By Elizabeth Prata
God’s glory…it should consume us. We should be eager for wanting to see it, (Exodus 33:18) to give it, (1 Corinthians 10:31) to bask in it. God’s glory is one of the attributes that are indispensable for helping us understand who God is.
Did you know there are three kinds of glory? There is: Continue reading “The three kinds of glory”
By Elizabeth Prata
There are a lot of songs of praise to and about God in the Bible. We think of Mary’s Magnificat at Christmas time. We think of the Psalms and their exaltation of Yahweh throughout. Simeon’s song. But there are so many others.
I follow a Bible reading plan that is chronological according to when the Bible book is written. So that means Job is the first book in the plan and Revelation is the last one. I just finished reading through Ezekiel.
When I was first saved the Lord saw fit to put in me an interest in Old Testament prophets. So that meant as a babe in Christ I was weaned on Jeremiah, Nahum, Obadiah and so on. I came to understand that was something a bit different as a new Christian than the logical progression of reading John and Acts and the other 3 Gospels. But I cut my teeth on the prophets and I love them and I’m familiar with them. Continue reading “My silly reluctance to read the Bible”
By Elizabeth Prata*
If you read the news today it seems like everything is out of control. I mean, really.
I think every sphere in which we live; food, transportation, government, war, medicine, peace, etc. seems like it’s going wonky. Does it seem like every sphere of our lives are unraveling, undergoing pressure, or otherwise getting worse? It sure feels like things are spinning out of control.
They’re not.
I was musing on God’s orderliness. Time and time again in the Bible He shows us just how much He is in control. Everything happens in His schedule, in His timetable, in His timing, for His reasons. Nothing escapes His notice. Nothing happens unless He causes it, allows it, or oversees it and then brings it all to the Good for those who love Him.
You have to read the Bible a lot to get this broad of an overview and this much of a grounding. I can put in Bible verse after bible verse, but it wouldn’t broaden the scope enough to illustrate what I’m saying. The best thing to do is read Matthew 1-3. I’ll synopsize here.
For millennia, the People knew that there would come a Messiah to redeem them and bring them to sinless glory. They waited and they waited and they waited. It seemed like a long time was passing. And a long time was passing. But in God’s orderliness, this is how time was passing:
“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.” (Matthew 1:17).
Orderly. Precise. Jesus arrived at the fourteenth generation of the fourteenth generation of the fourteenth generation, just as planned.
When the Magi arrived, Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. (Mt 2:3). So Herod called the priests and teachers and asked about this birth and where it was supposed to take place. They replied:
So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.‘” (Matthew 2:5-6)
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, just as He planned. Orderly.
Herod was much troubled and he decided to kill the boy Jesus, this coming King he had heard of, by killing all the tots under the age of two. But God sent an angel to Joseph, advising him to flee to Egypt. And so another prophecy was fulfilled.
“When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” (Matthew 3:14-15)
Herod’s massacre then happened, and so the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled–
“A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” (Matthew 3:18).
God sent the People their first prophet in 400 years, a man to announce the coming kingdom and to call for repentance: John the Baptist. This was to fulfill he “who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'” (Matthew 3:3).
Orderly. He was spoken of to come, and he came.
If you take the broad view you see that all had happened just as it should. You see that it is all happening now just as it should. Though daily events seem out of control, over the long term they are actually very orderly.
As an example, you look at this Reubens painting it looks like chaos.
The mothers of the slain babies sure didn’t feel like life was orderly- it felt like it was spinning out of control. As the angel shook Joseph’s shoulder and told him to flee to Egypt, it sure must have felt like things were spinning out of control. You know how you feel when you get a 2 am phone call! It is scary at best and chaotic at worst, especially if the call brings bad news, especially if you have to run out to the police station or to the hospital.
I understand how the people of Jesus’ day would be confused, the disparate verses calling for a Bethlehem-born, lamenting Rachel, out of Egypt, Nazarene presaged by a Nazrite eating locusts and honey didn’t seem to fit together. But then, just as suddenly, they did. His prophecy is perfect and perfectly orderly.
If you feel like life is getting out of control, I understand. There’s high crime, wantonness, bloated lusts. But they too are prophesied
Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:3b-8).
All these things must come to pass. And then He will call for us, and suddenly everything we have been told for thousands of years in the twinkling of an eye will become past history.
God has everything in control. If you are saved by His grace, your soul is secure. Everything is progressing just as it should be. Nothing is out of control.
Did you know that over 100 prophecies in Daniel 11 alone were fulfilled exactly? Such Godly precision!
It is happening now in an orderly way, precisely, and perfectly. And no matter what occurs in my life, no matter how low my bank account gets, or how many rumors of reduction in force swirl past my ears, no matter how many times I have to hide in the tub with a pillow over my head from tornadoes, no matter how empty my refrigerator gets, I know He has everything in control. That knowledge is the securest place I could possibly be, and I wouldn’t trade it. I am grateful for His grace, His perfection, His plan, His love for keeping me sheltered in this wonderful knowledge.
If you would like to partake of the sweetness of His security, knowing everything is perfect in the world according to His plan, then repent of your sins. Appeal to Jesus as your savior from the wrath of God, and fling yourself on Him in sorrow for your crimes against Him. He will forgive you. And then I would be blessed to say to you, “Welcome to the family of God.”
*A version of this essay first appeared on The End Time on March 16, 2012
By Elizabeth Prata
I wrote earlier today of the sad news that author Rachel Hollis and her husband Dave are seeking a divorce. Both parties put out separate announcements on their Instagram accounts.
Rachel said in her announcement that they have been struggling “endlessly for three years to make it work”, and Dave said that “our marriage has run its course”.
I’d written in the above essay that divorce is painful (and a sin) and that I felt empathy for the couple and sad for the children who will now come from a broken home.
There are two other sadnesses and griefs I did not mention. This essay is about those 2 griefs. Continue reading “Sisters, be careful who you follow (not Rachel Hollis); and I’m sorry if you’re grieving today”
By Elizabeth Prata
A follow-up blog essay on this topic is here
Yesterday Rachel Hollis posted the following on her Instagram-
Guys, I have some hard news to share and the honest truth is, I have no idea how someone announces something like this, so I’m just going to say it. Dave and I have made the incredibly difficult decision to end our marriage.
We started out as best friends 18 years ago and the truth is, that core friendship and the parts of us that work so well, have become a band-aid for the parts of us that don’t. We have worked endlessly over the last three years to make this work and have come to the conclusion that it is healthier and more respectful for us to choose this as the end of our journey as a married couple. We remain dear friends as we raise our family as co-parents and run our company as partners. We are choosing joy—even though, I’ll be honest, the last month has been one of the most awful of our lives. I want to be strong and bold and optimistic for you now, but every ounce of my energy is reserved in being those things for my children.
That said, having been such an open book to this beloved community, we hope that you can allow us a human moment. We hope you can understand our need to process these changes away from social media. We graciously ask that you respect our privacy so we can focus on what matters most, our four kids and the next chapter of what our family looks like now.
Rachel’s husband Dave posted the following- Continue reading “Rachel Hollis, author of ‘Girl, Wash Your Face’, announces divorce”
By Elizabeth Prata
Sisters, let Christ instruct your soul.
We all know the story or Mary and Martha. Mary was at Jesus’ feet, listening and learning. Martha was scuttling around the house preparing food and serving the guests. She complained to Jesus that Mary was not helping. Jesus responded that Mary was doing what was necessary, and for that, her part will never be taken away. (Luke 10:38-42). Which indicates that Martha’s part will be taken away.
Not that serving is bad. We are instructed to put doctrine into action. Being busy for the Lord is a good thing. But too busy? To the exclusion of all else? No. The things that Martha did to serve that day are not remembered. But what Christ said on that day is remembered. It’s the spiritual things that are eternal. Continue reading “What is the necessary thing? Plus, The Storm has Gathered…and Burst”
By Elizabeth Prata
I appreciate my elders and the crew that sets up for church and cleans up afterward, with my greatest thanks to Jesus of course, our Head of the Church!
You see, yesterday was the second Sunday in a row we have returned to gather for church services. We’ve been in a shelter-in-place/lockdown/quarantine during this weird coronavirus-pandemic time. May 31 was the first time since mid-March that we have been allowed to gather.
We all felt the dearth of the fellowship. We felt dry due to no word being preached. We longed to sing. We wanted to do it all in person, not virtually on a Zoom screen. Continue reading “Joy in renewed church going”
By Elizabeth Prata*
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. According to this summary from Christian Book Summaries,
Writing in the mid-1500s, John Foxe was living in the midst of intense religious persecution at the hands of the dominant Roman Catholic Church. In graphic detail, he offers accounts of Christians being martyred for their belief in Jesus Christ, describing how God gave them extraordinary courage and stamina to endure unthinkable torture.
From the same link, the book’s purpose was fourfold:
From Foxe’s Book-
The Third Persecution, Under Trajan, A.D. 108
In the third persecution Pliny the Second, a man learned and famous, seeing the lamentable slaughter of Christians, and moved therewith to pity, wrote to Trajan, certifying him that there were many thousands of them daily put to death, of which none did any thing contrary to the Roman laws worthy of persecution. “The whole account they gave of their crime or error (whichever it is to be called) amounted only to this-viz. that they were accustomed on a stated day to meet before daylight, and to repeat together a set form of prayer to Christ as a God, and to bind themselves by an obligation-not indeed to commit wickedness; but, on the contrary-never to commit theft, robbery, or adultery, never to falsify their word, never to defraud any man: after which it was their custom to separate, and reassemble to partake in common of a harmless meal.”
In this persecution suffered the blessed martyr, Ignatius, who is held in famous reverence among very many. This Ignatius was appointed to the bishopric of Antioch next after Peter in succession. Some do say, that he, being sent from Syria to Rome, because he professed Christ, was given to the wild beasts to be devoured. It is also said of him, that when he passed through Asia, being under the most strict custody of his keepers, he strengthened and confirmed the churches through all the cities as he went, both with his exhortations and preaching of the Word of God. Accordingly, having come to Smyrna, he wrote to the Church at Rome, exhorting them not to use means for his deliverance from martyrdom, lest they should deprive him of that which he most longed and hoped for. “Now I begin to be a disciple. I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus!” And even when he was sentenced to be thrown to the beasts, such as the burning desire that he had to suffer, that he spake, what time he heard the lions roaring, saying: “I am the wheat of Christ: I am going to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread.”
Trajan being succeeded by Adrian, the latter continued this third persecution with as much severity as his predecessor. About this time Alexander, bishop of Rome, with his two deacons, were martyred; as were Quirinus and Hernes, with their families;
Zenon, a Roman nobleman, and about ten thousand other Christians.
In Mount Ararat many were crucified, crowned with thorns, and spears run into their sides, in imitation of Christ’s passion. Eustachius, a brave and successful Roman commander, was by the emperor ordered to join in an idolatrous sacrifice to celebrate some of his own victories; but his faith (being a Christian in his heart) was so much greater than his vanity, that he nobly refused it. Enraged at the denial, the ungrateful emperor forgot the service of this skilful commander, and ordered him and his whole family to be martyred.
At the martyrdom of Faustines and Jovita, brothers and citizens of Brescia, their torments were so many, and their patience so great, that Calocerius, a pagan, beholding them, was struck with admiration, and exclaimed in a kind of ecstasy, “Great is the God of the Christians!” for which he was apprehended, and suffered a similar fate.
Many other similar cruelties and rigors were exercised against the Christians, until Quadratus, bishop of Athens, made a learned apology in their favor before the emperor, who happened to be there and Aristides, a philosopher of the same city, wrote an elegant epistle, which caused Adrian to relax in his severities, and relent in their favor.
Adrian dying A.D. 138, was succeeded by Antoninus Pius, one of the most amiable monarchs that ever reigned, and who stayed the persecutions against the Christians.
My comment-
What a fellow believer Ignatius was. Oh, Lord, may I be always reminded of Ignatius: strengthening others even as a death sentence lay over his head. May I learn to serve You better through edifying other believers, not thinking of myself, but only of Your glory.
*This essay first appeared on The End Time in July 2013
By Elizabeth Prata
We read the phrase “then they will know” 21 times in Ezekiel. Nineteen times the phrase is repeated “Then they will know that I am the LORD,” and twice we read “Then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
When you read Ezekiel straight through you can’t help but notice the refrain.
What is it exactly that they will know? And who will know it?
To those living in the mountains and hills of Israel, they knew that it was the LORD who laid waste to the towns and the high places demolished. He said, ‘Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ Continue reading “They will know that I am the LORD”
By Elizabeth Prata
I’d written on Twitter the other day the following. There are character limits on Twitter. So I’d like to expand on it here.
I said- “I don’t like what’s happening in the US right now, but I believe it is ‘good.’ In the same way that what happened to Job was ‘good’ or to Tyre, even tho they were bad events, the Lord purposed them, and He is Good, everything He does is GOOD. ‘may the name of the Lord be praised.’ ”
The last sentence is a quote from Job 1:21b where Job recounts his woes but ends with a praise to the Lord. Even in calamity we praise Him. Especially in calamity, we praise Him! Continue reading “Throngs around the Throne”
the-end-time.org 