2001-10-17 - Anthrax

2 Kings 5:27 Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you and to your descendants forever. So he went out from his presence, a leper, white as snow.

My wife and I ended our honeymoon in New York City just over two years ago. I had been to the World Trade Center towers before but she had not. We went there and took several pictures of the view. We even asked someone to take a picture of us there on the top view tower. Asking a stranger to do something is really out of character for us. I am glad we did. It was a special time and one we have reflected on it as the two towers have come down. Those two buildings really mean nothing. The people in them did.

It is interesting to me how many leaders called upon America to pray after the crime was committed. It is interesting because I do not hear the same calls for prayer now. What has changed? Are we a "need of the moment prayer" people? Are we like the man careening towards his death as his car plummets over a bridge and cries, "God help me," prayer people? Honestly I hope not. Prayer is much more than, "I need it now." Prayer is part of a relationship with God. We need to cultivate it now.

We have a war upon us. Are our leaders calling for prayer? No, it seems. Are lives at stake? Yes, as I see it. Anthrax is the big story today. Has any leader called for prayer, could be, but I have not seen it. If we have become a prayer at the need of the moment people in America, I fear for us. I realize that many of you who read these devotionals do not live in America but it is the same for your nation also. We cannot be "need of the moment prayers." God hears the prayers of his people, thus we must pray in struggles and out of them. If we only pray when we are in trouble can you imagine the concept that God, who hears our prayers, might invite more struggles to us so that we become praying people? I tremble at such a thought.

But my subject heading is Anthrax. I know nothing about Anthrax. It was only a topic heading I thought might grab attention. What I have a slight clue about is the Bible. Do you know how many afflictions the Lord has placed upon His people because they did not follow His will? Nor do I, but it is a bunch. I could list tons of verses here, but I reviewed and it is more profitable to say, "see Bible." It is that many. We ought to think about this and we ought to read Ephesians (when you think Ephesians think, "How to live as a Christian") less and the Old Testament more. It is very telling.

How does this apply to you? You and I need to read the Old Testament and see also how faithful God has been to His people. He has especially blessed those who have been faithful to Him. Let us seek the Lord and ask His grace that we might be faithful to Him. Fathfulness, even in the small things, or especially in the small things, is what it appears, from my reading of Scripture, God is pleased with and blesses.

"And the men did the work faithfully with foremen over them to supervise: Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites of the sons of Merari, Zachariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites, and the Levites, all who were skillful with musical instruments." 2 Corinthians 34:12

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

tim@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
http://www.papercutpress.com