Thurs Devo: Come Here!

Last week we were trying to skype with our granddad, but it wasn’t working on my sister’s computer. Since granddad was waiting on the other end, Jane yelled “come here!” to her husband, Sean, so he might expedite the resolution.

It usually isn’t a good thing when we hear “come here!” loudly. If it’s directed at a kid, spouse, or employee, often they’re in trouble. At a minimum, there’s usually some sort a problem (as with our skype situation).

When God says “Come here!” it’s a good thing! It means He has huge blessings for us. After the two witnesses were killed and their deaths celebrated, God does the impossible.

Revelation 11:11-13  ¹¹ But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Has God said “Come here!” to you? Has He drawn you to Himself? How have you and I responded? Have any of you told God “Just a minute?” Do you have a few things you want to do first and then you’ll spend time with him? Or, have we responded with “Coming now!” by getting to know Him, spending time with Him daily, and placing our full life in His hands? It’s already in His hands anyway and then we will get to join Him in Heaven for all eternity, just like the two witnesses!

As Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-30     ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Alice

Thurs Devo: What's Success?

How do you define success? Who’s standard do you use? Your bosses, your peers, your family and friends, or your own? It’s so hard not to view success by the standards of others.

What about when it comes to sharing the truths of God with others? Do you and I gauge our effectiveness or success by the response of others? I think I often do. After a conversation, I will try and think of what I failed to say or mention that might have helped the other person respond differently. It’s not bad to self evaluate so that I can learn from my experiences, but God’s the ultimate judge of success. He doesn’t rate success by the responses we get or the outcome, but by our obedience to Him.

Look at the example of the two witnesses that will prophesy at the end of time:

Revelation 11:3-7     ³ And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” ⁴ They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” ⁵ If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. ⁶ They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

⁷ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.

Death doesn’t seem like a result of success but of failure! The witnesses certainly won’t convince the beast or many of earth’s inhabitants to turn to God. Even with all the power God gives them, people will choose not to believe. Their success in God’s eyes isn’t measured by the response of others, but by their faithfulness to speak the truth. They “finished their testimony” as verse 7 says and completed the job God gave them to do.

Do you and I feel like failures when it comes to influencing others for Christ? How can you and I remember that obedience is success and not the response to our obedience (or outcome), just like with the two witnesses?

Alice