Prayer Journal
Friday, September 8, 2000
"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, "Here am I, her am I.' All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations - a people who continually provoke me to my very face.." Isa 65:1-3
In America, we take pride in our heritage of diverse cultures, freedom of speech and religion without persecution. It was for these things that our forefathers sacrificed everything. Many times the pursuit of these lofty goals required, not only extreme personal cost, but often demanded death as well. You seldom found a man without personal faith in Almighty God among the pilgrims and founding fathers of this nation we call, "the land of the free and the home of the brave".
But it's interesting that within the freedom that we today enjoy, lies a stealthful enemy that seeks to destroy those very freedoms. It seems the further we, as a nation, drift away from the principles of God's word, the closer we get to civil disobedience, strife, bigotry and anarchy. Our enemy? Freedom without personal sacrifice.
One day King David saw the Angel of the Lord standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David had made a mistake (another mistake) and it was costing many of his people their lives. God sent a man, named Gad, to tell David to build an altar of worship on that threshing floor.
As David approached the plot of land to do as he was instructed, the owner came out and asked if he could give the land to the King. Listen to the response of David: "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." 2 Sam 24:24
The plot of land David purchased, is today called the Temple Mount. In Jerusalem the Jewish temple would be built upon the Mount, fashioned after the pattern of the wilderness Tabernacle. Within its walls would stand the Ark of the Covenant in a chamber called the Holy of Holies. The Ark rested upon the mount of sacrifice where years before Abraham sacrificed the ram provided by Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide.
Anything received and unearned is a called a "gift". To trample it under foot and spit on it in contempt does so, not only in the face of the giver, but also in the face of the Provider of all gifts.
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Pro 14:34
(1) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
(2) The images used herein were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
