The Fall of Babylon

Sometimes when I am not feeling well, it’s easy for me to imagine that I will always feel poorly (as my grandmother might say).  Conversely, when I feel well, it’s easy for me to forget the difficult days I have just walked.  It’s hard for us to see where we aren’t.  God calls us to live in the present moment, right where we are.  We tend to drift to “should be” and “shouldn’t be” thinking: I “should be” (feeling better today) or I “shouldn’t be” (depending on so many people). We look to the past or the future out of habit.  

One rhythm we can add to our days is to elevate our thinking – to set our minds on things above as Colossians 3 exhorts. We can think about the things of Christ, no matter our circumstances.  Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I can think, “Christ has delivered in the past; I won’t always feel this way.  And if He doesn’t deliver me, I’ll be with Him.”  That’s enough to change my attitude: to remember what He has done for me and where I am going.  As Martin Laird says in Into the Silent Land, “God is my homeland.”  What joy. In the same manner, I can remind myself that I cannot make the journey home alone; I am dependent on Christ and on the body of Christ to serve me as I serve others, though my serving might look a bit different these days. I look to Christ instead of my circumstances.

Can you imagine how the Israelites must have felt, watching evil flourish all around them?  Can you imagine how easy it would be to despair and believe that God would never come?  That justice had been forgotten?

Consider the painting by John Martin (1789-1854) titled The Fall of Babylon.  How would you feel watching such a scene unfold if you were an Israelite?  Where would your trust be?
What do you notice about the use of light and dark in the painting?  

For a larger image, click HERE.

Grace Discipleship: Pray for the lost
Dear Heavenly Father, it is both a privilege and a responsibility to pray for the lost (1 Timothy 2:3). You tell us that your heart is for the lost, even the one (Luke 15:4), and it is your desire that ALL people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. So dear Lord, we pray for open eyes. First, for our own eyes to be open to the need of the lost (Matthew 9:36-38), and second, for the eyes of the lost to be open to their need (2 Corinthians 2:4). Also, Father, we pray for open mouths and open hearts to speak and to hear your truth. Dear Lord, as your people and by the power of your Holy Spirit, open doors and swell up in us a fire and a passion and the boldness to go after even the one.

In Jesus’ name, Amen - Brain Hays

Derived from a message “How to pray for the lost” by George Mueller (1805-1898)