Answer To Prayer Or Just Wishful Thinking?

Just thinking today of all the scandals that have been in the news for the past several weeks. Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but perhaps God is in all of this. Not that God is the author of evil, or wrong doing, but maybe He is beginning to answer the prayers of His people.
Many believers have been praying for revival to come to our nation for many years and perhaps this exposing of so many wrongs in our government leaders and others is the beginning of this renewing and outpouring of His Spirit. Several years ago the movement of which I'm a part went through a similar season. Many of our pastors and missionaries and other leaders were involved in all types of sin and wrong doing. It seemed like each month we would hear about some colleague of ours whose sin was found out and they had to resign their positions. Some went through counseling and rehab and were restored, others did not and went their way wherever that took them. The point is that it seemed like the Lord was cleaning His house, our house, and now our movement is stronger, and healthier for going through that difficult time.
Our government leaders are charged with a great responsibility and whether they acknowledge God or not, He takes the way they handle the authority entrusted to them very seriously. Maybe God is allowing these wrongs to be exposed so that we as His church can pray, confess and intercede for this great nation. Perhaps God is about to pour out His Spirit upon our nation and bring renewal and righteousness, that we so need today. In any case the exposing of these wrongs is a good thing, I only hope and we all should pray, that people will respond with a godly sorrow and true repentance. Perhaps God will have mercy, and bring revival to our land, as a result of this cleansing we may be experiencing currently.

The Cup Of Salvation

We celebrated communion at our church last Sunday, and as we did several things came to mind that I want to write down here. We know that the psalms are poetry, written in language that is designed to evoke emotions and sentiment. The author of Psalm 116:12-13 uses the image of the cup of salvation to express his awareness of all the blessings God has bestowed upon him.  It's a kind of rhetorical question that reads,"What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? Then he answers his own question, "I shall lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord."

A cup is used in scripture many times to describe several images. Often to describe the wrath of God in bringing judgement to a rebellious people. Other times to describe the overflow of His goodness and blessings He so freely bestows His people. Perhaps the example we think of most is Psalm 23, "...My cup overflows"  This particular writer uses the cup imagery to declare that for all that God has done for him, he really can not give anything back. Nothing he or we do will add anything to God.  We can't pay Him back so that we can even the score for all His benefits. All we can do is lift up the cup of salvation. That is we exalt the character and goodness of God by living lives that overflow with gratitude and love to Him. We live in such a way that declares to all the world around us, that God is merciful, good to us, perfect in all He does, faithful to what He promises, and that what He has done for us, He will do for others too.

We should be vessels, cups if you will, that are overflowing with gratitude, unashamedly worshiping Him in Spirit and truth. We should exalt Christ Jesus by being obedient to His calling and instructions.  Even in difficult seasons He gives us strength to get through the trial, and is right there with us in the fire.  So like this psalm that begins with the words,"I love The Lord because..." may we also lift up the cup of salvation and be mindful of all that God does for us each day, days that overflow with His blessings and the tokens of His good nature. I trust you will live fully aware that Gods mercies are new every morning and His compassions never fail.  The world needs to see the reality of Gods presence in these days of division and so much anger and hate. May they see God in us, by seeing people grateful for the love we have received from Him. Lift up the cup of salvation without apology, bold and rejoicing in worship!