Act with Immediacy

Joel 1: ¹⁴ Declare a holy fast;
    call a sacred assembly.
Summon the elders
    and all who live in the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
    and cry out to the Lord.

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Floating through life, I allowed things to ‘happen” to me. As the final approached, I figured I would pick up the book at the last minute and learn the concepts. Of course I failed the class. I had not reacted fast enough.

• There were times when I did not react fast enough.
• There were times when I did not do things in a timely fashion.
• There were times when I did not grab hold of the rapid pace and things did not go so well.

Speed sometimes gets in the way of my desire to do something. The faster things are going, the more I need to slow down so I can speed up. But sometimes I slowed down too much, maybe to the point of giving up for a while then I realize in a moment of panic this thing is important! Sometimes I realized it too late. The same goes for GOD sometimes.

• GOD wants me to declare a holy fast while I still can.
• GOD wants me to call a sacred assembly before it is too late.
• GOD wants me to summon the elders and all who live in the land while there is still time.
• GOD wants me to cry out to HIM before time runs out.

Putting GOD on the back burner is a very bad idea. I mean once I “got my life together” I figured I would consult HIM and maybe even serve HIM. The problem is, I can never get “my life together” because “my” life is not “mine”, it’s GOD’s. HE wants me to act with a sense of urgency towards HIS kingdom because HIS return is imminent.

It does not matter what the day or year is, GOD wants me to seek HIS lost people and turn their face towards HIM daily. HE wants me to act like there is a blazing fire burning down the whole town and HE is the only road out. My sense of urgency in the LORD can begin today!

• Are you treating GOD like HE will never return?
• Do you think you have to “get your life together” before you serve HIM?
• Will you stop putting GOD on a lower priority and place HIM above everything?
• Can you act with a sense of urgency and cry out to the LORD today?

Desperate to be a slave

Genesis 47: ²⁵ “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”

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“Incumbent” was the word I learned at the end of my college career. It meant I owed them some money and unless I came up with the cash, I would not graduate. I hadn’t done the math but I quickly figured my lack of income plus bills equals problems.

I panicked and went into the counselor’s office.  Taking out a loan was my option but I knew I needed to start paying within months of graduation. I needed a job! One company took a chance on me. I was saved. I could pay my bills.

• When bills pile up I get nervous.
• When cash is low I get nervous.
• When the future seems cloudy I get nervous.

The Israelites grew desperate and sold themselves into slavery. They sold their land and themselves because of a sever famine. They were desperate.

When I get desperate, I panic and will do pretty much anything for self-preservation.  This may mean working for groups I don’t want to work with.

• GOD understands my desperations and has taken them into account when building a plan for me.
• GOD understands my panicked behavior and wants me to settle down enough to listen to HIM.
• GOD understands my blindness to my situation and desires that I communicate with HIM to show my reliance on HIM.

In order for GOD to be supreme in my life I must be willing to accept HIS plan for me, the way HE designed it. This may mean some bumpy times but rather than becoming desperate HE wants me to become reliant on HIM.

• Are you becoming desperate?
• Do you feel panic ensuing?
• Won’t you look to GOD for peace?
• Can you turn you panic into helping someone else become calm by telling them about GOD’s love?