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 a 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: Psalm 107:23-32

23 Some went down to the sea in ships,

doing business on the great waters;

24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,

his wondrous works in the deep.

25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,

which lifted up the waves of the sea.

26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;

their courage melted away in their evil plight;

27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men

and were at their wits' end.

28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

29 He made the storm be still,

and the waves of the sea were hushed.

30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,

and he brought them to their desired haven.

31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of man!

32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,

and praise him in the assembly of the elders.