Month: July 2024

Pledging our allegiance to God cannot be an impulsive action but needs to be a deliberate commitment. It involves a personal examination of exactly what and who we’re placing all our faith & trust in. Is it ourselves or God? Also, is it pride or feelings of unworthiness that are fueling our willingness or hesitation to serve Him? The big dilemma isn’t, “If only I could believe!” but rather, “Will I believe?” When we say, “I will serve the Lord our God and obey Him.” It’s a reaffirmation of our covenant with God, shows our true dependance on Him, and allows God to be all that He says He can be in us…for our good & His glory.

One of the hardest lessons you’ll ever encounter as a Christain is learning to wait when you’re overwhelmed, distressed, and perturbed. Our first reaction usually is, “I must do something!” Which is the total opposite of what the Lord is telling us to do in these Scriptures. That’s because fretting which leads to irritation & anger always results in sin…rising from our determination to have our own way. So remember, resting in the Lord is not dependent on the circumstances we find ourselves embroiled in but on our relationship with God Himself. And anger is a very dangerous force that never ends well.

Throughout the Parables Jesus taught, the Word of God was depicted as seed. In the Parable of the mustard seed, He showed that despite the tiny size of the seed, a mustard shrub could grow upwards of ten feet high…comparing the Word of God to the influence it would eventually have in the world today. And as Saul was ravaging & destroying the early Church, it tells us in Acts 8:4 that, “Those who were scattered went about preaching the Word.” So, we are to keep sowing seed wherever we go…for we may never know what will grow from our diligence. It’s easy to count the seeds in an apple…but only God can count the apples that might come from that one seed.

To paraphrase this Scripture in the simplest of terms, “The Man upstairs came downstairs, so we wouldn’t have to live forever in the basement.” Or to put it another way, “God has what we need…and we desperately need what God has…but unless someone makes a Way for us, it will never happen.” In our fallen & corrupt state, we are separated from God by the abyss called sin. But by coming to earth, Jesus through His crucifixion, became the very keystone of God’s eternal plan to save His people. And so, by accepting this free gift called Salvation, we no longer have to live in the basement.

Just as Jesus called those who would follow Him to count the cost and expect persecution (Matthew 5:10-12, Luke 9: 23-26, John 15:20), so in this Scripture the Apostle Paul doesn’t mince words or promise Christians a life of ease and public approval either. The bottom line is, we need to be prepared to expect suffering, troubles, and afflictions as we travel along life’s path. We even find in Acts 14:22 Paul & Barnabus encouraging the early Church to remain in the faith but not sugar coating their words, “We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” But the good news is, we’ve got someone who has gone ahead of us, knows the beginning from the end, and will never leave nor forsake us…and His Name is Jesus! And we can then take to heart His words in John 16:30 when He said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Anxiety & worry wears us down…both mentally, physically, and spiritually. We fret & stew over things we seldom have any control over, allowing anxiety to compound the situation. Too often, we spend our time worrying about what’s going to happen next…forgetting to even enjoy what’s in the here & now. So, what’s the antidote for chronic worrying? It’s gratitude in your heart. (Colossians 3:16) It’s switching out every anxious thought for one of thankfulness as we reflect on what God has done for us in the past. By remembering God’s works it becomes much more than simply recalling what they were – it means reacting to said memories with renewed faith, obedience and resolute praise…for worry can’t dwell in a heart full of thanksgiving.

The Apostle Paul is very frank & honest about his (and our) sin nature. The fact is there’s no learning curve needed for human depravity & corruption…we’re born that way. (Psalm 51:5) Our mind, will, and body are all affected by evil. For every day we speak sinful words, do sinful acts, and have unpure thoughts. All because sin is rooted in the very core of our being. But to quote Paul’s writings in Galatians 5:24, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.”…so we can have hope through the blood of Jesus. What Paul is saying metaphorically, is that we can crucify our flesh with all its affections & lusts by putting them to death through our faith & love in Christ. That’s because as a Believer, the Cross not only broke the grip of the Law but also broke the grip of our flesh…so we can then be raised to new life through Him.

Joshua prevailed in this battle only when Moses held up to heaven the staff symbolizing the Lord’s Presence. But he grew weary holding his arms above his head for hours & hours on end. That’s when Aaron & Hur supported and bolstered Moses in the most practical of ways…they each held up one of Moses’ exhausted arms. Twenty-four-hour caregiving for a loved one can feel the same way…a never ending, ever wearying battle to remain steady, strong, and steadfast. And just like Moses, over time it too can become physically, mentally, and spiritually fatiguing to just stay the course. But Aaron & Hur saw the need and filled it quickly & quietly in a very down to earth way…lifting up their brother’s arms in order for the battle to be ultimately won.

King Agrippa was the great-grandson of king Herod. He dabbled enough in both Greek & Jewish lore to prompt Paul to actually compliment him as an expert in Jewish customs, history, and Scriptures. But when asked by Paul if he believed the prophesies of the Old Testament Writers, Agrippa was in a pickle. If he said no, he’d anger the Jews…if he said yes, he’d lose face because Paul would then urge him to acknowledge that Jesus really was the long-awaited Messiah that all those prophets had testified about. So instead, Agrippa stalled, arguing that a brief speech from Paul wasn’t sufficient evidence to cause him to repent. But Paul pressed on, including all those in the court listening as possible converts to the Way…relentlessly planting seed.