I Am The Remnant

Image by Mark Thomas from Pixabay

"Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left [of the prophets], and they are seeking my life.” But what is God’s response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too then, at the present time there has come to be a remnant [a small believing minority] according to God’s gracious choice."(Rm 11:2-5 AMP)

There is only a remnant of anything because the majority has turned away. The apostle Paul predicts this in 1 Thessalonians 2:3. The devil is the deceiver. It is his job to steal the Word of God from our lips and replace it with secular humanism, with ungodly principles, with compromise. To give us excuses for why we don’t read the Bible, listen to the Holy Spirit, and spend time in prayer. And having not read it, having forgotten God’s Words to us, our vision of Christ and the power of God grows dim. (Rev 12:9; Mt 13:22)

It takes dedication to be a Christian, in the true sense of the word. A follower of Christ. Someone who places His principles first place every minute of every day. It’s a lifestyle. Even greater, it’s an active position.

My nature regarding most repairs at home is to pass them off on someone else. “Honey, the car is doing this thing,” and my husband investigates, calls someone, and has the repairs made. I didn’t have to do anything at all. But in the last few years, I’ve had to learn to handle things on my own. I’ve called about the well, the septic, and innumerable car repairs. Frankly, it’s uncomfortable. I’d much rather let him do it.

But, here’s my point, that repair requires me to take action.

You cannot sit on the couch and be a Christian. Otherwise, the very thing that drew you to Christ, that caused you to pray the prayer of salvation, will grow cold. By not pursuing your faith, by not growing and exercising it, you will start to listen to the devil’s voice in the world instead. There is no middle ground. You are on one side or the other. (Mt 24:12)

"Just as it is written [in Scripture], “God gave them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, [a spiritual apathy that has continued] to this very day.”(Rm 11:8 AMP)

Thinking of this nation, Christians have chosen passivity. But there, again, is no middle ground. The Bible says to pray for our leaders (and complaints are not prayers). Have you done that? Or are you letting some other more fanatical Christian do that? Meanwhile, you will sit on the couch and let the circumstances you dislike pass by, making a powerless protest.

Doing nothing is doing something, just not with the results you want.

I heard a prophet say that God saw the prayers of a remnant in this nation and is honoring them in this present age. That’s a marvelous thought. And a concerning one. Because what if I wasn’t in that remnant? What if I was sitting on my couch doing nothing? What if I passed this duty off onto someone else because she looks stronger than I am?

She studied the Word. She applied its principles. She saw the power of God in it to work in her behalf. She realized she was a part of something that could change the world. Sitting around wasn’t an option. She believed, and therefore she spoke. (2Co 4:13)

We believe and speak. We disregard. We mock. We make fun of. Or we gripe and curse. Same thing.

"But now I am speaking to you…in the hope of somehow making my fellow countrymen jealous [by stirring them up so that they will seek the truth] and perhaps save some of them."(Rm 11:13 AMP)

Our words are powerful, and they change things either positively or negatively. We can encourage and bless, or we can tear down and destroy. Another place without a middle ground. You will always be doing one or the other. (Jas 3:10)

We cannot dislike the end results of our passivity, of our negative speech, when we reaped exactly what we have sown. (Mk 11:23; Gal 6:7)

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you…were grafted in among them to share with them the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast over the [broken] branches and exalt yourself at their expense. (Rm 11:17-18 AMP)

We are meant, as Christians, to offer mercy. To walk in grace. To be humble. To pursue peace and holiness. We are meant to mend, to bind, to heal. We are Christ’s representatives on earth. And that isn’t a badge we wear while we act how we want. It is a behavior we learn by studying the Word every day, by doing what Jesus would do, whether that’s throwing out the moneychangers or praying for lepers.

Someone will not find God without our efforts, and God will not have a place in this nation without our actions. Our leaders will not make godly decisions until we stop and pray for them. Unless we become serious, active, motivated Christians, unless we become part of the remnant, we will have no excuse for why things stay the same.

But if we’ll dedicate ourselves to the things of faith, if we’ll swallow that retort we wanted to make, if we’ll stop and pray when it’s been a long day and we’re tired, if we’ll slow down and help someone, though it’s inconvenient, if we’ll do something for God, then He will change it. God will change us. God will change them. It’s that simple.

"Jesus replied, “Have faith in God [constantly]."(Mk 11:24 AMP)

My Prayer:  “Heavenly Father, today I pray for President Donald J. Trump. That you will protect him physically, strengthen him mentally, and guide him spiritually. I pray you surround him with godly people who guide him into godly wisdom. That he sees the truth of your Word and operates effectively in it for this nation. I pray that those who stand against your operation in this government will fall away, that deception will be show for what it is, and darkness will come to light. I pray that the people of this nation will see it and become united. One nation, under God, indivisible.”

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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.feelgoodromance.com
www.suzannedwilliams.com