You Are Not Forgotten – Purity 745

To see today's photo, go to mt4christ.org or follow me, M.t. Clark, on Facebook or Twitter. Good morning. Today's photo of a man looking down into the waters of the shores— on the shores of Howard Beach underneath the setting sun comes to us from a friend who is vacationing in Florida and captured and shared this scene of his son testing the waters this past Sunday. I did take artistic license with this photo as I cropped out a silhouette of an older couple who was off to the right to emphasize the solitary figure with the downward gaze and the setting sun over his shoulder to emphasize the theme of today's encouragement, that you are not forgotten. Yesterday I marched in the Memorial Day parade in remembrance of those who died for our country and in support of the good work my father-in-law does with Operation Adopt a Soldier. When you walk in the spirit, where we are continually reminding ourselves of God's presence and of his wisdom for our lives, the meaning and purpose of our lives becomes seen in its proper perspective. Our lives, all of them, are part of God's grand narrative. What man calls history. When we know who God is and recognize his sovereignty, we understand that he is in control and there is no such thing as coincidence, and that the things that happen throughout time and space, throughout history, are somehow part of God's overall plan and will for the earth. God knows all, sees all, and directs all towards his purposes. What may seem utterly chaotic to us is all part of the grand narrative that God is writing. And will one day culminate in the return of Christ. Okay, but until then, we just do our lives. And while they can seem pretty mundane and repetitive at times, if we are walking in the Spirit, we can see God's hand in both the setting and the action of the days of our lives. The beauty of our creation is always there to remind us of God's— of God. And sometimes The things that happen in our lives indicates that God is working and hasn't forgotten us. Little did my wife, my stepdaughter, and I know, know it at the time, but our decision to march in yesterday's Memorial Day parade was an answer to prayer of sorts and a reward for the faithfulness to those serving the nonprofit organization we were marching with, and for each of us in a way. Running or serving in a volunteer organization can certainly test one's patience and faith in what, in what you are doing. Because it is volunteer, nobody is getting paid and nobody has to show up. Just because you are volunteering for a good cause doesn't mean that others are going to be motivated to join you, nor does it guarantee that anyone will support your efforts at all. As someone who has been there and done that with various volunteer efforts in the past, I know how much the organizers of an event appreciate the donations they receive, and especially appreciate it when people actually show up to volunteer or attend a fundraising event for a cause. Uh, since COVID-19, and as we steadily move forward in a post-Christian society, there seems to be less participation in community events and less involvement in volunteer efforts. Before we arrived to join the others at the parade, one of the organizers was greatly concerned that they would not have enough people to carry all the flags they wanted to display to adequately give honor to the various branches of military service and causes Operation Adapa Soldier wanted to represent. Apparently in years past there was an abundance of volunteers to man all the positions, but yesterday those in charge weren't so— weren't sure if they were— if they were going to be able to swing it. So they began a count of the volunteers as they arrived and began hoping that they wouldn't have to change their plans and make do with less. But as the saying goes, God God is right on time. And as our small group joined the others, there was an audible expression of thanksgiving as our participation was just enough to fill all the spots. I don't know if my father-in-law or, uh, father-in-law or the others, uh, went to God in prayer or not, but, uh, they were rewarded for their faithfulness to their good cause all the same, as they received just enough help to accomplish what they wanted to do to honor the dead and and give respect to our country's servicemen. And as it turned out, we were rewarded too. Not only did we get to stretch our legs on a beautiful day in May, but we were used for a cause that was bigger than ourselves. We were used to demonstrate our nation's desire to remember those lost and support those who are actively serving and may be called to sacrifice their lives in the cause of freedom. My wife, Tammy Lynn, was honored to carry the flag for the United States Marine Corps to not only honor the Marines that gave their lives for our country, but also as a personal tribute to her daughter, Rachel, who is actively serving and deployed overseas. My stepdaughter, Elizabeth, with her cousin, Maddie, carried the banner for Operation Adopt a Soldier with the dual reward of serving a good cause that supports servicemen, but but also it honored her grandfather as the nonprofit's founder. And I got to carry the flag for the POWs and MIAs with its somber epitaph that states, "You are not forgotten." I felt honored to carry it because this flag was created in response to the prisoners of war and those missing in action during the Vietnam War, in which my father served in. And I know that the cause that this flag represents, that none of our servicemen would be left behind, is near and dear to the hearts of all who have loved ones in the armed forces. Although there was some celebratory aspects to yesterday's parade, I was humbled and solemn underneath the weight of what that flag represented: the loneliness of being a prisoner in a foreign land and the fear and uncertainty surrounding the missing. I'm sharing a link to an article about Congressman Sam Johnson, who wrote a book about his experience as a POW in in Vietnam and how his Christian faith was instrumental in his survival. In his book, Captive Warriors of Vietnam: POW Story, he relates how God sustained him through the long captivity of torture and pain and the emaciation he endured. The article shares some of Sam's story and the power that the presence of God can have in our lives. The article states that one of Sam's favorite scripture verses is Isaiah 40:29-31 that says, "He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might he increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles." They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary. So as we start or continue another work week, uh, let's recognize the truth that God has not forgotten us and that if we seek him, we will not only find him, but we will see his presence has never left us and he is at work in all the things that surround us. So let's keep walking and talking with God. Let's reach out to him every day to thank him for not forgetting us and to receive his wisdom, his strength, and his love. Today's Bible verse comes to us from the New Living Translation Bible Promise Book for Men. This morning's meditation verse is Romans 12:19, and it says, dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the scriptures say, I will take revenge. I will pay them, pay them back, says the Lord. Today's Bible verse reminds us that we are not to take revenge and that we are to trust the Lord to repay the injustices of the world. In light of the horrors and injustices of this world, the world teaches us not to get mad but to get even by exacting revenge and retaliation for the things done against us. Now, I would like to be clear here, justice and revenge are two different things. God has ordained governments and societies to be agents of justice, and they should be utilized to serve justice. Revenge is taking justice in our own hands and can be clouded by our overwhelming emotions and lack of insight at the time. People who are upset can and do make mistakes, and the consequences of hastily seeking revenge can result in more injustice and pain and suffering. So, should we bring people to justice? Absolutely. Should we seek revenge? Not according to the Word of God. And I know that may be a difficult pill to swallow, and it might cause us to start seeking Bible verses to support our vengeful cause, uh, like in verses like Exodus 21:23-25 that says, but if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise. But, but as we as Christians do consider the whole counsel of God and recognize things changed with the advent of Jesus Christ, The Bible is a progressive revelation, and we really have to consider what the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, Jesus Christ, has to say, and we shouldn't use Old Testament verses to cancel out New Testament principles. Jesus taught us to forgive others. He said in Matthew 6:14-15, "If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive—" your sins. So if we refuse to forgive, it may indicate that we haven't put— we have— we are not— sorry, we haven't put our faith in Christ, or we are not followers of Jesus. You know, Christ also taught mercy, telling those who were ready to stone a woman caught in adultery to consider their own sin before casting the first stone, and then directing the woman who found mercy to go and sin no more. So, likewise, we who have found mercy and the forgiveness of our sins should not seek revenge and trust that the Lord will either extend his mercy and forgiveness to those who seek it or will repay those who have done evil and not sought reconciliation. So take your complaints of injustice to the proper authorities and pray for justice to be done on earth. But take your hurts to the Lord to be healed and, and go to Him to help you to forgive as you are commanded. And of course, trust that no matter what happens on this planet broken by sin, the Lord sees all, knows all, never forgets, and will do what's right. Our not seeking revenge is one of the ways we can demonstrate that we know the Lord and trust Him. In spite of our pain, we are to draw close to God and trust Him to repay the injustices of this world. As always, I invite all to go to mtforchrist.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk. Today we continue sharing from John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life. As always, we share that information for educational purposes, and we ask you to, you know, if you are interested in Piper's work, to certainly go out and purchase it. Um, today we're sharing from chapter 9, and the sections say, if you come with no interest or knowledge, and, um, a summary statement on faith, of faith on missions. Um, and every civilian loves to follow the triumphs of the front on the front lines. So if you want to see what Piper is writing about under those sections, go to mtforchrist.org to, to read that excerpt of his work Don't waste your life. Well, today is Tuesday, and like I said, most of us, uh, were able to enjoy a 3-day weekend, or in some cases a 2-day weekend, um, and, uh, to have a day off. Um, we, we some, you know, somberly remembered, uh, the sacrifices made for our freedom, um, and enjoy that freedom every day. And we enjoy the freedom that we get through the work that we have that can pay our bills and provide for us to do other things with the money we earn. So as much as we have to go back to the grind, it's something we do choose for the good, you know, the good of our lives and the lives of our family. So we should go forth with thankfulness and, uh, you know, and not lament over the, over the leisure time that's lost, but to know that our working is for a purpose. And that, you know, we should, we should be very happy with our, with our, with our work. And you know what? If you're not happy with your work, there's always something you can do, like change it. If you're discontented with a job, you can change careers. Or if that's too difficult, you know, it's best to be content. Nobody wants, you know, you to be miserable in the job you have. There's that balance of needs and wants, and, you know, sometimes the needs of our families, you know, have to be considered. And that's the want we should consider, is that we want to meet those needs and that we're willing to sacrifice to meet those needs. And our, you know, our joy in life, our peace in life comes from being content with our choices. To accept what those consequences of our choices are and to, you know, to endeavor to change if that's what is not going to make you happy. But we stress wisdom rather than, you know, rather than making a change just for change's sake. So that's the joy of our lives is that we get to figure this all out. And, you know, there's so many things we can do in life, um, and but we have to do, you know, we should do things wisely because we, we benefit when we use God's wisdom to direct us. So as we go forth today, let's go forth in Thanksgiving, uh, rejoicing over what we have, uh, in Christ and what the Lord has provided throughout our lives and that led us up to the day where we are today. It wasn't all bad, and if it's bad right now, it will get better if we follow the Lord. Um, certainly won't get worse. Um, we can— well, it might, you know, but, uh, stay with the Lord and you'll find peace. Uh, you know, things happen, but, uh, the good thing is the Lord never forgets you. And if you follow him, you'll know that and experience his peace and his love in the midst of every storm. And God willing, that you'll be out of the darkness and into his light and realize how, how wonderful it is to be in his presence at all times by walking in the Spirit. And that's what we want you to discover, your freedom in Christ. Um, and that's why we do what we do on the blog and the podcast. We share our teachings from 2021, uh, on the, on the podcast. Those are under the headings of Victory Over the Darkness, The Bondage Breaker, and Freedom in Christ. We also have a YouTube channel, basically where we've taken those podcasts and put them on YouTube. So if you want to check them out on YouTube, that YouTube channel is M.t. Clark 24/7. So you can check those out. We also do a weekly Bible study to encourage, you know, faithfulness and, you know, the study of God's Word. And, you know, this is how we live as Christians. We study His word and we live according to it. You know, we don't just say, "Thank you, Lord, for forgiving me," and then going about our business. You know, there's great danger in assuming too much in our faith, and that's why scripture tells us to seek our faith with fear, you know, our salvation with fear and trembling, to make sure you're in the faith. You know, making some blasé commitment to the Lord just try to cover our guilt and then, you know, walking away and not following the Lord. We really have to wonder about our salvation when we do that. But the good thing is, if we follow the Lord, we don't have to wonder. You know, the profession of our faith is true. We put our faith in Christ, we are saved. But he also wants us to follow, and when we do that, we have total assurance of our salvation because Not only do we feel the joy of our salvation, we, we know, we know we're a Christian by the way we live and act. Um, you know, and there's no doubt, uh, that can come in when you're living the life and, and not doing it out of some obligation, but doing it out of the love that you have for the Lord. So that's what we foster, you know, that's what we encourage, is that you love the Lord and, uh, follow where he leads you. And share his love with others by telling people and doing good works. That's a simple recipe for life, but it's the one that I've discovered and I'm not going to walk away from. So I do things like pray for people. So let's do that today. Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank you for another day in your kingdom. Thank you for the lovely weekend that we enjoyed. And Lord, we're looking for lovely days ahead. Including today, uh, because we're going to stay close to you. And we know you haven't forgotten us, Lord, so let's not forget you and remember to look for you, um, today as we go about our day, um, reaching out to you in prayer or just to give you thanks and rejoice of what you've done in our lives and what you're doing today. Lord, we pray for you to open our eyes to the beauty that you have for us to see, the wisdom that you want us to receive, and the good works that you have put before us to do. Lord, help us to do the best job we can do to represent your kingdom here on Earth by doing a good job today at our workplaces and by being kind to the people we encounter. Lord, we pray for the people listening today, that they would be blessed with the, with the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide them throughout their day. Lord, that they would be shown, uh, what they need to do. And Lord, we pray for them to be blessed with the blessings of, of, of your kingdom, which is, you know, healing that comes and, and, and, and unexpected blessings, whatever you have for them, Lord. Um, you know what motivates us, you know, you know what, um, what causes us to rejoice, and we trust you to, to, to give good gifts to those who follow you. Um, so we pray that for everyone listening today And Lord, we just pray for you to go before all of us today and to guide us into your will for our lives this day and every day as we, as we go with you. Lord, we thank you for your presence. We thank you for your love, and we pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.