Dear Jesse.
Last week, millions of people were stunned by the crude remarks Rev. Jesse Jackson made about presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, during the commercial break of a Fox News interview.
After watching the clip for myself, I’m still not exactly sure what hit the floor first: my mouth or my heart. Like many around the world, it probably was a photo finish between the two.
“Why in the world would he say something like that?” I thought to myself. It wasn’t long before my thoughts lead to some rather intense conversations within my network of friends. As I got in line with ambulance chasers all over the nation, God struck my heart with something. I pray it touches your heart here in this devotional today the same way it did mine.
What do you do when your prayers appear to go unanswered?
One of my favorite Biblical leaders is by far John the Baptist. John’s life and destiny had been framed by God before he was even born. John was charged with the incredible responsibility to prepare the people of God for the coming ministry of Jesus Christ. While John’s mission was crystal clear, it was far from simple. He spent his entire life in opposition to the religious systems of his day. His stance and unwavering message of repentance was one that led to his imprisonment. And eventually to his death.
In Matthew 11 (v.2-3), God gives you and me an opportunity to look deep into the heart of this leader:
“When John had heard (in prison) about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’”
Hard to believe, isn’t it? How in the world could John the Baptist, a giant of the faith, a leader of an incredible movement of resistance and change, question whether or not Jesus Christ, the Savior he had dedicated his entire life to preparing people for, was in fact the real thing?
Simple. It was because John…was in prison.
It is amazing the questions you and I can have as believers towards God when we find ourselves in “prison,” and when the prayers concerning our lives seem to go unanswered by Him.
“God…why am I still single?” “Why did you allow my business to fail?”
“Why didn’t I get that job promotion?” “Have I not been faithful?”
“Why am I in this prison?” “Are you the coming one…or do I need to look for another?”
Like John, questioning God is something many of us as believers have been guilty of. More often than not, our times of confusion as to what God may be up to can cause us to react in ways that are unhealthy to not only ourselves, but those around us. Last week was a prime example.
Here is John (sorry, I mean Jesse), a veteran civil rights leader, one who (along with many others) has helped paved the way for a new generation of leaders to have the opportunity to rise and make a lasting impact on today’s society; the most prominent of which is Sen. Barack Obama.
At a time that many would argue is the twilight of his career, when so many around the world were moving behind a new voice and vehicle devoted to bringing about change…
…God may have allowed us all to look into the soul of a man who quite possibly may have been struggling with and through whom God had decided to bring about that change.
So what does God have to say to those of us, like John (sorry, I mean Jesse), who may want some answers to the prayers and pains of life we no longer feel we can bear?
Take a look back at Matthew 11 (v.5-6):
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see, the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of me.’”
What an incredible response! Despite where we may believe we are in life, God unveils through His word that His plans for us may include us, but they are not just about us!
This is a clarion call to each of us as believers today to rise above our struggles and to see things from God’s perspective. While He is a compassionate Father, He is also a sovereign King; one who is concerned about our personal lives, but is more concerned about His Kingdom agenda.
Today, I challenge each of us to mature in our prayer life with God. Let’s rise above what we see and begin to discover what God may be up to through His perspective. Be sure to always take an examination of your heart when praying through tough circumstances.
‘Cause you never know when your mic may be on!
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Category: Life & Faith
Awesome! Just Awesome! So elegantly put.
Awesome! to use scripture to describe the temperment and attitude of a leader whose time has come and gone. Excellent writing I really enjoy your fresh and innovative prospectives. Keep it coming.
Dear Milan Ford,
Your depth of insight into the unseen world of Divine reality comes to you, not by accident, but by revelation of the Spirit of God.
Your statement: “Despite where we may believe we are in life, God unveils through His word that His plans for us may include us, but they are not just about us!” has answered some hard questions that I as a leader am facing. Some in this church where I am Pastor, are saying that God always heals, He never says “No!” to anyone who has faith in Him. They cannot see beyond the supposed need (God is often more concerned about an inner need then the physical) at present time.
The paradigm of our flesh always has our self interests at the center of the universe. Jesus died to save us from the self life, not just our sins. All Christians have been saved from their sins but few from the selfishness of the self life.
Keep up the good (sorry,I mean great) work. Your fearlessness is needed, will be rewarded by Him who is faithful and most important, it is refreshing to the heart of the Father.
Rev. Hartley Smith – Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada
I have been receiving streaming faith devotionals for quite some time and this is the first time I felt so extremely compelled to respond. I am disheartened by this posting. Even though I do not condone the comments made by Rev Jackson, I do agree with him on one part. I question Sen Obama’s true support of the African American community. I hate that this election has gone on race instead of who is the best person to run this country. For the record I do not support McCain either. I pray that people especially those in the church realize truly what this man is about. I pray that they are researching his voting record and what he truly stands for, not what he so charismatically wants us all to hear. I know this country needs change, but what kind of change do we want? I feel as christians we should long for righteousness and holiness. If you research Obama’s record it does not show that. Please I pray that people truly educate themselves on the issues. I started out leaning towards Obama. Once I began to do more research I realized that his man is not the coming one…WE DO need to look for another. I would love to see a black man be president but not at this high a price. I pray mercy for us and this country.
Milan,
That was a fresh Ramah Word. I hope others received that revelation. I so enjoy you. May GOD continue to richly bless you…
From a humble heart and a discerning spirit God has given insight and revelation to you for US so that we might better understand through the spirit, the heart and the mind of man. God bless you and never be hesistant to give what God has given to you. Not all will agree but to those that it is intended God will reveal and open their hearts to receive.
Milan,
Why must you use the political race as an illustration for a devotional? Good message, bad example! Were you comparing Senator Obama to Jesus as the “the One?” Get real! It’s not McCain or any other politician. I am tired of “Kingdom people” caught up in politics awaiting someone who will represent them according to their skin color, nationality or culture. If we truly were Christians, citizens of the Kingdom of God, it would not matter what color of skin, culture or nationality was in the office, as long as he or she was one who could represent and fight for our religious freedoms. One who could fight to turn over Roe vs Wade; one who would intercede for the rights of churches and prayer in schools. Wake up people!! Get off the band wagon! Our savior is not black, white or Hispanic, rather he lives in us. Our desire for change does not come from a politician’s slogan, it should come from the Word of God transforming our minds to think UNITY in the body of Chirst, intercession, soul-winning and Kingdom expansion.
I am not against politicians or our government. I pray for them on a regular basis as I should. Our answers will not come from them but from us, through the God in us. God has given us the ability to bring about change. The last time I checked it was still for the people and by the people – a privileged other countries do not have.
Milan, stay focused on the Kingdom of God. Get off the Obama band wagon or any others and get on Jesus’s. The last time I checked it has lasted more than 2,000 years and still moving forward. Why should we use the Streaming Faith devotional as a communication for political bias?
I hope you heard my heart. Please post this comment. Thanks
Pastor Manny
Miami, Florida
Good Day Manny –
Thanks for your comment. Please note that I am not exactly a supporter of Obama’s campaign.
There are many things I disagree with him on. Many things.
The essence of the devotional however was based upon how we allow things that happen in life to dictate how we pray and look at the plans God may have regarding our lives.
Disappointment often fuels each of us to say things we ought not to say.
I believe our brother Jackson may have been a great example of that.
However – I do agree with your sentiments.
You may discover that I am one who agrees wholeheartedly that race should not be an issue regarding our pursuit and relationship with Christ.
See Historically Black (http://www.streamingfaith.com/community/devotional/devotional.aspx?DevotionalId=1503)
I will indeed publish your comment and thank God that through it all – we can disagree on things yet agree on so many others.
Have a great day. God bless.
I usually don’t post comments, but after reading some that were here, I was compelled.
Are we all reading the same thing?
I didn’t see any political endorsements, nor did I see any direct comparisons. What I read was an analogy, quite similar to a parable used to teach and enlighten.
I think in some cases the point was mistaken. Rather than attack, why don’t we choose to correct in love.
Dear…
What will you do when your prayers seem to go unanswered?
I enjoyed the devotional. Thanks for your insight.
Marye
I liked the analogy. I also liked the personalness. Rev. Jackson has come to our church and once he talked about how education used to be in the South. How if he wanted to read a book, rain or shine, he had to wait outside the back door of the library and if the library felt like it, she might come and ask him what he wanted. If she felt like it, she might come back.
My sister went to visit her inlaws in Texas twenty years ago, the racism was so bad she never returned. Her mother in law said “ugh” and “how” and infuriated her to the point of saying that UCLA had felt her English was excellent enough to merit a 4.0 even while working full time as an executive administrator for the County Board of Supervisors. My niece turned down Texas colleges due to her racist experiences here in her California private school, she just had enough. She has had little of that at UCLA.
I think therefore the analogy to John is appropriate. Rev. Jackson has endured to provide what our children take for granted, and often waste or shun.
I am sad we only heard the remark, not what he meant. While talking, I also feel that Rev. Wright while possibly rude, did not say one word that I heard that was not true for those of use who have suffered, racism, or genderism. I was one of the first women in law scool, it was so horrible that out of a large number, only a handful stayed the course. Not because it was hard academically, but because of the constant harassment and hate. These were not uneducated people, they were law school attendees, with good grades.
Thank you for the reminder that with God, we can overcome at least in our minds and hearts the horror of other people’s behavior.
Thank you, I received your message and know that it was inspired. I thank you for your liberty of speech and discernment on a topic that needed to be addressed. You did it eloquently and unbiased. We need to always check if our mic is on. If we call ourselves Kingdom children;. we would always want to represent ourselves as such. This was not a comment Our Father was pleased with. In the end that’s what truly matters. God Bless You
Ciao Milan,
Thanks for your response to the Jesse Jackson “open mic story”..We have always needed someone to keep things in the God perspective…as you know…”our mics are always open”… Keep lifting up the faith!!
nhb
I truly enjoyed your persepective on Rev. Jesse Jackson. You had humor , yet the truth of the word of God with love….You can’t live in a glass house and throw stones, you will break your own windows out!
Also, the word says that whatsoever is in the heart man will come out of the abundance of the heart.
Sometimes we see others move into a position in life , that we put in years for and they rise to top. It can be a ego crusher. But its not about ego, its about let go, and let God do his job.
I enjoyed the article and I hope others can see, the picture you were painting with jesse and
john.
I just ask all those who read your article, to test there hearts, and see (what is there response am I angry, am I upset, am I bitter, am I jealous, am I ego tripping, am I always right, while everyone else is wrong, is there pride? ) This and other things in life will test us…. when we are tested we need to check our pulse, and our blood pressure, our hearts, what makes us do or say what we do?
My question is: IS YOUR MIC ON?
God bless brother Milan, let God continue to use you….its not always popular to declare the truth of the matter….but you did so with much grace an love………
Hello Mr. Ford, let me begin by saying that I love Streaming Faith, pray that God continues to Bless this wonderful ministry, and I thank you for your contributions to it!
To give credit to Mr. Jackson, I feel he started his career with incredibly noble and Godly goals…I am sad because he has the Divine OPPORTUNITY right in front of him to be a messenger of EQUALITY to the whole world…
God bless you, sir.
//L. Martin, Atlanta, GA.
Milan, tell the truth and it will set you free! You did just that in my opinion regarding your comments on John…I mean Jesse (Jackson).
The issues of a man’s heart will always be revealed one way or another. Pray for Jesse and forgive him “Saints” and let’s move forward with the power and authority God’s word gives us.
Jesse is flesh and flesh can be a mesh…I know for I too am flesh and I 2 have said things because my heart wasn’t pure. Sometimes our moves are right but our negative motives are all that is left.
I pray for Obama for i know what GOD has 4 U is just 4 U
Because I care, I share
Daria – The Servant
Matt 19:26
Why “presumptive”? Isn’t Obama the Democratic nominee “period”?
DEAR MILAN:
COMPARING JESSE JACKSON TO JOHN THE BAPTIST? COME ON! JOHN THE BAPTIST DID NOT HAVE AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR ON HIS WIFE AND THEN FLAUNT HIS MISTRESS TO THEN PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WHO WAS ALSO CHEATING ON HIS WIFE.
JOHN WAS BEHEADED BECAUSE HE HAD THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND TELL HEROD THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN HIS BROTHER’S WIFE. JESSE JACKSON IS NOT JOHN THE BAPTIST. BAD COMPARISON.
STEVE MEISER
I think your insight is very interesting. I’ve been chatting with my friends and neighbors too about this and it is disturbing publically but it does shed light on the ramifications of slavery even today. I feel that when our ancestors were so heavily indoctrinated with self-hate messasges that some older, African-American male ministers find it impossible to believe that Yes We (really) Can!
Take a look back at Matthew 11 (v.5-6):
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you
hear and see: The blind see, the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf
hear; the dead are raised up and to poor have the gospel preached to them. And
blessed is he who is not offended because of me.’”
SO, –Jesse’s comments on Obama, what pit do they come out of? Jesse has seldom possessed the righteous intentions and character of John the Baptist. –The scripture is very apt. Thank you.
Milan -
I love that you used John the Baptist and Jesse Jackson in the same piece. I love that you were not afraid to mix your metaphors and stories in a way that communicated clearly. I know folks get upset about that, but I have to remember there were lots of folks that got upset with lots of the parables Jesus told. How dare He tell the Good Samaritan story that way? How dare the son in the Prodigal Son story get a party after being accused of prostitution? More than that, how dare He compare God’s creation, mankind, to fish by saying “I will make you fisher’s of men.” I could do this all day, but I appreciate that you took the freedom to write the post the way you did
Jon
Wow, i loved reading this devotional, and reading the comments was even more interesting,what always amazes me with christians is they ability to take and find offense in everything before understanding the message,so I’m not suprised that christians can misunderstand what you were trying to bring out and make it about them and their understanding of God’s word, why do christians think that in God you cannot say what you think unless is politicly correct, why do we always find fault and finger point every chance we get, i just don’t get people who get so emotional about an article that was suppose to make you think and turn it into a personal attack on them. christians need to realise that God’s word is supreme to any opinion you might hold dear, and that the reason why Jesus Christ used analogies,because, they were just not getting it, and judging by some comments there are christians who just don’t getting, i think it’s tragic, after reading a couple of angry comments, i wonder what was making these people angry, the fact that Jesse Jackson said what he said or the fact that he got caught saying it or it is their own heart reveiling what is deep in their hearts and who said it’s against christian law to liken someone against bible characters?,we need to face the truth, what he said cannot be taken back, but dealing with it we must or we shall have to deal with the consequences of his statement.I wonder what he meant thought?