"A Christian has no business being satisfied with mediocrity. He's supposed to reach for the stars. Why not? He's not on his own anymore. He has God's help now."
Catherine Marshall
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Why Not?
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tough Choices
The entire Israelite population of the world stood at the brink of the water. Wild-eyed, they heard the sounds of their approaching pursuers. With deep water before them and malicious attackers behind them, they looked to the man who they saw as responsible for bringing them there. Moses stretched out his hand over the water, obeying God's orders, and the angel and the pillar of cloud went and stood between the Israelites and the Egyptians. All night long, the Israelites watched the water separate (Exodus 14:21-22). Then they were told to walk through on dry land.
Imagine yourself as one of the Israelites trekking on dry ground where only hours before there had been deep, deep water. Imagine what must have gone through their minds as they were told to walk - with a wall of water on each side. Think of how high that water must have been (it took all night to separate!) as the Israelites looked up on each side. It would have only taken a moment for that water to fall on them. Imagine the fear that must have gripped their hearts. Would you have done it? Would you have taken that step and trusted God?
We are constantly bombarded with the world's arguments and doubts. We are told that things don't just appear out of nothing. Yet we read, "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible" (Hebrews 11:3). We are told that God does not work in His creation. Yet Jesus said, '"My Father is working until now, and I am working'" (John 5:17). We are told to be like everyone else and just fit in. But Jesus tells us, '"...you are not of the world...'" (John 15:19).
Christians are called to believe in a God who does the unbelievable. We serve a God who doesn't fit into a box. Unlike the world that only believes what sounds feasible, we have hope in what God will do (however unlikely it may seem) because we have faith in what He has already done. As Christians, "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).
The Israelites had witnessed the plagues: when it was dark in Egypt, it was light for the Hebrews. When the Egyptian cattle died, the Israelite cattle lived. When it hailed all over Egypt, just a short walk away, in Israelite territory, there was no hail. Things like this shouldn't happen. It's just - impossible! But they happened. It makes no sense (or does it?). The other day I heard a wise man assert, "This [Jesus' two equal natures] is one of the great mysteries of our faith. But it's in the Bible, so I believe it." Is that blind faith? I don't think so. He has seen that God is faithful and true in the past, so he knows that he can trust the Word of God now, and for all eternity. As the Israelites looked down the path of dry land, seeing the walls of water going as high as they could see, they had to make a choice. Remember what God had already done and trust Him to keep His Word, or listen to their doubts and choose unbelieving slavery over seemingly certain death. Tough choice. We have to make it, too. Everyday, every moment: trust God - even when it doesn't seem like there will be a happy ending - or choose to trust the wisdom of this world. Which side of the Red Sea do you choose?
Imagine yourself as one of the Israelites trekking on dry ground where only hours before there had been deep, deep water. Imagine what must have gone through their minds as they were told to walk - with a wall of water on each side. Think of how high that water must have been (it took all night to separate!) as the Israelites looked up on each side. It would have only taken a moment for that water to fall on them. Imagine the fear that must have gripped their hearts. Would you have done it? Would you have taken that step and trusted God?
We are constantly bombarded with the world's arguments and doubts. We are told that things don't just appear out of nothing. Yet we read, "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible" (Hebrews 11:3). We are told that God does not work in His creation. Yet Jesus said, '"My Father is working until now, and I am working'" (John 5:17). We are told to be like everyone else and just fit in. But Jesus tells us, '"...you are not of the world...'" (John 15:19).
Christians are called to believe in a God who does the unbelievable. We serve a God who doesn't fit into a box. Unlike the world that only believes what sounds feasible, we have hope in what God will do (however unlikely it may seem) because we have faith in what He has already done. As Christians, "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).
The Israelites had witnessed the plagues: when it was dark in Egypt, it was light for the Hebrews. When the Egyptian cattle died, the Israelite cattle lived. When it hailed all over Egypt, just a short walk away, in Israelite territory, there was no hail. Things like this shouldn't happen. It's just - impossible! But they happened. It makes no sense (or does it?). The other day I heard a wise man assert, "This [Jesus' two equal natures] is one of the great mysteries of our faith. But it's in the Bible, so I believe it." Is that blind faith? I don't think so. He has seen that God is faithful and true in the past, so he knows that he can trust the Word of God now, and for all eternity. As the Israelites looked down the path of dry land, seeing the walls of water going as high as they could see, they had to make a choice. Remember what God had already done and trust Him to keep His Word, or listen to their doubts and choose unbelieving slavery over seemingly certain death. Tough choice. We have to make it, too. Everyday, every moment: trust God - even when it doesn't seem like there will be a happy ending - or choose to trust the wisdom of this world. Which side of the Red Sea do you choose?
"The God of nature has not tied himself to its laws, but,
when he pleases, dispenses with them,
and then the fire does not burn, nor the water flow."
and then the fire does not burn, nor the water flow."
- Matthew Henry, commentary on Exodus 14
Monday, March 7, 2011
A Soldier of the Cross
I am a soldier of the cross.
Its call bids me to give my life
And take up danger, toil, and strife.
All this to drain away my dross
For I am a soldier of the cross.
I am a soldier of the cross.
I daily pursue the highest aim
To glorify, exalt that Name.
All else of mine I count as loss,
For I am a soldier of the cross.
I am a soldier of the cross.
What call can this world have on me?
I travel upward steadily
E'en when I face the stormy toss
For I am a soldier of the cross.
I am a soldier of the cross.
For I was dead as dead can be
Yet Jesus gave Himself for me.
How can I waver when He paid the cost
To make me a soldier of the cross.
I am a soldier of the cross.
One day I will reach my prize
And then I'll see with my own eyes
It was well worth any earthly loss
To be a soldier of the cross.
(by Lauren)
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