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- Written by: Don Goulding
… Jesus Christ, who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him. (1 Peter 3:21-22 NET_FL)
The Light Bringing One, or Lucifer, wanted to replace Jesus at God’s right hand—the navel of all blessing and power. His first objective was the throne, and his second was to make us into his followers.
Lucifer fought God’s Son with cunning and cruelty. He exposed himself as Satan. Jesus also revealed his true heart when he bowed to the ordained slaughter. There was not much of a skirmish and Lucifer gloated.
Then God read out the rules. The throne would not go to the powerful but to the humble.
The first hint of light touched the Jerusalem sky, and the supreme coronation began. Jesus was resurrected. Following the ancient protocol, the King of Kings spent forty days making ready for his ascension to the throne at God’s right hand. He showed his living body to hundreds, strengthened his disciples, and enjoyed his friends. On the appointed day, he rose into the air and God anointed him into the seat above every dominion.
Having failed his first objective, Lucifer turned to his second, the capture of human souls. That battle rages on, but we may align ourselves with the reigning Jesus. All authority rests on the sacred right hand seat, so our union with Jesus bestows power over life to us, his followers. We have it all because of where he is seated.
Prayer: King Jesus, I kneel before your throne.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
“In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible for mere humans is possible for God.” (Luke 18:25-27 NET_FL)
Trembling and in tears, a pregnant woman came after the Sunday service in Ranipet, India. She had converted to Christianity and wanted prayer for protection from her husband and neighbors. Her community would do anything to prevent her from leaving Hinduism, including beating her and abducting her coming child.
I’ve also seen extreme persecution in communist China, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and southern Mexico. Every country has an eye of the needle—some significant obstacle to dependence on Christ. In wealthy countries, it’s materialistic complacency that will keep the majority out of heaven.
Given the incredible obstacles it seems impossible, like no one can make it to Christ, yet in every land God brings some through their needle. There’s not a hostile or hedonistic culture I have ministered in where I didn’t also find a thriving branch of the Christian family.
79,000 people convert to Christ each day somewhere in the world. 79,000 times a day God makes the impossible possible. No wonder Jesus tarries in his return. To him these are not statistics but individual eternal children. He celebrates as each one reaches beyond their antagonistic culture to crossover from death to life.
Prayer: Holy God, bring me through my impossible barriers.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38, 39)
We were in the coastal city of Durres, Albania for an outreach. Our local friends were eager to show us their ancient Roman ruins where the Apostle Paul had walked. Historians record that he appointed a bishop over seventy Christian families in Durres during his missionary travels.
We dodged traffic and passed shoddy buildings from recent decades. In a vacant lot of weeds and litter, a graceful circle of Roman columns stood in contrast to the postmodern dilapidation. It was like a diamond tiara laying in the city dump. This site withstood two thousand years of wars, earthquakes, and twenty-five regime changes.
The secret to the longevity of Roman architecture was concrete. They combined powdered cement and water with an aggregate like stones or gravel, and concrete set into a nearly indestructible construction material. Concrete has the unique property that it becomes stronger over time. Even today, those columns are getting harder than when they were first made.
Precious souls reborn into Christ are like the aggregate hidden inside Roman cement. No matter our shape or history, no matter who we are or what we’ve done, the love of God binds us in impenetrable unity. It would sooner be possible to separate the aggregate from the Durres columns than it would be to remove the love of Christ from around his followers.
This love binds to my soul and encases me with spiritual protection. And it’s growing stronger. My place in heaven is more permanent now than when I was first made a Christian.
Death, angels, time—nothing in any realm can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prayer: Protector of my life, I am forever bonded to your love.