Beloved: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 1 Peter 2: 11-25

“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. ……When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.”

“Beloved.” Is it harder to accept warnings or suggestions when we know they come from a heart of love, or does it make the decisions to agree or disagree more difficult?

These conditions do not change even if the actual methods change. And there are so many more added to this list as history produces more and more ways to exercise war: physically, emotionally, financially, politically, mentally and spiritually.

“Wage war against the soul.” A different perspective. We are asked to accept?

Accept the “authority of every human institution,” the “authority of your masters with deference…but also to those who are harsh.”  Honor everyone?

No retaliation—yet no compromise either. We are to live honorably, doing good deeds, respecting the aliens and exiles, sharing our lives, becoming a stark contrast to whatever strain of abuse and evil lives among us by using different methods. Methods that will not break souls.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.”

Lord, please keep us bound to you, heart to heart, soul to soul, Your words to our walk. Build us into your foundation.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 27: 9

“Do not hide your face from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help.

Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,

O God of my salvation.”

Uriah: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:37, “….they were killed by the sword,….”

When the prophet Uriah prophesied against the city and against the land (similar words to the prophet Jeremiah) King Jehoiakim attempted to put him to death. So the prophet escaped to Egypt.

You would think that would satisfy the king. No. Instead he set men to capture and return Uriah before him and then the king himself slew him with a sword. And threw his body into common ground for burial. Jer 26:23

Perhaps his intent was to make an example out of the prophet for speaking against his reign. And give warning to other prophets. Instead he made an example out of the prophet for being a faithful witness to God’s word regardless of the consequences.

Rather than hiding his actions from the truth, the king highlighted his wickedness by his very response. And the people saw a prophet who cherished God’s glory above earthly power.

Eternal lasting power over temporary earth bound rewards.

Uriah knew his soul was safe in God’s hands.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 57:5-6

“Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Thy glory be above all the earth.

They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down;

They dug a pit before me; They themselves have fallen into the midst of it.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

            Jesus’ promise to us is found in Matthew 11: 25-30

1.     Which fact that Jesus states gives you confidence right now to face your lions?

2.     Name your lions? How can you pray Jesus’ words in this passage towards them?

3.     Have they been blurring your sight from seeing the Lord clearly? How?

4.     Are you honest with others re the weariness of your soul and willing to ask for prayer?

Share: How has the Lord taken a heavy yoke for you and turned it to light?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Daniel 6:22, “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.”

What lion mouths are you facing right now? Bills? Medical results? Broken relationships? Fatigue? Confusion? Priorities?

Faith for Daniel meant an angel shutting the mouths of lions.

However he did not know that outcome beforehand. His situation came about due to envy and a desire for power by his opponents. When the decree was signed Daniel then went into his room to continue to pray giving thanks to God, “as he had been doing previously”, and that is where they arrested him.

He didn’t allow his outer circumstances to change his heart or his actions towards the Lord. He didn’t’ wait to know what the outcome would be before trusting. He didn’t go through numbing fear before turning back to God. He stayed the course

he already knew through his relationship.

We often wish we could say the same for ourselves, but even when we don’t deny our trust in God, often we see the lions before us and let them wear us to the bone before we call for God’s strength to sustain us.

We too can claim to be blameless before our accusers—not on our merit like Daniel—but on Jesus’ grace He has claimed for us. His word, “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest….and you shall find rest for your souls.”

Lord, please strengthen our souls to be in communion with You so that we will not be tossed and turned by our own false desires, or the desires of others, but grounded in a heart of integrity with You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 7: 1-2

“O Lord my God, in Thee I have taken refuge;

Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,

Lest he tear my soul like a lion,

Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.”