Geaux Saints!!! Go Saints!!!! The cheers were heard throughout the Thompson household back during the NFL playoffs as the New Orleans Saints had their best season yet and came up one game short of going to the Super Bowl. I have been waiting 40 years for this! Seriously, I have been a Saints fan since the team came into existence and have stood by them through the years. We’re not just fair-weather fans—they are our #1 team no matter how well are miserably they perform. This was their best season so far.
As I was cheering, “Go Saints!!” it dawned on me that that cheer goes out from heaven every day—for us! It’s the shout that resounds through heaven as a great cloud of witnesses cheers on the believers here on earth. We live for God’s pleasure. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13)
How does it make you feel to think that heaven cheers you on as you live for Christ? In Acts chapter 7 we find the account of Stephen preaching to the Sanhedrin (The Jewish Supreme Court of the day). Many of the onlookers were so enraged by what he said that they dragged him out and stoned him to death. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (vv. 55-56)
Every other time Jesus is mentioned as being at the right hand of God He is sitting. Here is the only time we read of Jesus standing at the right hand of God. I believe that as Stephen took a stand for Christ, that Jesus, in heaven, stood in honor of Stephen—a divine standing ovation. And I believe heaven applauds when we live for Christ, too.
Let’s aim to live holy lives in obedience to God, knowing that that brings Him great pleasure. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us; fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Go, Saints of God, Go!
~ Help me as I make living to bring you pleasure my greatest aim, remembering that "The glory of God is man fully alive". Help me to make it more about you and less me. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment