May the mumbling commence!
The country that we live in – the
United States – has a bigger military than any other nation in the world. We spend far more than any other nation on
our military. And we have come to trust
in the strength of our military.
To put it boldly, that is a
mistake. Military might will not save us
if we live unjust lives. Neither will
lack of military might cause our downfall if we live just lives and follow
God. Read from Hosea chapter ten:
"But you have cultivated wickedness and raised
a thriving crop of sins. You have eaten
the fruit of lies – trusting in your military might, believing that great armies could make your nation safe! Now the
terrors of war will rise among your people. All your fortifications will fall, just as they did when Shalman
destroyed Beth-arbel. Even mothers and children were dashed to death
there. You will share that fate, Bethel,
because of your great wickedness.
When the day of judgment dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.” (Verses 13-15)
Don’t believe in the fantasy that
military might can protect us. It’s a
lie, plain and simple. Military might
cannot protect us when we are filled with wickedness.
Protection only comes from our
Lord. God is who we should trust. It’s not just a saying printed on our
money. It’s truth.
But it’s so easy to fall back into
old patterns of living. We see it over
and over again in the Scriptures. We see
it over and over again in our lifetimes.
Indeed, we see it in our own lives.
It’s a part of the human condition.
Read from John chapter twenty-one:
Later Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the
Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened.
Several of the disciples were there – Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the
Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other
disciples.
Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing."
"We'll come, too," they all said.
So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. (Verses 1-3)
With Jesus gone, it was easy to
fall back into old patterns. Simon Peter
was a fisherman. Why not return to
fishing? That was his plan, and because
of his leadership in the group, the other followed him.
Back to the boat! Back to the nets! And back to the futility! They still caught no fish all night long.
We will be blessed if we do what
God is calling us to do. We will find
success, though success may look quite a bit different than we expect. But, when we go back to old patterns, we will
find frustration.
Guide us, O Holy Spirit, to remain with
God and do His righteous will. It is the
way to security. It’s the way to
success. It’s the way to life.
God, take our lives this day… and
every day thereafter.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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