“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, ESV) We are now into the second month of the new year. By this time each year, about eighty percent have fallen behind on their resolutions and slipped back into old habits. For the Christian, the resolve to read more, pray more, and spend more time with God may have already gotten crowded out with the busyness of life in the 21st century. Whether setting goals for spiritual, physical, financial, or professional growth, the one word that comes to my…
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him . . . And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” (I Samuel 3:7 and 10, ESV) I have several acquaintances who have hearing problems, not all of whom are older. Some use hearing aids and two or three have cochlear implants. Still others, with severe or total hearing loss, use sign language to communicate. Whatever the cause, when our hearing is impaired, it affects how we live. The problem we find in I Samuel 3 is not physical deafness but rather a spiritual hearing loss. Or should I say a listening loss? The people of Israel could have heard the voice of God had they chosen to listen. First Samuel 3:1 says, “And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation” (NKJV). Hearing from God was an unusual occurrence for the Israelites. It was a time of spiritual darkness and indifference. God desired to speak to His people, but they had hardened their hearts toward God and would not listen. The…
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5, ESV) Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet with the longest book, won no popularity awards during his forty years of ministry. Few, if any, of the Lord’s prophets did. They were the voices crying out for righteousness and repentance while the people chose to turn another way. Taking a stand for righteousness isn’t always the popular thing to do, even today. For some reason, Jeremiah has always been one of my favorites of Old Testament characters. Perhaps it’s because we know more of his personal story than some of the other prophets. He came from a priestly family and was still quite young, possibly around twenty, when God called him. Jeremiah recognized his youth and lack of experience, but God promised to be with him. But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the…
“Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” Psalms 77:19 When the Israelites were finally freed from their slavery, they set out on a perilous journey to reach the land that God had promised them. Their futures were uncertain, and their destination was unknown. When they finally reached the Red Sea, all hope seemed to be lost. They had nowhere to go. It appeared to be the end of the line. Pharaoh and his army were closing in, and it probably felt like it was all for nothing. This would…
I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? Psalms 41:4-5 KJV Legacy. We all want to leave our mark on this world, and many strive to be remembered beyond their lifespan. One of the greatest tragedies of human life is one that does not invest in others and produces fruit that lasts even after death. When studying these scriptures I learned that in ancient cultures, to not be remembered was comparable to having never existed. When reading about the life of Joshua we encounter such a circumstance. Of course, Joshua is remembered today as a great warrior, conquering numerous nations and their kings, but he did have one downfall. He had no successor. When Joshua was late in age, there was still a large amount of land to be conquered. He compels the people to take the land that is rightfully theirs and later goes on to ask how long they are going to wait before doing so. The Israelites seemed content with the land they already had, and when Joshua did pass away, they asked the Lord…
“You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!” Nehemiah 9:20-21 NLT Because of the Israelite’s disobedience and stubbornness, they were sent to the wilderness, where they ultimately wandered for 40 years. While this was the consequence of their actions and choices, God never abandoned them. We can read how they lacked nothing during these years, and not even their clothing wore out. God still showed mercy, led, instructed, and sustained them during their season of wandering. This was not an ideal situation for all involved I’m sure, but God was with them every step of the way. I have found myself in many uncertain seasons, periods that just don’t seem to make any sense. I have wandered and climbed the same mountains time and time again. I have strayed from the best path for my life too many times, but God still always picks me up and sets my course straight again. I have struggled with questions and uncertainty, but…