Author: ObtainingMercy

There were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.
I Chronicles 4:23

When we are a child of God, our every task is for His glory.

Whether it be making dishes or washing dishes, creating garden plots or weeding them, we are working with the King.

"It may be in the literal country life, with little enough to be seen of the 'goings' of the King around us; it may be among the hedges of all sorts, hindrances in all directions; it may be furthermore, with our hands full of all manner of pottery for our daily task. No matter! The King who placed us 'there' will come and dwell there with us;" ~Frances Ridley Havergal, from Streams in the Desert, compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

Today, be filled with the assurance that whatever task you find at your hand, you may do it for the glory of the King of kings.

He sees your work for His name's sake, and will reward you openly one day for the quiet ministering you are doing today.

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Matthew 21:8-9

We love to experience times of sweet fellowship and victorious praise. It feeds our spirit, lifts us emotionally and gives us precious memories to recall.

This must have been a glorious time for Jesus' disciples, as they saw their Master being worshiped. Jesus' praises were being sung by huge crowds of people who were introducing Him as "Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee".

Jesus had just warned them that this town would be the place of His death. They must have wondered if He could have been talking about another future visit to Jerusalem. Things were going so well on this day.

I wonder if they were, then, somewhat disappointed as Jesus walked into the temple that day and began to clear out –by force – the moneychangers and businessmen who had set up shop there.

Things were going so beautifully, but now He was stirring up anger and making enemies of the religious leaders' workers at the temple.

It is difficult for us to transition:

• from praising to preaching;
• from fellowship to discipleship;
• from worship to work.

It is, however, necessary.

(There are those who are guilty of spending all their time preaching, discipling and working. They take no time to refuel their own spirit by fellowship with others around the Word, or by time on their face in worship, or they neglect to praise God out loud for His goodness and love. These people are pretty rare in most religious circles; although they do exist in abundance in others.)

Most of us, though, like to live in the comfortable place of fellowship with those who believe just like we do. We love the songs of praise and would be so pleased if people came to the Saviour simply because we worshiped Him so beautifully. It does sometimes happen that way, but not very often.

Jesus had work to do:

• He had truth to proclaim.
• He had men to confront.
• He had healing to administer.

The blind and the lame were not going to come into the temple as long as it was filled with businessmen. The children were not going to be allowed to sing His praises in the midst of a marketplace full of merchandise.

Sometimes, we must go through confrontation before God's work can be done. We have to stand toe-to-toe with those whose beliefs differ from ours and proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Why would folks want to know our Saviour if we aren't willing to stand up for Him in the midst of a hostile crowd?
• What kind of God can't face opposition?
• How strong is our faith if it is only strong in the fellowship of those who believe the same way we do?

Jesus wants all men to be reconciled to Him. For them to be "reconciled" means that they are "in a state of disagreement or enmity" to God and then are "brought into fellowship" with God.

We are going to have to give the Word to people who don't agree with us and to those who would consider themselves our enemy. This won't be easy, but it is the cause for which Jesus came.

They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mark 2:17

If the lost are to be saved, if those sick of soul are to be made well, we must be bold to proclaim the truth of our Saviour today.

• We must not allow the memories of the past to rob our present of its possibilities.
• We must not allow the discouragement of the present to rob our future of its potential.
• We must not allow the knowledge of the future to rob our present of it's passion.

If you have "read the back of the Book" (the Bible, specifically the book of Revelation) you know how the story ends. This world is headed toward a universal leader (the Anti-Christ), his ultimate destruction, and the world's unavoidable destruction by fire.

However, we need not allow fear to rule us as we see the world approaching its end. We also need to fight against the apathy that can overwhelm us since we know how it all finally ends up.

• We still have work to do here for Christ.
• We still have others watching our lives to see if we truly believe what we preach.
• We still have those who we can witness to of Christ's salvation.
• We still have those who need to be loved to the Saviour.

Psalm 46

[1] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
[2] Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
[3] Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
[4] There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
[5] God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
[6] The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
[7] The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
[8] Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
[9] He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
[10] Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
[11] The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

We must continue to live out our Christianity. Others are watching.

Besides, the apostle Paul believed that the Lord would return in His lifetime. We may be just as far off the time of Christ's return as he was!

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 5:5-9

My Hope Is In the Lord
by Norman J. Clayton

My hope is in the Lord Who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.

Refrain:
For me He died, For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

No merit of my own His anger to suppress.
My only hope is found in Jesus' righteousness.

Refrain:
For me He died, For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

And now for me He stands Before the Father's throne.
He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.

Refrain:
For me He died, For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

His grace has planned it all, 'Tis mine but to believe,
And recognize His work of love and Christ receive.

Refrain:
For me He died, For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

Where is your hope today?

It is a difficult thing to feel hopeful and positive when we feel poorly in our physical bodies.

However, feeling "bad" is not an excuse for hopelessness.

This was a hard lesson for me to learn when I first started feeling the physical effects that would later be diagnosed as fibromyalgia.

My body was in so much pain that I was grumpy, cold and harsh to others. In the beginning, I saw no reason to push myself to be pleasant. It just took too much energy.

I've learned, though, that Jesus would not have me live that way. I don't want to be a grouchy, cantankerous person.

I want to be happy, positive and easy to live with.

I want to be this way, not just for those who have to live with me, but for myself.

When we are filled with negative thoughts, harsh judgments and bitterness, we are only causing further damage to our physical body. God did not make our bodies to harbor these emotions.

Medical science has proven that angry bitter people are more prone to illnesses and will stay sicker longer than those who have a positive outlook on life.

Unfortunately, some of the most negative people I have ever met have been my fellow Christians. Sadly, sometimes, I have numbered myself with them.

Paul gives us the secret to moving beyond our feelings – whether they are emotional or physical – in this short little verse:

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Philippians 4:11

To live out this verse, it is necessary to believe that everything in our life is allowed by God – on purpose, and to trust that He can work it all out for our good.

This includes our physical ailments. God can and will use them to make us more like His Son, if we submit our will to His.

It is not an easy thing to be in physical pain, especially when that pain lasts for many hours a day, or when it is uncontrolled by medications or is especially severe.

Sometimes it is necessary to draw away from others to rest ourselves, to be alone with God and to regain our perspective. Sometimes, we just need to take some medication or herbal remedy and sleep. We need to take care of our bodies as best we can.

When we leave the sick room, though, or when others come to visit us there, we can be pleasant. We can be positive in our words. We can point others to our God Who is helping us through our pain.

Often, hope is a very positive emotion that is birthed from very negative circumstances.

We can hope in God's plan for our life, even when that plan includes pain, in spite of our feelings.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Psalm 16:9