SCRIPTURE
Hezekiah, the king of Judah said “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles" (2 Chronicles 32:7-8)
OBSERVATION
The king of Assyria invaded Judah and was about to make war on Jerusalem. Hezekiah, in encouraging the people, describes this vast army of Assyria as "only" the arm of flesh. I love that. It would be like saying North Korea's or Iran's potential nuclear arsenal is only the arm of flesh...not a big deal. But when you compare the two, God versus a vast army, God always tips the scales in his favor. The king of Assyria had his army, but the people in Jerusalem had God. He would fight their battles for them.
APPLICATION
There are plenty of things in life that look insurmountable. It seems the challenges can come almost daily. Not all of them are big things but in the moment even the small things can drain my energy and momentum. That's why I need to remember to walk with God. When I am on his side, he fights for me. He helps me in my battles. I can join forces with the world, but it only has the arm of flesh. It is limited in power and resources. But when God helps me, the resources are unlimited and the victory is sure. I still have to fight but God enters the battle with me. These words are a great encouragement to know I'm not alone and don't have to do it all in my own strength. When I face the battles and struggles in life, whether it's from outside or my own internal fight for holiness, I know I have a greater power with me...God himself.
PRAYER
Father, thank you that you are with me and help me to fight my battles. It doesn't depend on my own strength alone but you help me to fight the good fight. Amen.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Faith in Action
SCRIPTURE
“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God's friend." James 2:21-23
OBSERVATION
A living faith is a faith of action. Abraham believed in God. Yet, it wasn't until he did something that his faith was made complete. Abraham got to the very point of raising his knife to sacrifice Isaac...it was there that God now believed in Abraham. The challenge isn't in having faith but it is having a faith of action. Abraham was willing to risk everything to show that he believed God. An incomplete faith would be a faith that just believes with no action. Or action that just works without faith. God is looking for people who trust Him enough to do what He says.
APPLICATION
It's easy to reduce "faith" to a set of intellectual beliefs. I keep it in my head and go on with my own life. For my faith to be complete I need to act on what I know. The Bible is full of action words (love, give, obey, forgive, repent, honor, confess, follow). Believing in them is not enough. For my faith to be complete I need to act. In my head I can know a lot of truths. I can believe a lot of things. But the rubber hits the road when I act. Action is the test of my faith. Do I really believe it enough to do it? If I don't do it, do I really believe it? My faith and actions work together like tires on a bicycle. Without one or the other I'm not going anywhere.
PRAYER
Lord, I want to have a faith of action. I want, like Abraham, to be called your friend because I'm willing to do what I believe. Amen.
“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God's friend." James 2:21-23
OBSERVATION
A living faith is a faith of action. Abraham believed in God. Yet, it wasn't until he did something that his faith was made complete. Abraham got to the very point of raising his knife to sacrifice Isaac...it was there that God now believed in Abraham. The challenge isn't in having faith but it is having a faith of action. Abraham was willing to risk everything to show that he believed God. An incomplete faith would be a faith that just believes with no action. Or action that just works without faith. God is looking for people who trust Him enough to do what He says.
APPLICATION
It's easy to reduce "faith" to a set of intellectual beliefs. I keep it in my head and go on with my own life. For my faith to be complete I need to act on what I know. The Bible is full of action words (love, give, obey, forgive, repent, honor, confess, follow). Believing in them is not enough. For my faith to be complete I need to act. In my head I can know a lot of truths. I can believe a lot of things. But the rubber hits the road when I act. Action is the test of my faith. Do I really believe it enough to do it? If I don't do it, do I really believe it? My faith and actions work together like tires on a bicycle. Without one or the other I'm not going anywhere.
PRAYER
Lord, I want to have a faith of action. I want, like Abraham, to be called your friend because I'm willing to do what I believe. Amen.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Heat is On
SCRIPTURE
“What can I do with you Ephraim? What can I do with you Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the dew that disappears." Hosea 6:4
OBSERVATION
God was mourning the unfaithfulness of his people. It's not that they didn't love him, it's just that their love was a fair weather kind of love...in the evening and morning, when things were cool and calm. They loved God until the heat was turned up (when the sun comes up the dew disappears). Their love for him was not lasting. It came and went like the morning mist.
APPLICATION
It's easy to love God when things are going well. I guess the real test of my love for him is when things start to heat up. When disappointment, trouble, trials, or just the stress of life start to put pressure on my faith, will I still love God as fervently as I do in the calm (if there is such a thing) of life? My love for him needs to be consistent, not like the dew that dries up. It's not hard to imagine the heat of the day, drying up the dew, with the weather of the past few days. But it's in those times when my commitment to God is proved genuine. My love for him needs to be more than an outward show, but an internal, dependable kind of love. A love that doesn't dry up when the heat is on.
PRAYER
Lord, may my love for you be lasting, even when things heat up. You are faithful to me, help me to be faithful to you. Amen.
“What can I do with you Ephraim? What can I do with you Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the dew that disappears." Hosea 6:4
OBSERVATION
God was mourning the unfaithfulness of his people. It's not that they didn't love him, it's just that their love was a fair weather kind of love...in the evening and morning, when things were cool and calm. They loved God until the heat was turned up (when the sun comes up the dew disappears). Their love for him was not lasting. It came and went like the morning mist.
APPLICATION
It's easy to love God when things are going well. I guess the real test of my love for him is when things start to heat up. When disappointment, trouble, trials, or just the stress of life start to put pressure on my faith, will I still love God as fervently as I do in the calm (if there is such a thing) of life? My love for him needs to be consistent, not like the dew that dries up. It's not hard to imagine the heat of the day, drying up the dew, with the weather of the past few days. But it's in those times when my commitment to God is proved genuine. My love for him needs to be more than an outward show, but an internal, dependable kind of love. A love that doesn't dry up when the heat is on.
PRAYER
Lord, may my love for you be lasting, even when things heat up. You are faithful to me, help me to be faithful to you. Amen.
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