Do not catch the falling Ark. You know the story. It was forbidden, but when the sacred ark began to fall Uzzah could not resist. In fact, he may have reached out instinctively, because it was really falling. But, the touching of the ark had been forbidden, and God had made His instruction abundantly clear. The ark is a picture of the Body of Christ. Many would rush in and consider the thing before their eyes to preempt any other instruction. Soldier of The Cross, make no mistake. We take Him at His word. In Him, we live and move and have our being. We do not question Him. We do what He says. We have given Him our lives, and we have crossed the line. We stand before Him each day and say that we will be a Living Sacrifice. So then, is it really true? Are we willing to obey in the face of impending disaster? That is the test.

Soldier of The Cross, there is much, much to do. You may not be passive and you may not make excuses. Time is short and there are so m,any in need. you have found The Answer. Your life is secure and you are in the assurance of the Everlasting Arms. You know where you are going. Most can not say that they know. Most are in silent misery. Most long for the assurance that you have, but have no idea where to go. Get busy. Tell Him you are available and will look for the opportunity to share. There is no thrill such as the thrill of leading a lost soul to Christ. Stand before Him and make yourself available. Aloud. Today.

Isn't it interesting that Western nations swear by using His name? Soldier of The Cross, you are identified by the Name of the One who died for you. Are you aware how closely you are watched? Do you know how carefully your words are considered? You have Crossed The Line. You told Him He could do anything with your life, and so He has. Sing. Raise your hands in rejoicing. The King of Kings has prevailed and is attending to your issues. You will spend eternity with Him. There is no problem that He can't handle. Now, what is the important thing? He who is over all, and He who is the Lover of Your Soul.

How do you handle disagreement with the decisions of those in authority? With great fear and trembling! Some local churches do things by vote. Others by fasting and prayer. Others by a board of elders who determine the course of things. In the Kingdom of Heaven, the Lord has often chosen to speak through those who seem completely incapable of making rational or wise decisions. The issue is, who are you? Are you the pastor? If not, be very, very careful. One of the most important thing in the local assembly is, the development of the new or young pastor. If you know there is deliberate sin, such as adultery or embezzlement, something must be done, and it should be done through church authority. You must let the man develop. Back off. Watch for the Lord. Support what God is doing and watch for Him. He is listening attentively to your issues and concerns. Possibly, He is doing something new. Even in the early stages, God's man must be trained and he must be trained by God, not by you. Button your lip and above all, stop- speaking to anyone in order to impart your impression of what is wrong. Do you want to see Jesus? Do you understand the loaves and the fishes? He can do the same with a man. Back off and give God some room.

   Soldier of The Cross, those who run the Race can not afford to be distracted.    Running entails having a place to go, a reason to go there, a purpose that produces speed and a determination that nothing will get in the way.    Then, of course, we are all human.  So, how do we address the issues that crop up and so easily turn our attention away from the Race?    It starts and ends in prayer.    Prayer that is aloud.  Prayer that formulates sentences that agree with God's Word.  In  prayer, we take a position.  In prayer, we state the goal.  In prayer, we make the commitment.  In prayer, we acknowledge the provision.    In prayer, we determine to look unto the things that lie ahead and we refuse to be distracted by anything that is not confirmed in His Word.    Soldier, until we have no more breath, we can run.

   Is your security in Christ?    It can't be in being right, being better, being sure or having a plan.  It has to be in the One who died for you, named you and has asked you to trust Him and leave all else behind.    Soldier of The Cross, the issue is simple.    Have you agreed with Him, or have you not?

   What does it mean to experience Life?    There is no other Life such as is experienced by those who are in Christ.     You were designed to live and move in Him, and have your entire being in Him.     You were designed to live in Sabbath rest.     You were designed to walk in The Light.    You were designed to know Peace and to experience Peace.    You were designed to look forward to eternity, and to look for His coming.    You were designed to have an intimate relationship with the One who hung the stars in place.    You were designed to receive and minister supernatural Love.    So, Soldier of The Cross, what is the purpose of your life?  Does it match His purpose for your life?  Have you decided that you will devote yourself to knowing Him with all your might?  Have you decided you are preparing to spend eternity with Him?    He has given you a supernatural assurance that you will be with Him for ever and ever.  The Indwelling Holy Spirit lives within you and empowers you to obey.  That is, if you are available.  If you agree with God.    Soldier, take inventory tonight. Would you agree that seventy percent of your daily thoughts concern the issues of life?  That is an indictio0n that your priorities are not in order.    You may be working two jobs.  You may be in prison.  You may have a terminal illness. You may have twenty foster children.  But, if your thoughts are not on the Lord as you are moving through the hours, you must make a change.    He is keenly interested in each detail of your life, and don't you forget it!

   Love takes no account of an evil done to it . . .    Is that really possible? Can a believer be free from the wrangling of the mind and emotions that follow unfairness or cruelty?  How is it possible to resist the need to get even, or strike back?    He who was gracious on The Cross has not only commanded us to return good for evil, but He has made it possible for us to obey.    He said He would send The Comforter, and He has done so.    He died and rose again so that you could live a supernatural life.  You have the Indwelling Holy Spirit.  Because He lives within you, you have infinite power to obey.     He who is Love wants to make His Likeness in you.  Are you willing?  If so, He will give you the provision to obey when the time comes to act or to resist acting.    Soldier of The Cross, you may not lick your wounds.  You may not try to get even.  You may not attempt to win others to be against the one who has offended you.  You may not pout and withdraw.    You must love.  Because He said so.     Love may mean saying no.  Love may mean making allowances you have never made before.  Love may mean repeating yourself hundreds of times.  Love may mean taking the hits and marching hard after the Lord anyway.     Love never gives negative value to an evil done to it.  Love is not blind or ignorant, but God's Love is planted in His own power and Life.      God's Love prevails over all else.

   The Lord does not take anything casually, and neither should we.    His Word is clear.  He will not tolerate and He will not compromise.  What He will do, is forgive a genuinely repentant heart.    Soldier of The Cross, no one has it all together.  There is no Believer who has ever "arrived."  If you were to meet with the most mature, the most published, the most respected, they would tell you that they have never climbed up onto any plateau that removes them from the need to confess and repent.    We have a glorious gift.  He who saved us by Grace has made it clear that He longs for a heart that is completely available.  That means repentance - a turning from one direction and the embracing of another.    There is nothing else.

    I have never found Job to be a picture of patience.     He distinguishes himself as God's man because he refuses to blame God and refuses to whine or complain.  At the same time, he is miserable and genuinely suffering.    What Job does not know, is that God has chosen Job to show his substance of faith.    Soldier of The Cross, are you willing to be chosen for such a thing?  Do you trust God enough to let Him to do anything He wants to with your life?    If not, why not?     God is without flaw and does not fail.  Is it possible that He will leave you in the wake of some other agenda?  Of course not.    He has made Himself clear.     He is the Lover of Your Soul.    He will never leave you.    He will not withhold any good thing.       Wait for Him.  Trust Him.  Tell Him what you are doing.  Raise your hands and sing to Him.  Ask Him to teach you to praise Him.    Turn away from the thing you think is so hard and look at  the One who holds the stars in place.  He left Glory to take your place in death and bore your sin.    Who has done more for you?