Devo Week 13 - Discerning the Unseen Realm
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matt.10:16
Mount of Transfiguration - Listen to Him
Out with the old, in with the new. Thankfully, that was not God’s idea for humanity, or the baby might have been thrown out with the bath water! The Good News does not throw out the Old but transforms it through a personal, passionate relationship with God’s Son. “I came to fulfill the Law, not abolish it,” Jesus said. (Matt. 5:17) So, we must discern and proceed carefully. How we help others transition from Old Testament (OT) living to New Testament (NT) living can have long-lasting implications.
WHO IS FOR US
While the OT and NT covenants seem worlds apart, the Gospel bridges the two and brings fulfillment – not destruction – to the Old. (Matt. 5:17) By focusing on the person of Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with Him, we can keep from introducing foreign ways or concepts and from throwing out all that’s pure, good and valuable in the Old. Remember: Jesus is not a foreigner, but One who already knows each of us and our ways very well. (Acts 17:27)
Moreover, we have been given the Holy Spirit. His indwelling is a key difference between the OT and NT. By His indwelling presence, followers of Christ are turned into powerful, active witnesses. (Heb. 10:15-16) The work of the Holy Spirit – both His indwelling and baptism – empowers our witness and transforms cultures through fulfillment in Christ.
WHO IS AGAINST US
The devil and his angels (demons) seek to steal, kill, and destroy the image of God and to separate and mar all of God’s creation. We must be aware of this and shepherd the lives and souls of all peoples. This includes guarding their story and roots. Once an experienced cross-cultural worker scolded us, saying our approach to the Akha was wrong. She said, “While we are working to fully assimilate the tribal people into the national language, you are learning their heart language.” As the Gospel brings redemption, expect resistance through people and circumstances.
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH
Lord, give us wisdom and guidance to follow and listen to Your voice in discipling the nations. May we help see their story fulfilled in Jesus! Show us how to cooperate with Your Spirit in seeing the Old fulfilled and the New coming forth through relationship with Jesus Christ. In His name, we pray.