His way is perfect

Psalm 18:30

As for God, his way is perfect:  The Lord's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

We often have our own plan for how things should go.  Sometimes those plans do not work out as we would hope.  Last night I got to spend time with my cousin who I haven’t seen in over 20 years and his family.  They are missionary’s in Ecuador and are back in the states visiting for a short bit this summer.  My cousin was telling us about their work and sharing pictures with us.  He kept talking about how there is one village that they haven’t been able to get into yet, that every time they try they run into a road block.  That is when he seemed to have a moment of realization and said it is probably God protecting them as they have heard some pretty bad stories about that village. 

Here he has a plan to share Christ with these people who may have never heard of Christ, his heart is pure and just wants to serve yet he is stopped.  One might think negative in that situation however he realized that God’s way is perfect and that God shields them for taking refuge in him.

Have you planned something and it just never worked out then later you can see that God had a better plan?  I know I can certainly find multiple situations where that is true when I look back at my own life and plans.

May the Lord guide your ways today and always!

Thursday Devotional - Wrongfully Accused

Have you ever been wrongfully accused? If so, what did you do about it?

Joe was pulled over by a policeman who thought he was on the “wanted” list. Joe wasn’t speeding or anything but his old Acura looked similar to the car the “wanted” man drove. After talking to Joe for a while, the policeman realized he had the wrong guy.  

Jesus was wrongfully accused many times, arrested and never released. It amazes me how calm He was throughout all the accusations and abuse.

John 18:19-24         ¹⁹ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ²⁰ “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

²² When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

²³ “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” ²⁴ Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.       

The high priest and religious leaders were to love and serve God with their whole heart! However, it’s obvious many of them were far from being in tune with God’s will and plans.

Have you been wrongfully accused within the Church? If so, how did you handle it? Did you retaliate, take revenge, or shun all those in the church?  Or, did you look for God to bring good from the situation and increase your trust in Him as your defender?

God may use the situation to direct you and me to a different local church or He may help us and the other member learn some valuable lessons. However God uses it, He can grow us through the difficult situation. We aren’t to abandon God and the Church. What if Jesus had given up when wrongfully accused?

Alice

Taking A Holiday With God

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.  Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.  Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”  Acts 6:1-4

Many of us took advantage of the 4^th of July holiday to do many things.  Some of which included reflecting and embracing the freedoms we enjoy and watching fireworks displays.  Others included getting away from the house to do mini-vacations to places both near and far from home.  It’s good to get away to unplug from all the things that go on in your life whether it be work or home to just relax.  In that space, I thought about focusing on God and those things that can prevent me from connect with Him.  We are influenced by so much like personal relationships, business situations, and political climate that it can overwhelm one and potentially impede our own ability to focus on God.  How can we successfully connect with Him when so much can become barriers to that connection?

Our efforts to connect with God must be one filled with intention.  We all can get caught up in the ‘busyness’ of life.  If we do not have an intentional plan of action to combat these times, we can lose sight of that which we can all rely on; God’s faithfulness and strength.  We must always focus on our relationship with Christ for the relentless pressures of the world are never ceasing.  In a similar circumstance, the Apostles in their early stages recognized such challenges, and thus looked to others to aide with other business to give themselves “continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4b)  Thus even then, a great emphasis was placed on ‘getting away’ from other things to focus on God and task they had ahead of them.

We are given access to God; the one who gives us peace.  Matthew 11 tells us what Jesus provides for all of His people.  It says:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  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.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Let us not be too shy to call or overburdened to forget.  Remember that God is your resting place.  How can ensure you rely on God when distracted?  What practice can you start to ensure a continual connection with God?  My prayer is that we go about finding peace with God . . . even if it means taking a holiday with Him.  Amen!