosmology (or belief system). Stated even more simply: God is good. Satan is purely evil. This foundational orientation to reality is not only a key to wisdom and discernment, it is essential to how we will learn to hear the Shepherd’s voice.
He calls His own sheep by name…and the sheep hear His voice…and He leads them out…I am the Good Shepherd…and I know my own, and my own know me. (verses 3 & 14)
I have followed this Shepherd for more than 37 years. He has never permitted the enemy to ravage me. But the wolf has dug his teeth into me on occasion. I have told the story in many ways but it required the help of a few of the Shepherd’s apprentices to help me identify the tracks of the beast which had regularly been crawling over the fence and into my heart. The doorway (or gate) into my heart is through my eyes and through my mind. I learned that the enemy had been trafficking in the domain of my thoughts in subtle ways since I was a child. So thorough was the dissemination of his lies in my belief system, that it effected who I believed myself to be.
After discovering this, we (his under-shepherds and I), identified those patterns of thought that were contributing to death in all it expressions. I broke my associations and agreements with those old familiar ideas about God, myself and others and served them notice. The result is that today I am more apt to recognize the enemy’s condemning and accusing voice and reject it as the voice of a stranger who I will not follow.
And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.
In 1976, I entered through the gate and was saved. Jesus served as a living bridge that I crossed over from the domain of the thief where I had been ripped off and lied to for 23 years into the Kingdom of God, where I have been given safety and pardon for my many years of agreement and obedience with the prince of this present evil age. I have some bite marks to be sure but they only serve to remind me that we are still at war. As I am now in my sixth decade and reflect on the story He is writing on my life I can concur with John 10:10 that He truly is a good Shepherd and is faithful to provide eternal life, an abundantly better life than I ever dreamed possible.
Father, may you teach us to recognize the enemy’s voice where it is entangled in the root system our depressions, our sickness, our hopelessness, our fear and all other places where death and decay are stealing and eroding away at the foundations of our life – robbing us of our
truest identities in Christ and the abundance that is intended to flow from our innermost beings in Him. In Your precious and wonderful and name. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Jan 15, 2015 | 02. Who Are You?
John 15:1-11
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.
I am puzzled quite honestly by a branch that is in-Christ that does not bear fruit. And…I am troubled that some branches are taken away. Taken away where? My puzzlement and troublement graduate to deep concern when I discover the answer to my question in verse 6;
he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them into the fire, and they are burned.
This verse reminds me that in-Him there is both kindness and severity. And as I reflect on my earthly father (who loved me too), I distinctly recall both of these traits in him as well. Unfortunately, I recall more severity than kindness. I think Dad wanted to be kind but my behavior made it nearly impossible, necessitating the more severe expression of his love for me.
Behold then the kindness and the severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you will also be cut off. (Rom 11:22)
I am having an epiphany of sorts as I write today. The revelation is that my Dad‘s love was more like God’s than I have credited him for. About God’s love we know;
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.
My disregard of my earthly father’s directions, instructions and desires estranged me from his love. It was not that his love did not exist for me; it was just that my penchant for trouble demanded his severe response. I deeply regret that, in my memory of my Dad, I do not recall much beyond arguments, reproofs and silence. How sad. I take responsibility for this. I do not want to repeat this mistake with my heavenly Father. This passage makes it clear that we can avoid that outcome by abiding in Him. What does it look like then to abide?
Our passage might suggest that abiding is as straightforward as the doing of obedience. I have tried this and it is my experience that the connection between abiding and obeying is not as direct as it might first appear . The Christian life at the outset, equipped with fresh zeal, looked, to me, very doable. (Oh my! What a naive boy I was.) Yes, I had my marching orders (or commandments to obey if you will). They were basically;
Read my bible. Pray. Witness. Fellowship (if you could find the time) This was excellent for a while but there was always the haunting sense that there must be more. I saw others with what appeared to be more of God than I had. I reasoned; more of God was attainable by doing more of what I was doing. So my new regimen of commandment-doer-obeyer became;
Read my bible and study it, Pray and fast, Witness and do it preferably in a foreign country, fellowship and don’t you forget it!
Ok. Maybe the Christian life was not quite as doable as I had first thought but, I reasoned: I will recommit myself; I will simply redouble my efforts, maybe then I will discover the more of God that is out there around the corner and then become a disciple worthy of His sacrifice for me. I wish I could report that I saw my life as the hamster-wheel of activity that it was and my heart as the bastion of religion it was but I didn’t. And by the time I did discover what was fueling my efforts to reach to the high places in God, I was near collapse under the supposedly light load that Jesus had promised. Somehow, in my wounded heart, I had turned the obedience of discipleship into a religious treadmill that would never, could never stop. Just yesterday, I was reminded of my friend, and mentor, Gene Griffin’s excellent definition of religion;
Religion is any system of thought or practice whereby the doing of it causes me to think that I have gained the favor of God.
In a previous life I would have taken the track from here of hammering home some warning of becoming dry, gathered and ultimately burned, attempting to generate sufficient fear to move you to obedience but another thought comes to mind instead; “Beloved, I am persuaded of better things concerning you.” (Heb 6:9) Our destiny, as His children, is to be motivated by more than fear.
The Old Testament world to me seems to have been primarily one of static laws and commands where the doer was motivated by fear of punishment. The NT, on the other hand, seems like a world (rather a kingdom) of dynamic living Truth and invitation where a new identity in Christ is inherited and people are motivated by love. In other words, being must precede doing or one will inevitably be enslaved by religion and its inferior motivations of fear, guilt and shame.
A possible discussion question might be; What would happen to church (as we know it) if suddenly, it was stripped of all religious motivation? (Hint: review GG’s definition of religion before answering.) I made the earlier statement that we can avoid the more severe expressions of God’s love simply by abiding. I needed to highlight what religion was in order to make it clear what abiding is not. Abiding is not just obedience to bible commands. It is responding to the Person of the Holy Spirit. Abiding, in it’s essence, is anti-religion. It rejects outright that any doing (or obeying) can in any way enhance the relationship we have in Christ. Abiding is simply resting in one’s new nature and identity in Christ. Abiding is not a doctrinal position that one can have strong convictions about. Abiding is a spirit to Spirit experience. Abiding cannot be attained through study. It can only be discovered through the personal experience of revelation and encounter.
Father, may we each come to the place where we are utterly exhausted with our good works – acknowledging the impossible nature of the Christian life and transferring our dependency to Christ in us, the only hope of glory. May we discover that kind of abiding in You that is accompanied by the asking and receiving of whatever we wish. Thank You that You have loved us just as the Father has loved You. Thank You for inviting us to abide in Your love. Thank You that You spoke these words to us that our joy may be full. May we continue on in Your kindness. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Jan 14, 2015 | 02. Who Are You?
Revelation 19:1-10
The previous two days, I have restated who I am. I am Rob Cummins, God’s son. Having lived as a slave of darkness for 23 years, it has always been a joy for me to repeat this to others and to live toward God thankfully that I am His son. It is such a miracle, it astonishes me really. Fairy tails really do come true! Frogs do become princes! Condemned men are acquitted! I pray that gratitude and astonishment will remain central to our being.
I invite you to try this out. Say, I am (insert name), God’s own child. Try writing that sentence a few times. How does that feel? Did that ring true? Or, did it ring wishful? Note: I decided that if I were to continue writing, I would work to make it more interactive, ask more questions in order to stimulate the conversations we need to have with ourselves, others and especially with God.
Here is another trial. Look for the opportunity to repeat your (perhaps new) sentence to another person. If you are fortunate enough to have some safe relationships (also know as friendships), practice your story with these trusted ones. If you are even more fortunate and have a collection of safe relationships (if they already know Christ this is called your Church), practice this introductory-line of God’s story (also known as a testimony) in your life with each other. We were called to be a light to the world. Our high-wattage stories are meant to be public domain. He means to publish us.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck measure, but on the lamp stand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Identifying ourselves publicly as Christ’s was not meant to be a one-off deal at our baptism. (Note; I was not up to this anyway at my infant baptism of sprinkling.) Our public profession of faith was intended to be the beginning of a life-long public identification with the invisible yet resurrected Son of God. It is the invisible part (isn’t it?) that makes the telling of our story a bit ticklish (and perhaps intimidating)?
There is the famous quote by St. Francis; “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words.” I could not agree more but I don’t think we get ourselves off the hook with the good-behavior-only rationale. The apostle Peter seemed to understand that it was a matter of both words and deeds.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the exellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ….Beloved I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. Keep you behavior excellent ….so that….they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2 :9-12
And it is the days of visitation that this passage in Revelation is referring to. More specifically, it is the Marriage of the Lamb. Here, the sheep have already been separated from the goats and the wheat from the chaff. This is the day He will be joined to all who have identified themselves with Him during their brief sojourn on earth as aliens and strangers. The Bride are the sheep who have heard and responded to His voice.
On this day, will we be been known as either those who were looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God -or- those who, tragically, were not, who instead fell right in with the spirit of this age as those seduced by the great harlot who was corrupting the earth.
I would like to share one last scripture that emphasizes how essential our public identification with Christ is while we are still in these earthly bodies;
Every one therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. (Matt 10:33) For whoever is ashamed of me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:38)
If this word today has been uncomfortable for you, be encouraged. It is just doing what God’s Word does. At certain places in our journey, becoming uncomfortable with our lives (or even shaken in them) is the beginning and evidence of a new work of the Holy Spirit. Note; Usually the birthing of new things is excruciatingly painful (for a season) and yet so gloriously worth it
(forever more).
His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God;s Word. We can’t get away from it – no matter what. Hebrews 4:12 MSG
Father, lay us bare in the light of Your Truth so that we may change our attire if necessary or fill our lamps in preparation of Your announced coming and the celebrations that will be a part of the culmination of all things in You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Jan 13, 2015 | 02. Who Are You?
Isaiah 62:1-12
On your wall, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchman; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest for yourselves; and give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
So, how does this verse speak to who I am, because I’m not a descendent of the ancient tribes of Israel. So then, I’m either reading someone else’s mail or I’m just reading for history’s sake. But, I connect the dots between the OT and the NT by way of the writings of Paul, who was a Jew and, who like myself, is a partaker of the newer and better covenant. Paul explains a bit about who I am (and you are) in Romans 11; “and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree.” Wow! We are talking good news! We who believe have been grafted onto the root;
And Isaiah says, “There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the gentiles, in Him shall the gentiles hope”. (Rom 15:12) Isaiah and the other prophets speak of a day when Israel’s fortunes will be restored through their participation in the newer covenant. But there are events that must precede that. One of the big ones is; the Jews returning to Yahweh because they have become jealous of those grafted in. The Jews may be aware that Christ is supposedly the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Rom 10:4), but apparently they have not yet seen anything sufficient to provoke their jealousy. This is where you and I come in and where Isaiah’s ancient words become relevant to us.
It is clear in the NT writings that Paul and others are endeavoring to shepherd the Church to the the place where they become the light of the world – a material reflection of Yahweh Himself, so bright that Israel (and all nations) take note.
My wife wants me to go to Jerusalem to walk on the wall of the ancient city and join those who are giving God no rest – praying for the restoration of Israel. I can tell, my indifference to this idea is a bit disconcerting to her and some of her Messianic oriented buddies. (My reasoning and my confession; If I went now, I am afraid my motives would be tainted by my deep desire to just eat falafels.) But, the way that I see it (and this is just my grasp of things), the prayers of those who are focusing on Israel are being answered by awakening some to pray specifically for the Church who (at least in my neighborhood) is provoking little jealousy. Those who are giving
God no rest on the wall are disturbing the complacency of the Church, who may be just heading to the dressing room but is nowhere near ready to meet the Bridegroom.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the acts of the saints. And he said to me, Write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” These are the true words of
God.
The word that seems alive in my heart is similar to that of Isaiah’s in verse 1 of our passage, except that, for “Zion”, I insert the “Bride of Christ” who unfortunately, (in the West anyway) seems strangely sleepy and indifferent to any future date with the King.
For Zion’s (the Church’s) sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s (the Body of Christ’s) sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning. And the nations (particularly Israel) will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.
Far more than anything that I aspire to do or have in this world, I desire to be in attendance at this grand event. I am not going to be a very desirable guest though if my lamp is not filled with the oil of anticipation and preparation for that gathering. In fact, if my lamp is not full and I am not dressed right, I’m not getting in! Read about both the kindness and the severity of God in Matt 25:1-13 (The Parable of the Ten Virgins). Note; Like all good fathers, God is willing to motivate by kindness with the longings of love or by severity in the fear of punishment. But, the greater of these is for sure love.
At a prayer gathering I once encouraged, we all kind of looked at each other with that what-shall-we-pray-for-now look. I volunteered that we just want to pray for the things we sense that are on God’s heart. I cannot speak for others, but the thing that is mostly on mine is the Church of Jesus Christ – her current state of readiness and her future appointments. To his own, Jesus simply says, “…be on the alert (awake), for you do not know which day (or hour) your Lord is coming”.
Back to our question and theme: Who am I ? My response: I am Rob Cummins a son of God, made possible by the most generous act of love imaginable. The priceless blood of the Lamb of God was spilled in my behalf. My invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb was written in His holy blood. Really! Can I not awaken and keep from slumbering through the preparations for this gala affair? I must! We must!
I believe, in His Word, we are asked to participate in the distribution of the Lord’s invitations by taking our place on the wall (if you will), giving Him (nor ourselves) any rest until He makes Jerusalem (the Church) a praise in the earth. By doing this our hearts take ownership in the Marriage Super of the Lamb – the event (it might be argued) toward which all human history has been headed since the beginning.
I also believe that the kingdom-dimension deeds which are good and have been prepared before hand to walk in are just in front of us, laid out for us to discover and walk out in full view of a disbelieving world (especially Israel).
Father, teach us to number our days that we may present to You on that day our hearts of wisdom. May we respond to Your voice that is saying; “Awake sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you”. May our lives trumpet the good news that our salvation has come and behold His reward (goodness) and His recompense (severity) is with Him. May we live with anticipation and in investment for that day when we are recognized and called “The holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, those who are an envied and sought out people, not those (who were apparently) forsaken. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
