Reward

spirits bloom in fields, fertile of mortal fray
they are blessed who stretch beyond the night
for there is a dawn for those who long to breach the other side
there is a home for those who will abide within the shadow of His pinions

rejoin and rejoice now the sound of these many waters
His voice is found as liquid gold to the soul
and breathe to paint us full awake
to dream the vain hope no more, but live aflame for He is our reward

He is the fullness, the source of our abundance
no, these are not vain yearnings as you are habit to suppose
but deeply the hunger grows
to be known by all the wonder we find in delight in You

- revel8r 5/21-27/2018

What Will Hold You to Him?

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

- Matthew 10:16

Jesus doesn't put forward vain promises.  He doesn't offer a happier day this side of the veil. In this section, he is telling the disciples quite plainly that life will be hard for those who follow Him. They will be arrested, beaten, betrayed, and even killed for believing in Him.

As they listened to Jesus, what was it that was holding them to this new leader?  At the time, they didn't know what He was truly about at the Messiah and sacrificial Lamb.  They were ignorant of the fact that he was going to be crucified.  And they certainly didn't know He was going to conquer the grave as rise as the firstborn from among the dead.  Yet here He is, telling them of the hardships to come.  This was hardly a pep rally designed to inspire.  So what was it that was holding them to continue to follow Jesus?

They must have known an inkling that something, someone significant was afoot.  Maybe that was what kept them from walking away.  Regardless, we can all be thankful that they did not for the Church would not have continued without their propagation of the Testimony.

But for us who now know the rest of the story, or at least much more of the story, we need to ask ourselves this question: "What will hold us when the tribulation comes".  Certainly, the promise of eternity with Him is very significant indeed.  But I dare say there needs to be much more.  For we must be able to stand in the face of brutal persecution.

Ours is not a testimony of wine and roses, or angels in diapers or shiny new cars.  It is a testimony of holding to the One who gives us our identity.  We must be willing and able to hold on when evil men are allowed to have their day.