Morning & Evening: Devotional 10th Sunday, September 2023
Mark 3:13 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible: “And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.”
Morning Reflection
Here we witness sovereignty in action. Impatient souls may become agitated and restless because they aren’t called to occupy the highest positions in ministry. However, dear reader, let your heart be filled with joy that Jesus chooses to call whomever He wishes. If He ordains me to be a humble doorkeeper in His house, I will gladly bless Him for His grace in allowing me to serve in any capacity within His service. The call to serve as one of Christ’s disciples comes from above. Jesus stands upon the mountain, perpetually elevated above the world in holiness, zeal, love, and power.
Those He calls must ascend the mountain to be with Him, striving to elevate themselves to His level through continual communion. They may not attain worldly honors or academic prestige, but like Moses, they must ascend the mount of God and engage in intimate fellowship with the unseen God. Only then will they be adequately prepared to proclaim the gospel of peace. Just as Jesus withdrew to engage in profound fellowship with the Father, we must also enter into this divine companionship if we wish to bless our fellow human beings. It’s no surprise that the apostles were filled with power when they descended from the mountain where Jesus had been. This morning, we must make every effort to climb the mountain of communion, for it is there that we receive the ordination for the life’s work to which we are called. Let us not face the world today until we have first encountered Jesus.
Time spent with Him yields remarkable dividends. If we go into the world equipped with the divine energy that only Christ can provide, we too will cast out demons and perform wonders. It’s futile to engage in the Lord’s battle without arming ourselves with heavenly weapons. Seeing Jesus is paramount; it is essential. At the mercy seat, we will linger until He reveals Himself to us in a way that He does not to the world. Then we can genuinely declare, “We were with Him on the Holy Mountain.”
Morning & Evening: Evening Devo, Sep. 10thSunday, September 10, 2023
Habakkuk 1:8 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible:
“And their horses are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.”
Evening Reflection
While assembling the current volume, this particular phrase continually came to mind. To quell its persistent presence, I resolved to dedicate a page to it.
The evening wolf, driven to fury by a day of hunger, becomes fiercer and more ravenous as night falls. Could this ferocious creature symbolize our doubts and fears after a day filled with distractions, business setbacks, and perhaps unkind taunts from our peers? Our thoughts seem to howl in our minds, “Where is your God now?” They voraciously devour any glimmer of comfort, leaving us as hungry for solace as before. Mighty Shepherd, defeat these evening wolves and grant your sheep the peace of green pastures, free from the relentless grip of unbelief. The fiends of hell bear a striking resemblance to evening wolves, as they pounce on the flock of Christ when they are shrouded in a dark and cloudy day, with their sun seemingly setting. They are reluctant to attack a believer in the daylight of faith, but in the shadows of inner turmoil, they strike. You, who laid down your life for the sheep, shield them from the wolf’s fangs. False teachers, cunningly and diligently hunting for precious lives, consume people with their lies and are as perilous and revolting as evening wolves.
Darkness is their domain, deceit is their nature, and destruction is their goal. They pose the greatest danger when they masquerade as members of the flock. Blessed is the one who avoids them, for thousands have fallen prey to savage wolves that infiltrate the church. It is a marvelous grace when fierce persecutors are converted, as the wolf then dwells with the lamb, and those with cruel and unruly dispositions become meek and receptive. Lord, convert many such souls, for them we will pray tonight.
