Our Call to Prepare

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 7:50 pm Post subject: Our Call to Prepare

Our Call to Prepare

Scripture:

You, O Lord, are our father, our redeemer, from everlasting is your name. Why have you made us to err, O Lord, from your ways: why have you hardened our heart, that we should not fear you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance.

O that you would rend the heavens, and would come down: the mountains would melt away at your presence.

When you shall do wonderful things, we shall not bear them: you did come down, and at your presence the mountains melted away. From the beginning of the world they have not heard, nor perceived with the ears: the eye has not seen, O God, besides you, what things you have prepared for them that wait for you. You have met him that rejoices, and does justice: in your ways they shall remember you: Behold you are angry, and we have sinned: in them we have been always, and we shall be saved. And we are all become as one unclean, and all our justices as polluted rags: and we have all fallen as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. There is none that calls upon your name: that rises up, and takes hold of you: you have hid your face from us, and has crushed us in the hand of our iniquity. And now, O Lord, you are our father, and we are clay: and you are our maker, and we all are the works of your hands.
(Isaiah 63:16B-17, 19B, 64:2-7)

Grace to you and peace, from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God that is given you in Christ Jesus: That in all things you are made rich in him, in all utterance and in all knowledge; as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that nothing is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who also will confirm you unto the end without crime, in the days of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
(1 Corinthians 1:3-9)

Take heed, watch and pray. For you know not when the time is. Even as a man who, going into a far country, left his house and gave authority to his servants over every work and commanded the porter to watch. Watch you therefore (for you know not when the lord of the house comes, at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning): Lest coming on a sudden, he finds you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch.
(Mark 13:33-37)

Reflection:

God created us in His image. We have the ability to think and reason, but often times, our reasoning is flawed. Though our Creator continuously reaches out to teach us what is right and just, we too often fail to live as He intends for us. Despite all we have learned over the generations, the nations still fail to live according to His commandments of love. (Matthew 22:36-40)

As we turn away from Him, we withdraw our love from Him. As we feed our selfish desires, we withdraw our love from those we neglect, ignore, or harm; including our Lord. As we turn to God and worship Him, we declare our love for Him, not only by what we say, but by what we do. As we share with and assist others through our civility, compassion, charity, and love; we fulfill His commandment to love one another, not only by the words we offer, but, more importantly, by the endeavors of the talents He uniquely created within us.

As we study His scripture, not for knowledge, but for truth and meaning; we have the opportunity to learn His ways and to discern the purpose of His law. As we turn to Him in prayer, we have the opportunity to listen and observe His answers to us. As we learn the fullness of our faith, we have the opportunity to live it and receive the fullness of His blessings.

From the first moment God created the first man and the first woman, He has reached out to render His love. Throughout the generations, our Lord has opened His arms with grace, mercy, and forgiveness. His love is so great for us that despite our iniquities, He sent His only begotten Son in atonement for what we do and what we fail to do. ( John 3:14-18 )

We might ask ourselves, then, how is it we can ignore such love? How can we turn away from the One who created us and gave us life? How is it we struggle to learn the lessons of His commandments? Is it because we prefer the darkness to the light? Is it that we prefer what is wicked over what is right and just? (John 3:19-20) As we navigate our decisions and those made around us, we must ask, how is it so many do not see the blessings of the Light He sent unto the world? How is it that our society struggles so with the sharing of love? Most importantly, we should ask, how might we turn the darkness away so we may step into the warmth of His holy light?

It is true, the evil one tempts us and too often we fall to such temptations, but if we truly desire, what is right and just can come from us. Let us, then, seek to learn from the love of God so that we might share love with both our Creator and one another. (1 John 4:7-21) Let us work to bring His ways to the world so that all may share the blessings of love. (John 3:21)

As we wander our journey within this world, we are given time to learn and discern, but we must not become complacent, for our time is short. We must consider that with each moment, the time for the coming of our judgment draws nearer. It is prudent to consider the future and plan for the day to come, but we must not forget as to what we may do now, in the moment, to prepare for our last day in this world; the day of which we know neither the date or time.

Each day that we wake, we are tempted to believe that before us are many years. Indeed, there may be, but then, in a moment, at a time and moment of which we do not know, our time here will end. The record of our learning and living in this world will be marked complete. What, then, we should wonder, will be the verdict of our days? It is true, there is great forgiveness in the heart of the One who will judge us, but if we do not know Him and He does not know us, for what should we expect? If we have turned away from Him in that which we do and fail to do, will we be able to say to Him with the fullness of truth, ?I love You and believe You are my Lord and Savior??

Let us, then, seek His ways. Let us learn the blessings we may share. Let us learn how to always do what is right and just. Let us be watchful with our lives and prepare for the day where His only begotten Son might ask us if we love Him and believe in Him; and if we are to tell Him, ?Yes,? let us also be prepared to answer the question as to how our Savior might observe our belief in Him through our choices and how we have endeavored to lead our lives.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways do we turn away from our Creator?

In what ways do we see that God endeavors to guide us to His ways?

In what ways may we help to bring others to the blessings of His light?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier