Refuge & Strength

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

This verse stood out to me as I started trying to write today’s devo.  This is so true and yet kind of sad because of how it is written and it being so true.

What I mean is the focus of the second part of the verse.  God is our refuge and strength, the sad part is we tend to turn to him for that only during times of trouble.  It’s so easy to go on living in a good mood, never really giving praise to God when life is good.  But as soon as there is trouble, we are quick to call on him.  We are also quick to blame him if that trouble does not get resolved how we would want it to.

Today I want to encourage you to make God your refuge and strength in everything you do.  In the good times, in the times when things are going well, make sure to still make God a part of those, giving him credit for being your refuge and strength.

What could stand against?

2 “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel:

“‘The end! The end has come
    upon the four corners of the land!  Ezekiel 7

Well this is some cheerful stuff in this chapter...

I'm trying to come up with something positive to pull from the chapter, and I can't.  Really.  It's rough.  The only thing happening to me though, is the lyrics to "Our God" are running through my head.

"And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.

And if our God is with us, then what could stand against."

This chapter describes the opposite.  God had decided that Jerusalem needed punishment, and there was nothing they could do to stand against him.

I am fearful of God, but I am not scared.  There's a big difference there between the two.  Fearful is respectful.  I know (or at least, I think I know) the power that God wields.  I respect that power and I respect God.  I am not scared of God.  I do not cower in fear at the thought of God's power.  

The people had turned from God.  They had rejected him and cast him aside.  Nothing they did would stand up against God.  

How wonderful to know that God is all-powerful, and with him on our side, nothing can stand against us.

Thurs Devo: Second Chances

After Moses pointed out to Korah his “never enough” attitude and his rebellion against God’s plan, do you think Korah repented?

Korah didn’t repent, but it appears one of his ring leaders, a man named On, did. On was mentioned in Numbers 16:1 as joining Korah in his opposition against Moses (Numbers 16:1-2a “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.”). However, it appears On may have repented because he isn’t mentioned as one of the ones who suffered the consequences for the rebellion.

Numbers 16:23-27  ²³ Then the Lord said to Moses, ²⁴ “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

²⁵ Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. ²⁶ He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.” ²⁷ So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.

On got a second chance. So did those that might have been thinking about siding with Korah. They were given a warning to stay back. Plus, even Korah, Dathan and Abiram were given several opportunities to recognize their sin and repent (read all of Numbers 16).

God is the Judge. He does punish sin, but He is also quick to forgive and extend grace and mercy when we sincerely repent.

When God or someone else points out a sin in your and my life, how do we respond? Do we acknowledge it, confess it and ask for God’s help to love Him more fully by not sinning? Or, do we continue in the sin, justifying it to ourselves and others? Will you and I take God’s gift of second chances? Let’s also think of and thank God for the second chances He has given to us in the past! 

Next week we will find out what happens to those who didn’t take the opportunity for a second chance and stubbornly continued in rebellion…

Alice

Separate But Same

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held ba ck and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.  Romans 3:22-26

All people are made for good.  Yes, there is a lot of evil in the world, and many people who would do harm make up a part of it.  However if we are all made in the image of our creator, we are inherently not bad.  Nonbelievers often think we as Christians see ourselves as good and others as evil.  The argument sounds something like, “You think you are better than others,” or, “I can never live to the standard of your God.”  I know this because just over a decade ago, I was one of those in that crowd.  Even more ironic, I am now one who hears it not just from nonbelievers but also believers.  Why?  Is it because we pray and display our faith openly?  Is it that we choose to believe in something that others cannot understand?  Actually, I believe the only question that is relevant to the discussion is what is the difference between them and us?  The answer is simple.  Just God.

Our relationships with others both Christian and non-Christian must start with the fundamental truth that we all fall short of God’s glory.  Today’s verses are maybe the most important to our relationships with others because it makes a bold statement.  The only difference between worldly people and followers of God is our faith.  We are no better nor worse.  We are just as unworthy of God’s grace as anyone else.  Our doing good is no better than anyone who does less than us.  So why make the effort to serve Him?  Why invest in God by which we stand to gain nothing from the world?  Quite simply, it is because we feel true grace through Jesus Christ.  The selfless act by Jesus covered all sins, and our actions are fruits of the Spirit showing how God declares us “to be right in His sight.” We are reborn through Christ, and should others accept Christ into their hearts, they can feel the true grace of God as well.

We are from this world, but we are not of this world.  Jesus Christ died on the cross for all sins; past, present, and future.  Thus our lives have become opportunities to show the world what God can do for them.  Let us commit to showing them the light of God such that no matter where they are in life, the God who saved us is indeed theirs as well.  How can you see nonbelievers as future children of God?  Will you lower yourself to lift someone else up to Christ?  My prayer is that we recognize others may be separate from us but they can one day be with us through Christ.   Amen.

Tues Devo: My responsibility

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 “Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent? In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider – God has made the one as well as the other so that man will no discover anything that will be after him.” (NASB)

Hello,

It is really easy to take a good and bad day, thank God for the good one and blame satan for the bad. While many bad things do come from satan, I think we have to be careful where we put our focus. Are we focused on just blame, or are we focused on our response and responsibility no matter if things are good or bad? Remember, God is still in control and has the ultimate power. We are simply accountable for how we respond.

In that response we will find a deeper walk with God, and be able to experience His true joy that is founded on His strength, His love, His faithfulness.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Fix your eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

This weekend I watched my oldest niece graduate from High School.  She reminded me so much of myself.  She was certainly one to live as she believed and not go with the flow that is often pushed on a young lady her age.  She didn’t have many friends and worked hard at school, in choir and as a Lansing Police Department Explorer.  Furthermore, she was active at her church and the youth group.  She will be a student this fall at Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing as well.

I truly believe that she lives as we are instructed to do so here in Hebrews 12, she throws off everything that hinders her and the sin that could so easily entangle and she runs with perseverance the race that has been marked out for her. 

I see the woman of God that she is becoming and I pray that in addition to the way her parents have raised her, that maybe, just maybe, I too have been an influence on her in some small way.  I pray that I am running the race set out for me the way that Christ would want me to. 

Who sees your race and says that you have your eyes fixed on Jesus as you are running?

Love and Punishment

5 I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.  Ezekiel 6

Whoah, graphic imagery there.  That's a lot of the Old Testament though - really graphic.  Have you ever slowed down and read some of the less popular passages?  I've cringed when reading some of the descriptions of how people died, particularly the evil kings.

Some people use this as an argument against Christianity.  "How can you follow a god that punishes their own followers in such horrid ways?"  Simple.  He loved us and forgave us.  He gave his only son as a sacrifice to pay for all our sins so that we may be saved from eternal punishment.

We call God the Father.  He's like a parent to us.  Parents have to provide punishment to their children, even though they love them.  Now, every parent gives different punishment, and I'm not getting into what I think is appropriate punishment, but I believe that we can all agree that parents do punish their children.

And when the punishment is over, they can reach out and hug their children and tell them they love them, and the child will choose whether to believe them or not.  It's the same thing for us.  God is everlasting, so he doesn't do this in each of our lives individually, he did it for all humanity.  He punished our ancestors, and then told us of his love.  God is omnipresent, so the one sacrifice of Jesus paid for everyone, those that had died, those that lived when he died, and those that would live after his death.

We have the ultimate blessing.  We have been told that God loves us and it is up to us to accept or reject this.  

Thurs Devo: Never Enough

Have you ever been around someone who seems to complain about everything? Their job isn’t good enough, they often need more money, their relationships aren’t working out as they wished, their children regularly frustrate them, they want a nicer car or a bigger house and the list goes on. They would be happy if they could just… What are they really saying?

When Korah opposed Moses, Moses pointed out exactly who Korah was really opposing.

Numbers 16:8-11        ⁸ Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! ⁹ Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? ¹⁰ He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. ¹¹ It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?”

Moses pointed out that Korah and his followers were really opposing God, not Moses and Aaron. As we talked about a few weeks ago, Moses and Aaron had not chosen their position for themselves. God had appointed them as the leader and priest of Israel. 

Moses also pointed out all Korah’s and his fellow Levites’ privileges. Korah wasn’t satisfied with his privileged position as a Levite and community leader. He wanted to be priest.

Are you and I like Korah? With what are we not satisfied? Do we have the “never enough” attitude? Or, do we look at what we do have as privileges?

Do others have to point out our privileges to us, like Moses did to Korah? Or, do we regularly think about and list out all the privileges God has blessed us with?

God is Sovereign over each life. He has given each one enough unique blessings and privileges.

Alice

Joy over Happiness

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Psalm 100:1-3 (NKJV)

(This is Pt 7 of 8 – Turning the Tide – Representing God to a World that Misrepresents Him)

Happiness and joy.  These are two words with similar meaning, and in fact, joy in its definition has the word ‘happiness’ in it.  I used to believe in essence they were interchangeable even into my early days as a Christian.  However, that has changed.  One of my Christian mentors taught me that I should strive for joy and not happiness.  I did not understand why then, but today, the difference is clear in my head and heart.  I mentioned in a previous devotion that happiness is the feeling you have when something good is going on.  Joy, however, is lasting satisfaction that is continuous and never ending.  Joy is the knowledge that God is with you always, and happiness is the temporary feeling one has for only a fleeting moment.  Thus, one can still have joy when times are bad but not happiness.

We as Christians should have joy knowing God is always with us.  Today’s verses focuses on the word ‘joyful.’  There is a saying in the church that though we may have darkness in our life, joy comes in the morning.  I never quite understood that saying, but having studied the Bible more, it makes sense.  If Jesus Christ represents light (i.e. The Way, The Truth, and The Light), then ‘morning’ in that phrase signifies light for He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12b)  The world focuses on the pursuit of happiness, but God shows us there is a better way.  We can have a light within us that cannot be either diminished or taken.  The world’s promises are only temporary much like happiness is.  God promises joy in our lives; a feeling that is everlasting and without fail.

There can truly be no joy without God.  Though there may be times in our lives where we have happiness, joy never ceases.  Milestones and accomplishments come and go, but through Jesus Christ, we are always blessed and thankful of those things that God has brought in our lives.  How can you find the joy that God instilled in you?  How will you seek joy above happiness?  In a world that looks for happiness that is consistently momentary, my prayer is that we focus on the light of Jesus Christ, which will show the world a never ending happiness called joy.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Investment?

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NASB)

Hello,

The word investment is powerful. We use it to convey the use of time, money, or other resources in the immediate time frame for a hopeful gain of return later. Sometimes we feel that gain is a sure thing, other times we admit is  a bit of a gamble.

I have no problem with investment….my issue is how quickly all of us have used the word investment as an excuse to do what we want to do. How much time have you “invested” into things that don’t matter later? How many resources have you put into things under the guise of investment, but you really know deep down that it is just about you and right now – and has nothing to do with later. Hey – even some of that is OK, but let’s call it what it is and not mix it with real investment.

I don’t want to get too picky here – but often times we use the word investment and it becomes a defense barrier to others. After all, how can someone argue against a good investment? But is that choice we are making really an investment…? Or is it an excuse to do what you want and not have to have accountability? These things do matter – no difference how much time or other resources you have, they are all limited! We must use our resources well, and part of that process will be improved when we true up our definition of investment.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill