Month: April 2024

If I’ve learned anything the past seven months caring full-time for a loved one it’s this…life is uncertain – filled with daily challenges, quickly changing events, and a great deal of worry. And it’s been during those trying times that the Lord has drawn me back to what I know about Him. And sometimes it’s been way back to simply, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” I’ve found that when the path ahead of me is shrouded with the unknown, I go back to what I do know…that I can be confident in God in the face of monumental troubles through His divine intervention, (Psalm 46:1-3) that God will preserve and deliver me through my current situation, (Psalm 32:7) that God is indeed my refuge and protector, (Psalm 91:15), and as a result of my trust in Him, I will have peace, quietness, and comfort forever. (Isaiah 32:17) But the draw back for all of us is… you don’t know what you don’t know, and unless you’re firmly entrenched in God’s Word, you can’t go back to what you know.

Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, responded to a serious military threat with an exemplary reliance on the divine power of God. Earlier in verse 15 the Lord had declared to him that the battle was not his, but God’s…and Jehoshaphat took Him at His Word. And so early that morning as they all gathered to march against the enemy, Jehoshaphat deliberately placed a choir out front…no swords or bows, just tambourines and singing. And in doing so showed his upmost trust and belief for protection & deliverance…for it would have to be divine power not human effort that would bring about the victory.

These verses show the journey from distress to deliverance, and the triumph of God’s mercy over judgment… with the reversal of our circumstances by His merciful grace & love. Psalm 16:8-11 is another example that nothing is impossible with God…that no one is beyond His reach, and that no situation is so bad that God can’t turn it around for our good. And so by trusting in Him & the knowledge that “God is good and what He does is good…”(Psalm 119:68) we can be covered with His joy rather than mourning no matter where we find ourselves.

Job intuitively knew there was someone appealing & petitioning in his place to God… even if he didn’t know His name. Romans 8:34 tells us the person is Jesus Christ, sitting at the right hand of God, interceding for us, just as the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in our hearts. (Romans 8:27) In I Timothy 2:1, Paul urged Timothy that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. So in light of all that, this quote of Elisabeth Elliot’s is perfect to ponder today…”Then comes intercession, the hardest work in the world – the giving of one’s strength, energy, and attention to the needs of others in a way that no one but God sees, no one but God will do anything about, and no one but God will ever reward you for.” An intercessor travails, toils, & labors in prayer as they stand in the gap for the sake of others…most times with no fanfare, notoriety, or credit shown them because it’s usually done anonymously. But there is also great comfort when someone whispers to you, “I’m remembering you in my prayers at all times.” (Romans 1:9)

Ananias was frightened and hesitant when God spoke to him about Saul of Tarsus, the fiery persecutor of the early Church…who had been converted. But the vision was very clear, the instructions of the Lord concise, and Ananias’s role in it all laid out succinctly. (Acts 9:10-18) If God gives you the clarity to see it, He’ll also give you the character to purse it, the wisdom to maintain it, and the strength to fight for it…never allowing fear to dictate. In his book, “My Utmost for His Highest”, author Oswald Chambers wrote, “A touch comes, and you know it’s the right hand of Jesus Christ. For whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort…full of support, provision, comfort, and strength. And once His touch comes, nothing at all can throw you into fear again.”

This Scripture about king Asa was true and yet untrue. Yes, in the beginning of his rule of Judah, he did remove the pagan high places (II Chronicles 14:3) but he did not continue his initial efforts throughout his life. And in his old age, Asa showed a real lack of trust in the Lord and was not completely obedient in the outward, visible areas of his life. His obedience was dependent on what he thought was the most important to him not God. The fact was, everything matters to God…and there is no such thing as trivial when it comes to obeying God…either you do in all areas of your life, or you don’t – and neither do you get to pick and choose the things you’ll trust God in & the things you’ll hang on to. Trusting God in all avenues of our life takes compliant submission and open hands.

Peter had addressed the crowd that had gathered that Day of Pentecost, boldly giving them evidence of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. And then he gave them this promise…not only for them & their children but for us also. Or as Isaiah 57:18-19 had prophesied, someday God would call all those far and near… guiding, healing, and restoring them to Himself. This same promise is available to us today…a gracious gift given as we call on the Name of the Lord for Salvation. (But remember, ultimately it’s God’s choice and calling that enables us to call on Him.) Acts 13:48 John 6:37)

A great quote from Charles Spurgeon goes something like this- “While others are congratulating themselves, I have to sit at the foot of the Cross and marvel that I’m saved at all.” We’re indeed like toddlers, who after being patiently taught how to dress themselves will suddenly proclaim, “Me can do!” and start coming down stairs in the most outlandish outfits! Rather than taking what we been taught by God and using it in humility, meekness, and modesty…we crave self-important honor and a “Look what I’ve done!” haughtiness. Luke 6:24-26 teaches us that we will reap disaster in the end when we rely on our own achievement rather than realizing our abject spiritual poverty.

As Believers, we are indebted to Christ to show charity towards those difficult people in our life. I Thessalonians 5:14 instructs us to encourage the fainted hearted, help the weak, and be patient with all. Which means to intentionally conduct ourselves with softened hearts & long-suffering. For as followers of Christ, we have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak…ever patiently imitating Christ before them.

We listen to many voices…some with good ideas and things we should do, while other voices try to send us far from the right path. And it’s up to us to correctly discern these voices as to whether we should listen to them. We can listen to the loud, obnoxious, and crude voice of the world…filled with its worldly wisdom, ways, and counsel. But remember, the world hates God and everything about Him, (James 4:4) and you can never love both the world and God. (I John 2:15) Or maybe you listen to the voice of your own flesh. It whines for immediate gratification in its sinful and base lusts, corruption, and pride. But the voice of your flesh will get you into more trouble than you can imagine, for its so very easy to compromise yourself rather than fight against it. Sometimes we listen to the voice of Satan himself. His voice is sophisticated and eloquent…his words subtle, enticing and misleading with half-truths and deception. But his biggest trick is to whisper doubts into our ears, and then wait to see what we’ll do. Finally, do you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Yes, that still small voice (I Kings 19:12-131) of the Holy Spirit takes concerted effort, diligence, wisdom, and careful discernment. But as this verse in Isaiah points out, if you listen to the Holy Spirit, He will rightly direct your path.