Devotional thought of the day….

Finally, grow strong in the Lord, with the strength of his power. ¹¹ Put on the full armour of God so as to be able to resist the devil’s tactics. ¹² For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the principalities and the ruling forces who are masters of the darkness in this world, the spirits of evil in the heavens. ¹³ That is why you must take up all God’s armour, or you will not be able to put up any resistance on the evil day, or stand your ground even though you exert yourselves to the full. ¹⁴ So stand your ground, with truth a belt round your waist, and uprightness a breastplate, ¹⁵ wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace ¹⁶ and always carrying the shield of faith so that you can use it to quench the burning arrows of the Evil One. ¹⁷ And then you must take salvation as your helmet and the sword of the Spirit, that is, the word of God. ¹⁸ In all your prayer and entreaty keep praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all God’s holy people, ¹⁹ and pray for me to be given an opportunity to open my mouth and fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel ²⁰ of which I am an ambassador in chains; pray that in proclaiming it I may speak as fearlessly as I ought to.

Ephesians 6:10-20 (NJB)

^4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed ¹⁹ and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.”
Luke 4:18-19 (TEV) 

This morning as I looked at FB during breakfast, my heart broke.

Not over who one the election.  That event doesn’t change who I am, or what I do.  Simply put, the job of the church, and of its pastors, is to bring the same message that Jesus quoted from the Book of Isaiah.  That doesn’t change, the message is the same, no matter who is in office, no matter if it is proclaimed Sunday morning in a Cathedral, or Wednesday afternoon in Starbucks.  If doesn’t matter if the government is working with the people of God, or as it was when Paul wrote that passage in Ephesians 6, killing those who trusted in God, (as Paul himself once did.)

It is time for the church to re-focus, to speak the words of life to a world, not just a country, a world where brokenness abounds, where families need healing, where forgiveness must be offered… and received.  Where people are willing to love, and serve, and show mercy.

We aren’t each others enemies.  Those who don’t agree with us in regards to morality, are not those we are to do battle with, drawing lines in the sand.  For those in the church are not any less of sinners – the only difference is we know where to turn to for help – and they do not.  Our battle isn’t with presidents or governors – our battle is for souls that fear death, that despair under the oppression of Satan, and who are in bondage to sin. THe only way to see them freed – is by sharing the hope we have in Christ – it cannot be done in the ballot box, or in loud speeches, or in bemoaning (or being triumphant) on FB and Twitter.  Note that even as Paul talks about the armor of God, it is all about trusting in His promises, and that it is used not to condemn and do battle, but to share the gospel.

You want real change?

Here is the promise of it:
^7:12 Then one night the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. ¹³ At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. ¹⁴ Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. ¹⁵ My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. ¹⁶ For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.
2 Chronicles 7:12-16 (NLT) 

We are His Temple… we are dear to His heart…

Cry out “Lord have mercy”  and know He has…