“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people” – (2 Tim 3:1-5).
During one of his missionary journeys the Apostle Paul met a slave girl with a gift of prophecy. Sensing a business opportunity her owners had twisted this gift into a cash bonanza. “Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling” (Acts 16:16). Unfortunately for the schemers the girl became aware that Paul and Silas were men of God. So, she kept taunting them. “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved” (vv 17). Feeling harassed,“Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her” (vv 18).
The desire to profit from the Gospel of Jesus did not start today nor is it about to end. During the ministry of Jesus he came across merchants who had turned the house of God into a forex bureau and livestock market (Mathew 21:12). One of the triggers of the Reformation was the habit of the Catholic Church to ask for indulgences. For a fee people could pay for the dead whose souls it was believed were hanging in purgatory. The money would then be used by the clergy to lavish themselves with all sorts of luxuries.
Times have not changed. Every other day we come across those turning the things of God to materially profit from them. We have heard those who sell “miracle trees”, miracle rings”, miracle oil” etc. For a fee we hear of purveyors who promise to send back spells of misfortune rather than winning evil over to Christ.
As followers of Christ we should be on guard of such. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them” (Mathew 7:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, knowing we live in the last days where wolves seeking to profit from your word are masquerading as messengers of light, we pray for the spirit of discernment to hold on to the truth of the Gospel of your kingdom, this we pray in Jesus’s name.
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
