The Sword of God in Hand

I saw a piece similar to this one today. So as I returned home I decided to recreate it. I lifted the art from here and crudely added the 'Holy Bible' to the image using Microsoft paint. The original is such an amazing piece, showing us the beauty of peaceful and loving protest. Yet my mind is drawn to this other image that I have recreated, and the truth that it presents.

As a Salvationist I aim to declare the world changed through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A world changed by Christ is a world that will see a sudden and marked change in the way it operates. This is exactly how the word revolution may be defined. In this sense I believe I am called to be a revolutionary.

This image inspires me. It reminds me that the message of Jesus Christ is, and forever will be, completely world changing. I want to see a world transformed by Christ, and I want to be, like this figure, someone who is actively involved in delivering this message to as many people as I can encounter, in as many ways as I know how. I want every social reform that I promote, every protest that I agree with and every program I participate in to be a result of wanting people to experience the sacrificial love of Christ and be saved by his grace.

"We are sweeping through the land,

With the sword of God in hand,

We are watching and we're praying while we fight;

On the wings of love we'll fly to the souls about to die,

And we'll lead them to behold the precious light."

Salvation Army Song Book, Song Number 819.

I know that I need to go forward with renewed fervour and diligence in delivering the Truth of the Gospel to everyone I encounter. I want to be 'Jesus revolutionary' and I pray that the Holy Spirit gives me the wisdom, strength and stamina required to achieve this.

The Friends of Christ

As I look upon this flag now changed,
I see a lonely ribbon,
The 'Friends of Christ' now given,
To the flag of many sessions.

Commissioned by the triune Lord,
Hearts filled with Holy fire,
To save the lost is their desire,
I believe, I pray, I hope that through God they'll never tire.

A Peace of my Mind

Mathew 5:9 reads "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (NRSV). I came across the following reflection on that scripture in The Armoury Commentary: The Four Gospels, edited by General Frederick L. Coutts (1973).

"Some people's love for peace makes them little but troublemakers; for their policy of peace at any price, causing them to leave undisturbed unjust situations, and to 'patch up' quarrels without dealing with basic antagonisms, makes harmonious human relationships finally impossible."

As I read these wise words I see them ringing true with situations that surround, and sometimes include, me. I ask myself "am I a true peacemaker?" and as I reflect on this question I reach a disturbing yet truthful conclusion that I am not. Often I let injustice prevail for the sake of going 'under the radar'. Sometimes I hold my tongue when I should be challenging someone, simply because I want to be liked. Other times I fall victim to a simple temptation, that of apathy, which allows me to not care, when I know if faced with the same situation my Lord Jesus would most definitely care.

Justice and fairness are the values of the Kingdom of God and as such are values of the peacemaker; they should be valued and apparent in the life of anyone seeking holiness. I feel a conviction that I must be a true peacemaker. I need to be someone who seeks the Father’s heart and knows when to be assertive. I need to be someone that seeks the Spirit’s wisdom and knows what is fair and just, and what is unfair and unjust. I need to be someone that displays the humility and love of Jesus Christ so that anything that must be said or acted upon is done in a way that is Christ-like. As I face these truths in my heart, as I face the rebuke I feel in my spirit and as I seek ways in which to improve I ask another question; “Am I in a movement of peacemakers?”

However this question may be better phrased “is The Salvation Army a radical movement of disciples that seek peace, or is it a movement that simply wants quiet?” I cannot answer this question, not only because the thought has only recently formed in my mind, but also because I do not know the collective mind and heart of the movement. To suggest that I do would simply display ignorance on my part. I know that in my life as a part of The Salvation Army, I too often just want ‘quiet’. So with this in mind I make the following statement: I wish to address unjust situations and deal with basic antagonism on an everyday and practical level. I want to lead a life of holiness, part of which includes the promotion of fairness and justice in every aspect of my being. I wish to be a true peacemaker.

I end my thoughts on this with a quote from William Barclay; “It very often happens that if a [person] loves peace in the wrong way, [they] succeed in making trouble and not peace”. May we be a people that love peace in the right way; this is, of course, the Lord’s way.

A God of Comfort

When my heart is breaking for the people around me, it is hard to feel Gods  presence. When I see the hurt in the souls of those I love, it is hard to see Gods guiding hand. When I hear the sobbing of people so beautiful, it is hard to hear Gods voice. But when I search within my feelings, I see my heart only breaks because my Lords heart is breaking, When I hurt I know I only hurt because I know the healing my Saviour brings, and when I truly listen to the silence in the chaos, I hear my mighty God, whispering words of comfort that reach me deep within. My God prevails, He is the triune God of eternity, He is my gracious Lord, He is my comfort and my refuge. By His grace I live in freedom, and by His grace His followers will prevail.

Psalm 34:15-18
"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit."

In the name of Jesus I pray and believe.

Amen

Whats the leadership formula?

This year I have been reading through a lot of the works of Brengle. Recently I came across a small part in The Soul-Winner's Secret that dealt with the concept of an undivided heart. Using that teaching, I wrote the following article for the MORE website.

Feel free to check it out here.

Wake Up and Believe

I was chatting to a friend the other night, just shooting the breeze. We started talking about how great God is. We started talking about what an exciting time it is to be a Salvationist, and that God is doing great new things across the church at the moment. We started talking about prayer, our understanding of its importance and how it is such a blessing to the Christian life. I began to talk about how important it is for me begin the day in prayer, and how horrible I’ve been at doing that lately. Then he said it, something that completely blew my mind...“We just have to wake up and believe”.

It’s been weeks since those words were spoken, but they have held firmly in my mind. I have been mesmerised by the simplicity of the statement and in awe of the revelation it has created in my heart. The concept of waking up in the morning and simply believing is so beautiful to me. I love the idea of beginning the new day with a renewed statement of faith in the Lord. How amazing it is to awake with the new day that God has created and acknowledge that I am a new creation in Him.

To “wake up and believe” is the conviction of my heart every morning now. When you awake tomorrow will you begin the day with belief?

A Prayer For My Future; After Thinking Of The Past

"For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."

Father, in my future, the one which lay in your hands, may I show mercy just like the mercy you have shown me.

May I be slow to anger and quick to forgive. May I never forget my human imperfections, may they stand as reminders of your necessary grace, but furthermore may they not weigh on my heart.

I thank you for the spiritual confidence you instill in me. That confidence that replaces arrogance, an arrogance broken by the reality of my humanity, and a greater understanding of your perfection.

May the Holy Spirit that I yearn to know more of reside in the depths of my soul. May I learn to follow it's prompting, may I feel the convictions that it places in me; be they positive or negative, rebuke or revelation.

I pray that the blood that was shed by your Son may mark me as saved. I pray that it may mark me as someone that gives glory to Him, and that people I encounter may see that my life points to His. May I grow to be more like Him, oh to be more and more like Him.

Father, the mercy you have shown me through your Son has triumphed over judgement. May the Spirit fill my heart and mind with the resounding truth of that, for this day and always.

Amen

"For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:13 (NRSV)