I saw one who proclaimed himself king, rising from his throne of stoney wickedness in the cave of absolute despair.  Leaping for joy he laughed unto the heavens, for God’s faithful had begun and finished prayer in minutes.  Brandishing a tilted smile he threw his cloak about him, circling and covering the entire atrium with inky blackness.  He had succeeded with the simple things of man, always easy to manipulate through weariness, distraction or shiny objects.  He held himself in comfort surrounded in his own self satisfaction and laughed unto the second heaven, toward God.  The angel of light or so he was known catapulted himself skyward in a blink to review the lands he knew were his and the subjects who someday would worship him alone.

What am I doing to upset the enemy’s current effective attacks upon the brethren?  Am I bent in intercessory prayer for the remnant, knowing that my time with God shelters them from the mounting prayers of satan’s minion.  Do I understand that I am assigned ambassador for the gospel of Christ.  And though God may have the stones and sticks proclaim the gospel in my absence that this is the time of my presence.  Do I get it that if I shirk my duty that other’s will suffer and my works will smell of smoke as I give account for my works before Jesus?  Do I get it that God has ordered my progression, from babe, to man to prayer warrior and I alone am responsible for aligning myself with God to achieve the titles; disciple, evangelist, teacher or preacher.  Certainly the churches understand this mandate or do they?  And if they do not, does that increase exponentially the responsibility of my own enlightenment, clarity and action for Christ?  Do I understand the personal and collective consequence of my action or worse yet my inaction?  Certainly being saved and accepting the gift of grace is all that is expected of me.

Does it make you feel good to know that you’ve made satan smile today?  That wretches my stomach, to think that my luke-warm service is making his job easy at dispatching the brethren, that all it took to steal our victory was my own self serving disobedience to Christ.  Father, I know that you are changing me.  I know that your Holy Spirit dwells within us and calls us to righteousness, but I also know that we may quench that spirit with our reluctant service or hearing disabilities.  Forgive me for failing you.  How close I become or remain to you is something for which I acknowledge my control.  Keep me in your Word, Keep me on my knees at the foot of your throne, Keep me singing with joyous recognition of your Majesty and above health let me never miss the opportunities presented me to tell everyone who’ll hear about Christ the King.  I serve you and you alone as it is written My Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Please help me to refrain from actions or inactions that profit the enemy.  Let me only bring you honor and praise through my walk.  Let me offer up my service in request for protection, grace and your continued presence with my brothers in Christ.