Ensign: Plot, Summary, Or Ending Details Follow.
All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. Isaiah 18:3
AN ENSIGN ON THE MOUNTAINS 18 December 2015
I read the other day that there are two countdowns many MANY people are paying attention to this month. One of them ends today with the nationwide release of the latest Star Wars movie; the other one's Christmas, and we still have a week before that day comes. One thing that many people who care about the further adventures of Han, Luke, and Leia et. al. are asking through the Web and anywhere else they can get an audience is not to spoil -- that is, tell what happens in the movie for they who haven't seen it. In the age of instant access, that is hard if you've spent any time on social media or even if you spend time out of doors at this point.
Don't fault people for their excitement, please! If you had some awesome news to tell people and you'd been given the opportunity to share it with people, you'd share it too. But in our community of faith as believers in Jesus the Christ as Savior and Lord to save us from sin and death, we have the GREATEST NEWS EVER yet how much lately are we hearing of it? We can have the best of intentions and yet want to stifle the people who have the news to share. We don't know exactly what Eldad and Medad's words of prophecy in Numbers 11 were in the camp of the children of Israel, but we know they didn't come unto the tabernacle. And not getting it "officially" can throw people off.
It did one young man who evidently told Joshua who then went and told Moses that. But check out Moses' response to Joshua asking him to (or suggesting he?) forbid them from prophesying in verse twenty-nine: Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them. Moses was not threatened by the LORD speaking to or through anyone else because he was secure in what he, Moses himself, was doing for Him. You and I don't need to be either. Certainly no one in this brief passage was denying that the LORD Himself was at work; provided that He is, who He chooses to do it through is ultimately of no consequence.
You and I have the advantage through the Bible of being able to peruse the complete plot, the comprehensive summary, and the ending details of God and His plan for the human race. Not every detail, but could you imagine living in a world where you did? But the parts of it you and I don't understand, we do not have to expend energy worrying about when we have turned our lives (back, for didn't He create them?) over to God. "I believe, Lord, help thou my unbelief." "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner." How you word it is not an important as that you have given God, through the agency of your free will, the driver's seat in your life. He is the LORD, and we are His people.
Then you find out we live in the plot, summary, and ending details.
David
P.S. I write this weekly devotional to keep in touch with you and I pray I am encouraging. If you find me not so or just want me to go away, please do let me know -- thank you!
Thank You, Lord, that we are able to come to You in our praise and prayer and also that You have promised to provide for all our needs according to Your riches in glory, even when we don't know what to ask for sometimes. Please, Lord, help me -- help us -- to pray for the peace of Jerusalem on both sides and all over the world.
Thank You, Lord, for each of us and all those in leadership and service both here and abroad. Thank You, Lord, for the opportunities we are given along with the promise of new life through You. And may we all seek and have a blessed week! Amen and amen,
AN ENSIGN ON THE MOUNTAINS 18 December 2015
I read the other day that there are two countdowns many MANY people are paying attention to this month. One of them ends today with the nationwide release of the latest Star Wars movie; the other one's Christmas, and we still have a week before that day comes. One thing that many people who care about the further adventures of Han, Luke, and Leia et. al. are asking through the Web and anywhere else they can get an audience is not to spoil -- that is, tell what happens in the movie for they who haven't seen it. In the age of instant access, that is hard if you've spent any time on social media or even if you spend time out of doors at this point.
Don't fault people for their excitement, please! If you had some awesome news to tell people and you'd been given the opportunity to share it with people, you'd share it too. But in our community of faith as believers in Jesus the Christ as Savior and Lord to save us from sin and death, we have the GREATEST NEWS EVER yet how much lately are we hearing of it? We can have the best of intentions and yet want to stifle the people who have the news to share. We don't know exactly what Eldad and Medad's words of prophecy in Numbers 11 were in the camp of the children of Israel, but we know they didn't come unto the tabernacle. And not getting it "officially" can throw people off.
It did one young man who evidently told Joshua who then went and told Moses that. But check out Moses' response to Joshua asking him to (or suggesting he?) forbid them from prophesying in verse twenty-nine: Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them. Moses was not threatened by the LORD speaking to or through anyone else because he was secure in what he, Moses himself, was doing for Him. You and I don't need to be either. Certainly no one in this brief passage was denying that the LORD Himself was at work; provided that He is, who He chooses to do it through is ultimately of no consequence.
You and I have the advantage through the Bible of being able to peruse the complete plot, the comprehensive summary, and the ending details of God and His plan for the human race. Not every detail, but could you imagine living in a world where you did? But the parts of it you and I don't understand, we do not have to expend energy worrying about when we have turned our lives (back, for didn't He create them?) over to God. "I believe, Lord, help thou my unbelief." "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner." How you word it is not an important as that you have given God, through the agency of your free will, the driver's seat in your life. He is the LORD, and we are His people.
Then you find out we live in the plot, summary, and ending details.
David
P.S. I write this weekly devotional to keep in touch with you and I pray I am encouraging. If you find me not so or just want me to go away, please do let me know -- thank you!
Thank You, Lord, that we are able to come to You in our praise and prayer and also that You have promised to provide for all our needs according to Your riches in glory, even when we don't know what to ask for sometimes. Please, Lord, help me -- help us -- to pray for the peace of Jerusalem on both sides and all over the world.
Thank You, Lord, for each of us and all those in leadership and service both here and abroad. Thank You, Lord, for the opportunities we are given along with the promise of new life through You. And may we all seek and have a blessed week! Amen and amen,
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