Bomber Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) is holding SWAT team member Harry Temple (Jeff Daniels) hostage, when Harry mouths the words, “Shoot the hostage,” to Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves), his fellow SWAT team member. Unexpected to Payne, Jack shoots Harry in the leg, forcing Payne to free his hostage in the action film “Speed” (1994). Moral clarity comes from understanding a higher perspective than our own. Yahweh must overcome Satan. Humanity must return to God. The Holy Spirit must somehow bring this all about. Each of us must do whatever the Spirit directs. God will masterfully render the Gordian Knot untied, for He alone has the best understanding and power. Hostages were taken from Israel (2023). Gaza suffers from Israeli bombardment of Hamas. The world community outcries against the unprecedented suffering of Gaza. Does the US simply give Israel a blank check against Hamas in Gaza? Suffering of Gaza alone argues for an immediate end of hostilities, but if Israel can be forced to let Hamas survive, can any free nation defend itself against terrorists? “For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass” (Ezekiel 12:25 KJV). “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). LORD, we all need a miracle. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
Spiritual Warfare
Help Wanted: Hiring Immediately
Picture a home owner looking for day laborers to help with a project on their property, recruiting at their local home improvement store. But, instead of a home owner, Jesus described a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard. Beginning early in the morning, he contracted with workers for the standard wage of a “denarius” (Matthew 20:2 ESV). The employer returned at nine o’clock, noon, three o’clock, and five o’clock with the offer, “Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you” (20:4 KJV). The “eleventh hour” (20:9) was five o’clock. At the end of the day, the landowner paid everyone the same wage, to the chagrin of those who had worked the longest and hardest. Consider: (1) availability of employment: matches the willingness of the workers, (2) immediacy of employment: now, (3) scope of employment: vineyard of God’s kingdom, (4) wages of employment: agreed upon by both parties, (5) dissension of the employees: fairness based solely upon consideration of self, (6) character of employer: “generous” (20:26 NET), and (7) sovereignty of the employer: “the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen” (20:16 KJV). LORD, we could not ask for a better employer than You, since we are that Eleventh Hour Laborer at the end. But, help us not to grumble, if You should tarry Your return. May we be found with our hand on the plow not looking back. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The LORD Is My Shepherd
We are supposed to take responsibility for ourselves, but that doesn’t mean we necessarily know what is best. Have you ever gone shopping for what you thought you needed only to find nothing seemed to fit your situation? Being “led by the Spirit” (Romans 8:14 KJV) might mean leaving the store without purchasing. Wasteful of time? Perhaps, but better to acknowledge the lack of appropriateness of your purchasing than to force a square peg into a round hole. How to prevent that? Be more in a frame of mind and attitude of prayer. LORD, shepherd me to where You want me to be, do what You want me to do, think what You want me to think, and appreciate You in a way that I never knew. In Jesus’ name, amen. “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He takes me to lush pastures, He leads me to refreshing water” (Psalms 23:1-2 NET).
Satan’s Devices
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2Corinthians 2:11 KJV). Paul warns the Corinthians from failing to restore a penitent backslider, lest they be “swallowed up with overmuch sorrow” (2:7). Satan’s devices are many: (1) our failure to acknowledge him as a continual, arch “adversary” (1Peter 5:8), (2) our lack of understanding him as a master “tempter” (Matthew 4:3; 1Thessalonians 3:5), (3) our not properly crediting him as the ruler of the “darkness of this world” (Ephesians 6:12), (4) our not acknowledging that earthly kingdoms belong to the “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), and (5) above all, our failure to properly acknowledge the devil’s necessity of gaining permission from the Almighty to do anything — “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). LORD, may You be magnified by the enemy fleeing from us. Amen.
How to Protect the Minority
“Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:21 KJV). Foreigners in Ancient Israel were given the liberty and safety to reside among the Israelites, for the Israelites were once foreigners in Egypt. Though not a totally clear picture of the status of possible immigrants in Israel, it is telling that Jehovah gave them special protection. Where the LORD gave “liberty throughout all the land” (Leviticus 25:10), it extended to its immigrants. Liberty or freedom of choice is a trademark of a nation who knows the LORD. “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2Corinthians 3:17). Israel could not continue as a nation singularly for Jehovah, if the culture and religion of the immigrants overpowers the worship of the True God rather than becoming assimilated to Yahweh. If we promote True Christian Liberty, the minorities will be protected; or, we will succumb to foreign gods, if the Spirit of God is not given free reign to effectively propagate the Truth.
What Is A Christian?
Willingness to obey Christ is to be a Christian. “If any man [Greek, tis, anyone] will do His will, he shall know” (John 7:17 KJV). Anyone who is willing to do God’s will, that is the key to being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether we like it or not, we possess the status of being in the image of God by virtue of His creating us that way, but we can only possess Christlikeness through our willingness to do His will. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). His desire for us has always been we would desire Him as much as He desires us. The Holy Spirit was given by Christ to cause us to be willing. For us, believing (Acts 16:31), repenting (Acts 3:19), confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9), giving up everything (Luke 14:33), being baptized as a loyalty oath (Acts 2:38) are certainly necessary, but a willing heart is our greatest gift to Him and His chief enjoyment of us. LORD, make it so. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waking or Sleeping
Do you remember your dreams? Whether your imagination is visual, auditory, or only thoughts, what you go to bed thinking then awake thinking, is a good indication of what you were dreaming. Clinical proof? No, but consider Jacob’s Ladder. “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it” (Genesis 28:12 KJV). When Jacob awoke, he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place” (28:16). Cultivate your conversations with God by your thoughts and prayers before you drop off to sleep. Claim from Him the promise of sleep. “He giveth His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2). And, He will give you the sleep you need. A suggestion: Pray that God would show you His glory. Journal your conversations with the LORD, and see how He develops your thinking. It will only get better, more and more “unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).
Do What You’re Good At
“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6-7 KJV). Our difficulty is understanding and being satisfied with God Our Promoter. Others around us may go right pass us, with less qualification, ability, experience, or work ethic; but, rare is the disciple, who understands, when a promotion is not in their best interests. Instead of striving to get ahead of the next person, do what you’re good at. God makes us good at our jobs, since He “worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Accept a promotion or demotion, as needed; but, strive to be good at being useful to God and your neighbor. Now, make yourself useful! LORD, may we be pleased, if You are. And, make us good at doing our jobs well, as You do. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy our jobs. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
When We Sense We Have the Least Control
When we sense we have the least control, then He has the most control. So, we should set out to behave irresponsibly? Take no precautions? Not give due diligence? Absolutely not! We are to give our utmost to Him whenever we can, wherever we can. He accepts no less! But, He cannot receive the glory due Him, if we really felt the credit was due us. Not to worry! If we don’t already have it in our mind that the credit is only His, He will allow something to trip up our timing, so we are no longer in control. Sound familiar? “O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee” (2Chronicles 20:12 KJV). LORD, do for us what You have done for Your people time after time. Show us Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.
Confronting Your Past
It is all about Jesus. Growth in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2Peter 3:18) requires you to confront your past. You obviously have already done something right to even be presently considering what God wants you to be doing. Now, here’s the hard part, you’re going to have to give up or reframe your thinking about what you thought you understood, in order to grow. This is where your roots hit a rock and have to redirect your growth, but more importantly, this is where our Heavenly Vinedresser does some painful and aggressive pruning. “He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:2 NIV). By God’s grace, see you at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! LORD, do to me what is necessary to bear the fruit that will glorify Your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.
We Need A Miracle 
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