Scripture I'm Reflecting on: 1 Peter 1:7
"These trials will show that your faith is genuine. . . .So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."
Reflection:
Peter mentions the trials and tribulations that we will face numerous times in his Bible writings. We face these trials every day. Little ones, such as a bad day at work, argument with someone, bad grade, or our car won't start. Some of us have had to face big ones, health issues, family troubles, or financial woes. We react in different ways to these circumstances. Sadness. Anger. Depression. These reactions are certainly natural, and will happen to all of us at some point or the other, even if just for a short moment. But what we cannot do, is lose faith in these situations.
It's certainly easy to do. Someone that watches a loved one battling a horrible disease has an excuse to have doubts in their faith. Someone who loses their business and finances has an excuse to question if God is watching over them. Someone who runs into traffic and misses an important interview has an excuse to think God is working against them. The #1 answer you are likely to receive if you ask an athiest why they do not believe in God is "if there is a God, why is there suffering, pain, poverty, hunger, on and on". I can't say I never had similar thoughts in my younger days. So what is the answer to this question? Why would God create cancer? Why do corrupt and immoral people continue to reap rewards, while good people are battling poverty and hunger? Peter provides the answer to these questions...
God is looking to find out who's faith is truly genuine. I've said it before in past blogs....if all Christians were rewarded with good health, riches, and happiness, then everyone would be a Christian. Some for moral reasons, others simply for the rewards. There would be no way to distinguish between who's faith was truly genuine. But by providing us with trials and hardships, God is able to see who's faith is truly genuine. I have tried to use this verse to look at bad days, traffic jams, encounters with an unpleasnt person, bad service, or health problems as opportunities Opportunities to show off to God. Opportunities to prove to God, and myself, that my faith is genuine.
Peter says when we have strong faith through trials, it will bring us praise, glory and honor in front of Jesus. Is there anything better than that? No matter how bad things are, no matter how down we get, if we can remember this simple verse, then we will know exactly how to cope with the situation.
Final Thought:
We will not find the ultimate reward in this lifetime. The ultimate reward comes upon Jesus' return. But we can only obtain that reward through genuine faith. And Peter has told us exactly how to show that.....by showing our faith during the down times, during the trials and tribulations. This is one of those verses to read when youre feeling down, or when you feel like you were disrespected, slighted, or wronged. It serves as a great reminder to keep our faith, and will ultimately help us to deal with these down times in a healthier and happier fashion, all while pleasing God by maintaining our genuine faith.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Saturday, May 25, 2013
In God we trust.....right?
Scripture I'm Reflecting on: Psalm 20:7
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
Reflection:
It's pretty crazy the things we put faith in these days. Anytime we get behind the wheel we are putting our trust, our faith in other things. Mechanics. Traffic lights. Other drivers. Think about when we fly. We give up all control. Our total faith is in the pilot. Our total faith is in the airplane crew. For most of us, we aren't even phased by this. We read a book, play on our iPad, fall asleep. The list of things we are willing to put our complete faith in is endless. But is God one of them? Are we willing to put our complete faith in God at all times? For many of us, that answer is no.
How is it that we find it harder to trust God than it is to trust flying 60,000 feet in the air? We're willing to trust others on the road, but not willing to trust our Lord to provide for us. I catch myself doing this all the time. Why did I not get that job? Why didn't I get the grade I feel I deserved? Why does this person or that person seem to get all the breaks? This isn't the attitude we are supposed to have as role models in the image of God. This is not the attitude Jesus had, the person we are all called to follow as the ultimate role model, when everything and everyone was turned against him. Jesus was put through trials worse than any of us can even imagine, and at the worst of it all, he never gave up his trust in God. It is time for us, to make a better effort to obtain this ultimate trust.
I'm a believer that all the "bad breaks", and all the "obstacles" and "setbacks" in life are God's way of guiding us and preparing us for our ultimate calling. But we have to do our part in this journey. Instead of losing trust and giving up on prayer when something doesn't go our way, we need to continue to thank God for what we have, and continue to ask Him for guidance....all while trusting that he is leading us in the right direction.
Final Thought:
The Bible is rich with stories of how having faith in God always pays off. I have a tendency to read these stories and forget that these are real. This stuff actually happened. The Bible is not fiction. When I reflect on that, it makes me realize that God can still do these great things in my life today, and He will do these great things in our lives as long as don't fight against Him. We fight against God when we lose trust, or go against what he puts on our heart, or give up a little faith. Fight against this. Find a scripture that reminds you of the joy and happiness that comes from keeping faith and trust in God can. Remember a time in your life when God turned a what you thought was a negative, into a positive. When we do this, and follow the path God has laid for us, we will experience our most happiest days.
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
Reflection:
It's pretty crazy the things we put faith in these days. Anytime we get behind the wheel we are putting our trust, our faith in other things. Mechanics. Traffic lights. Other drivers. Think about when we fly. We give up all control. Our total faith is in the pilot. Our total faith is in the airplane crew. For most of us, we aren't even phased by this. We read a book, play on our iPad, fall asleep. The list of things we are willing to put our complete faith in is endless. But is God one of them? Are we willing to put our complete faith in God at all times? For many of us, that answer is no.
How is it that we find it harder to trust God than it is to trust flying 60,000 feet in the air? We're willing to trust others on the road, but not willing to trust our Lord to provide for us. I catch myself doing this all the time. Why did I not get that job? Why didn't I get the grade I feel I deserved? Why does this person or that person seem to get all the breaks? This isn't the attitude we are supposed to have as role models in the image of God. This is not the attitude Jesus had, the person we are all called to follow as the ultimate role model, when everything and everyone was turned against him. Jesus was put through trials worse than any of us can even imagine, and at the worst of it all, he never gave up his trust in God. It is time for us, to make a better effort to obtain this ultimate trust.
I'm a believer that all the "bad breaks", and all the "obstacles" and "setbacks" in life are God's way of guiding us and preparing us for our ultimate calling. But we have to do our part in this journey. Instead of losing trust and giving up on prayer when something doesn't go our way, we need to continue to thank God for what we have, and continue to ask Him for guidance....all while trusting that he is leading us in the right direction.
Final Thought:
The Bible is rich with stories of how having faith in God always pays off. I have a tendency to read these stories and forget that these are real. This stuff actually happened. The Bible is not fiction. When I reflect on that, it makes me realize that God can still do these great things in my life today, and He will do these great things in our lives as long as don't fight against Him. We fight against God when we lose trust, or go against what he puts on our heart, or give up a little faith. Fight against this. Find a scripture that reminds you of the joy and happiness that comes from keeping faith and trust in God can. Remember a time in your life when God turned a what you thought was a negative, into a positive. When we do this, and follow the path God has laid for us, we will experience our most happiest days.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Distracted from our Calling
Scripture I'm Reflecting on: Nehemiah 6:3
"I am engaged in a great work, I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?"
Nehemiah was close to completing his great work....his calling... His enemies tried to get him to pause his work, and distract him from doing God's work. He stayed strong though, pushed away the distraction.... and the rest of the story is history.
Reflection:
Our culture is rich with distractions. Television. Wealth. Power. Music. Money. Advertisements. Jewelry. Sports. Opposite sex. Beauty. Love. We find ways to navigate around these distractions all the time. During exam time, I have no issues blocking out these distractions. I keep the TV off. I stay in and turn down other events, other opportunities/distractions. On the golf course I have no problem blocking out the distractions around me, and focusing in on the round. I'm sure everyone can relate to a time when they've shut off all distractions. Maybe when trying to complete a big project at school? Maybe when finishing up a big home project? Maybe on a big date? But can we say we do this when we are doing God's work? When seeking his Glory? My answer, as I'm sure many others have to honestly admit as well, is certainly that I do not do this nearly enough.
We are called to do God's work. Spread the good news. Be a positive example in society. Worship God. Love Jesus. Nowhere in this calling is there any reason for us not to enjoy the beautiful gifts we have been given in the world. Go have fun at the beach. Go to a party with family or friends. Enjoy a round of golf. Go on a date. Have a relationship. But we have to do all of these things knowing that our faith is still our #1 priority. And when it is time to go God's work, or devote time to Him, then we need to take a cue from Nehemiah, and block out all of these other distractions. If we find something in our life is distracting us from seeking God, pulling us away from the Word, or preventing us from doing God's work....then we have to find a way around this distraction.
Final Thought:
I believe the best way to fight against being distracted from God is by praying and reflecting on what are the things in our own lives that provide us the most distractions. I've recognized this same final thought in several of my postings, and continue to try and implement it in my own life. For some people its facebook. For some people its fantasy sports. For some people its TV....on and on. Being aware of what distracts you most from God is the first (and probably second third and fourth) step in making sure you do not let distractions stop you from seeking God.
"I am engaged in a great work, I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?"
Nehemiah was close to completing his great work....his calling... His enemies tried to get him to pause his work, and distract him from doing God's work. He stayed strong though, pushed away the distraction.... and the rest of the story is history.
Reflection:
Our culture is rich with distractions. Television. Wealth. Power. Music. Money. Advertisements. Jewelry. Sports. Opposite sex. Beauty. Love. We find ways to navigate around these distractions all the time. During exam time, I have no issues blocking out these distractions. I keep the TV off. I stay in and turn down other events, other opportunities/distractions. On the golf course I have no problem blocking out the distractions around me, and focusing in on the round. I'm sure everyone can relate to a time when they've shut off all distractions. Maybe when trying to complete a big project at school? Maybe when finishing up a big home project? Maybe on a big date? But can we say we do this when we are doing God's work? When seeking his Glory? My answer, as I'm sure many others have to honestly admit as well, is certainly that I do not do this nearly enough.
We are called to do God's work. Spread the good news. Be a positive example in society. Worship God. Love Jesus. Nowhere in this calling is there any reason for us not to enjoy the beautiful gifts we have been given in the world. Go have fun at the beach. Go to a party with family or friends. Enjoy a round of golf. Go on a date. Have a relationship. But we have to do all of these things knowing that our faith is still our #1 priority. And when it is time to go God's work, or devote time to Him, then we need to take a cue from Nehemiah, and block out all of these other distractions. If we find something in our life is distracting us from seeking God, pulling us away from the Word, or preventing us from doing God's work....then we have to find a way around this distraction.
Final Thought:
I believe the best way to fight against being distracted from God is by praying and reflecting on what are the things in our own lives that provide us the most distractions. I've recognized this same final thought in several of my postings, and continue to try and implement it in my own life. For some people its facebook. For some people its fantasy sports. For some people its TV....on and on. Being aware of what distracts you most from God is the first (and probably second third and fourth) step in making sure you do not let distractions stop you from seeking God.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Obey God by obeying your heart
Scripture I'm Reflecton On: John 9:6-7
"Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man's eyes. He told him, 'Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam.' So the man went and washed and came back seeing"
Reflection:
Anyone that knows me can attest to the fact I have a tendency to notice and key in on small things, like noticing something random in the corner of a picture or remebering something completely random and inconsequential months later. This verse is another time I find myself doing that..
I find myself wondering, what is the point of the whole mud thing? Clearly its in the Bible for a reason. Clearly Jesus did it this way for a reason. John just didn't make this up to enhance the story, this isn't a Hollywood movie script. Jesus had the power to bring the man's vision back with the snap of a finger. Surely the act of putting the mud on his eyes wasn't the "cure." So what was the point?
I did a quick google search just to see what others had said. A lot of different reasons are mentioned, for instance...using the Earth could certainly be intentionally symbolic to remind us of our creator's power. I think there is more here than just "symbolism" though. The message I take away from this act by Jesus is of a different message. I think this is a reminder for us to have faith and obey God, even on little things or things that do not make sense to us. The blind man in this case didn't ask any questions, he didn't question Jesus' method. He simply showed faith and followed Jesus commands, and he regained his sight. Compare this with other stories in the Bible. Saul disobeyed God's word when he kept a King alive along with some livestock. Result = He ended up losing the throne. Namaan became angry when Elisha commanded that he had to wash himself in the Jordan River to cure his leprocy, and initially refused to do so. Result = No cure.
One of the coolest things I found, and continue to find out as my faith grows, is how many times God gives us an order, or 'advice' on a regular, daily basis. We can usually hear Him when we are considering something big, and usually obey what He puts on our heart in these situations. But what about during the small day to day things? Ever been watching a YouTube video and just knew that it was something you shouldn't be watching? Ever started to do something and got a strong feeling that you needed to stop and do something else? These "I Knows".....I know I should do this, I know I shouldn't do this, I know going out with this person is a bad idea, I know going for a walk down that street isn't going to be good, I know I need to call my mom tonight....I firmly believe is God putting a command on our heart, and asking us to do something in faith.
It's easy to "reason" our way out of God's commands when it comes to small things he puts on our heart. "I can carry this coffee and orange juice to my car along with all my books, I'll be careful"...next thing you know your shirt is ruined. "I'm sure going out with these guys to the bar will be fine"...next thing you know youre stuck in a situation where you can't think of anything but trying to go home. These things happen everyday in our lives. Sometimes you just feel uneasy about someone. Sometimes you just feel like you need to leave a situation. Sometimes you feel like you should go talk to that person in the corner. Sometimes you just know it's time to call your family or a close friend. I guarantee if you reflect on all the times you went against "that 'I Know' feeling" you had in your heart, it always turned out to be a wrong decision. That's certainly the case in my life, and I imagine its the case for everyone.
Final Thought:
It may seem silly to write a devotion on such "small things." But is it really? Think about these small things. These are what cause most people the most problems in their life. How many times have you stressed over something that was "small" in the grand scheme of things, because you were fighting the feeling you had on your heart? How many times have you made yourself worry about something even though God clearly has put the answer on your heart?
We have to fight against confusing these "small things" with "insignificant things." The "small things" are the ones that will build up on us. When we make a habit out of fighting what God puts on our heart in terms of small day-to-day decisions, then eventually we will turn this in to fighting God's commands on bigger decisions.
Have faith in what God puts on your heart. It's not always going to make sense, especially if your someone like me who needs to hear a logical reason behind everything. But I'm slowly learning through experience that just having question-less faith is the way to go. Putting mud on a blind man's eyes makes no sense at all. But the result...is certainly one that is glorious.
"Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man's eyes. He told him, 'Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam.' So the man went and washed and came back seeing"
Reflection:
Anyone that knows me can attest to the fact I have a tendency to notice and key in on small things, like noticing something random in the corner of a picture or remebering something completely random and inconsequential months later. This verse is another time I find myself doing that..
I find myself wondering, what is the point of the whole mud thing? Clearly its in the Bible for a reason. Clearly Jesus did it this way for a reason. John just didn't make this up to enhance the story, this isn't a Hollywood movie script. Jesus had the power to bring the man's vision back with the snap of a finger. Surely the act of putting the mud on his eyes wasn't the "cure." So what was the point?
I did a quick google search just to see what others had said. A lot of different reasons are mentioned, for instance...using the Earth could certainly be intentionally symbolic to remind us of our creator's power. I think there is more here than just "symbolism" though. The message I take away from this act by Jesus is of a different message. I think this is a reminder for us to have faith and obey God, even on little things or things that do not make sense to us. The blind man in this case didn't ask any questions, he didn't question Jesus' method. He simply showed faith and followed Jesus commands, and he regained his sight. Compare this with other stories in the Bible. Saul disobeyed God's word when he kept a King alive along with some livestock. Result = He ended up losing the throne. Namaan became angry when Elisha commanded that he had to wash himself in the Jordan River to cure his leprocy, and initially refused to do so. Result = No cure.
One of the coolest things I found, and continue to find out as my faith grows, is how many times God gives us an order, or 'advice' on a regular, daily basis. We can usually hear Him when we are considering something big, and usually obey what He puts on our heart in these situations. But what about during the small day to day things? Ever been watching a YouTube video and just knew that it was something you shouldn't be watching? Ever started to do something and got a strong feeling that you needed to stop and do something else? These "I Knows".....I know I should do this, I know I shouldn't do this, I know going out with this person is a bad idea, I know going for a walk down that street isn't going to be good, I know I need to call my mom tonight....I firmly believe is God putting a command on our heart, and asking us to do something in faith.
It's easy to "reason" our way out of God's commands when it comes to small things he puts on our heart. "I can carry this coffee and orange juice to my car along with all my books, I'll be careful"...next thing you know your shirt is ruined. "I'm sure going out with these guys to the bar will be fine"...next thing you know youre stuck in a situation where you can't think of anything but trying to go home. These things happen everyday in our lives. Sometimes you just feel uneasy about someone. Sometimes you just feel like you need to leave a situation. Sometimes you feel like you should go talk to that person in the corner. Sometimes you just know it's time to call your family or a close friend. I guarantee if you reflect on all the times you went against "that 'I Know' feeling" you had in your heart, it always turned out to be a wrong decision. That's certainly the case in my life, and I imagine its the case for everyone.
Final Thought:
It may seem silly to write a devotion on such "small things." But is it really? Think about these small things. These are what cause most people the most problems in their life. How many times have you stressed over something that was "small" in the grand scheme of things, because you were fighting the feeling you had on your heart? How many times have you made yourself worry about something even though God clearly has put the answer on your heart?
We have to fight against confusing these "small things" with "insignificant things." The "small things" are the ones that will build up on us. When we make a habit out of fighting what God puts on our heart in terms of small day-to-day decisions, then eventually we will turn this in to fighting God's commands on bigger decisions.
Have faith in what God puts on your heart. It's not always going to make sense, especially if your someone like me who needs to hear a logical reason behind everything. But I'm slowly learning through experience that just having question-less faith is the way to go. Putting mud on a blind man's eyes makes no sense at all. But the result...is certainly one that is glorious.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Managing your Guilt
Scripture I'm Reflecting On:
"How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults"
Reflection:
Do you ever wonder if something you just did was a "sin". Or maybe just wrong, or not pleasing to God. I do this all the time. Most of the time its something little that I never even thought about at the time I did it. Getting frustrated driving in rush hour. Doing something subtle to avoid someone or some situation. Laughing at questionably immoral humor. Engaging in certain conversations. I often find myself reflecting after the fact, and feeling guilty about something I've done and wondering if it was displeasing to God.
As David reflects in this verse, we all have hidden faults, which is probably a reason we cannot live a life completely free of sin, no matter how hard we try. No matter how pure we set out to be, none of us can ever claim we have never had a selfish thought, admired someone we found attractive, skipped an opportunity to thank or worship God, or given an uninspired effort in performing a task. Acknowledging these moments, and even feeling a little guilt, I think is a good thing, as it keeps us turning to God and keeping a close relationship. But letting guilt take over our minds if the work of the enemy, and will only pull us away from God.
If there's one thing to take away from the Bible, its how amazing and forgiving God is towards our fautls. Don't lose faith in that. God forgives all of our faults, from the smallest bad attitude moment, to the seemingly unforgiveable sin, as long as we turn to him and ask for this. It's easy to skip a prayer time because you think God is mad with you, or doesnt want to hear from you after something you did. I've had this thought on more than one occasion. But this is line of thinking is not written anywhere in the Bible, and there is no reason to even consider that is a possibility. "We are the apples of God's eyes", and as long as we lift our sins up to him, He will continue to forgive and bless our faults and shortcomings.
At my lowest spiritual point, I remember telling God something along the lines of "if youre even up there, stay out of my life as you certainly arent doing me any favors." And that is a rated G version. It took me a long.....long................long time, even after restoring my faith to where it is now, to realize and understand that God would forgive me as long as I asked and believes, even after such a horrible comment. Just as nothing is too big for God to accomplish, equally so, there is nothing too big for God to forgive.
Final Thought:
I am someone who over-analyzes everything, and will find something to be guilty about even when nothing is there. This is particularly true when hanging out with those I care about, I have a tendency to always think I did something wrong. Did I end the conversation correctly? Was that joke in bad taste (or maybe just dumb)? Was I friendly? Should I have offered to buy a coffee? These mostly irrational "guilty" questions I have occasionly creep their way into my prayer life as well, and when they do, I find myself pulled away from reading the Bible and engulfed with worry.
The Bible has always been my answer to these problems, and can be your answer if you find yourself feeling guilty, or wondering if you displeased God. Without fail, everytime I have truly and fully given my worry to the Lord, things have worked out for the best. I have no doubt, that when we do this, the result will always be the same.
"How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults"
Reflection:
Do you ever wonder if something you just did was a "sin". Or maybe just wrong, or not pleasing to God. I do this all the time. Most of the time its something little that I never even thought about at the time I did it. Getting frustrated driving in rush hour. Doing something subtle to avoid someone or some situation. Laughing at questionably immoral humor. Engaging in certain conversations. I often find myself reflecting after the fact, and feeling guilty about something I've done and wondering if it was displeasing to God.
As David reflects in this verse, we all have hidden faults, which is probably a reason we cannot live a life completely free of sin, no matter how hard we try. No matter how pure we set out to be, none of us can ever claim we have never had a selfish thought, admired someone we found attractive, skipped an opportunity to thank or worship God, or given an uninspired effort in performing a task. Acknowledging these moments, and even feeling a little guilt, I think is a good thing, as it keeps us turning to God and keeping a close relationship. But letting guilt take over our minds if the work of the enemy, and will only pull us away from God.
If there's one thing to take away from the Bible, its how amazing and forgiving God is towards our fautls. Don't lose faith in that. God forgives all of our faults, from the smallest bad attitude moment, to the seemingly unforgiveable sin, as long as we turn to him and ask for this. It's easy to skip a prayer time because you think God is mad with you, or doesnt want to hear from you after something you did. I've had this thought on more than one occasion. But this is line of thinking is not written anywhere in the Bible, and there is no reason to even consider that is a possibility. "We are the apples of God's eyes", and as long as we lift our sins up to him, He will continue to forgive and bless our faults and shortcomings.
At my lowest spiritual point, I remember telling God something along the lines of "if youre even up there, stay out of my life as you certainly arent doing me any favors." And that is a rated G version. It took me a long.....long................long time, even after restoring my faith to where it is now, to realize and understand that God would forgive me as long as I asked and believes, even after such a horrible comment. Just as nothing is too big for God to accomplish, equally so, there is nothing too big for God to forgive.
Final Thought:
I am someone who over-analyzes everything, and will find something to be guilty about even when nothing is there. This is particularly true when hanging out with those I care about, I have a tendency to always think I did something wrong. Did I end the conversation correctly? Was that joke in bad taste (or maybe just dumb)? Was I friendly? Should I have offered to buy a coffee? These mostly irrational "guilty" questions I have occasionly creep their way into my prayer life as well, and when they do, I find myself pulled away from reading the Bible and engulfed with worry.
The Bible has always been my answer to these problems, and can be your answer if you find yourself feeling guilty, or wondering if you displeased God. Without fail, everytime I have truly and fully given my worry to the Lord, things have worked out for the best. I have no doubt, that when we do this, the result will always be the same.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Keep Your Eyes on the Real Reward
Scripture I'm Reflecting on: Psalm 10:4-5
"The wicked are too proud to seek God.
They seem to think that God is dead.
Yet they succeed in everything they do."
Reflection:
I could have chosen any of the verses from Psalm 10 for this reflection, as I find this Psalm very refreshing; while also having a good message. I find myself liking this Psalm because it is a list of thoughts that I can really relate too. While the "wicked" this author (likely David) faced was certainly at a level higher than I have ever experienced or imagined, I do find myself having similar thoughts from time to time when I see certain things happening around me.
I'm sure most of us have had at least a quick thought like the ones in this verse (and entire Psalm) when we see someone "wicked" succeed. Greed, selfishness, and a cut-throat attitude seem to be the way to the top in modern times, and you don't need to look far to find a person of no faith succeeding in big ways. Many of the wealthiest people in the country have probably never even given God so much as a thank you for their fortunes. Many of the people who have been blessed with gifts of great intelligence, athletic ability, or impeccable health never give a thought to be grateful for the blessings they were given. A natural response, at least for me, is to wonder why these people are being rewarded? Why is God allowing this to happen?
But these thoughts, after a little bit of reflection, are really just silly....and worrying about other people's success is just a waste of energy. Why stress over why someone is wealthy, or why someone has a natural ability you do not have? All of this is temporary. Wealth lasts for a brief time. Our physical or mental gifts will fade away some day. Worrying about why someone has something we selfishly want is not only a waste of time, but also can have a tendency to pull us away from God. The Bible promises that the wicked will be punished in due time. That should be all the comfort we need to focus on our own faith, and live our lives in God's glory, regardless of the "material rewards" we are receiving. We can all think of times in our lives when God has taken care of us, and to think that he has stopped or forgotten us because we see god-less people around us succeeding is exactly the mindset Satan loves to see.
Final Thought:
There's too many things in our lives to be thankful about to worry and wonder whether other people's success is justified. Everyone has different beliefs on how much God inserts himself in our daily lives. I tend to think God has a plan for us, and gives us the resources and guidance to carry out that plan, without actually carrying it out for us. It's hard to say what influence God has over someones successes, say someone who has obtained great wealth, who does not acknowledge God. Maybe God still guides them to this wealth for a reason. Maybe it just happens. But we do know that God doesn't make any promises of riches and rewards for Christians, and the opposite for non-believers. If that were the case, everyone would "believe." Everyone would have "faith", but this faith for many would be in the rewards, and not God's Word.
The real reward, the only one that matters, doesn't come in the form of temporary wealth or fame. As long as we remember that, then we will realize there's no reason to worry about the successes we see those without faith obtaining. We can obtain a peace and happiness through faith that the richest, wealthiest, most athletic person on earth could never dream of without God. We are after an infinetly greater reward. And we will receive it as long as we stay true to God's Word and message.
"The wicked are too proud to seek God.
They seem to think that God is dead.
Yet they succeed in everything they do."
Reflection:
I could have chosen any of the verses from Psalm 10 for this reflection, as I find this Psalm very refreshing; while also having a good message. I find myself liking this Psalm because it is a list of thoughts that I can really relate too. While the "wicked" this author (likely David) faced was certainly at a level higher than I have ever experienced or imagined, I do find myself having similar thoughts from time to time when I see certain things happening around me.
I'm sure most of us have had at least a quick thought like the ones in this verse (and entire Psalm) when we see someone "wicked" succeed. Greed, selfishness, and a cut-throat attitude seem to be the way to the top in modern times, and you don't need to look far to find a person of no faith succeeding in big ways. Many of the wealthiest people in the country have probably never even given God so much as a thank you for their fortunes. Many of the people who have been blessed with gifts of great intelligence, athletic ability, or impeccable health never give a thought to be grateful for the blessings they were given. A natural response, at least for me, is to wonder why these people are being rewarded? Why is God allowing this to happen?
But these thoughts, after a little bit of reflection, are really just silly....and worrying about other people's success is just a waste of energy. Why stress over why someone is wealthy, or why someone has a natural ability you do not have? All of this is temporary. Wealth lasts for a brief time. Our physical or mental gifts will fade away some day. Worrying about why someone has something we selfishly want is not only a waste of time, but also can have a tendency to pull us away from God. The Bible promises that the wicked will be punished in due time. That should be all the comfort we need to focus on our own faith, and live our lives in God's glory, regardless of the "material rewards" we are receiving. We can all think of times in our lives when God has taken care of us, and to think that he has stopped or forgotten us because we see god-less people around us succeeding is exactly the mindset Satan loves to see.
Final Thought:
There's too many things in our lives to be thankful about to worry and wonder whether other people's success is justified. Everyone has different beliefs on how much God inserts himself in our daily lives. I tend to think God has a plan for us, and gives us the resources and guidance to carry out that plan, without actually carrying it out for us. It's hard to say what influence God has over someones successes, say someone who has obtained great wealth, who does not acknowledge God. Maybe God still guides them to this wealth for a reason. Maybe it just happens. But we do know that God doesn't make any promises of riches and rewards for Christians, and the opposite for non-believers. If that were the case, everyone would "believe." Everyone would have "faith", but this faith for many would be in the rewards, and not God's Word.
The real reward, the only one that matters, doesn't come in the form of temporary wealth or fame. As long as we remember that, then we will realize there's no reason to worry about the successes we see those without faith obtaining. We can obtain a peace and happiness through faith that the richest, wealthiest, most athletic person on earth could never dream of without God. We are after an infinetly greater reward. And we will receive it as long as we stay true to God's Word and message.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Remembering our History - March 7
Scripture I'm Reflecting On: Esther 9:1
"So on March 7 the two decrees of the king were put into effect. On that day, the enemeies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but quite the opposite happened. It was the Jews who overpowered their enemies."
Reflection:
Posting something a little different this time, not really a reflection, but just paying tribute to one our great Bible stories on the anniversary of its most notable event. March 7th isn't a date that many (if any) of us would think of as a day to remember, like Christmas, Passover, etc. Maybe coincidentally, or maybe through grace, I actually just happened to read the story of Esther this morning in my chronolgical reading or I probably wouldn't have remembered the date in the story at all. It's easy to forget about the history in the Bible, particularly shorter stories like Esther, which is why I felt remembering this date in our history would make for a good reminder opportunity.
I'm sure everyone has read the story of Esther at some point, so I won't go through a book report style summary. But I think it's one we should all consider giving a re-read for a truly inspirational story. There are many great messages we can take from this story. It offers a great inspirational story for women, with Esther basically saving an entire race of people. There's a warning for us in the life of Haman, to not let our desire for approval and popularity drive us into immoral actions. As we find ourselves obtaining more power in life, through promotions, parenthood, age, or occupation, this becomes especially more important to remember, as the temptations only grow as we obtain more power and wealth.
I think the best reflection on the story of Esther however, is just another example of how great and loving God is, and how he can bring any of us who are faithful to do amazing things. Esther and Mordecai were ordinary people, maybe just like you and me. They were part of a group of people that were far from the most beloved race of people in the time of this story, a group that was probably mocked and persecuted regularly under the reign of Persian kings. Yet, they remained faithful to God. And God repaid them in a great way. An extraordinary way. A divine way. Esther became queen, with enough power to get King Xerxes to allow her to issue orders. When you stop and just think about that for a second, you realize how remarkable that is, especially when you consider the time period that happened. God also rewarded Mordecai's actions (stopping an assassination) and his faith, by guiding him to become the Prime Minister to the King.
Bottom Line: Esther and Mordecai kept their faith in dark times. They didn't live in fear. And God made the impossible happen. We need to remember this when we start feeling fear: fear of an illness, fear of an interview, fear about a grade, fear about a loved one. Throw away the fear and show your faith in God by believing he is going to turn it all around, maybe even make the impossible happen in your life.
Final Thought:
It's easy to read these Old Testament stories almost like were reading fiction. I battle this thought in my own head all the time. The times were so different. The actions were so long ago. But we should try to remember that this was how we got to where we are now. These stories are why we have the Word. These stories are reminders of real actual examples of God's greatness, of God's glory. Remembering stories, like this one, are not only important to demonstrate our faith, but our a great reminder and inspiration to just how great we have it living under God's grace.
"So on March 7 the two decrees of the king were put into effect. On that day, the enemeies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but quite the opposite happened. It was the Jews who overpowered their enemies."
Reflection:
Posting something a little different this time, not really a reflection, but just paying tribute to one our great Bible stories on the anniversary of its most notable event. March 7th isn't a date that many (if any) of us would think of as a day to remember, like Christmas, Passover, etc. Maybe coincidentally, or maybe through grace, I actually just happened to read the story of Esther this morning in my chronolgical reading or I probably wouldn't have remembered the date in the story at all. It's easy to forget about the history in the Bible, particularly shorter stories like Esther, which is why I felt remembering this date in our history would make for a good reminder opportunity.
I'm sure everyone has read the story of Esther at some point, so I won't go through a book report style summary. But I think it's one we should all consider giving a re-read for a truly inspirational story. There are many great messages we can take from this story. It offers a great inspirational story for women, with Esther basically saving an entire race of people. There's a warning for us in the life of Haman, to not let our desire for approval and popularity drive us into immoral actions. As we find ourselves obtaining more power in life, through promotions, parenthood, age, or occupation, this becomes especially more important to remember, as the temptations only grow as we obtain more power and wealth.
I think the best reflection on the story of Esther however, is just another example of how great and loving God is, and how he can bring any of us who are faithful to do amazing things. Esther and Mordecai were ordinary people, maybe just like you and me. They were part of a group of people that were far from the most beloved race of people in the time of this story, a group that was probably mocked and persecuted regularly under the reign of Persian kings. Yet, they remained faithful to God. And God repaid them in a great way. An extraordinary way. A divine way. Esther became queen, with enough power to get King Xerxes to allow her to issue orders. When you stop and just think about that for a second, you realize how remarkable that is, especially when you consider the time period that happened. God also rewarded Mordecai's actions (stopping an assassination) and his faith, by guiding him to become the Prime Minister to the King.
Bottom Line: Esther and Mordecai kept their faith in dark times. They didn't live in fear. And God made the impossible happen. We need to remember this when we start feeling fear: fear of an illness, fear of an interview, fear about a grade, fear about a loved one. Throw away the fear and show your faith in God by believing he is going to turn it all around, maybe even make the impossible happen in your life.
Final Thought:
It's easy to read these Old Testament stories almost like were reading fiction. I battle this thought in my own head all the time. The times were so different. The actions were so long ago. But we should try to remember that this was how we got to where we are now. These stories are why we have the Word. These stories are reminders of real actual examples of God's greatness, of God's glory. Remembering stories, like this one, are not only important to demonstrate our faith, but our a great reminder and inspiration to just how great we have it living under God's grace.
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