Devo Week 2 – Discerning the Unseen Realm
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
- Matt. 10:16(ESV)
Do You See What I See? -- Missing Jesus
Living among another culture and language is a humbling process. Always learning, always dealing with change, will undoubtedly expose the condition of your heart. Though this kind of lifestyle is hard and tiring, embrace it. Celebrate it. For humility is what keeps us from missing God. It is the fertile ground from which our relationship with God and others grows. “Clothe yourselves in humility towards one another.” (1 Peter 5:5-6) What matters is not just how we prepare to go, but how we relate to others once we’re there.
WHO IS FOR US
In discerning the unseen realm, we first need to search where God is among us. So, lean in. Take a closer look. God is in our circumstances, our relationships, our location. He is NEAR. From Acts 17: 26-27, we can know at least these two things: 1) that all nations were created in the image of God, and 2) that He is not FAR from each one of us. This includes the neglected. Begin seeking after the revelation of Jesus within the context where you live. This is what I call a near-sighted approach of the Gospel.℠ Are you seeing evidence of Jesus around you? As you do, a foundation can be built upon Christ from within the culture. This is a principle of the parable of the yeast in Matt. 13:33. Like yeast in dough, the testimony of Jesus is to penetrate throughout the whole culture, and as it does, the glory of God is spread from the inside-out.
WHO IS AGAINST US
If humility is what keeps us from missing God, then pride is what keeps us from seeing Him. Are you seeing God? If not, look deep inside. Sin itself is a part of our spiritual battle, as God ‘opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.’ (James 4:6) Knowingly or unknowingly, through pride we give the devil access and hinder the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Ego-centrism (thinking only of yourself) is individual pride. Ethno-centrism (thinking your culture is more important than others) is cultural pride. Praying for humility is a continual act of spiritual warfare and breakthrough which is needed both individually and culturally. When we choose humility, we take on the yoke of Christ and join God in His mission.
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH
Father, we pray for the Holy Spirit to make us aware of the nearness of God in our circumstances, in our relationships and in our location. We repent of all pride. We lay down our own ways, our lifestyle that’s become so familiar to us. Forgive us of spiritual pride, thinking we are better than others, that our ways are superior. We humble ourselves before You and ask to be clothed in humility. Lord, conform us to Your image, so your Spirit can flow freely through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.