Maybe God Is......

Perhaps the Lord will help us 1 Samuel 14:6 (NLT)

Ever find yourself in the middle of a plan or project and it isn’t working out the way you wanted? Maybe life in general is happening this way. I’ve found myself working toward a goal and then suddenly everything grinds to a halt or takes two steps backwards. Super frustrating.

It feels like God is always teaching me to wait. Maybe I need that lesson. Obviously, I have not perfected it yet because we keep revisiting it.

During these times I find myself saying “Maybe God is…..” or “Maybe God will……” They are usually positive statements. You know, “Maybe God is delaying this so …..” and then I fill in the blank. In my mind’s eye I can imagine a lot of reasons why God is delaying what I want to happen.

And really, there is nothing wrong with that. It is always good to look and see where God is working and what he is doing. If he is working somewhere other than where I am working, I need to move to his camp. If he is doing something other than what I am doing, I need to join him. I’d rather be working alongside him than on my own…no matter what I may want.

One thing I do know. The Bible tells us that God can do more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20) and that his thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). So we need to be careful. As we are looking to see where God is working and we tell ourselves “Maybe God is…..”, when it is not working out the way we want, we still need to trust him.

After Jonathan says “Perhaps the Lord will help us” he says, “for nothing can hinder the Lord.” And that is the part we need to remember.

Their Perspective

I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. Joshua 2:9-11 (NLT)

Yesterday we talked about how the Israelites didn’t want to go into Canaan because they were afraid of what they saw. They looked at what they couldn’t do instead of what God could do.

In today’s text Rahab was talking to the spies that went into Jericho. She was telling them what they thought of the God of Israel. She basically said “We are afraid of you because of your God. We’ve heard the things he has done for you! From the time you left Egypt until now. We’ve been following what he has done on your behalf.”

I read that and think “WOW!” Here were the Israelites sabotaging their own future because they refused to look at and trust the power that lived right smack in the middle of their camp. He had demonstrated over and over again that he would protect them and care for them. He provided food every day in the form of manna. He parted the Red Sea so they could cross. He fought for them in battle. And still….still they said “We can’t.”

And as I marvel at that, I realize I too do the same thing. When we don’t know how to move forward, or we’re afraid of the next step, we stop. We procrastinate. We make excuses. When will we start to remember what God has already done, not just in Scripture but in our very own lives? Wouldn’t it be better instead to take that step of faith and have people say “We can see God working in your life!”?

As I continue to read through the Bible, I realize I have a long way to go. But, I am determined to keep my path forward and the fears that sometimes pop up around that in God’s hands. I will ask him to remind me of where he has gone before…..and give me the courage to step into his plan.

Walking Past Your Promised Land

I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. Job 42:2 (NLT)

The Israelites were told to go explore the land of Canaan (Numbers 13). This is the land that God had repeatedly promised to give them after they left Egypt. Moses picked twelve men to go on the expedition. When they returned, ten of them were against going in and two were for it. The ten men that were against moving forward were afraid. They saw things unfamiliar to them. They saw obstacles that were bigger than their courage could handle so they decided that this would be a failure.

They described the new land as bountiful; flowing with milk and honey. And then they did what we do. They said “But.” But, the people living there are powerful. They have lots of weapons and fortresses. They are all over the place! They were huge. We are nothing compared to them. We cannot do this. It’s too big for us.

They forgot some important “Buts.”

But, you are God’s people.
But, God will go before you.
But, there is nothing stronger than your God.
But, if this is God’s plan for you nothing can stop it.

The Israelites were so focused on what they saw instead of who they knew that it stopped them from stepping into God’s plan for them.

Do you do this? How often do we look at the path ahead and decide it is too hard for us? Our courage evaporates because we can’t see past our fears. Probably more often than we’d admit. We should never confuse what we can do on our own with what God can do for us. When we do, we miss out on our promised land.

The Ambassador

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)

What is an ambassador? According to Wikipedia, an ambassador “is the ranking government representative stationed in a foreign capital.” An ambassador is expected to protect the citizens and work for peace.

If you have looked at our world at all, you know we need a lot of ambassadors. Everywhere. Each day there seems to be a news story about hate and violence. People seem to protect themselves and not look out for each other.

So, what are we to do?

In 2 Corinthians 5:15 the Bible says this:

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

First, I love that it says “He died for everyone” (emphasis mine.) So often we think of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and we think “He died to save me.” And he did because you are part of everyone. But he also died for your neighbor, the co-worker that annoys you, your family member, and the guy on the corner that is homeless. He also died for all of the people throughout history that have done detestable things to each other.

So how should we ambassador?

We no longer live for ourselves. We live for Christ. We recognize that we are no better than the doers of detestable (or irritating) things. We spend time showing God’s love and reaching beyond ourselves. We are always on the look-out for ways to protect and help each other.

Our community, our little corner of the world, is where we serve as an ambassador. When we look at where our world is headed, Jesus needs more ambassadors than ever, don’t you think?

A Minute In It - Remembering God's Word

A minute in Gods' word will change your life. Read through the verses below, pick one or two and contemplate on those today. Memorize them if you can.

1 I will praise the Lord at all times.
    I will constantly speak his praises.
2 I will boast only in the Lord;
    let all who are helpless take heart.
3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
    let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
    He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
    he saved me from all my troubles.
7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
    he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
    for those who fear him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
    but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, and listen to me,
    and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
12 Does anyone want to live a life
    that is long and prosperous?
13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies!
14 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;
    his ears are open to their cries for help.
16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
    he will erase their memory from the earth.
17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
    He rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous person faces many troubles,
    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
    not one of them is broken!

21 Calamity will surely destroy the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
    No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Psalm 34 (NLT)

Speaking Life

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

“Once you had no identity as a people;
    now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
    now you have received God’s mercy.”
1 Peter 2:9-10 (NLT)

In John 1:42, Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon (which means “God has heard”) to Peter (which means “Rock”). Jesus was having an “I see in you” conversation with Peter. He basically was saying to him “I see in you someone who will become the foundation of this movement.” or “I see in you stability and strength.” Jesus was pouring into Peter’s life what he wanted Peter to become.

Peter, years later, did the same thing to the early church. He was writing to the churches scattered around Asia Minor. He was having a similar “I see in you” conversation with them that Jesus had with him. He said “I see in you a chosen people. Royal priests a holy nation, God’s possession. You have received his mercy so go out and share his goodness with everyone around you.” He was pouring into their lives the truth of who they were.

These verses and many others pour the same truth into our lives. God sees in us, his believers, a chosen people. Royal priests called to share his goodness and his mercy. We are God’s possession and we are to be holy.

When you go about your day, are you living your life according to God’s call on it? Do you share encouraging words with others and remind them of who they are in Jesus? Do you lift them up the way God lifts you up and build them up so they too can step up to the call?

It’s a practice passed down from Jesus to Peter to the Early Church to us. Today, pray for the people you encounter and let the Holy Spirit speak words of life through you to them.

Off To The Races

What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6:31-33 (MSG)

How many of you have seen God provide in the past? I am pretty sure every single person should have raised a hand on that one. He provides for us in obvious (food, shelter, clothing) and non-obvious (amazing functioning bodies) ways.

Yet, we (I) still worry about things. Maybe I don’t worry about food, or shelter or clothing, but I look at how things are going in my life and worry about why they are not going the way I want them to go. And then I can become anxious because I start thinking “What if they don’t go the way I want them to go?” And my mind is off to the races on a runaway horse without a bridle.

Of course, I pray about it and get some temporary relief but there is still a nagging voice in my head. This morning, I faced the nagging voice head on by asking myself and God some questions.

Why is it I feel that God will not answer my prayers?
Do I think that because he’s answered in the past that he won’t do it again?
Do I think I only get one answered prayer in a lifetime, a week or a day?
Did I forget how he has provided in the past and proven that his timing is perfect? (Obviously I did.)
Am I spending more time focused on what I want instead of who God is?
Do I trust in his promises?
And finally I got to…….

God, will you please forgive me?

I often wonder how God can so love someone with such fickleness. But then, there are those promises that deep in my core I do trust. I know he does and always will love me (and you). And that is going to be today’s focus.

Don't Say A Word

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
    night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
    their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
    and their words to all the world. Psalm 19:1-4 (NLT)

Our world is filled with noise. From the hustle and bustle of daily life, signs posted everywhere, internet grabbing our attention, TV shows and commercials, everything is clamoring to get us to look here or look there.

What do we do to deal with this? We block things out. We tend to ignore the overwhelming clatter and banter. So what is a Christian to do? How can we represent God yet not contribute to the noise? How can we reflect his glory in silence?

There is a saying I love. “Preach the gospel to all the world and if necessary use words.” Nature understands this. God’s glory is revealed with splendor yet in silence. A beautiful flower, a spectacular sunrise or a majestic animal. Why? Because they are doing what they were created to do, glorify God.

Is it possible that if we live our lives as Jesus would have us to do we would reflect God more purely and simply than we would with any words or gimmicks? We would glorify his name because he was radiating from the inside out. My guess is, if we lived as if we loved God, we could share who he is without saying a word.