What does “ordinary people” mean? We want the happiness of people needing people, but we fall prey to enshrining the needs of someone other than God as the bedrock of our happiness. “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 144:15 KJV). We live in exceptional times, or as Charles Dickens wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” in A Tale of Two Cities (1859). Our sense of “happiness” and “ordinary people” must be tied to the LORD, for Hollywood’s “Ordinary People” (1980) or Broadway’s “People” (1964) [“needing people”] are only a facsimile of the truly blessed people Jesus described. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). These are the ordinary people, who are the happiest people on earth. Only when our heartfelt sympathy is defined by the LORD, then Charles Dickens’ Sydney Carton’s sacrifice for the happiness of another becomes at all significant. “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done.” LORD, may our motivation and aspiration be of Thee, and may the world receive the benefit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Imminent Coming of Jesus Christ
Return Quickly, Lord Jesus
The godly can receive no better answer to all their prayers than the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus instructed us to continually pray, “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10 KJV), as well as, His last promise to us was, “Surely I come quickly” (Revelation 22:20). We have much to do in building His Kingdom in the meantime, because we know how important accomplishing all things He commanded us — “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13) — prepares for His soon return. Both our growth in grace, as well as the increase of those brought into His Kingdom, justifies our God’s purpose in seeking His soon return, for the “LORD hath made all things for Himself” (Proverbs 16:4), which is always the wisest, most glorifying motivation for doing anything. LORD, grant us the wisdom of knowing how to keep ourselves occupied for good and for You in this world, while keeping our hearts and eyes wide open for Your imminent coming. Even so, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Don’t Look Back
Looking back is yearning for calmer, simpler days before all the troubles that came with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 KJV). Why so harsh? Jesus was speaking to someone, who had just said, “Lord, I will follow Thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house” (9:61). Instead of rejoicing about another potential convert, Jesus warned him about turning back— even for the slightest or greatest reason. Why? Because God knows better that we are either all or nothing at all for Him. Trifle not with your decisions. We will not be caught unawares, when the LORD blows His Trump to call us up hither into His Presence. We are not madmen to think this world is falling apart under our feet, unless we are at home in Sodom. LORD, come quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Dead Reckoning
Dead reckoning is an expression in aeronautical navigation of determining your current location based upon speed, heading, and elapsed time from a previous position. “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11 KJV). Christians are held captive by entangling sin simply because they do not reckon, consider, picture, or imagine themselves as anything but chained to the necessity or reality of that sin. Paul showed us the beginning of our solution. Reckon yourselves dead to that sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Some do it easier than others, but all must actively admit, confess, believe, imagine, see, and reckon that it’s so, for it to be so. How is this miracle accomplished? Through Jesus, who is God’s empowerment. It is simply God’s work in us to make it so.
Thy Kingdom Come
In our Lord’s prayer model for disciples, He instructs us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 KJV). Both as the kingdom of God forming in human hearts and praying for the fulfillment of Bible prophecy for His soon return to earth, Jesus considers this the primary need for His children. He instructs us our conduct on earth should imitate heaven, which also supernaturally gives us insight on what is going on in the heavenlies.
We Need A Miracle 