Joy to the World!

The night was probably quiet as the sheep rested in the field, the shepherds keeping vigilant watch over them and perhaps trading stories they had repeated many times before. Just another night in the life of a shepherd, or so they thought. Unknown to them, this was no ordinary night for while they engaged in the ordinary, the extra-ordinary was taking place.

Luke tells us that as the shepherds kept their watch,"Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men'" (2:9-14, KJV).

It was a celebration like none other. A multitude of heavenly host, a chorus of voices giving glory to God and announcing His peace and goodwill toward men. As the angels returned to heaven (v.15), we can only imagine the rejoicing as millions of their counterparts joined in the celebration, no doubt watching in awe as the related events unfolded on earth. The world didn’t know it then, but in the birth of the little boy, joy had come into the world; a joy that was not known before and one that has not been known since. Through Him the light had come and the glory of the LORD had risen upon us (Isaiah 60:1). God had reintroduced Himself to the world in the person of His Son, Jesus.

It has been over two thousand years since and we are still celebrating God's precious gift to mankind. It is true that for far too many the reason for the season is buried under the avalanche of commerce, but for those of us who have accepted Jesus as Lord, we are forever grateful that God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son (John 3:16). As we open our gifts this Christmas, let us remember the most treasured of gifts - JESUS. He is the reason for the season.

From my house to yours, a very Merry Christmas. 

Who Is to Be "Blamed"? - Part I

It was a battle they should have won. Coming off the conquest of Jericho (Joshua 6), taking Ai should have been like the proverbial walk in the park. The men who had spied out the region had returned confidently and told Joshua, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there" (Joshua 7:3, NIV). However, something went terribly wrong because once the battle started, Joshua's men "were routed by the men of Ai who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water" (vv. 4-5).

Following the stunning defeat, Joshua and the elders tore their clothes and fell face down to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. "And Joshua said, 'Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?'" (v. 7). His entire prayer is covered in verses 7-9, but it is interesting to see how he started. He basically apportioned responsibility for the loss to God. There was no reflection on whether or not the defeat was a result of something they had done. After all, if God had promised them victory and they had tasted defeat, surely the problem could not have been on God's side for He is faithful to His Word.

After allowing Joshua to say his piece, God said His. From verses 10-15, we see a string of rebuke and instructions which started with an indictment: “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions." In other words, the reason Israel lost the battle was not because of negligence on God's part, but rather because of sin on Israel's part.  It was they who had violated the covenant. Yes, God could have overlooked the violation, but that would have gone against His nature. Every disobedience had to carry its own consequence.

This brings the lesson around to you and me.  How much of what goes "wrong" in our lives do we hold God responsible for?  Blessings we are promised, but which never materialize. Promises we stand on that seem to no avail. Could we be responsible for the delay in our blessings? These are questions worth pondering over. After we have finished "complaining" to God about the lack of answers to prayers, instead of getting up feeling all spiritual and professing to be waiting on Him, it might be worth listening carefully to what He has to say. While we profess to be waiting on God, could it be that God is waiting on us? 

Turn the Other Cheek - Part II

During the time of His ministry, whenever Jesus interacted with the religious leaders, His disciples, or the people, His message was consistently a call to a higher standard of conduct. From Jesus' perspective, it was not enough to be like everybody else.  Those who would commit to following Him were expected to be different in character, attitudes, and conduct; they were expected to be like Him.

The teachings of Jesus were not always easy, often times going against the accepted norm. The book of Matthew records several instances of Him saying, "You have heard it said .... but I say to you..." as He time and time again raised the bar for God-honouring conduct (see Matthew 5).  Love your enemies; pray for those who persecute you; forgive seventy times seven in a day; be merciful in order to obtain mercy; do not break your promises; if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles; all of this and more just so "that you may be children of your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:45a, NIV). It is no wonder in one instance after another teaching, that "many of His disciples, when they heard this said, 'This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?' . . . As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore" (John 6:60, 66, NASB).  It was easier for these disciples to quit following Jesus than it was to accept and embrace the higher standard He taught.

Because the teachings of Jesus transcend time, place, and culture, we are faced with the same challenge.  What He said to them then, He says to us today: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:13-16, NIV).  In order to not descend into irrelevance, in order to maintain our effectiveness, to be that shining light in a dark world, we must be different.

Jesus dares us to be different because He was different. The prophet Isaiah said of Him, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth."  So when He said "If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also," He showed Himself as the standard for us to follow.  The disciple must become as the Master.  You and I are called to become just like Christ. It is a high calling like no other. Just as He meant it to be. We must resolve to walk worthily and faithfully in it.

Turn the Other Cheek - Part I

In his book Evil: Inside Human Violence and Cruelty, Dr. Roy F. Beaumeister (2001) writes: "Most people believe they are justified in striking back at someone who has attacked them. . . . There is a tendency for these reciprocal and retaliatory acts of aggression to grow more severe, and so the initial antagonism may spiral into worse violence" (p. 294).   It is no wonder then that Jesus in His lesson to the disciples on loving their enemies told them: "If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also" (Luke 6:29, KJV). However, what we have here is not necessarily a literal command, "but an assertion of a great principle, and so, with the exception of a very few mistaken fanatics, all the great teachers of Christianity have understood it" (The Pulpit Commentary). As Bible scholar John Gill observes: "Christ teaches patience in bearing injuries and affronts [insults], and not to seek private revenge; but rather, suffer more, than indulge such a temper."

It is sometimes difficult, some would argue very difficult, to resit the urge to retaliate.  Inherent within us is the instinct to protect ourselves not just from physical harm, but from all harm. When we see ourselves as victims, we can more or less justify the desire for revenge. We have been wronged, whether real or imagined, and we want to strike back; to hurt them if not more than they hurt us then at least with equal intensity. The Christian is not immune from those feelings and indeed some have gone ahead and have taken the proverbial "pound of flesh" from the offender(s). But in teaching His disciples a higher principle, Jesus also teaches us.  If we are to remain faithful to the Master, we must change our perspective.

After some more practical teaching on the subject (vv. 30-34), Jesus spoke words that provoked a lump in our collective throats: "But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful" (vv. 35-36).  Ah, so that's it! Before we strike back, consider ourselves and the graciousness we have received from God and extend to those we deem our enemies, those who have wronged us, the same grace and mercy that God has extended to us. That's what makes it all possible because, to paraphrase Romans 5:20, where wrongs abound, for those who are so willing, grace abounds even more.

Don't retaliate! Don't nurse the turn offense! Turn the other cheek! Love! Have you been hurt lately? In times past? Now you know what to do.

The Cost of Disobedience - Part II

Despite clear instructions from the LORD, Saul decided to do his own thing. According to the narrative, "But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly" (1 Kings 15:9, KJV). However, when confronted about his disobedience, "Saul said unto Samuel, 'Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal'" (vv. 20-21).

An interesting observation from the verses above is we are told that Saul and the people spared Agag, and so on, yet in Saul's account, he made a distinction between himself and the people. He had spared Agag and destroyed the Amalekites, but it was the people who took of the spoil and they did so to offer it as sacrifice unto the LORD as peace offering for the victory they had obtained. He tried to excuse his way out of accountability.  However, as Bible scholar John Darby observes, "Our excuses, even when true, only condemn us. Saul, not having faith, not looking to God, fears the people more than God." Saul failed to recognize that ultimate responsibility rested with him as the king and the one who had been given the instructions, and that such responsibility could not be delegated.

One other pertinent observation is that from God's perspective, partial obedience is ruled and judged as disobedience.  Notice He said to Samuel that Saul "is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments" (v. 11).  There was no credit for partial obedience. In other words, God does not "live" in the shades of gray where most of us reside. He means what He says and He says what He means. How many times have we made the mistake of thinking we know what God wants? Just because we think something is a good idea doesn't mean it is a God idea! Like Saul, our intentions are good; they may even seem honourable and to the service of God. Yet if we choose to deviate even an iota from His instructions, we are effectively engaged in disobedience. It is always better to obey and leave the rest up to Him.

So why did the LORD dealt so harsly with Saul? It was because His faithfulness was at stake. In Deuteronomy 25:19 we read: "Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it," and to Saul was entrusted this fulfilment. His failure to do as instructed was deemed  "evil in the sight of the LORD" (v. 19), rebellious and "stubbornness" (v. 23), and as such could not be tolerated or excused. The chickens had come home to roost and for his disobedience, Saul lost the kingdom. How are you doing with the instructions you have received from the LORD?

The Cost of Disobedience - Part I

God's instructions to Saul through the prophet Samuel were quite clear. He was going to punish the Amalekites because "their ancestors opposed the Israelites when they were coming from Egypt" and so Saul was to "go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Don't leave a thing; kill all the men, women, children, and babies; the cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys" (1 Samuel 15:2-3, GNB). According to the narrative, "But Saul and his men spared Agag's [the king of the Amalaketies] life and did not kill the best sheep and cattle, the best calves and lambs, or anything else that was good; they destroyed only what was useless or worthless" (v. 9). In other words, Saul outrightly, knowingly, and purposefully disobeyed God. The response was immediate. The LORD said to Samuel, "'I am sorry that I made Saul king; he has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands.' Samuel was angry, and all night long he pleaded with the LORD" (v. 11). The prophet went and confronted Saul who greeted him with the words, "The LORD bless you, Samuel! I have obeyed the LORD's command" (v.13), but Samuel was having none of it! Without acknowledging the greeting, he asked, "Why, then, do I hear cattle mooing and sheep bleating?" (v. 14). Saul tried to explain himself and the prophet countered with what the LORD had told him (vv. 15-18) before asking the all-important question: "Why, then, did you not obey Him? Why did you rush to grab the loot, and so do what displeases the LORD?" (v. 19). Saul insisted he had obeyed, "but my men did not kill the best sheep and cattle that they captured; instead, they brought them here to Gilgal to offer as a sacrifice to the LORD your God" (vv. 20-21). Seriously, Saul? Using a spiritual reason to justify disobeying God? Samuel then spoke words to Saul which continue to echo across the centuries to all humanity - "Which does the LORD prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey Him than to sacrifice the best sheep to Him. Rebellion against Him is as bad as witchcraft, and arrogance is as sinful as idolatry" (vv. 22-23a). Ouch! But Samuel was not finished. "Because you [Saul] rejected the LORD's command, He has rejected you as king" (v. 23b). It was only then that Saul admitted, "Yes, I have sinned . . . I disobeyed the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of my men and did what they wanted" (v.24). Read that last statement again, slowly - "I was afraid of my men and did what they wanted." Obeying God is not easy, but to remain in fellowship with Him it is mandatory. To do so means we often risk offending people, sometimes losing people we call friends, people who do not understand that we have to do what God commands. No matter the situations in which we find ourselves, we can never ever justify disobeying God. Regardless of the consequences, given the choice between obedience or offerings and sacrifices, the believer would do well to never forget Samuel's words: "it is better to obey [the LORD] than to sacrifice the best sheep to Him." It is what He prefers. Just ask Saul.

No Deal!

Standing before king Nebuchadnezzar and facing his wrath for their refusal to worship the image according to the instructions heralded to all (Daniel 3:4), the three Jewish boys were offered a deal that would spare them being thrown into the burning fiery furnace. To compound the severity of their non-compliance, certain Chaldeans accused them before the king of having "not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up" (v. 12, KJV). There was no ambiguity to the deal. When they heard the sound of the music, "now if . . . ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" In other words, dance or die. However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not intimidated. They knew that this was a bad deal and so "answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up" (vv. 16-18). In other words, no deal! Thanks, but not thanks! The fiery furnace is nothing for our God to deliver us from and even if He doesn't, we will not compromise our beliefs or turn our backs on the God we serve. What tremendous commitment! One could argue that such commitment is lacking among some professed believers who time and time again dance to the music and worship various images in an attempt to preserve popularity, their relationships, and personal ambitions. Instead of standing firmly for Christ regardless of cost, it is often easier to compromise our beliefs and values. Who wants to be ridiculed? To be ostracized? What we know is that after being thrown in the furnace, heated seven times more than it was initially, the boys' faith in God was rewarded and they were delivered (vv. 19-30). Miraculously, "the fire had no power [upon their bodies], nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them" (v.27). God rewarded their faithfulness and their testimony was of such that it transformed the worship practices of the Babylonians (vv. 28-29). We should never discount the power of individuals standing for Christ and what He is able to do in and through them in those difficult circumstances. Christians everywhere are in somewhat similar positions today. Compromise or be ridiculed? Stand for Christ or be scorned? Oh, lest I forget, we get to choose. We must choose. Deal or no deal? How do you choose?

A Demonstration of Grace

When Jesus met the woman at the well in the Samaritan city of Sychar, she experienced a life-changing moment (John 4). Not only was she confounded by this Jew who broke with tradition and asked a favour of her a Samaritan (v.9), He was able to tell her things about herself that she had not told Him (vv. 16-19). With His knowledge of her past and current relationships with men, it was even more intriguing to her that Jesus not only ignored her past, but that He kept talking to her. Unlike the other men she had dealt with in the past, this one did not seem to want anything from her nor did He want her, but He actually wanted to give her something for her own benefit - "a well of water springing up into eternal life" (v. 14, KJV).

When Jesus' disciples returned from buying meat and saw the two of them talking, they "marvelled that He talked with the woman" (v. 27). What could Jesus and this woman have in common? Bible scholar Adam Clarke observes: "To the present time, if a man meet even his own wife in the street, he does not speak to her; and this is done to keep up the appearance of a chastity and temperance of which the eastern world knows nothing. They might wonder how a Samaritan, in whom they could expect no spirituality, could listen to the conversation of their Master, who never spake but about heavenly things." Despite what was going on in their minds, "yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?" because they knew Jesus well enough to know that though they did not understand what He was doing, He always had His reasons for doing what He did.

From Jesus' perspective, the traditions and customs of the day, the woman's background, her likely reputation of being lewd, were all nonfactors in His reaching out to her. Before Him was someone whose inner thirst needed to be satisfied and He alone was able to do that. In this woman we can see ourselves as we were outside of our relationship with Christ. Is it a tremendous joy to know that despite our individual backgrounds, our stories, our bad reputations, and whatever else about us that others thought were spiritually and morally offensive, that God in the person of Jesus Christ looked past all of that and extended to us His grace; a grace He continues to extend to us and all who are willing to engage Him wherever He finds them.

The apostle Paul sums it this way: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:4-9). I believe that today is as good a time as any to stop and thank God for His grace.

The Power of a Testimony

The narrative of Jesus' meeting with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well (John 4:3-43) is one with which some of us are familiar. For some, the event culminated with the woman leaving her waterpot "and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 'Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?'" (vv. 28, 29, KJV). However, the story does not end there. Following nine verses of discourse between Jesus and the disciples, John continues, "And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, 'He told me all that ever I did'" (v.39).

Let us not forget that the people in the town of Sychar knew this woman; she was lewd and infamous. According to Jewish tradition, those who wished to get wives went to the wells where young women were accustomed to come and draw water; and it is supposed that women of ill fame frequented such places also (Albert Clarke). She was the one who had five husbands and was with a man who was not her husband. She did not tell Jesus her story; He told it to her. It is no wonder she perceived Him to be a prophet. However, after He made it known to her that He was not just a prophet but the Messiah, she immediately went into the city and testified of Him who had told her all she had done. The transformation must have been instantaneous because she whose reputation was previously questionable was now deemed credible. So much so that many of the Samaritans believed on Him because of her testimony.

However, the best was yet to come for according to John: "So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them: and He abode there two days. And many more believed because of His own word; and said unto the woman, 'Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world'" (vv. 40-42). I believe this latter group were the skeptics; those who came initially not because they believed but to see if what the woman said was true. However, after two days of listening to Jesus; after drinking of the "living water" that was in them "a well of water springing up into everlasting life", they confessed to believing not because of what the woman said, though that was what had brought them there, but because they had heard, and I would add, and tasted of Him for themselves.

This came about all because of the power of one woman's testimony. They heard, they came, they experienced for themselves, they believed, and they left knowing for sure that Jesus was the Christ. Has God done something truly amazing in your life? Have you thought about sharing your testimony? You just never know if someone hearing it might be encouraged to come, see, hear, experience, and come to know God for themselves. Others need to hear your testimony. Just ask the Samaritan woman.

"Don't Worry!"

Isn't it ironic that the majority of professing Christians trust God with their eternal security but have difficulty trusting Him with the details of everyday life? On the basis of John 3:16 they fully expect to spend eternity with Him, yet seem unable to take hold of Philippians 4:6, "Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything" (CEV). Is it that God who created the universe, and everything in it, cannot handle the details of the here and now?

God cares about us and the things that impact our lives far more than we realize. Like a good and loving parent, His heart breaks as He watches His children wrestle with things that provoke doubt, fear, and rob us of peace of mind and heart as He waits for us to bring those concerns to Him. He did not intend for us to worry about how we are going to make it from one day to the next, but rather that we should cast those cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). Not some of it, but "all"; everything, nothing - not even what seem to be the most trivial - left out. For some of us, that is an extremely difficult thing to do because worry is like a worn out pair of shoes - we need to throw it out but it is most comfortable. Yet there is no ambiguity to Father's instructions - He says "Don't do it!" for "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" (Matthew 6:30, KJV).

If God takes care of the fowls of the air, He will take care of those who are His. This is the same God who so loved the world that He gave His Son Jesus that all who believe in Him might have life and have it more abundantly (John 3:16; 10:10). Surely, having demonstrated the extent of His love for His children, how can we doubt Him when He says "Don't worry"? Is there anything too hard for Him to handle? (Genesis 18:4).

Whatever it is that weighs heavily on your heart and mind, why not resolve to come boldly to the throne of grace and leave it there? "Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life" (Philippians 4:6-8, The Message).

"Where Are the Nine?"

There were ten of them and they were lepers. According to the narrative, they "stood afar off" from Jesus as they lifted up their voices and said "'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.' And when He saw them, He said unto them, 'Go shew yourselves unto the priests.' And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger'" (Luke 17:12-18, KJV).

The Bible does not tell us what happened to the nine. However, it would be fair to conclude that after showing themselves to the priest who in turn confirmed they were indeed cleansed, they returned to the families and friends they were isolated from as a result of the disease. Nowhere do we read that they collectively thanked and praise God for their healing. It was "as they went, they were cleansed" yet only one returned to glorify God. And that one was not even a Jew! The nine failed to recognize that having been shown grace and mercy, they had a responsibility and an obligation to thank God for His goodness towards them. The psalmist came to the same conclusion when he declared: "What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all His people" (Psalm 116:12-14). Or, as The Message paraphrase puts it: "What can I give back to GOD for the blessings He's poured out on me? I'll lift high the cup of salvation--a toast to GOD! I'll pray in the name of GOD; I'll complete what I promised GOD I'd do, and I'll do it together with His people." When we receive God's favour, we "owe" Him something!

Bible scholar John Gill observes: "They are many, that are cleansed by the blood of Christ; His blood was shed for many, for the remission of sins; and by His righteousness, He justifies many; at least there are many who profess themselves to be cleansed by Him, and yet there are but few that glorify Him, by keeping close to the rule of His word, by giving up themselves to the churches of Christ, and by walking with them in the ordinances of the Gospel." In other words, there are many of us who are no different than the unthankful nine. God has blessed us beyond what we deserve and ever so often we fail to give Him the glory and thanks. We go back to life as we left it; its business as usual.

"'Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger'" Are you one of the nine?

"My Grace is Sufficient..."

In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul speaks of his thorn in the flesh. Theologians have long speculated on what that might have been, but regardless of what it was, we know that Paul asked the Lord three times to remove it (v.9); however, the answer wasn't what he might have expected. The apostle wrote, "And he [Christ] said unto me, 'My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness'" (v.10, KJV).

Sace limitation does not allow for a full discourse on this compelling portion of Scripture. However, there are at least two very important lessons we can take from it. First, our fervent prayers are not necessarily answered in ways we would expect, and second, whatever God allows us to bear, He provides the grace for us to do so successfully. It is understandable that we, like Paul, would ask God to remove physical, emotional, psychological, or mental stressors, but in His wisdom and as He seeks to shape our lives to conform to the image of Christ, He may choose to leave us with those issues and the resulting pain (see Romans 8:28-29). This does not mean that we are left to fend for ourselves. We have the assurance of Christ Himself that not only do we have the Holy Spirit as our Helper, but that the measure of grace that He has made available to us is sufficient. This grace will manifest itself in our moments of weakness, enabling us to rise above our challenging circumstances - no matter how painful, no matter how difficult.

Paul continued, "Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size--abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become" (vv. 9b-10, The Message). The KJV renders the last clause in verse 9, "that the power of Christ may rest upon me." On the word "rest", Bible scholar Albert Barnes writes, "The word properly means to pitch a tent upon; and then to dwell in or upon. Here it is used in the sense of abiding upon, or remaining with. The sense is, that the power which Christ manifested to his people rested with them, or abode with them in their trials."

Have you been given a thorn in the flesh? A situation that seems far more than you can bear? God has not lost your address; He knows exactly where you are. Amidst the many struggles and discouragement is a supernatural power resting on us and an abundance of grace that He promises is sufficient. Take hold of those truths; go forward and conquer!

"One Thing Thou Lackest"

He was a young, a ruler, and rich. According to the narrative, he came to Jesus asking: "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" to which Jesus, in part, replied, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:16-17, KJV). The rest of the dialogue was electric. "[The young man] saith unto Him, 'Which?' Jesus said, 'Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honour thy father and thy mother: and, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' The young man saith unto Him, 'All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?' Jesus said unto him, 'If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.' But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions" (vv. 18-22).

Having declared that he had kept the law, it was clear that loving God and his fellowman was not the priority it should have been. As Bible scholar Albert Barnes observes: "Jesus commanded him to [give up his wealth], therefore, to test his character, and to show him that he had not kept the law as he pretended, and thus to show him that he needed a better righteousness than his own. . . . He made an idol of his wealth. He loved it more than God. He had not kept the commandments from his youth up, nor had he kept them at all; and rather than do good with his treasures, and seek his salvation by obeying God, he chose to turn away from the Saviour and give over his inquiry about eternal life." In some ways the young man wanted what was in God's hand without being willing to let go of what was in his. Unfortunately, some of us are the same way. While there is nothing inherently wrong with owning things, we need to ensure that those things do not "own" us. It is interesting that in Mark's narrative, Jesus started His instructions to the young ruler with the words "One thing thou lackest" (Mark 10:21). The "one thing" was his inability or unwillingness to show that he loved God more than he loved things. When challenged to do so "he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."

In her poem "Treasures", Martha Snells-Nicholson, a bedridden invalid who suffered in pain for over 35 years from four incurable diseases, writes:

One by one He took them from me / All the things I valued most / Until I was empty-handed / Every glittering toy was lost / And I walked earth's highways, grieving / In my rags and poverty / Till I heard His voice inviting / "Lift your empty hands to Me!" / So I held my hands toward heaven / And He filled them with a store / Of His own transcendent riches / Till they could contain no more / And at last I comprehended / With my stupid mind and dull / That God COULD not pour His riches / Into hands already full!

The last sentence says it all. Are you willing to give up what is in your hands for what is in His?

The Guiding Hand

He had called her "Mom"; it seemed he was frightened by the rush-hour crowd exiting and entering the train. As we bobbed and weaved our way through, I watched them as they jostled their way to the exit. In a overwhelming crowd like this, it was easy for a child to become separated from a parent. However, with her hand on his shoulder this mother guided her son through this hustling mass of humanity before letting go of his shoulder and firmly holding his hand. If he held her hand, there was a strong possibility that he could let go and get lost in the crowd. Instead, with her holding him, he was secure. She would not let him go.

As the scene unfolded before me, it occurred to me that as we make our way through our Christian journey, we often speak of holding on to God. Yet how many times when we are overwhelmed and worn down by situations that crowd our lives, have we let go of His hand? For most of us this letting go is/was not intentional; it just seemed to happen. We doubt, we worry, we fear. Like the apostle Peter, distracted by the howling winds and the waves while walking on the lake in the dark towards Jesus who he could not see but whose voice he had heard, we begin to sink (see Matthew 14:22-22). For some of us, we haven't started to sink, we are fully under the water! Like a child who has lost his hold on his parent, we feel helpless and afraid.

Because of our inability to consistently hold on to His hand, we are reminded of God's words to His chosen people through the prophet Isaiah during one of their times of helplessness and fear: "I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you'" (41:13, NIV). Read the verse again, slowly. While it was a promise made to them, by demonstrating His ability to do this, we too can ask Him to do the same for us. As we make our way through the crowd, so to speak, we can ask Him: "Lord, if I hold you the storms of life may pull me away from you, but if you hold me, nothing or no one can separate me from you so please, hold my hand!" When He holds us, no matter what comes our way, we are secure; we are safe.

In your walk with your Lord, who is holding whose hand? If you are holding on to His, will you let go and ask / allow Him to hold yours?

Modern Medicine and a Sovereign God

Modern science is a bit of a two-edged sword; wonderful in some ways and worrisome in others.  Because of a bum shoulder, I recently had to do an x-ray and an ultrasound. As I sat during the latter, I watched on the screen with much interest what the ultrasound was showing.  Some months ago I also did a stress echo test and watched in amazement my beating heart.  Science and technology allow the medical professional to see some things that are not possible to see with the eye and that is a good thing. Doctors need to know what is physically wrong in order to facilitate the process of fixing it. And therein lies the rub because they cannot see everything.
 
As I looked at the monitors during the procedures, it occurred to me that the marvels of medicine could not reveal what was emotionally or spiritually wrong.  A beating heart could be seen but a "heart" that is emotionally bruised, "broken", or spiritually depraved would and could not show up on an x-ray or an ultrasound. Often times the pain we feel in these areas is just as intense as physical pain. We shed what seems like buckets of tears because of the hurt we feel; hurt that no painkillers, prescribed or otherwise, can heal. However, where clinical professionals fail, it is good to know that we have One who never fails in any area. Everything pertaining to us is open before His eyes.
 
These thoughts came to mind as I reflected on the words of Jeremiah: "O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, Who see the mind and the heart" (20:12, NASB). In the New Testament the apostle Peter affirmed, "And God, who knows the heart..." (Acts 15:8).  In Romans 8:27-28 Paul writes, "And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."  It simply means that when we are hurting in places that others cannot see, we can rest assured that God sees and knows.
 
This realization should enable us to be transparent before Him; to know that we can come to Him and trust Him with our hurts, our brokenness, and our tears.  In fact, tears are a language that He fully understands and He is the only one qualified to heal "the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). All because no matter how deep the hurt, He sees it all. Something that modern medicine cannot do. We serve an amazing God!

"I Speak Just As The Father Has Told Me"

For Christians everywhere, Jesus is the perfect model of what it means to do the will of God. While we often bring to God sacrifices that fall short of His clearly defined standards, we also tend to say and do things that are inconsistent with His expressed will. We know that in the Word of God we find the will of God, and so we are without excuse and cannot claim ignorance as to what is expected of us in thoughts, words, and deeds. In our humanity, the war between the flesh and the spirit is a constant struggle and doing the will of God is not always our first course of action (see Romans 7:18-25).

However, in the life of Jesus we see an incredible consistency. In conversations with His disciples, He made the startling statements, among others: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. . . . For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me" (John 5:19; 12:49, 50). With those statements, He affirms some profound truths: 1) He does nothing by Himself; 2) He does only what the Father does; 3) He speaks only what the Father tells Him.

It is worth remembering that though He was the Son of God, Jesus walked the earth as a man, born of a woman, and as such was subjected to the same limitations we are (see John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8). For Him to speak the way He did was a result of the intimate relationship between Himself and the Father; a relationship of oneness that was forged by times of solitude and prayer. In Jesus, we see how surrendering our will for that of the Father puts us in the position of God working not only in us but through us. Jesus puts it this way: "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work" (John 14:10).

Clearly, Jesus' mission was to do the will of the Father and to finish His work (John 4:34; 6:38). With Christ having returned to the Father, our mission is to do the will of the Father and to continue His work in the earth. By looking at Jesus' life we see the best way to accomplish this. It starts with solitude, prayer, and a surrendering of self and our will; getting to know the Father and what He wishes to accomplish in the earth in and through us, then going out and doing it. That is what Jesus did. Are you ready to be like Jesus?

Personal Responsibility

Throughout the Scriptures and as is to be expected, God has consistently held individuals accountable for their actions. From back in Eden after both Adam and Eve sinned, we see God not punishing them collectively, but confronting and punishing them individually.  Even the tempter, the serpent, did not escape divine justice for its part in the fall.
 
From God's perspective, man's ability to choose brings with it the responsibility to explain one's actions or decisions. In other words, to be held accountable. Our Creator and Lord has given us the standards by which to live; standards that govern our relationship with Him and with each other. His words to the children of Israel echo across time to every generation since: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19, KJV).
 
Inherent in this injunction is the accountability factor and the resulting consequence of the decisions we make. Obedience and wise choices bring life and blessings; disobedience and bad choices bring curses and death. It is no wonder Paul reminded the church in Corinth that it was not only consequences in this life we must be concerned about, but eternal ones as well: "For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body" (2 Corinthians 5:10, NLT). Notice "we must all stand before Christ"; all includes you and me, no exemptions.
 
In Eden, God did not accept Adam blaming Eve or her attempt at blaming the serpent.  So it was then, so it still is today. Try as we may, we cannot blame anyone for the choices and decisions we make no matter the degree of influence or provocation. We are ultimately responsible; we are individually accountable to God.

A Dishonest Man and His Enabling Wife

Ananias and Sapphira were members of the church. According to the narrative, they owned a piece of property which they sold, the proceeds from which would go to the church. However, Ananias, "with his wife’s full knowledge . . . kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet" (Acts 5:2, NIV). Peter, being full of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:4), had a word of knowledge of the dishonesty and challenged Ananias and his piety. Nobody had forced him to sell his land, he was not obligated to give any of the proceeds to the church, but having decided to keep part for himself and having brought the rest as if it was the whole, he had lied not only to the apostles and those present, but to God (v. 4). Luke writes, "When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened" (v. 5).

Three hours later, Sapphira came to the temple at which time Peter had only one question for her: "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” and without missing a beat she said, "Yes . . . that is the price” (vv. 7, 8). The narrative continues: "Peter said to her, 'How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband" (vv. 9-10). Such demonstration of God's power! It is no wonder "great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events" (v. 11).

A couple of things are worth noting: 1) Ananias' sin did not happen when he went to the temple. He sinned the moment he decided to keep back some of the money and pretend the remainder was the full price from the sale. 2) Sapphira's sin did not occur when she lied to Peter. The sin was when she purposed in her heart to agree and did agree with her husband in the deception. The consequences of their actions were the outward manifestation of what was already decided in their hearts. Lustful desire when conceived (in the heart) gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown gives birth to death (James 1:14-15).

Two reminders we can take away from this lesson: 1) we are individually responsible and accountable for our actions. Instead of agreeing with Ananias and lying when asked, Sapphira had two occasions when she could have removed herself from the deceit and possibly save herself; 2) we cannot blindly go along with what we know to be wrong, even if the other person involved happens to be a spouse. You cannot change the person's behaviour, but you are responsible for your own. In situations where decisions must be made, you get to choose; each decision carrying its own consequence one way or another. A look at graves of this couple, side-by-side in death as they were in the deception, should serve as a reminder. Choose wisely.

"If I Don't . . . You Can't"

Peter reluctantly agreed to let Jesus wash his feet, but only after Jesus responded to his persistent objections with the rather startling statement: “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.” (John 13:8, The Message). To the irascible fisherman that was unthinkable and so he relented: “Master! . . . Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!” (v. 9). In other words, do whatever is necessary for me to remain a part of what you are doing! In that moment, Peter surrendered his will for that of his Master.

Before that, what Peter thought and wanted did not line up with Christ's purpose. And of course, this was not the first or the last time we see this difference between the two (see Matthew 16:21-23), for example). However, in Peter's initial insistence in wanting Christ to do things his way, we see ourselves, in part, for who we really are. Like Peter, we see things from a human point of view instead of from God’s. We want to follow Christ, but on our terms. We want to worship, but on our terms. We want to pray, but on our terms. On Peter's part, until he came face-to-face with the reality that his desires and Christ's will were not the same, he was not prepared to give an inch of ground. With a resolve strengthened by strong feelings of disapproval, he made it clear: "You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!” (v. 8). The created dictating to the Creator; the disciple instructing the Teacher; the servant standing opposed to his Lord and Master.

Our relationship with Christ is one in which He sets the terms for the relationship. Yet, how many times have we tried to "manipulate" Him into doing things our way? Scripture reminds us, "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21, NIV). In that tense moment in the upper room, Jesus spoke words that not only resonated then but continue to resonate over two thousand years later: "If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing." In other words, "Peter, I hear your objections and I understand the reasoning behind them, but this is bigger than you. In fact, it is not even about you. You do not understand what I am doing now, but I am here to do the will of God and if you are going to be a part of what I am doing, you are going have to do it my way. You choose!" And we know how Peter chose.

What are your objections to Christ doing what He must do with you, in you, and through you to accomplish God's purposes in the earth and in your life? Like it or not, if Christ is Lord and Master there is no other way but His; the echo of His words still rings true: "If I don't . . . you can't." If you listen closely, you will hear Him speaking to you. Will you let Him?

"You Don't Understand Now..."

Peter was adamant that Jesus would not wash his feet. After all, washing the feet of guests was the responsibility of the house servant (see 1 Samuel 25:11), but as they were lying with their feet extended from the table, having finished supper, Jesus "riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded" (John 13:4-5, KJV). Undoubtedly, Peter watched all of this unfold with a sense of bewilderment, so much so that when it was his turn, he emphatically asked, "Lord, dost thou wash my feet?" (v. 6). On this verse the JFB Commentary observes: "Thus far, and in the question itself, there was nothing but the most profound and beautiful astonishment at a condescension to him quite incomprehensible. Accordingly, though there can be no doubt that already Peter’s heart rebelled against it as a thing not to be tolerated." However, Jesus was having none of it. Probably while looking Peter straight in the eye, He "answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter" (v. 7). In other words, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later" (The Message). The rest of the chapter provides a compelling narrative of how this exchange ended. For our purposes, the words of Jesus in verse 7 is of particular significance. Read them again, slowly. Amidst the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day living, we sometimes find ourselves in situations that leave us questioning ourselves and God. Whether it is suddenly losing a job, a loved one, being in a difficult relationship, having what seemed like a sure thing end in failure, an open door that closed without warning, a situation that seem to makes no sense, the leading of the Lord that is no longer clear, and whatever else, we like Peter are often times bewildered. Yet in our uncertainty and confusion, the words of Jesus to Peter are His words to us: "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." These words are not always easy to embrace, but as we struggle to make sense out of the incomprehensible, the still small voice persists: "Trust me. You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." Peter did not relent the first time. However, he did surrender to the wisdom of His Lord (vv. 8-9). And therein lies the rub, the challenge for all of us. Can we trust our Lord when we do not understand? Can we trust Him when we cannot see His way? Can we trust Him when nothing makes sense? As we stand at the crossroad of indecision, His words still ring true today as it did back then: "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." Do you trust Him enough to surrender your will and your way and embrace His will and His way? Do you trust Him that He knows what He is doing? Like Peter, we get to choose. We must choose.

Our High Priest

In the Old Testament, worshippers were required to bring a sacrifice to the priest who would offer it up to God on their behalf. Worshippers and their sacrifices could not go directly to God. There always had to be a middleman, the high priest, who was the only one who could enter the Holy of Holies and offer sacrifices that could atone or compensate for the sins of the people. Before he could offer their sacrifices, the officiating priest "shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house" (Leviticus 16:6, KJV). In other words, he was just as guilty a sinner in the eyes of God as the people whom he represented.

Outside of doing his duty, the interaction between the priest and the worshippers was impersonal. He could not help them as they were all in the same boat; only that his job was special. Entering into the presence of God, there was no guarantee he would come out alive. According to Jewish tradition, "the High Priest wore a rope around his waist as he made his way - absolutely alone - into the Holy of Holies. The rope he wore served a very practical purpose. Because, in the event that the High Priest said or did something wrong, it was generally believed that he would be struck dead for his offense. Yes, right then and there. As only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, the rope enabled his assistants to safely pull the corpse of the High priest out of the inner-sanctum in the event of mishap." That's some serious stuff!

However, the New Testament book of Hebrews provides us with the complete representation of Christ's fulfillment of the law including the priesthood and every sacrifice. Jesus Himself has become our high priest forever (Hebrews 6:19). No longer are we as worshippers represented by an impersonal human priest, but the writer reminds us that in Christ "we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (4:15). In Chapter 2 he writes, "For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted" (vv. 16-18, NIV).

Our high priest "who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens . . . needeth not daily, as those [human] high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself" (7:26, 27). In his book Called to Worship, Vernon Whaley observes, "His sacrifice was eternal, and it purchased for us eternal life, eternal cleansing, eternal covering, and eternal forgiveness. Though we are sinners, and God still has no tolerance for sin, He now looks at us through Christ's finished work on the cross. . . . [Christ] not only presented the offering, He was the offering." Thanks to our great high priest, unlike all the saints before Him, we can come "boldly" and directly "to the throne of grace", worshipping God face-to-face and enjoying Him personally, obtaining mercy, and finding "grace to help in time of need" (4:16). Praise the Lord!

God is No Man's Debtor

She had promised God and she was determined to keep her promise. Grateful to Him for blessing her womb after years of barrenness, Hannah handed young Samuel to Eli, the priest, with the words, "For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: therefore also I have lent [given] him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent [given] to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:27-28a, KVJ). Samuel was not only asked of and received from God (v.20); now he was being lent to God.

On this point Bible scholar Matthew Henry writes, "(1) Whatever we give to God, it is what we have first asked and received from Him. All our gifts to Him were first His gifts to us. Of thy own, Lord, have we given thee, 1 Chronicles 29:14, 16. (2) Whatever we give to God may upon this account be said to be lent to Him, that though we may not recall it, as a thing lent, yet He will certainly repay it, with interest, to our unspeakable advantage." Read the second point again - "Whatever is lent to God . . . He will certainly repay it, with interest, to our unspeakable advantage." So how did God repay Hannah?

Remember, prior to God answering her prayers, Hannah longed for children but "the Lord had shut up her womb" (1 Samuel 1:5-6, 11). One child would have been enough for her; however, God was not finished. The narrative continues, "And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, ‘The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord.’ And they went unto their own home. And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord" (1 Samuel 2:20-21). For the act of lending her first born to the Lord, she who was barren was "repaid" with interest - five more children! She went from being seen as a cursed woman to one who was blessed to her "unspeakable advantage!"

God is no man's debtor. As Creator and being all-sufficient within Himself, He is never in debt to anyone. Everything that we have - the house, the car, the finances, the children, and everything else - come from Him "and of thy own have we given thee" (1 Chronicles 29:13-14). In other words, we are giving back to God what was already His and was always His! However, it is comforting to know that He often rewards those who joyfully give back to Him from what they have been blessed with. And when He does, it is often "with interest." Just ask Hannah. Then try it for yourself.

A Mother's Influence

According to the first chapter of 1 Samuel, Hannah, after giving birth to and weaning her first child Samuel, promptly "brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh" (v. 24). There she vowed "as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord" (v. 28) and left her boy in the care of the prophet.

According to one source, "In the East, to wean is not just to give milk, but to give the milk of the Word. This is why the children sleep with the mother until she teaches them the milk of the Word." Others suggest it meant "when he was weaned from his mother, in the sense of being able to get along without her care." Without any clear meaning, it is assumed that Samuel was between 6-12 years old. Regardless of the age, what we know is that he spent this time learning the ways of God, the ways to worship God. So much so that when he got to Eli, he did not miss a beat - "he worshipped the Lord there" (v. 28).

How did he know how to worship? From his mother. How strong was her influence? Strong enough that he was able to maintain true worship while in the house of Eli and his sons who were "priests of the Lord" (v. 3). Eli was an enabler and his sons were living contrary and immoral lives (1 Samuel 2:22-25). Because of his mother's influence we are told, "But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod . . . . [he] grew before the Lord. . . . And [he] grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men. . . . And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli" (2 Samuel 2: 18, 21b, 26; 3:1).

Parents, especially mothers, whether through right instructions, prayer, being examples, or any combination, your early influence over your child(ren)'s lives are extremely significant. They often stand or fall based on what they have been taught one way or another. They live what they learn and in cases where they do not uphold truth, or follow the straight and narrow path, it is not that they have forgotten. Keep on modeling, keep on praying; they cannot outrun your prayers.

Worshipping Right in Difficult Places

According to the narrative, Hannah, much ridiculed by her husband's second wife about her barrenness, after persevering in prayer and supplication before the Lord, finally conceived and gave birth to her first son, Samuel (see 1 Samuel 1:1-20). We are told that after the child was weaned, Hannah "brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh" (v. 24, KJV) and before Eli the priest she vowed, "as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord" (v. 28) before leaving Samuel with Eli and returning home. From then on, "the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest" (1 Samuel 2:11).

But something was not right in Eli's house, for "the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord" (v. 12). Not only that "the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord" (v. 17), but Eli knew "all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation" (v. 22), and made "the Lord's people to transgress" (v. 24). Yet in this difficult and somewhat salacious environment, something remarkable was taking place. We are told, "But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod . . . . And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. . . . And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men. . . . And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli" (vv. 18, 21b, 26; 3:1). Do you see what I see? Right worshipping in a difficult place!

As a child, it would have been easy for Samuel to have adopted the ways of the adults around him who were supposed be his examples of worshipping and serving the Lord. However, we see the opposite; he was in a bad environment, but the environment was not in him! In other words, he did not allow himself to be influenced by said environment. By God's grace his heart remained true to worshipping God in the ways he had learned from his worshipping mother. The same can be true for us as well. No matter the negative environment in which we find ourselves - at work, home, school, or wherever else - it does not have to influence our behaviour and / or our worship. God's grace is still able to empower us to "live soberly, righteously, and godly" wherever we find ourselves (Titus 2:11-12). We can still worship the right way. Easy? No! Possible? Yes! Just ask Samuel.

"I Know You Love Me"

It was one of those songs that did not catch my attention right away. However, as the week progressed, I found myself not only humming the tune but looking up the words. Not only was the first stanza deep in its message, it was like a recurring theme in my head: "Oh Lord You've searched me / You know my way / Even when I fail You / I know You love me." Powerful stuff!

It is one thing to search ourselves. We know there are places in our lives where we will conveniently not look. Places where we have stashed our "forbidden things" which we believe nobody but ourselves know about. Yet, it is another thing to have God do the searching. He leaves no stones unturned, no doors unopened, nothing is hidden from His eyes. I am reminded of the words of the Psalmist David, "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me" (Psalm 139:1, KJV). Bible Scholars tell us that the word rendered 'searched' has a primary reference to searching the earth by boring or digging, as for water or metals. It involves a thorough investigation. This kind of thoroughness is required because as Jeremiah reminds us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). In effect David was saying, as Bible commentator Adam Clarke puts it, "Thou hast investigated me; thou hast thoroughly acquainted thyself with my whole soul and conduct." Jesus spoke about what was in the heart (Mark 7:18-23). It is easy to deceive ourselves; to believe we are "OK" when we are not. Only God can do an honest search of the human heart.

Yet, if the words of the songwriter are to be believed, even after searching the recesses of the heart and seeing all it contains, we can still say of God with confidence, "I know you love me." There is nothing to lose and everything to gain to invite such an investigative search. It cannot be a one time thing either. It is no wonder David ended the Psalm with the earnest request: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (vv. 23-24, KJV). In other words, like a prosecutor interrogating a witness or a defendant, keep on investigating my heart and my thoughts. Why? "Because Thou seest all that is in my heart. Nothing is, or can be, concealed from thee" (Barnes Notes). I do not have to be afraid of this level of transparency because irregardless of what you find, "I know you love me."

A clean hand and pure heart are what God desires (Psalm 24:3-4). Only He can search and cleanse the heart. Today is a good time to echo the words of the Psalmist and invite Him to do so; to really make it personal. Trust me, He will not be turned off by what He sees.

Demonstration of Grace - Part III

In this our final look at the John 9 narrative, we see Jesus using a secondary medium to facilitate the blind man's healing. Instead of simply speaking a word, or just touching the man's eye so he could see, Jesus "spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which is translated, Sent)" (vv. 6-7a, NKJV). Why did Jesus do it this way? In the silence of the Scriptures, we are left to speculate. It could be that having adapted to this life-long condition, the man had no expectation of healing. Blindness was his norm; he knew nothing else. In other instances of healing, Jesus was working with the faith of the person who needed healing; however, in this case, there was no faith.

Jesus' instructions put the man to the test. Would he believe the words of Jesus? Would he be cynical and not bother because his was not an instant miracle? After all, Jesus did something to his eyes and he still could not see. What he did not know was that if he did as Jesus said, that act of belief was the activating faith that would bring about his miracle. We do not know what he was thinking, how far he walked, or if someone guided him to the pool but according to the narrative, "he went and washed, and came back seeing" (v. 7b, NKJV)." Jesus needed for him to be an active participant in his healing. The miracle was not brought about by the spittle-laden clay on his eyes but rather by his faith in the words of Jesus to do exactly as He said. It is no wonder when the Pharisees questioned him, his testimony remained constant: "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight" (v.11). In other words, I did exactly what He said I should do and I was healed!

How about you? The only thing that stood between the blind man and his miracle was obedience born out of trust. He trusted what he was told by the One who could change his situation. A situation he had adapted to; one for which he was not believing for a miracle. If you have such a situation, know that you can trust the words of Jesus as recorded in the Scriptures. Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew the power of doing what Jesus said when she told the servants standing over the empty waterpots at the wedding in Cana, “Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5). This man called Jesus - He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and whatever He did back then, He is still able to do today. You can trust and do whatever He tells you to do and the results will follow. Just ask the blind man.

Demonstration of Grace - Part II

When Jesus healed the blind man He encountered after being thrown out of the temple, He showed him much grace.  According to the narrative (John 9), the man did not even ask to be healed. Truth be known, he did not even know who Jesus was because had He known that the One who was able to make blind eyes see was in his path, he would have probably shouted his name to get His attention.  Even as Jesus spoke, the man did not recognize His voice.

 But on this day Jesus was simply in the mood to do a miracle; to demonstrate to an unbelieving people that He was indeed the Light of the world who had stepped into the world of darkness. After correcting the theology of the disciples on the cause of the man's blindness (vv. 2-5), "He [Jesus] spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing" (vv. 6-7, NKJV).  It is quite possible that if the man could have seen what Jesus did before sending him off, he would have been offended.  Jesus spat on the ground, made clay, and anointed his eyes.  Sure Jesus could have simply said a word and he would have been healed, but Jesus did something for him that he could not see in order that he might see who Jesus was.  In other words, what the man could have been offended by, if he could have seen it, was not an act of uncleanness but a demonstrating of grace.  It was the blessing he could not see and because he could not see it, it never occurred to him to give God thanks.

The majority, if not all of us, are in the same position.  While we often thank God for the blessings we see, when was the last time you thanked Him for the blessings you cannot see?  The accidents He prevented that could have occurred as you went about your day?  The wheels He set in motion  so you could receive an answered prayer?  The job you kept that you should have lost?  The pain and hurt you suffered to spare you even greater pain and hurt?  Stop and think about it. Even as you are reading this and though you are not able to see it, no matter the circumstances in which you find yourself, the Lord is blessing you right now!  And you didn't even ask.  Perhaps you are not even thinking about Him, but He sees you nevertheless and is demonstrating grace.

 Are you ever really out of things to thank Him for? I didn't think so. Me neither. 

Demonstration of Grace - Part I

To the man this was just another day.  Blind from birth, he had never seen a sunrise, the beauty of a flower, the face of his mother, or anything else for that matter.  Over the years he had adapted to his disability, years that were undoubtedly fraught with difficulties. In the culture of the day, illnesses and disabilities were deemed to be the result of sin and of such the blind were of no use to their families or to society. Left to beg for support, theirs was a challenging and frustrating life.

 According to the narrative, the man was about his business when Jesus saw him (John 9:1). No words were exchanged between them, but the disciples used the opportunity to question Jesus on the tradition: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (v.2, NKJV), to which Jesus replied, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (vv. 3-5). In other words, he is who he is so that I might demonstrate who I am!  And with those words, "He [Jesus] spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing" (vv. 6-7). 

 There are some interesting observations to be made but three stands out: 1) At no time did the man ask Jesus for anything; that Jesus saw him and met him at the point of his need is a demonstration of grace. 2) Jesus did not heal him directly but used clay and then gave him instructions. By the man acting on those instructions, the man activated his faith and became an active participant in his healing.  However, not to be overlooked is the fact that being blind, he could not see Jesus, but Jesus saw him.  The man did not even know who Jesus was (v. 11), but Jesus was able to tell his purpose (v. 3).  The One who was the Light, entered into the world of the one who was in darkness! And he didn't even have to ask Jesus to do it. Jesus did it just because He could.

 Is there a "disability" that you have had for so long that you have adapted to it? Jesus is passing your way and He is in the mood to do a miracle.  As He did for the blind man, He will meet you at the point of your need.

Doing Wrong When I Want to Do Right!

When king David got up from his bed to walk around on the roof of the palace on that cool spring morning, I do not believe he expected to see what he saw.  According to the narrative, "From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful" (2 Samuel 11:2, NIV).  What happened next would affect a number of lives in ways that not even David could have imagined: "And David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, 'She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.' Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her . . . Then she went back home" (vv. 3, 4).

 I thought of David as I reflected on how relatively easy it is to give in to what one feels.  Inherent even in the best of us is the tendency to go after what catches our attention, especially if it does so in ways we find pleasurable. As Eve would probably testify after her experience with the serpent in Eden (Genesis 3:6), if it satisfies a deep longing, it is even more attractive. In moments of stress and anxiety, such distractions can feel liberating.  We know we shouldn't, but we do it anyway.  Even the apostle Paul was not immune from crossing the divide.  In an amazing act of transparency and vulnerability, he writes to the brethren in Rome, "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. . . . So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am!" (Romans 7:18b, 19, 21-24a). Can you see yourself in Paul?

 What a perfect picture of the believer's struggle! Some battles we win, others we lose. On the day in question, David lost his battle! When we look at his life, it was not his first loss and neither would it be it last. However, on every occasion, he got back up, dusted himself off, sought the grace of God, and kept going.  God would not have made grace available to us if we were not going to need it.  Instead of thinking we are failures and losers, in the Proverbs we are reminded: "For a just [righteous] man falls seven times, and rises up again" (Proverbs 24:6). Maybe some people are perfect enough to not have fallen, but I know I have had to lay claim to that grace at different times in the past, the present, and certainly will have to do so in the future.

 It is comforting to know that our God is a God of compassion and that He knows our humanity (Psalm 103:13-14).  That the times we fail we are not tossed aside, but as long as we are willing to get back up, dust ourselves off, and keep going, His arms are never too short to reach in and lift us out of the depths to which we have fallen. Having lifted us out, He then sets our feet upon a rock, steadying our steps and make those steps secure (Psalm 40:2).  To the Davids, Pauls, and Eves of the world He still says with arms open wide, "Come unto me."  Having heard his voice, it is up to you and I to get up from the dust, again, dust ourselves off, and take Him up on the offer, again.

Staying Committed

It is difficult, if not almost impossible, to walk away from a very good thing. People who find themselves in such situations, whether in a relationship, a career, or whatever else, usually cherish the experiences. Perhaps the relationships are the most fulfilling. To know and be known to the point where words seem unnecessary for communication; where the person we are with seem to know our thoughts and are able to complete our sentences. They feel our hurts even when we try to hide it from them; they are in tune with our feelings. All of this is mutual of course, for if the relationship is one-sided it is not much fun.

I like to think that as David reflected on the sheep-shepherd relationship, the "intimacy" was not lost on him. The shepherd knows the sheep and the sheep knows the shepherd. The shepherd gently leads his sheep over mountains and valleys, protecting them from all kinds of danger. He provides safe pastures for feeding and still waters for rest and refreshing. He takes care of the bruises that come with the journey, checking each sheep individually and pouring in the oil when needed. After a long day, he provides an overflowing cup from which each sheep drinks; not rationed amounts but enough until it is satisfied.

The sheep trust their shepherd. They "know" that he will do everything in his power to ensure their welfare. Despite the tendency to wander, they are never out of the shepherd's sight. Even if one goes astray, the shepherd will secure the others and go looking for the one that strayed. In today's parlance, they have it good. It is no wonder therefore, that David closes his psalm with the words, "And through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place" (Psalm 23:6b, The Amplified). Where else would he go? Who else could take care of him the way the LORD, his Shepherd, could and would? This was the same Psalmist who said in another place, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:11, KVJ).

Like David, we too can experience the richness and intimacy of our relationship with our Shepherd. It starts with trusting Him with the things that pertains to us; to abandon ourselves in absolute surrender to His care. It involves staying committed. That is not an easy thing to do because like sheep we do not always know what is best for us. But our Shepherd can be trusted. There is no one like Him and if we allow Him to, He will lead us home - safely.

The Silence Within

Occasionally, I love the sound of silence. Silence punctuated by the sound of running water, the rustling of leaves, and the chirping of birds is also just as good. Growing up in the bustling capital city of my island home didn't afford a lot of opportunities for outward silence and it took a tremendous amount of discipline to achieve inner silence. Left unchecked, the mind is like an elementary school playground during recess. We are always thinking, always planning, and being surrounded by a vast amount and array of stimulants, additional thoughts are constantly invading our already noisy mind.

It may come as a surprise to some that the mind needs true peace to calm down its unpredictable and never ending flow of thoughts and feelings. True peace is rest in the mind, and to compensate for the lack of it some people often try to create a false peace with alcohol, drugs, sex, or other addictions. Some have tried self-assurance, reachable expectations, and various forms of meditation. These provide very temporary moments of respite but no lasting peace. Of course, true peace can only be found in being in the will of God; it is a gift from God found only through Christ. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27). For the child of God to really settle his or her mind, the peace offered by the world is a poor substitute. We need the peace that only Christ can give.

To be in the will of God is to abide in the peace of God. When we are in His will there is no need to worry, doubt, or fear; these are the activities that often keep our minds busy. These are replaced by an unwavering faith in our God's ability to take care of the things that pertain to us. We can rest in His care. It is no wonder the Psalmist declares, "My soul waits in silence only for God; from Him comes my salvation" (Psalm 62:2); a salvation that includes his peace. Though life may be challenging and unpredictable, though our bodies be frail and pain is our companion, when it seems our minds are on the verge of being overwhelmed, by God's grace we can find stillness; we can find silence within. I am praying that for you.

Does Prayer Really Work?

 

If you are like most people, you have probably asked this question a number of times. For some of us, it seems like God is asleep on the job, so to speak, because the reality of our individual circumstances seem to shout at us ever so loudly. We are tested on every side; our relationships, health, job, finances, to name a few, and somewhere in the back of our minds is a nagging doubt as to whether God is paying attention or not. Can He really do anything, and if so, why doesn’t He?  

We could ask the same question as we look at the chaos that continues to take place in various parts of the world.  Following the national and international news is potentially depressing. No longer are we talking about rumours of war, we have more wars going on than most of us realize.  Earthquakes, tsunamis, famines, droughts, terror attacks to name a few, are the order of the day.  Where is God? Didn't He promise, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV)?  If the world was a corporation of which God was the CEO, the board of that corporation would probably consider replacing Him for failing to deliver what He promised.  

The Bible is the only resource we have that speaks of God’s ability and integrity. It is His Word and we are told that He cannot lie. In Numbers 23:18 we read, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” Those are serious questions we need to ponder. Whatever God said, He will do, and whatever He has spoken, He shall make good. That’s about as solid an assurance of God’s ability and integrity that one could get. The interesting thing is that Jesus prayed, and therefore there must have been no doubt in His mind that prayer does make a difference; it works.

We can rest assured that God is not indifferent to the things that are important to us (1 Peter 5:7). Persistent prayer works, and though the answers we seek may not be immediately realized, it does not mean that God is not working on our behalf. Don’t give in to discouragement; He is faithful to them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations (Deut. 7:9). PUSH through; keep on Praying Until Something Happens.

Dealing With Doubt

Have you ever had to wrestle with doubt? Times when you silently question the spiritual truths you believe? Times when you wonder if the Bible is true and God is loving, fair, and omnipotent, then why are things still so hard in your life and the lives of others around you? The questions linger: "Why am I still sick?" "Why am I still unemployed?" and on and on.

While most Christians would consider it blasphemous to voice these thoughts, the reality is that some people struggle with these and similar questions in the privacy of their own minds. Some of these people are seated in the church pews every Sunday. In some ways they are like the man who brought his son who had a "dumb spirit" whom Jesus' disciples could not cast out, but when the father stood before Jesus he asked of Him, "If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us" (Mark 9:22b, KJV). The narrative continues, "Jesus said, 'If? There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen.' No sooner were the words out of His mouth than the father cried, 'Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!'" (vv. 23-24, The Message).

The fact that Jesus' disciples had failed caused the father to question Jesus' ability. However, Jesus turned the situation around by reminding the man that the issue was not His [God's] ability, but rather the lack of faith on the part of the one asking. In other words, with God all things are possible but do we have the faith to believe that? It is important to understand that belief is not a matter of mental assent or agreement, but rather a conviction in one's heart. Someone once said, "Until you believe the truth in your heart, all you have is information." Yes, God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent; nothing is impossible with Him, but is that truth in our heads or has it taken root in our hearts?

What we believe in our hearts will manifest itself in our thoughts, actions, and attitudes. The next time you find yourself doubting and worrying, ask yourself what is it that you truly believe. God is not intimidated by shaky faith and He can handle doubts, for He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:14). We want to believe, we say we believe, but doubt saps the life out of our faith. However, God's abilities do not wane because we have trouble believing. He is who He say He is. Once we move that truth from our heads to our hearts, we have it on good authority that nothing in accordance with the will of God will be impossible to us (1 John 5:14-15). Still not sure? Just ask Jesus. You can trust whatever He tells you.

You Are What You Believe

Have you ever felt like an eagle among chickens? You feel so much God given potential within you yet it seems you are always in the company of chickens, running around like a chicken, instead of soaring to the skies like an eagle. As a matter of fact you start doubting what is inside of you, choosing instead to believe you are like everybody else; you are where you belong. I came across the following story, author unknown, which highlights this dilemma.

"Once upon a time, there was a large mountainside, where an eagle's nest rested. The eagle's nest contained four large eagle eggs. One day an earthquake rocked the mountain causing one of the eggs to roll down the mountain, to a chicken farm, located in the valley below. The chickens knew that they must protect and care for the eagle's egg, so an old hen volunteered to nurture and raise the large egg.

One day, the egg hatched and a beautiful eagle was born. Sadly, however, the eagle was raised to be a chicken. Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken. The eagle loved his home and family, but his spirit cried out for more. While playing a game on the farm one day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies. "Oh," the eagle cried, "I wish I could soar like those birds." The chickens roared with laughter, "You cannot soar with those birds. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar."

The eagle continued staring, at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them. Each time the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn't be done. That is what the eagle learned to believe. The eagle, after time, stopped dreaming and continued to live his life like a chicken. Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle passed away.

The moral of the story: You become what you believe you are; so if you ever dream to become an eagle follow your dreams, not the words of a chicken."

We who have the spirit of God are meant to soar above our circumstances. Like the eagle, we use the winds of adversity to lift our wings above the storms. However, it is important to know what is within us. It was never God's intention that we scratch out an existence, living lives of constant defeat. In Isaiah 40:28-31 we read, "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (KJV).

Despite what others may say about us, in the end we are what we believe we are. Let us believe God and trust what He has placed inside of us. We were meant to fly.

Only For a Season

Elijah had just delivered God's judgment to King Ahab that there would be no rain in Israel until he (Elijah) said so, right after which God told him: "Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there" (2 Kings 17:3-4, KJV). This sure sounded like he would be settled in for the long haul! It is interesting to note that Elijah did not make prior preparations for himself even though he knew what was coming. There was no borrowing of pots and pans to store water for a season. Rather, he did exactly as the Lord told him "and the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook" (v. 6).

We do not know how long he was there for, but what we know is that "after a while . . . the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee" (vv. 7-9). So far, everything had gone exactly as God had said. What we want to note, however, are the following - it was God who had sent him to the brook; the brook dried up; it was time for him to move again. Why didn't God simply bring food to Elijah where he was by other means? For sure, that wasn't a big deal for a God who had demonstrated on Mount Carmel that He was the God of everything. I would like to suggest that this wasn't about God, but Elijah. Would he trust God in a situation where he had nothing else to fall back on? His season at the spot was over. God's faithfulness would continue to and beyond Zarephath.

Life really is about seasons. In Ecclesiastes 3:1 we read, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" and there are times when God have us walk a certain path that is meant to last only for a season. However, we can become so comfortable by our dried-up brook reflecting on the way things were that we fail to trust God with the next step. Maybe we are expecting Him to do something in a way He has done it before, yet being God, He can do anything in whatever way He chooses. For Elijah, the famine was not over but his season by the brook was. Had he stayed by the brook he would have died from starvation. His blessing, food, and sustenance was now commanded in Zarephath and in order to claim it he had to leave where he was. A dried-up brook could be a failed relationship, a failed friendship, a job loss, or some other unexpected challenge. Regardless of whatever it is, it could be that your blessing has been commanded elsewhere. All of this assumes no violation of God's Word, for He will not give an instruction that conflicts with His Word.

If God has demonstrated His faithfulness in your life, you can trust Him with your next step. He knows what He is doing.