Have you ever heard the saying, The things in this world may not make sense, but with God, we are able to make sense of the world?
I was thinking about this concept the other day and how crazy the world is right now. I’m sure you have an idea of what I’m referencing, but in case you don’t, let me be blatantly clear:
People who claim to stand for logic, reason, facts, and truth are completing ignoring logic, reason, facts, and truth.
Whether it’s regarding Covid-19, racial injustice/inequities/disparities, gender identity, American history, or any other hot-topic cultural issue, what is real, factual and true is being ignored, buried or manipulated.
As my limited human mind was mulling over the reality of the shattered world I am living in, my heart became encouraged by the only constant in this ever-changing world – God. God is, was, and will always be the Maker of the Universe and the Sustainer of absolute Truth (John 1:1, Revelation 1:8). Oh, how eternally grateful I am to know Him, love Him and belong to Him!
I can navigate this chaotic world when I look to Him and consult His Word for guidance, direction, wisdom, and truth. God is knowledge, science, love and the answer to ALL OF THE THINGS culture is confusing.
Knowing this gives me peace and hope. It makes me proud to call myself a believer in the Almighty and a follower of Jesus. It inspires me to shine a light in this dark world, share the goodness of God’s grace and proclaim the stability of God’s Truth. In all honesty, it ignites a passion deep within me and fuels my purpose.
If you consider yourself a Christian, you, too, should be overwhelmed right now with a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). You have the hope the world is desperately (and unsuccessfully) searching for as well as the answers to all of the world’s questions.
There are individuals in this world who are running around like chickens with their heads cut off and others who are like sheep wandering aimlessly because they are lost, confused, or lacking discernment to navigate their way back Home. The enemy is taking advantage of the weak, ignorant, and blind and is leading them nowhere good.
I don’t know about you, but I cannot sit back and watch humanity continue to deteriorate. I wish I could care less, but the truth is, I care too much.
History often repeats itself and I am thankful it does so we can consult it, learn from it, and respond proactively and productively.
In this moment of history, I find myself regularly referring to God’s greater story – the Bible. Specifically, God’s story through the life and work of Paul. Paul was not ashamed of the gospel and was confident in his calling to preach it unapologetically. There is so much truth to be gained throughout Paul’s many letters in the New Testament, but one passage I want to leave you with is found in Romans 1 (see below).
Paul wrote to the Romans during a time when culture was very tolerant of many things…except Christianity. Paul sought to convict Roman Christians of man’s sin and God’s wrath while encouraging them to seek salvation through Christ and pursue the gift of grace and sanctification. Paul wanted Roman Christians to remember that God is sovereign, but humans are also responsible [for their actions]. As you can see, this ancient text remains relevant to Christians today.
Before you meditate on Paul’s words (see below), I’d like to pray for you:
Dear, Lord,
You have prepared Your people for this moment. None of what we are experiencing is of any surprise to You. May we acknowledge Your sovereignty, goodness, timing, and purpose. May we know that You made us to exist on earth, on purpose, for a purpose, during this exact period of time.
You have gifted us one of us with unique talents, abilities, roles, and responsibilities. May we seek Your wisdom to discern Your perfect plans, purposes, direction, and timing. May we trust You, always, and be reminded of Your faithfulness. May You use our individual stories as chapters in Your greater story.
May we feel, see, and experience Your presence and know You are always for us, with us, and working through us, even if we do not sense it or believe it. May we cling to the powerful Truth of Your Word and never be ashamed for representing Your Name and working as ambassadors of Your Kingdom.
Now and forever.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
The time is now to be the change you want to see in the world, to go out into the world and make disciples and to do the good works God has prepared for you to do.
Without apology. Without excuses.
“God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodly behavior and the injustice of human beings who silence the truth with injustice. This is because what is known about God should be plain to them because God made it plain to them. Ever since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—God’s eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through the things God has made. So humans are without excuse. Although they knew God, they didn’t honor God as God or thank him. Instead, their reasoning became pointless, and their foolish hearts were darkened. While they were claiming to be wise, they made fools of themselves. They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that look like mortal humans: birds, animals, and reptiles. So God abandoned them to their hearts’ desires, which led to the moral corruption of degrading their own bodies with each other. They traded God’s truth for a lie, and they worshipped and served the creation instead of the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
That’s why God abandoned them to degrading lust. Their females traded natural sexual relations for unnatural sexual relations. Also, in the same way, the males traded natural sexual relations with females, and burned with lust for each other. Males performed shameful actions with males, and they were paid back with the penalty they deserved for their mistake in their own bodies. Since they didn’t think it was worthwhile to acknowledge God, God abandoned them to a defective mind to do inappropriate things. So they were filled with all injustice, wicked behavior, greed, and evil behavior. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deception, and malice. They are gossips, they slander people, and they hate God. They are rude and proud, and they brag. They invent ways to be evil, and they are disobedient to their parents. They are without understanding, disloyal, without affection, and without mercy. Though they know God’s decision that those who persist in such practices deserve death, they not only keep doing these things but also approve others who practice them.”
Romans 1:18-32 (CEB)
