Kingdom Manna

Intercede

Mark 9:1, And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.

Two deaths—physical and spiritual. We rage against the first pouring medicine, research, prayer into the battle. We know it will have its way but not yet—not before its time. And even then we grieve at our separation from loved ones.

We can forfeit the second. When we deny Christ’s words, His cross, His counsel. “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and the sake of the gospel, will save it.”

To grasp tightly to life that fades draws me inward. A reflex motion of protection, of fear. To loose myself to You, Lord releases me to walk free.

Whether for a moment, a day, or eternity. Free to love life embracing both the joy and the pain with the assurance that in Your name, Your glory, all the pieces will become whole.

To follow You now begins the journey toward Your kingdom. To follow now means a willingness to accept and see Your power at work. To follow now prepares me to approach death’s door as entry.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 79:9

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name;

deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 13:1, Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Sanctify to Me every first-born, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.”

Death came to Egypt’s first born. Doubt, derision, disbelief, culminated in despair; “and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead.” No division of sin’s sentence between high-born or low-born, rich or poor, master or servant. No distinction between Egypt and Israel except for God’s covering sign.

Every first-born son to be sanctified from this time forward as a reminder that God alone saves.

Redemption.

“But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that you might receive the adoption as sons.”

Debt paid.

Every believer to be sanctified from new birth onward as a witness, in God’s word, in heart.

Thank you Lord for delivering each of us, male and female, Jew and Gentile, slave and free, to be one in You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 56:13

For Thou hast delivered my soul from death,

Indeed my feet from stumbling,

So that I may walk before God

In the light of the living.