For
all humanity is like grass,
all its glory is like a wildflower —
the grass withers, and the flower falls off;
but the Word of Adonai lasts forever.
Moreover, this Word is the Good News which has been proclaimed to you. (1 Peter 1:24-25)
“Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding.”
Ultimately it does not matter whether we are here or gone; our purpose stays fixed, and that is to please Him. (2 Cor. 5:9)
The World Is Not a Stage but a Witness Stand
At the time God made Earth and Heaven,
before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground—
God hadn’t yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)—God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life.
The Man came alive—a living soul!
Genesis 2:5-7
You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage,
acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get.
When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively.
That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out. (Matthew 6:3-4)
For if we live, we live for the Lord. If we die, we die for the Lord. So in both life and death, we belong to the Lord.
(Romans 14:8)
To the people who WITNESSED Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead…
Jesus (to the parents): “Don’t tell anybody what you’ve just seen. Why don’t you give her something to eat?
I know she is hungry.” —“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God.
He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.” (Matthew 5:6)
“Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
WITNESSING TO ALL NATIONS
“But before any of this happens, they’ll arrest you, hunt you down, and drag you to court and jail. It will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry My name. You’ll end up on the WITNESS stand, called to TESTIFY. Make up your mind right now not to worry about it.
I’ll give you the words and wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and stutters. (Luke 21:12-15)
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what you shall answer.
Then Sings My Soul
So make up your minds not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
yet God makes use of temporal judgments
God will stand by you.
We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.
It is by Christian patience we keep possession of our own souls, and keep out all those impressions which would put us out of temper.
(Matthew Henry)
—but you know both God and how He works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.
Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now,
and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.
God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
God is not the Author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
The spirits of the prophets subject to the control of prophets. The spirit of prophecy is the TESTIMONY,
the WITNESS of Jesus Christ.
A Life of God-Worship
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes
or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion.
There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach,
more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.
Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God.
And you count far more to him than birds. (Matthew 6:25-26)
This is your Father you are dealing with, and He knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
“When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it.
It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint.
If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face.
God doesn’t require attention-getting devices. He won’t overlook what you are doing; He’ll reward you well. (Matthew 6:8-18)
Set up road signs, erect guideposts,
pay attention to the highway,
the path on which you traveled.
“All your children will be taught by Adonai; your children will have great peace.
In righteousness you will be established, far from oppression, with nothing to fear; far from ruin, for it will not come near you.
Any alliance that forms against you will not be My doing; whoever tries to form such an alliance will fall because of you.
It is I who created the craftsman who blows on the coals and forges weapons suited to their purpose;
I also created the destroyer to work havoc.
No weapon made will prevail against you. In court you will refute every accusation.
The servants of Adonai inherit all this; the reward for their righteousness is from Me,” says Adonai.
(Isaiah 54:13-17)
Psalm 29, A song of David.
Give all credit to the Eternal, O heavenly creatures; give praise to Him for His glory and power.
Give to the Eternal the glory due His name; worship Him with lavish displays of sacred splendor.
The voice of the Eternal echoes over the great waters; God’s magnificence roars like thunder.
The Eternal’s presence hovers over all the waters.
His voice explodes in great power over the earth. His voice is both regal and grand.
The Eternal’s voice shatters the cedars; His power splinters the great cedars of Lebanon.
He speaks, and Lebanon leaps like a young calf; Sirion jumps like a wild, youthful ox.
The voice of the Eternal cuts through with flames of fire. The voice of the Eternal rumbles through the wilderness
with great quakes;
He causes Kadesh to tremble.
The Eternal’s voice brings life from the doe’s womb; His voice strips the forest bare, and all the people in the temple declare, “Glory!”
The Eternal is enthroned over the great flood; His reign is unending.
We ask You, Eternal One, to give strength to Your people; Eternal One, bless them with the gift of peace.
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