Come Up Here

Daily Reading:  Revelation 4-5

Scripture Focus: Come up here, and I will show you what must take place... (Revelation 4.1b)

Devotional Thought: Yesterday, we considered an open door on earth.  Today, we see the "door standing open in heaven."  Through that door, John heard voice saying...

Come up here.  We sullenly wonder why God does not speak to us.  Often it is because we have contented ourselves to live in the lowlands.  When Moses received the Ten Commandments, he went up on the Mountain.  When the disciples saw Jesus transfigured, they went up on the Mountain.  God longs to show us his glory.  But when we live in the lowlands - mists and shadows, fears and doubts, sin and self - we can't see him.  We need to get down on our knees so we can climb up to our God!

I will show you.  Another reason we may not hear from God is that we're tuned in to everything else!  Instead of seeking the face of God we seek the wisdom of man.  I once heard a preacher say, "We spend hundreds of dollars and spend countless hours at conferences, when God is giving seminars all the time."  I'm not opposed to learning and training - I do it for a living! - but when we neglect the Master Trainer, all the other training is just clatter and confusion.

When I was a young man, I was asked to serve as the youth director at our church.  I declined the nomination, telling the pastor that I wasn't really where I needed to be spiritually, so I probably shouldn't accept it.  Later, however, the Lord asked me gently, "Don't you think the better choice would be to get where you need to be so you can serve me?"  I went back to the pastor and accepted the nomination.

Do you hear that?  God is calling, "Come up here..."

Prayer: I can hear my Savior calling...  Lord, help me to respond to your call, to come up the Mountain, to listen to your voice and ultimately to do your will.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day:  40 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage; 41 he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power. 43 Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity. (Psalms 106:40-43)