Cornerstone

Rom. 8:29

A familiar slogan for young basketball lovers is “I wanna be like Mike.” Michael Jordan brought a new element to the game of basketball with his expertise and grace. His personality only enhanced his skill at the game. People all across the nation were charmed by him even when they did not like the team for which he played. The book of Acts tells us that something similar took place early in the history of the church. When the enemies of God called the believers “Christians” at the Antioch church they meant it to be a term of derision. The Christians, however, happily accepted the term with pride. “Christian” means “to be like Christ.” This is God’s will for us . . . that we be transformed into the image of His Son. (Rom. 8:29) That is the will of those who truly love Him. To be holy even as He is holy. (1 Pet 1:16) “I wanna be like Jesus.”

Dr. Gayle Woods

Hab 3:1-6

The concern of this prayer and the circumstances which accompanied it are parallel to a prayer breathed by Moses. The people of Israel had shown by their actions that their heart was not with God. He had been patient, kind, loving and understanding but now as God looked over Moses’ shoulder He saw the people He had tried to help thumbing their noses at Him. They had fashioned a golden calf so they could have something to worship. That told Him clearly that they did not want to worship Him. They gave of their wealth to form their god. That told God they had been holding back what they owed to Him. They danced and sang at a fevered pitch of excitement. That suggested that God was second-rate and that they had found something that far surpassed their former allegiance. God’s wrath burned and He determined to destroy them and raise a new people under the leadership of His loyal servant Moses. But Moses fell on his face in intercessory prayer and prayed for a revival. As Habakkuk later prayed, Moses lifted his voice to God saying something like this: “Instead of destroying your people, O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” Is that our prayer for revival? Do we realize that to be revived is more than just to make up our mind to do better with our personal devotions? Do we realize that we are asking God to hold back His wrath against our insensitive rebellious ways? We are asking Him to have mercy on His people and to extend His love to us as we endeavor to draw closer to Him.

Dr. Gayle Woods