Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Friday 08/13/2010)

Today’s Devotional Written By A Strong, Courageous Young Woman: Tracy Koweh (soon to be Dixon)

I'm Going to Make an Example Out of You

Matthew 5:14-16 (Amplified Bible)

14You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men that they may see your [a]moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and [b]recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

Yesterday morning before the sun had even fully come up, a large group of military personnel were ordered to attend an open captain's mast for a fellow sailor: he had been the first to receive a DUI since the change of command on the base. The new Commander wanted to set the standard with him, and use him as an example for future incidents to come. The Commander had to make sure that the rest of the flock under his direction, had a clear understanding of his views about DUI's and that he would not tolerate them under any circumstances.

I can't imagine how that young sailor felt. What I can imagine, is that all of his feelings were multiplied because of the extra people who were all standing there watching him. I can also imagine the many bystanders who knew they could have easily been him, but God's grace and mercy spared them. I can see the faces of those realizing how stupid and dangerous it was for them to drink and drive. I can also see the faces of those judging and thinking how could he, why would he?

Then after a very, very trying day at work, God told me that He was about to make an example out of some of us. The courtroom of life will be full of bystanders. Some realizing it could have been them; some saying it should have been them. The faces of many will realize how stupid and dangerous it was for them to give up on God, to walk away from the Truth. Others will stand there, judge and say how could God, would why God? yes sir

The answer will simply be: God favored me. Before the sun even fully comes up (weeping may endure for a night), God is getting ready to release a spirit of abundance over His true and faithful servants. He is getting ready to set a standard so the rest of the flock under his direction has a clear understanding of who He is and what He is truly capable of doing. He is about to show hell that although it looks like they have been winning, they have just been weeding out the fakes and phony's for the kingdom. Now that the true worshippers are still standing, still praising, and still trusting, God is ready to show Himself mighty and victorious. God has the power to put us all on blast, will you be an example of His wrath or His glory.