Watchmen: Working Definitions

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
– Jeremiah 1:10,11,12

Jeremiah was a catalyst to the change of a nation, though it is unclear just how he had impact. He was used as a minor to deliver the very words of God, right before the great reforms of King Josiah. He came from a line of a rejected priesthood, and because of this, he lived on the outside of the temple…he had no inner influence into the religious politics of his time. But this young outsider was called by God and set apart to speak on behalf of the Most High. This odd vision given Jeremiah further emphasizes that the calling of his life is a work of God, to be interpreted and moved by the hand of the Lord.

My middle name James was given me as a prophetic word, found in its meaning. James means, “supplanter”, or literally, “one who overturns and uproots”. This word of prophecy however is not left unto my own interpretation, but is left unto the definition and working hand of the Lord. For this reason, I may step boldly into a calling to the nations outside of the people whom I have called my own.

Lord, your love and who you are defines who I am. Cause my heart to grow in this understanding.
Amen

Invitations found in silence

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
-Psalms 62:5-7

In silent places the Lord may be found.

When deafening silence becomes the surrounding reality…hope may be found in God. This hope is genuine, and is from the Lord. This hope does not disappoint because of the steadfast love poured into our hearts by His Holy Spirit. Since this love belongs to Him alone, His act of love poured out becomes an invitation for me to belong.

Entrusting your soul

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
– 1 Peter 4:19

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
– Isaiah 43:1

I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the Lord, who does all these things.
– Isaiah 45:7

One of the most popular questions I hear asked is, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I find that while unpopular the answer is rather clear: “Because God chose it this way.” In this suffering and calamity, the child of God holds on to two things; who their God is, and who they are in response to God. The child is redeemed, and God is God…and he is good.

All that I call mine

Happy are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and donkey range free.
– Isaiah 32:20

This passage speaks of a world made new, a time forged back into the intentions of a Holy Creator. However, this passage is spoken in the present tense, a truth made available today…not only speaking of a time to come, but in fact is an invitation to embrace the present.

In abstract, this scripture speaks of control. If a man may release his world, his possessions, that which he calls his own, and lives life with an open hand…this man embraces a life of the kingdom to come. Interestingly enough, this man by doing so embraces happiness.

Living in this way I may find the wholeness of which Isaiah speaks of prior to this passage, that: ”The Lord binds up the broken of His people, and heals the wounds inflicted by His blow.” If I embrace this forward thinking and let go of my devices of control, all that I call mine, I may find the healing I long for.

Father, help me to live this life with an open hand. You give, and you take away…Cause me to know Your blessed name. Amen

The blood of earth

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
– Hebrews 12:24

This is the place;
An inheritance for those found in faith;
Welcomed to walk into mediation;
We arrive at a feast with new wine freshly pressed.

Abel, a righteous man, was murdered, and his blood “cries to God from the ground.” Abel’s blood speaks out for vindication from the soil of an ancient earth. But there is now a deafening cry that triumphantly responds. We can hear the blood of Jesus…and it speaks a better word.

His blood announces salvation, vindication, justice from the soil of a world made new. The era of blood which made a man an outcast has passed…behold a new blood makes a man to find his home. This blood is the invitation into inheritance, into mediation, into covenant…into a homestead.

This blood cries out “it is finished.”

The day I met acceptance

July 12 2013
I suppose what is difficult currently would be the feeling that God has wandered from me. Perhaps He has decided to set up camp elsewhere.

Why do I feel so much distance?
Why does He remain silent?
Have I become numb to His presence?

This lack of tangible presence irritates me and causes deep reactionary feelings of loneliness and abandonment. In study I find myself the “thinker” and nothing much else.

Why has my spirit lost traction with His words?

In the midst of this, the most influential scriptures are those of Job. Perhaps I find that I relate to his trouble in some way. While my difficulties are microscopic compared to Job’s, my trouble surrounds me much like his own.

As result of this vexation and pain, I find myself distanced from others both intentionally and unintentionally. I find that this reaction plays a defense on two fronts:

One, that others may be protected from my pain and confusion.

Two, that I my pain and person be protected from the opinionation of others.

There was once a girl who rejected who I am…not even knowing of this pain, or perhaps knowing, yet wished to remain ignorant because I reminded her far too much of her own. This person to me will personify rejection, not simply a rejection of pain but a rejection of being…a rejection of friendship.

Often times others remind me of this person…and it hurts very much.

I have let one to genuinely see inside…and what they saw of my pain they sincerely described as beautiful. For me this person will personify acceptance, but not an acceptance which only assesses, in truth it is an acceptance which embraces.

Acceptance embraced my pain and saw it as beautiful.

A path found in waiting

I know O Lord that a man’s way is not in himself;
nor is it a man who walks to direct his steps.

I wait, I wait for the Lord, my soul waits.
In His word I do hope.
My soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning.

Because I do not know what to do next, I will wait for the Lord.
He will show me my footing and it will be sure.
The Lord has designated a good path for me and will surely meet all of my needs.

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!

A grand departure

But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the LORD depart from iniquity.”
– 2 Tim 2:19

This departure is an invitation to adventure away from what has been the norm; quarreling, babble, and a crooked view of scripture. Wherever I find myself and in whatever I am doing I may find peace with others, I may speak reverent wholesome words, I may live a life of embracing the whole of scripture.

This departure invites me into the very character of God, one that is righteous, faithful, loving, and is in peace. This is my foundation. This is my seal. That I may know the Lord, and that He may know me.

Requesting nothing but

When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised.
-Esther 2:15

What if my approach to life was exactly the same…In this sense: That I would request nothing except what would be pleasing to the Lord. I realize this may seem far too pious, but I may entertain this idea for a time…What would happen?

As seen with this simple act of Esther,
What I choose to do, or not do, effects many.

Humility, Lies, and Direction

How does a man stay strong yet maintain a soft pliable, humble, and responsive heart?

Man’s heart begins as unresponsive…looking at the garden, he tries to remain ignorant of the trouble around him. His first sin was to act on the belief that God was a liar…creating within him a prideful heart; a heart that believes that he knows what is best for himself.

This leads me to the question:
Did Adam and Eve have the Holy Spirit within them?
If not, this brings great reassurance that God had a greater plan in mind for this human race.
But if so, their decision to live not under the Spirit’s influence is exactly the same decision which I can make this day.

Regardless, the only way that I (in this current age) may live a humble life is under the direction and authority of the Holy Spirit. God does not lie, His words are true, He is a Holy God…and I need His help in order to maintain this heart He has given me.

The gifts of this good God are humble, they are responsive, soft and pliable, yet strong.
Such good things are those that God has given!