Belief Until...

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1

Taking a slight detour out of Ezekiel this week.

I was struggling with what to write from Ezekiel.  I was doing my normal poking about online when I came across a friend's Facebook post.

Apparently there are Christians that believe that if scientists find conclusive proof of life on other planets, then that somehow disproves God's existence. Ummm...why is it impossible to believe that God created us and aliens?

Well, this led to a lengthy discussion between them and their friends about God creating the universe and the possibility of aliens.  Here's my take on it:

I don't care.

There's something really important in the post though, that people didn't key in on.  It's the unwritten, "but" or "until" that isn't there that's the biggest flaw in the beliefs of the Christians the post is about.

I'll believe in God until he is disproven.

Wait a minute.  Read that again.  Read it over and over again until you realize what it's saying.  If you're saying that you'll believe until something else happens, did you ever really believe in the first place?  

There is nothing that can happen that would alter my belief.  No huge discovery from science or another religion or politics or anything can change that.  I believe.  Period.  End of sentence.

God created the heavens and the earth.  Nothing will change my belief in that.

He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  Nothing will change my belief in that either.

Thurs Devo: Opposition Continues

Not only did Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses, as we saw the last few weeks, but later a fellow Levite led a large opposition.

Numbers 16:1-3 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent ² and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. ³ They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

Had Moses chosen to be their leader? Had he set himself up above them? No. In fact, when God chose Moses for this task, Moses refused (Exodus 4:13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”). God didn’t take no for an answer, but He did give Aaron as Moses’ assistant (see Exodus 4:14-16). So, Moses and Aaron had neither chosen nor earned this huge responsibility.  

Besides, was the whole community really holy? Not at all. Throughout Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers they sinned over and over again. God was with them, but it wasn’t because of their own holiness or the holiness of Moses and Aaron. It was because God made a covenant with their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and He would keep His promise. 

From Numbers 16:8-14 it appears Korah and his followers were discontent with their own privileged position and wanted to take over Moses and Aaron’s positions to get what they wanted.

You and I may not have led a rebellion against authority, but I’m guessing we have all criticized or complained against authority. The next time you and I want to complain about someone else in authority, let’s ask ourselves why we want to complain? Is it because we want their position and think we could do a better job? Or are we upset because we aren’t getting what we want when we want it? Or, is it a legitimate concern over injustice?  

In the future, we’ll see some interesting ways Moses and God respond to this opposition! Stay tuned…

Alice

Humble and Gentle

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.  James 4:7-10

(This is Pt 5 of 8 – Turning the Tide – Representing God to a World that Misrepresents Him)

In the United States, we talk about certain unalienable rights.  Of which, there are none more fundamental than life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  I like how it says ‘pursuit of happiness’ because that does not guarantee that one should be happy.  Now most people would say that I am a fairly happy guy.  However as I wrote this devotion, I found myself asking if I am too happy.  Perhaps, all I have and been given is not really deserved.  It was given by the grace of God.  In spite of the things I have done wrong and how I did not get it right before God, He has yet chosen to give me so much in this life.  Because of such, I am both saddened and humbled.  Maybe that is the difference between happiness and humility.  Happiness is the feeling you have when something good is going on.  Humility is the feeling of goodness you have when God is with you even when bad things are going on in your life.  In a world that in many cases feels entitled to have ‘Happiness,’ what can we do to find humility even when things like suffering, depression, and even isolation come.

As Christians, we find humility through God’s love and grace.  I love today’s verses because it not only draws on what humility looks like but also notes a clear line of the battle for our soul; it’s God and the world. The verses speak of sorrow, grief,  sadness, and gloom.  The world is full of not only good but also sorrow, grief, and other problematic things.  Furthermore, we know that there are numerous trials and tests where there is no happiness or joy to be found.  In spite of all that, we have been given so much.  We may have worked or earned much of it, but if we look to the standard of Jesus Christ, we do not deserve any of it.  In our understanding of this (humility), God gains the glory, and elevates us above all of our past transgressions and failures!  Thus, all that we have becomes all we were given by God.

We find joy in our lives through Jesus Christ for even when we deserve death for our sins, He interceded for us to give us eternal life.  We should feel incredibly humbled for this most gracious gift.  So in our sadness and remorse, we find the love God has for us.  In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Where can you humble yourselves before God?  How you can more appreciative of the gifts that God has given you?  My prayer is that we learn from Jesus’ teachings, and be both humble and gentle at heart for all He has given us. Amen.

Tues Devo: Um...

Romans 8:26 “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning’s too deep for words.” (NASB)

Hello,

Been there? You think to yourself “I have tried everything in the book” – you feel stuck and just can’t get it. You get so frustrated that you don’t even know how to string words together properly. Suddenly you start thinking about two things: Have been trying things from the wrong book? Maybe “I” am trying too much – and not putting it in God’s hands.

But how do you start? You start with the verse above. You don’t have to have the words figured out – go to Him with a truly open heart, talk – but listen – and then respond. He is strong enough. He is resourceful enough. He is smart enough. Trust Him, let Him.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill