According to Oxford Languages on Google, a red letter day is “a day that is pleasantly noteworthy or memorable.” Of course I hope today will be pleasantly noteworthy, but that is not what I am referring to.
Lately, I have been hearing the questions deep within my soul, “have you set yourself apart, are you noticeably Mine (belonging to the Lord)?” “Is your temple in order?” “Do the work!
In case you haven’t noticed the world is a bit of a mess right now. There is turmoil, division, fear and hate. Many have shut themselves up in their homes like dark caves, quaking in fear. Others are rioting in the streets. It has become taboo to speak of God, and to hold onto morals and ethics.
This is not Christian! We walk humbly and boldly. We fearlessly speak the name of Jesus. We love, but call a spade, a spade. Or do we?
I mentioned Jesus in a discussion yesterday with someone I did not know if they were Christian or not. His face lit up. Ended up being a long conversation.
How can it be, that in a society built on Christianity that we don’t hear the name of Jesus? That we don’t talk about the greatness of God?
How is it that our morals and ethics are being trampled on, and we sit quietly by, not warning of the impending danger?
Today is a red letter day, in the book of John 5 there is a familiar story (for anyone that went to Sunday school) of a healing at Bethesada. Jesus asks a man who had been lame for a long time “Do you wish to get well?” Of course he did, so Jesus told him “get up, pick up your pallet and walk”. The man was healed, but he did not know Jesus. Later on Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “look, you are made well, do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you” @NASB (Jesus words in my Bible are red.)
I find myself contemplating those red letters deeply today. I know the salvation is a free gift from God. Free meaning we can not earn it, it was VERY expensive to God to give it to us, it cost a precious life, but free for us to receive.
What has my mind churning is Jesus’ warning, “do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” Can salvation be snatched away?
In my opinion North American Christianity looks for a great number of “Christians ” just like secular living, in many ways, myself included. We accept the gift of grace and mercy, without the dedication to the relationship and discipleship. The Bible warns in Paul’s letters that our sins add to the punishment of Jesus. Do we want to add another stripe to His back? (Don’t get me wrong, I do not expect perfection, we are not God, only God is perfect.)
I believe God is becoming weary of the uncircumcised hearts of His “believers”. I believe our testimony is being compromised. I believe the Lord is calling us to repent, to weep for the brokenness of the world. I believe if we do not change our paths, we may relearn what it is to “fear the Lord” in our time.
I do have hope though, a story from 2 Chronicles 20. If we repent. If we stand firm. The Lord will direct our paths even unto war, so we can live in peace.
Today I ponder my red letters, as I ask the Lord to cleanse my own temple. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive them and to cleanse us from unrighteousness.”
Will you make today into a “red letter day” ? Has the Lord stirred your soul with deep questions? Are you willing to respond to Him?
Beautiful Remade 