Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit and lead me in Your ways, here at the start and throughout the moments of my day. ...
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4-6).
Your Word calls our spiritual enemy "the god of this world" who" has blinded the minds of the unbelievers" -- those who do not believe "the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." And "the god of this world" is at the source of the evil of this world. You called him "the ruler of this world" (John 14:30). Bur Your Word encourages us to not lose heart when we see his evil work of deception and destruction, but to rise up in faith: "Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith..." (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Jesus, one way we resist him, steadfast in our faith, is by letting Your light shine in our hearts. Give us a love for those who are deceived. Move us to intercede for them instead of condemn them, that their eyes will be opened to the truth -- "the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Stir in our hearts to pray for those who persecute us, to bless those who curse us, to love those who hate us (Matthew 5:44). Break the blindness from their minds to know the truth who will set them free (John 8:32).
With Easter on the horizon, this is not a time to fear, but to arise in faith. This is not a time to lose heart, but to be stirred in our hearts to pray as warriors into the great contrast between the light and the dark, between good and evil, between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God.
As You explained long ago, both light and darkness, both good and evil, are all growing to full maturity at the end of this age -- "to grow together until the harvest" (Matthew 13:24). Let us be encouraged when we see these things coming of age in our day -- the time of a great harvest is near! (Mathew 13:39)
You are "not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). And You will use this ever-increasing contrast of the light and the dark, the good and the evil, to expose the deception of the ruler of this age so that all can see the truth and know the One who is the truth -- "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6).
So give us Your harvest perspective. Give us Your kingdom perspective. In the midst of this darkness, in the midst of this coronavirus cloud when people are looking for a ray of light and hope, as we hold fast to our faith let the light of Your glory shine through our faces and move powerfully through our prayers and presence in our communities, "the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of (our) Father" (Matthew 13:43).
Yesterday evening I handed out food at the Manna House to those impacted by the corona virus. Many of them were unbelievers who I had an opportunity to pray with that I never would have encountered without the virus. Holy Week reminds us that the whole earth was Jesus’ harvest field. The world was sick and over run with the pandemic of sin which had a 100% death rate. His own saving blood was the cure poured into the world as we were vaccinated from sin in His crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. In Jesus' name. Amen.
My family,I pray that in this harvest time, the light of the glory of God will increasingly shine through your face and your prayers to expose the darkness of deception and bring many to faith in the One who is the Truth. Pray for Jesus to reveal to you the fields you are to pour yourself into and how you can aide in the harvest, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
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