A Cloud of Witnesses

     The heroes of our faith long gone, bless us today through their histories. Our loved ones gone from earth fill our hearts, waiting in heaven. The list included in our cloud of witnesses gathers around us to strengthen us and give us hope.

     What about the witnesses currently affecting us? Are there women and men of faith inspiring you right now, right here, at this time in history? I am inspired daily by pastors and leaders around the world, standing for their faith, willing to give their lives and hearts to the gospel of Christ.

     I have a group of 30 amazing women gathered around me on Tuesday mornings. They love Jesus. They love the Word of God and as the proverb says:

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

     We sharpen each other, loving each other even when we disagree. As Beth Moore says in our current Bible study, Children of the Day,  “We don’t have to see eye to eye to walk side by side."

     I pray for you to find women and men of faith to help you grow, to walk by your side, to admonish, encourage and teach you. We all have so much to learn from our cloud of witnesses.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  Colossians 3:16

Jesus,

Today we thank you for the witnesses You have given us. Bring others around us to strengthen us in our faith. You have a way of bringing just the right people around us at just the right time.

Amen

A Cloud of Witnesses

     Our great cloud of witnesses includes believers past and present. Jesus, in the 17^th chapter of the Gospel of John, not only prays for Himself, and for His followers, but He prays into the future for all who will believe. That's us!

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent me.    John 17:21

     This brings the communion of saints to a much deeper level. When we take communion and remember the sacrifice and forgiveness of Jesus, we come to the table together with the past, the present, and the future believers. We are in the presence of the cloud of witnesses. I hope and pray this brings comfort to you today. Next time you take communion think about your friends, your grandparents, your parents, or siblings and other loved ones already in heaven. They are present with you in this sacred covenant and we will be together again one day.

     In the meantime, we are one together with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, united together to make Christ’s presence known. With so great a cloud of witnesses, we can do it!

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for watching over us. You prayed for us two thousand years ago and You are with us today. Watch over our loved ones in heaven. We are one with them in Spirit and one day soon we will all be together forever.

Amen

A Cloud of Witnesses

     The men and women of the Old Testament are part of our “cloud of witnesses.” They moved ahead in faith. Abraham did not know where he was going, but he followed the instructions of God. Moses could not have foreseen the armies behind him. He could not have imagined the parting of the Red Sea. And he certainly did not envision leading 2 million people for 40 years on what should have been an 11-day journey. And yet, he followed and obeyed. He trusted God for each step along the way.

     Knowing God so intimately is a gift available to us. The living breathing Spirit of Christ can lead us even when we are scared. Even when the sea is about to crash over us. Even when our future looks bleak. Here is a great definition of faith.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1

     Take your lead from the pioneers of our faith. And as we believe in what we cannot see and have confidence in our hope in God we please Him.  It’s all about faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6

Lord Jesus,

We want to earnestly seek You. Give us eyes and ears of faith. We, too, want to leave a legacy of faith with our families and friends. Guide us steps to trust You and to seek the wisdom of our cloud of witnesses.

Amen

     

A Cloud of Witnesses

     The footsteps of faith mark the way. The ones that went before us. The trails of their lives teach us. One left everything he had known to travel to places unknown. One led his people despite his weaknesses. One built an ark and suffered ridicule and heartache. They fought and obeyed and suffered and believed. Can we leave such a witness?

     The 11^th chapter of the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament is often called the “Hall of Faith.” It lists them, one after the other; Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and so many more. They walked by faith and not by sight. Their lives would begin the journey to Jesus.

     And here we are in this age of grace. Because of their faith and witness, we learn to listen to our God. Can we trust Him through our suffering and our doubts and our uncertain futures? They did.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Dear Father,

We thank You for these men and women of faith. Let us continue to read Your Word as You teach us through the lives of so many. Walking by faith pleases You. Even when we don’t see the promised land, we will follow You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Following Jesus

     Following in the footsteps of Jesus is impossible on our own. Rather than seeking a time of solitude and prayer with our Father In heaven, we often choose a few more minutes of sleep, a quick glance at the newspaper, or take the extra time to answer our e-mails or check in on a social network. We want to stay in our comfort zones with our own friends and family. We don’t venture too far. It’s scary out there.

     Even the idea of bringing up the subject of faith in Christ causes a tingling of fear and anxiety. Luckily for us, Jesus rose again and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He said it would be better for His followers when He went away. The reason? The power of the Holy Spirit could be unleashed to many.

When the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues-as the Spirit enabled them.  Acts: 2:1-4

     Today we may not hear a violent wind or see flames shooting above our heads, but that same Holy Spirit is within us. We have the power of the Spirit of Christ and when we rely on that Spirit we will find time to spend with God, time to speak of Jesus, time to hang out with those that need Him most. The power and the Spirit of Christ. Can you imagine?

Dear Jesus,

Following Your example takes the guiding and teaching of Your Spirit. We thank You for the power You give each one of us, each in our own way, to be Your hands and feet, Your eyes and ears to bring Your presence to others.

Amen

Following Jesus

     We love our sisters and brothers in the faith. Studying the Word together, counting on one another for prayer, and worshipping together is essential. Our church communities are meant to build us up in the faith, encourage us and give us strength to live as Christians in a secular world. But we are not meant to close ourselves off from that world. Jesus gave His followers what is called, “the great commission.”

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 28:19

     The Pharisees did not like the fact that Jesus hung out with the “wrong” crowd. He spoke with prostitutes, dined with tax collectors and even spoke to a Samaritan woman in the light of day. Those lawmakers liked to turn their noses up at the “sinners” congratulating themselves on being nothing like them.

   While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”  Matthew 9:10-12 

The world needs Jesus.  We are to be the light of the world. Light overcomes darkness. Be a witness for Him.

Dear Lord,

The church is meant to open doors and look out to others. Keep us from hiding ourselves away in our safe places. Move us into the world around us. We have Your joy and Your love. Let it be contagious.

Amen

Following Jesus

     The house was full. The crowds were huge. The Word had spread about Jesus. His teaching was different from anything they had ever heard. Demons fled. Sight was restored. Some were healed just by touching His gown. And there they came; the four faithful friends of the paralytic. They carried their friend through the streets on a mat, determined to find Him. The One.

     It seemed an impossible task when they came upon the crowd. There was no way to get into the house. Or was there?

     Read along with me.

Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lyng on. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, “Son your sins are forgiven.”  Mark 2:4-5

     What would you do to lead your friends to Jesus? They wanted their friend to walk. Here’s the interesting part. Jesus sees their faith. Does He heal the paralyzed man. Eventually He does. But what comes first? “Son your sins are forgiven.”

     God uses our suffering to bring us to Him. His priority is to save us for eternity, to forgive us through Jesus. That comes first. He wants our hearts. He wants us to hear the message and take it in and then we become the messengers, bringing our friends to see Him.

Dear Jesus,

Use our faith. Let us in among the crowds with our friends. Give us the message You want us to share and help us to bring our hurting friends to You. Many are paralyzed with hurt and fear and doubt and grief. We can carry their burdens and leave them with You for forgiveness and healing.

Amen