Today is Monday, August 2nd, 2010; Karen's Korner #1876
This is taken from "Sparkling Gems from the Greek" by Rick Renner; the book has 365 word studies for every day of the year. Each day Renner looks at several Bible verses and expands on their meaning, defining a word or two in Greek. Much of his ministry took place in Russia.
In part, this is his writing for July 29:
He tells of a time when 'the city where we lived was in political upheaval. This chaotic situation was so terrible that a bomb was detonated just a two-minute walking distance from our apartment! We could feel our building shake as a bomb exploded. It seemed as if each day was bringing new problems to the nation and more threats to our ministry....."
He said that 'logic' told them to 'pull back! Protect yourself! Stop until the heat is off!'. But God told him/them to 'keep pressing forward! Don't let up for a minute! This is a perfect opportunity for the Gospel message to be spread even further!'
Renner continued, "Right in the middle of all that chaos, we watched as God poured out His grace on us. Although it was a dangerous and difficult time, it was also a glorious moment to be serving in the Kingdom of God! God began to do marvelous new things in the nation where we lived. In that troublesome hour, people were open and hungry to know more about the things of God. They wanted answers and were willing to listen. As a result, people were saved; spiritual darkness was pushed back in people's lives, and the Gospel was spread further than ever before! As God moved mightly in the nation, that very dark, precarous moment became a spiritually bright time as many were led into the Kingdom of God."
He goes on to define some words from Romans 5:20 and adds his own interpretation to these words:
"For wherever sin exists in abundance and is multiplying and constantly expanding,
that is precisely the time and place
where grace is poured out in a far greater,
surpassing quantity."
We don't have anyone landing bombs within a two-minute walk of where we live. But does it seem like there is a lot of chaos swirling around us? Oil spills; terrorism; wars; less-than-the best economic news; maybe a unwanted health diagnosis of a family member of friend .....??
Here could be an opportunity to have 'God's grace poured out in a far greater quantity', according to Renner.
Renner's prayer for today:
"Lord, I thank You for pouring out Your grace in difficult, chaotic times. When sin abounds and darkness tries to reign, that is always when You reach out to seek and to save. Forgive me for giving way to fear and for thinking of retreating at this key moment when You are wanting to make a strategic advance. I choose to push away all my fears and to believe that You are going to do something miraculous to save the day! Let Your grace flow, Lord -- pour it on! Please shine Your light in this hour of darkness!
I pray this in Jesus' name!"
Renner's confession for today (which could be ours):
"I confess that God's grace is poured out mightly to drive back the forces of darkness during times of difficulty and chaos. God uses these dark moments as opportunities to pour out His grace and to show others who He is! The world may reel in fear and uncertainty, but God is always near. I declare by faith that God will reveal His power and intervene with His grace to bring the solution for this difficult hour!
I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!
AMEN"
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