Corona Devo 251

Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. ~John 4:35

It's time.  

Do you feel it in your heart and rumbling in your spirit?

Do you hear it in your head and in conversations and in circles around you?

Do you sense it from God's Word, from God's people, and from the Holy Spirit moving through both?

God is moving across this Nation, and people are waking up to His voice for the first time in a long time.

It's about time.

For too long we have "played the part" and "talked the talk", but not "walked the Walk".  It's time.

For years we've habitually showed up for church, even Bible Studies and service events, but God wants more than our routine, He wants our hearts.  It's time.

23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. 24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!  ~Matthew 23:23-24

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we have been swallowing camels!  What does God mean by that?  We have felt justified, dignified and even validated in our simple Christian walks by merely attending church and sitting (snoozing?) through sermons.  But in the meantime, we have fallen asleep to the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23).  God stands for and demands each of these, and it is time for us to do the same.  It's time.

Is "the rest" important? Yes, but we need to wake up and see God's priorities:  You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things (Matthew 23:23).  And in an interesting and omniscient twist of current-events timing, God's Word reminds us today of His important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23).

It's time.  Where are we at in serving God with justice, as individuals and as a Nation?

It's time.  Where are we at in serving God with mercy, as individuals and as a Nation?

It's time.  Where are we at in serving God with faith, as individuals and as a Nation?

He knows where we are at: 

25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. ~Matthew 23:25-26

But God also knows that in Him we can move from a hypocritical state to an active-faith state.  

The Lord knows that we can wake up from our spiritual slumber and become mobile in living out our faith and commitment to God and His ways.   

God knows that we have been superficially wiping the outside images of our lives and our faith-walks for too long.  It's time to clean the inside of our cups, and He is ready to get to work if we are.  And roll up your sleeves, because it seems that on both an individual and National level, we have a lot of slime to wipe away.

But God gives us His word and other Christ-followers to march with us, lead us and bring us along.  It is our choice to accept God's word and His people.  (It's time!)  We can unite and grow in God's ways or we can divide and destruct God's ways.  And there will be results from both choices.  

34 “Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city. 35 As a result, you will be held responsible.... 36 I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.

The Lord will use anything to reach His people, and perhaps we are in the middle of a spiritual awakening across the United States that (appeared) to begin with politics but let's end it with the power of Jesus Christ.  

It's time.  And I strongly believe that there IS time.  The next verses lament people turn who turned away from God, and abandoned His care (and direction!) for them, but (in my humble opinion): we are not there!  We have a choice today, and in the tomorrows to come to follow Jesus.  It's time.

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” ~Matthew 23:37-39

Brothers and Sisters in Christ and across America, Jesus speaks to us so tenderly--He wants to gather (us) together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings.  This is a picture of God's comfort and shelter for His children.  But children have a responsibility to be obedient to their parents, and our ultimate responsibility is obedience to our Heavenly Father.  

Whom will we choose to "serve" today?  A hypocritical and dead ruse of "Christianity", or the living and active King of Kings?  

God wants more than our routine, He wants our hearts.  

It's time for justice, mercy, and faith.

It's time.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com