|
|
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Saturday, February 28, 2004 |
A daily |
Frontline Devotion for
Saturday, February 28, 2004, By Mike Martine
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people,
Your sons and daughters will prophesy
Your young men will see visions
Your old men will dream dreams.”
Joel 2:28
We are in, we say, the “last days.” By that, we mean that God, through
Christ, has poured out his spirit. Through Christ we now know God’s intention
for us - to live in the “kingdom way.” To live beyond ourselves, to live life for
others, to live in compassion and kindness.
We often talk, in Lent, of denying ourselves, but this passage doesn’t sound
like a passage of “denial.” It sounds joyful. Yet, I do believe it calls us to
some self-denial. Simply put, it calls us to empty ourselves so that we might be
filled with the spirit.
How often do we go through the day carrying our worries, our concerns, our
fears of “what might happen”? How often do we shoulder this burden alone,
failing to recognize that a) worrying never made anyone’s life better or longer,
and b) God has repeatedly told us to “cut it out.”
Our God wants to fill us. God indeed does fill us. But if we want to feel the
beauty of being filled with the spirit, we need to lay our burdens down and let
him carry them.
This Lent, don’t just give up chocolate. Give up your burdens. Let God carry
them. Give God your sorrow and your spirit will rejoice with God. You will
remember what is important. You will see the vision of the kingdom in your life,
and you might even - no matter how old you are - dream a few dreams.
 |
All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
Visit the |