Author: mercyfortheday

Selling Soap

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I meet with my friend once a month, and we talk for hours. I told her that I recently discovered that I have crossed the threshold into old age. I think I had shingles. And only old people get shingles. Right? And I told her that I had been going to the local farmers market every Saturday morning. One of the vendors that I found is a soap maker. I’ve begun buying my soap and shampoo from this family. After the shingles popped up, I visited my local soap maker and unexpectedly found a soap called Problem Skin. After using it for a few days on my itchy skin and then covering it with beef tallow, I discovered that the shingles were gone. And boy. Was I ever relieved. The soap lady even suggested using their salve to help with the nerve pain. And it worked, too.

Oh. I wasn’t looking for a soap called Problem Skin to soothe my itchy skin, but I found it anyway. I didn’t even know that a homemade soap could be used as a treatment for shingles, as well as for eczema and poison ivy and other rashes. But the soap actually works. I’m amazed and relieved.

My friend and I also talked about many other things that day. We talked about our faith. We talked about politics and conspiracy theories. We talked about work. We talked about family. We prayed together. And as we sat out in the warm sunshine, the time together felt like a breath of fresh air. It was good to be with her again.

I realized later how simple and easy it was to tell her about the new soap I had found that helped with my itchy skin. If I’ve found a treatment that works for me, why wouldn’t I want to tell others about it? Maybe it would work for them, too. I’m no doctor, so don’t take this as medical advice. I just know that it worked for me.

I recalled how the soap maker had explained some of the other soaps in her shop. She told me how she used the shampoo soap and now only needed to wash her hair once a week. Another soap she mentioned had one ingredient that was a natural deodorant. She bathes with the soap and hasn’t used deodorant in over ten years. She was excited to explain all the different natural soaps she and her husband made. She didn’t hesitate to talk about her life’s work, and she placed a business card in the bag with each purchase. She wanted everyone to know about her handmade soap. And she wanted others to share it with their family and friends.

The husband and wife soap making team are in the process of handing the business over to the next generation. They’re busy teaching soap making to their daughter and son-in-law, so the family can continue the small business for many more years.

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

If it’s so easy to tell someone about a new product I’ve found, why isn’t it easy to tell someone about the God I serve? Why isn’t it easy to tell them how he is the best and most trusted friend I’ve ever found? Why isn’t it easy to tell them that he loves me unconditionally, and he loves everyone equally? Why isn’t it easy for me to tell someone else who is also made in God’s image that they too can have a close personal relationship with him? Why isn’t it easy for me to tell someone that God forgave all my sins, and he’ll forgive theirs too if they ask? I would hope someone would tell me about God if I hadn’t learned about him early on in my life. Why would anyone hide such good news?

If we call ourselves Christians and really believe without a shadow of a doubt that the Bible is God’s Good News to the world, why do we keep quiet about it? Oh. We are quick to say that we are supposed to hide God’s Word in our hearts so that we might not sin against him. We are only fooling ourselves if we think that means we’re to keep the good news to ourselves. What that verse is telling us is that we need to study God’s Word and make it real in our lives. But do we even do that?

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:11

And then, what about the verse that asks how people can believe in God if they never hear about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? How do we explain keeping our lips sealed when we know the secret to eternal life and keep it only to ourselves?

Just as the soap lady is so eager to share her message, all who call themselves followers of Christ must willingly share the Good News that has been shared with us.

How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

Penn Jillette

Even Penn Jillette, the outspoken atheist magician, knows that if the good news of Jesus Christ is actually true, then we who believe must not keep it to ourselves. And he is right. Maybe calling the act of silence hatred seems a bit strong, but keeping quiet about a life-saving faith certainly doesn’t sound very loving, either.

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:15

Crabgrass Invasion

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The Israelites were at it again. They were disobeying God. Oh. Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, but he left a remnant of Jews in the land. God had sent him to destroy the city of his favored people, because they had ignored his commands and disobeyed him for generations. They worshipped false gods. They lived in wickedness and even sacrificed their own children to these false gods.

Then when their lives were devastated by the destruction of their city and country, they ran to the prophet Jeremiah asking him to pray for them. They wanted a message from God. They wanted God to tell them what to do and where to go. And they told Jeremiah that they would do whatever God told them to do. Even if they disagreed with God’s command, they would still do it. Scouts honor.

Ten days later, Jeremiah came back to them with a message from God. And the one thing they didn’t want to hear was what they heard. Oh. They had already made up their minds that they were going to run to Egypt and escape the hardship of living in their desolate homeland of Judah. They wanted an easy life, and they thought they would find it in Egypt. But God said no. Stay in Judah. Do not go to Egypt. So they got mad and accused Jeremiah of lying. They were furious. How could they be expected to stay in a land they wanted to leave?

The remnant of people left Judah and went to Egypt, in full knowledge that they were disobeying God’s direct command. They had heard the warning that if they went to Egypt they would never leave there alive. They heard how they would die from war, famine or disease. Their stubborn hearts would not consider surrendering to God’s invitation to rebuild their lives in their homeland. Their hardened hearts would not allow them to believe God when he told them they no longer had to fear the king of Babylon. They didn’t listen when he told them that he would be merciful to them by making the Babylonian king kind to them. So they left knowing full well that God’s anger and fury would follow them to Egypt. They heard God’s warning that they would never see their homeland again. And they went anyway.

God knew the Judeans would disobey him when they said earlier that they would obey him even if they didn’t want to. He knew they had their hearts set on going to Egypt. He knew they would disobey him. And he allowed them to disobey. He allowed them to go and destroy their lives even further.

You can read this part of Judah’s story in Jeremiah 42-44.

So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? Luke 6:46

I did some weeding in my flowerbed one morning while it wasn’t too warm outside. I had been noticing that crabgrass had begun forming a border along the driveway and sidewalk. It wasn’t a look that spoke to my heart, so I set out to remove the unwanted weed. As I pulled on the weeds, they came up easily. But I noticed in a couple of places where I pulled up the crabgrass that the concrete was damaged. I’m no expert of weeds, so I don’t know if crabgrass would damage a sidewalk. Or, does crabgrass thrive in concrete areas that are already weak or cracked? I don’t know.

All I knew was that I needed to get control of the crabgrass before it fully invaded my yard. I couldn’t let even a little bit stick around or it would soon destroy any remaining grass. Weeds left untended will take over an entire space. The ugly, unsightful weeds will cause harm where least expected. Not only crabgrass but any other weed left to its own devices will take control.

The problem was that I didn’t remove all the crabgrass that day. The sun was shining, and it became warm. I was uncomfortable, so I didn’t finish the job. And I didn’t walk far enough down the sidewalk to see how far the crabgrass had spread. I went indoors to my cool air-conditioned house knowing full well that I had left some crabgrass to grow freely. I didn’t seem to bother me, or I would have stayed outside and removed it.

God won’t force obedience on anyone. He won’t force us to do anything we don’t want to do. But if he requires something of us, then not doing so is an act of disobedience. God knows what is best for us, even if we don’t like his plans. He won’t lead us down some dark and dusty path and leave us all alone. And if we allow the weeds of disobedience and sin to grow in the corners of our hearts and minds, then we leave ourselves open to moral and ethical rot and decay. Sin separates us from God.

God never condones sin. He never approves of words or actions that he has already said go against his will. But he will punish disobedience. And that disobedience if left untouched will lead us to death and destruction for eternity, if we don’t remove it from our lives.

But the good news is this. He will forgive our sins when we confess them.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13

True Love

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They were told their marriage wouldn’t last. They were too old and set in their ways. He was twenty-six. She was twenty-three. Old in the eyes of some, but to others they were still wet behind the ears. Heeding no one’s advice, they tied the knot in front of close family in her parents’ living room. Her father, who said he would never give away his daughters, escorted her down the stairs to the waiting groom. She took the young man’s hand and pledged her life to his. With rings on their fingers, they were bound by law, love and life.

Oh. They didn’t wait long to start their family. Some thought they rushed into parenthood, but when the stars align there’s no going back. And after fifteen years of marriage, they were a family of nine. Oh yes. People would stop and count to see how many kids were in the station wagon. No. They weren’t Catholic. And no. Minivans weren’t invented yet.

Theirs was a solid marriage built on their love for God and each other. Early in their marriage, they committed their lives and marriage to God and never looked back. They were faithful church attenders, tithers, and Bible readers. They were also faithful to each other.

There was never any discussion about divorce or separation. Theirs was a love that would last through the ages of time. They laughed and joked. They cried and mourned. Theirs was a steadfast commitment. Oh. Someone once pulled a prank and called the house phone suggesting he was involved with another woman. He laughed it off. She did not. Their love was not in the market for competition.

As they celebrated their golden anniversary, she said she thought only old people were married for fifty years. She still saw herself as a young woman, but her mind and body were betraying her. Little did she know that in ten short years, she would walk the streets of gold and meet her Savior face to face. Days later, he would join his wife in the city eternal.

They aged. Their minds and memories faded. At times, she would forget he was her husband. He never forgot. Near the end, he commented that she was the most precious woman in the world. And as he was placed on hospice, he said he would wait for her. When asked if he got tired of waiting, he said no, not for her. And wait he did. She passed unexpectedly in her sleep, and he breathed his last breath eleven days later.

Their final caregivers saw a lasting love and commitment between the two. And they held a deep admiration for this couple who missed their sixty year anniversary by less than ninety days. True love and commitment are an example we all should strive for in our marriages. Through thick and thin. In sickness and in health. For richer or for poorer. Till death do us part. That was the commitment they had made years earlier, and that commitment never faded. That commitment was never questioned.

When I think of the memories I most cherish, I think of my parents and their love for each other. Their marriage wasn’t perfect, but it was centered on their love of God and each other and their family.

In Hot Pursuit

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Out of all the people on the earth, God chose the nation of Israel to be his chosen people. In other words, they’re his favorites. And we can’t do anything about that. Oh. It’s obvious that other nations and peoples have tried to eradicate his favorites. But they haven’t quite been able to do so. And they never will. No matter how desperate they are. No matter how evil their attempts are. No matter how often they try. God’s chosen nation will not be eliminated. God said so himself.

But his favored nation, who once lived in obedience to his commands, has rejected him time and time again. The words that make up the Old Testament list many people and kings who flat out rejected God’s command to obey him. That’s all he asked. Obedience to his will. And that was too much for so many people for so many years. Sure. A new king would come along and choose to bow to God’s will, and so the nation would turn to God. But once another king was on the throne and chose not to obey God, the nation returned to their idol worship and disobedience.

After many years of refusing to bow to him, God had had enough. Sure. God is a patient God. But over time, God became impatient. He is a jealous God and yearns for his people to have a heart for him and him alone. He sent prophets to give warnings of the destruction and devastation that was ahead for them if they continued in their sinful ways. But they ignored the pleas. They went about their lives enjoying success and freedom, yet their hearts were full of pride and sin. Year after year. Prophet after prophet. The Israelites deliberately chose to ignore God’s warning.

But the thing is. God never gave up on them. His love for his chosen people was so deep and so wide and so long that he pursued them. And he pursued them passionately. He was angry and sad, but he never gave up on them. God will pursue his people tirelessly.

And then the awful thing that he had promised would happen did happen. His chosen people were attacked and many were taken captive to Babylon. Oh. They had been warned about this. They would be held captive for seventy years. And still. Those who remained in Jerusalem lived lives of debauchery. Not even the fact that many of their family members and friends had been taken captive changed their hearts. They wouldn’t surrender to God Almighty. They were a stubborn people.

God continued to warn his people in Jerusalem through the prophet Jeremiah. He told them that everyone who remained there would die from war, famine or disease. They should surrender to the Babylonians and survive. But they were stubborn. They said no.

Another prophet, Ezekiel, was among those taken captive to Babylon. He too spoke of the atrocities that would overtake Jerusalem. And God told him that although he would continue to pursue his people, Ezekiel’s words would fall on deaf ears.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

In his twenties, Nebuchadnezzar found himself in command of an empire where he served for over forty years. He was king of Babylon who directed the capture and fall of Jerusalem. During the very early years of his reign, Jerusalem was one of several kingdoms he successfully captured. He was a valiant warrior. He was also a very religious man. Oh. He didn’t serve one god. He served many gods. And these gods were useless, but he wouldn’t admit it. He required his people to worship his gods. If they didn’t, they could face the death penalty.

In his wartime efforts, Nebuchadnezzar captured many young men to serve in his kingdom. He required them to attend a three year re-education program to indoctrinate them in Babylonian customs and practices. He was looking to erase all the years of religious learning they had received in their homeland. He wanted long lasting commitment from them. Or they would pay the price.

During his years as king, a Jewish exile named Daniel earned many promotions and accolades from Nebuchadnezzar. Although Daniel had graduated from the Babylonian training program, his loyalty to God did not waver. Oh. He passed the tests and greatly impressed the king with his knowledge of Babylonian royalty, but all the learning didn’t faze his belief in God. And through different events, Nebuchadnezzar knew this. Yet he didn’t punish Daniel, because at different points in his reign, Nebuchadnezzar needed to hear the wisdom God spoke through Daniel. Sure. Daniel was tested in his position as advisor to the king. His life was put on the line, but he always spoke the truth to the king.

As Daniel faithfully served God by serving Nebuchadnezzar, God pursued the king. Through Daniel, God challenged Nebuchadnezzar’s commitment to other gods. Gods that could do nothing for him. Yet he was stubborn. He admitted that God was a god, but he wouldn’t commit to God being the One True God.

Until he did.

Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream. Once again. And when Daniel shared the meaning of the dream, Nebuchadnezzar learned his fate. He was to live as a wild animal for seven periods of time before returning to rule his kingdom. And he would only return to rule once he bowed in submission to God. The One True God. Over time, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream came true. All of it. The good. The bad. And the ugly. And after his sanity was restored and his faith in God was sure, he returned to lead his kingdom.

God never stopped pursuing Nebuchadnezzar. Along the way, there was one faithful witness who always spoke to him of God and God’s need for surrender. Daniel never gave up on the king. And God didn’t either.

If God had stopped in his pursuit of mankind, he never would have called on his only Son to die for our sins. He made a way for all who are born to have eternal life with him. Let’s not reject the free gift he offered to us. The gift is free for us, but it was a huge sacrifice on his part.

God will pursue people for many years. Even when they continually ignore him or deny him. He is in hot pursuit. And I have to believe that during God’s pursuit of those needing him, he will place faithful followers in their path to speak words of truth. Words of conviction. And words of love. We must never forget that God loves each of us and wants all of us to bow to him in this lifetime. Because even if we don’t now, there will be a day when we bow in acknowledgment of his divinity and power.

As believers, we must never give up praying for those lost loved ones. We must never give up our faithful witness, because our lives and words of God’s love are what they need. They may not admit it, but God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. Let’s not discount God’s faithfulness.

The Art of Doing Hard Things

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So then there’s Jeremiah. He was a prophet who shared God’s message of impending doom to the people of Israel and Judah. The problem is. They didn’t listen to him. They mocked him. They shunned him. They threatened him. They ignored him. They didn’t like him. They wanted him dead. But they didn’t kill him. Oh. He suffered physically and mentally. He lived with deep anguish. He wanted to give up. He asked God why he was even born. He wondered if it would have been better if he had been born dead. But he wasn’t. He was to live the life that God had laid out for him. Every single day. Whether the day was good or bad. He was used by God to warn his people that they must repent and turn from their sinful ways.

And then God asked the impossible of him. God told him not to marry and have children. God said that if he did, his family would be among other families to die horrible deaths. They would have no one to mourn or bury them.

The Lord gave me another message. He said, “Do not get married or have children in this place. For this is what the Lord says about the children born here in this city and about their mothers and fathers: They will die from terrible diseases. No one will mourn for them or bury them, and they will lie scattered on the ground like manure. They will die from war and famine, and their bodies will be food for the vultures and wild animals.” Jeremiah 16:1-4

Jeremiah was involved in political and religious events during his day. He was a spiritual leader who faithfully served God. He showed great courage as he shared God’s word with God’s chosen people. He spoke on the Lord’s behalf to a people who didn’t want to hear what he had to say. He felt great sorrow as he saw his nation moving toward destruction. If only they listened, they could be spared future devastation. His was not an easy life.

For his entire career, Jeremiah served in a position where he was unfairly treated and criticized. His words fell on deaf ears, but others felt free to speak ill of him. Oh. He was born into a family of priests. That was his expected line of work. But somehow. God had other plans for him. He was a God ordained prophet who was given the task of sharing God’s impending punishment on a people who despised him. His was not an easy job.

Jeremiah held a deep love for his fellow Israelites, yet he knew the punishment headed their way if they didn’t return to obeying God. He was also deeply concerned about his personal safety, because he knew that speaking directly against the fallen people put a bullseye on his back. Yet he stood faithful in delivering God’s message of impending judgment.

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

I think of the young woman who was a collegiate swimmer. Her plan was to attend dental school, yet she somehow finds herself in another profession at this moment. After being a victim of unfair discrimination, she speaks out against the ideology that men participating in women’s sports is fair. She has stood in a women’s locker room with a male posing as a female and has felt the discomfort the situation caused for her and her female teammates. She has remained faithful to her call for only women to participate in women’s sports. Yet she is ridiculed and persecuted for speaking the truth. She has felt the bitter sting of rejection. She has been isolated and physically assaulted, yet she continues with her message. She now expects to see protesters at any event where she is scheduled to speak. She knows they are out to silence her. Yet she still speaks.

Oh. Her message isn’t one of spiritual salvation, yet it is significant. If falsehoods are accepted as truth in any area of life, then biblical truths are also on the line. This young woman is no prophet or biblical scholar, yet she is a faithful believer in Jesus Christ. She has accepted the call to be a voice for young women coming behind her who may also be asked to step aside for a lie. She doesn’t want anyone else to be in a situation similar to hers.

Sure. There are those who support her message of fairness. Behind closed doors, they too tell her they want to save women’s sports. But those who show support in private are silent in public. Shame on them. I get it. They’re fearful for their jobs. Their career may be on the line if they challenge the new status quo. They don’t want to be cancelled or sued. So they stay silent. But if no one speaks up, then women’s sports is a thing of the past.

The message of truth is offensive to those who deny it, but it doesn’t make the truth less powerful. Being offended doesn’t change the truth. But the messenger of truth must remain faithful, at all costs.

In no way am I trying to compare a college swimmer to a Jewish prophet, but they both showed tremendous courage when called upon to speak truth to those who opposed it. They and many others who dare to show courage in uncertain times are to be applauded and thanked. Their example of faithful obedience is a lesson each of us must learn. Who knows when we may be called on to stand for truth and face the difficulties of doing so. Hard times may come upon us, but we must let the example of those who come before us embolden us to always be a voice for truth.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

Faithful Witness

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Daniel worked with King Nebuchadnezzar for roughly thirty years. During that time, Daniel had many opportunities to be a godly example to the king. In the way he carried himself. In the way he made decisions and interacted with others. In the way he led his team of wise men. In the way he helped rule the nation. And he always prayed three times a day at the window in his house. During these prayers, we’ve got to believe that he was praying for his job, his boss the king, and for those under his authority. He no longer had a family. His job was his life. He had been brutally taken from his home in Jerusalem and marched to Babylon as a teenager. And he lived there the rest of his life serving kings, always serving the man in charge. For seventy years, he served the kings who ruled Babylon.

King Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t much older than Daniel. I wouldn’t say they became friends, but they both had deep respect for the other. Although they worshipped different gods, Nebuchadnezzar never required Daniel to give up his faith in the One True God. Nebuchadnezzar saw the One True God as just one of the many gods, but he didn’t worship God. He only acknowledged him as a god.

Daniel was faithful through all his years of exiled service. He didn’t lose his faith. His faith only strengthened over time, because his sole source of strength was God. As a young child in Jerusalem, Daniel never expected to leave his home or country. He never realized that he would be taken prisoner and held captive for the remainder of his life. Yet that’s where he found himself. Who knows what level of power he could have attained if he had been able to stay in Jerusalem. He was most likely from a noble family and was headed toward a career within royalty serving a Jewish king. Instead he found himself serving Babylonian king in hostile territory.

We won’t ever what he could have done in Jerusalem. But we do know what he did in Babylon. And that was noble and notable. It was the sacrifice of a lifetime. And he had no say in any of it. His role was to serve God faithfully wherever he was placed. And that is what he did. It wasn’t a job he chose. It wasn’t a nation he chose. It wasn’t the life he chose. But he found himself there, regardless. And there was nothing he could do to change that. He was a prisoner, but he held a high position in the country. King Nebuchadnezzar respected him and looked to his advice as solid and trustworthy.

Daniel had many opportunities through the years to live out his faith among the courts. Imagine being in a position for thirty years with one boss who didn’t believe in your God but allowed you the freedom to pursue your faith. Even when it wasn’t the faith of the nation. The king had witnessed God’s work in Daniel’s life and in his own life, because there were time when he called on Daniel to solve his problems. Daniel, of course, called on his God, the Host of heavens armies, to show him how to identify and present this problem to the king. Daniel didn’t try to do that work on his own. And God showed his majestic power to King Nebuchadnezzar through Daniel.

Daniel always consulted God first. And God gave him the ability to perform difficult tasks. Tasks such as telling the king what he had dreamed and then interpreting it. Even if it was bad news. It’s easy to say that Daniel had a way with words, but God filled him with humility, kindness and deep respect for this king. This was a king Daniel didn’t necessarily approve of but was strong armed into serving him. At some point, Nebuchadnezzar must have been dishonoring the poor and elderly, because Daniel called him out on these two issues. The king had such high respect for Daniel that he expected Daniel to always speak truthfully. In this particular moment, the truth that Daniel had to share was a very difficult message. Yet he spoke the truth courageously.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23

When we think of our lot in life, we may feel that we’ve been given the short stick. We may think that we are owed a grand and glorious life, but somehow it has evaded us. We consider our family, where we live, and who we work with. We think of our loved ones who aren’t living for God, who aren’t obeying Him or who may just tolerate our faithful living. They know we attend church every week. They know we read our Bible and pray. They may know that we give part of our income to the church. They hear the comments we make consciously and unconsciously letting them know of our faithfulness to God. It doesn’t go unnoticed.

Neighbors notice when we back out of our driveway every Sunday to go to church. They notice when cars pull in our driveway to attend a Bible study. They hear our language. They notice our demeanor. They see our lives. They see our temperament. They witness our lives on a daily basis. Knowing that we say we are followers of Christ, they watch to make sure we live up to the standard they have set for us. They set an unvoiced standard for Christ followers, even though their standard might not line up with ours. You can count on that.

Our witness counts. Our faithful witness counts. Even though we may not recognize it as a witness. We may not recognize that our day by day, week by week, month by month and year by year life is a witness to those around us. We have people in our lives who aren’t following God, whether it’s family, friends, neighbors, co-workers or bosses. There may come a time when we have the opportunity and responsibility to speak biblical truth to them. We must not hesitate. And yet. They still have the option to refuse Christ’s open invitation. But we will know that we’ve been faithful in our witness.

Our friends may get annoyed with our words about Jesus Christ’s sacrifice by dying on the cross for them. They may become frustrated when we share that they need salvation. They may ignore the message. They also might become convicted and repent of their sins. But they can never say they haven’t heard the message of salvation. The words that we’re speaking, and the life we’re living is faithfulness to God. God is faithful, and he will not let his word return void. So we must continue to live our lives faithfully for God in front of those who are living in direct disobedience to him. Our witness counts. Our witness matters. Our witness must remain faithful, because we don’t know when our witness will cause another to turn to Christ. We may be the only Jesus in their lives. Let’s do right by him. Let’s honor his Word and his sacrifice.

Oh. May all who come behind us find us faithful.

Backbone Needed

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The king was waiting in his palace for Daniel to explain the meaning of his disturbing dream. He knew Daniel could tell him what this dream meant, because he had interpreted a dream for him years earlier, with the help of his God. So he could do it again. So could his God.

And Daniel was given the opportunity and the challenge of speaking God’s truth to the king. Oh. God gave him the meaning of the dream. And he had a slight hesitation as he realized the impact the meaning of the dream would have on the king. He knew it would be life changing. He just didn’t know if his own life would be at risk for telling the truth. But the king, in his love for Daniel, gave him permission to tell the true meaning of the dream. No holds barred.

Was Daniel fearful for his own life or for the life of the king? After all, this news would be devastating to the king who thought he didn’t need God. Daniel and the king had worked together for many years. It would be very difficult to give bad news to your boss. It was news that would cause the king’s knees to crumble. His power would be gone. Daniel begged him to repent.

Some would pray for the opportunity of a lifetime to let one in a noble position know that they’re a sinner in need of a Savior.  Yet Daniel was overcome by emotion and concern.  He knew the gravity of the meaning of the dream.  He knew that it was a judgment from God on King Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and disobedience.  How do you say those words out loud in front of an audience of the king? Were the other wise men still standing there? Would he have to say the difficult words in mixed company?  I mean.  This was a personal message from God himself. No one said that the king had excused everyone else in the room.  So Daniel had to be the bearer of good and bad news. 

Daniel began his dialogue with humility and love for the king. Although they were on different sides of the fence with their faith, they deeply respected each other. Daniel knew just the wrong word or attitude could send him to prison or death. Yet this king also knew of Daniel’s deep, abiding faith in God. He urged Daniel to speak the words of truth to him. Daniel let the king know that he wanted only the best for him, yet this dream told of troubles ahead for the king. A kind of trouble not typically afforded a wealthy, successful king. As he shared the meaning of the dream, Daniel spoke with courage and honesty. He left no detail undone. And then he shared hope. He shared that all would not be lost. The kingdom would be held in trust for when the king returned to his rightful throne. Then he finished his message with a plea for the king to stop sinning and to do what was right.

I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16

Read this part of Daniel’s story in Daniel 4:19-27.

When we’re faced with speaking hard spiritual truths to those in authority or even to family members, we must do so with love and honesty. We come face to face with those in need of a Savior on a daily basis. We must keep them in our prayers and shower them with love and truth. We can’t go along with what’s popular in the world today. We must go with what’s right. Even when there might be a cost for us.

Like Daniel, we must be willing to share with others why they too need a Savior. We may have to tell them that God isn’t pleased with their disobedience and disregard for his commands. Perhaps we will have to share that there is a punishment for disobedience. But those truths can only be given with a gentle and humble attitude. We are all sinners in need of a Savior.

We don’t know what message God may ask us to share with someone who is running from him. But we do know that he will be with us as we share hard truths and genuine love. Let’s not run from those difficult conversations, but let’s put our hand in God’s as he leads us to share his love to a lost world.

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

Keep your heart soft. Pray for people with whom you disagree.

Alisa Childers

A Long Obedience

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

When Daniel was a teenager, he was captured from his home in Jerusalem and taken to Babylon. There he spent three years being indoctrinated into the Babylonian culture, religions and traditions. He was then chosen to serve as a wise man in the royal court of King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was a Jew. He was raised in a country that had rejected God, yet he was taught that God was the God of his people. Even though the king of his homeland had rejected God, there remained a faithful remnant in the land. Yet, that didn’t keep the followers of God safe from their enemy. Daniel became a prisoner of war. He wasn’t free to leave Babylon and go home to Jerusalem. He never returned home and was to be an exile for the rest of his life. Some would think he never reached his full potential living in a foreign land.

Daniel now lived in a heathen country that did not recognize God as the One True God. The Babylonians worshipped many gods. When he had been taken captive, the king had even changed Daniel’s name to Belteshazzar. His new name was the name of one of Nebuchadnezzar’s gods. The name Daniel means “God is my judge.” The god Bel was a powerless Babylonian god, while the God of Israel was the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The God of the Israelites was and still is living and breathing. He was and still is capable of hearing prayers and answering them. He is most powerful. Daniel knew this and never forgot it.

Daniel held true to his faith for his entire life. He gained solid teaching in his childhood while still in Jerusalem. Even though his native country had turned from serving God, someone taught him the Holy Scriptures that had been passed down for generations. He had learned to pray, and he knew prayer was a valuable lifeline. Perhaps it was his father who had taught him the Scriptures by rote repetition. Or perhaps, the young Jewish boys of his day were still taught the Torah, even though their nation’s leaders lived in direct opposition to God’s commands. Regardless of how he learned of God and to trust in him, he learned that lesson. And he learned it well. It was the most valuable possession he took with him as he was forced to travel the long journey from home to the foreign nation of Babylon. Little did he know just how much he would have to rely on God as his only source of strength and comfort for the remainder of his life.

But now. Roughly thirty years later, he finds himself called for an audience with the king. He now stood awaiting the king’s request. Once again, he had been asked to interpret another one of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams. All the other wise men stood in front of the king, yet not one of them could provide the meaning of this disturbing dream. And after all this time, Nebuchadnezzar was visibly relieved when Daniel walked through the door. He trusted Daniel and knew that Daniel would be able to interpret his dream. Why didn’t he just call for Daniel first thing, instead of bringing in all the other wise men?

The story of Daniel doesn’t allow us to witness Daniel’s faithfulness to God or even to his employer on a day-by-day or year-by-year basis. Yet this story shows us that as Daniel grew into a man who was now in his forties, his faith in God was deeper and stronger than it had been when he walked the path as a prisoner so many years earlier. He had learned that even when facing possible death, God was on his side. God was with him in those dark moments. And yet. He didn’t know what other trials were ahead. He faced the perils of living in a heathen culture all the while keeping his faith in God strong. He didn’t let the temptations and threats of the surrounding culture determine his faith. Those temptations and threats strengthened his resolve to obey God regardless of what he faced. He was immersed in an environment that bowed to many manmade gods, yet he didn’t bow a knee to them. Not once. He was determined to not let anything defile his relationship with God.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Nebuchadnezzar was a religious man. He worshipped many gods. Yet his gods couldn’t help him in his times of deepest need. They never came through for him. But he trusted Daniel. And he knew that Daniel didn’t worship his gods. Daniel worshipped the One True God, the living God. Nebuchadnezzar respected him for his faithfulness to his faith, yet he never demanded that Daniel turn against God. Nebuchadnezzar realized he relied on Daniel’s God because he had seen his hand working in Daniel’s life. And he had also experienced the work of God in his own life. Yet he still refused to worship God. He only acknowledged God’s existence and power. He was full of pride and refused to bow to God.

Daniel’s allegiance to God never wavered during these thirty years serving a king who continually mocked God. There’s much we don’t know of those years between the king’s two dreams, yet we do know that on a daily basis Daniel stood fast in his devotion to God. If not, he wouldn’t have been faithful when a temptation or threat popped up. His faith was steadfast. It had been cultivated in hard times and nothing could deter him from it.

You can read this part of Daniel’s story in Daniel 4:4-18.

As believers in a hostile, heathen culture today, we are faced with temptations and threats we never thought possible. Yet here we are. We must do the hard work of studying God’s word and spending time in prayer so we are prepared for the challenges that we will face. We may not be called on to interpret a dream or bow to a foreign god. But we may be asked to call someone by a different pronoun. Or we may be mandated to perform tasks at work that go against our beliefs. We may be asked to bow a knee to an ideology that is in direct contradiction to God’s Word. We may be asked to say words we don’t believe. We may be required to sit through mandatory indoctrination of secular philosophies that are unbiblical. If we don’t know God’s Word. If we don’t spend time in prayer now. How will we be ready to face the fight when we’re suddenly in it? It could happen at any time.

Oh. It was thirty years in the making for Daniel. What he didn’t know was that he still had forty more years to go. His battles of working in a heathen environment never changed. His entire career was spent working in a situation that went directly against his beliefs. And yet he had a great reputation. His work was impeccable and he was favored by the king. Sure. The kings changed over time. The players in the king’s court changed. And some of the rules even changed. Yet Daniel’s faith and commitment to his God remained unchanged. Even during the darkest trials.

For his entire career, Daniel worked in a hostile environment. He didn’t know from one day to the next whether he life would be on the line. Sure. He had developed a relationship with the king. But kings can be fickle. And it wasn’t like Daniel could find another more suitable job. Where do you go after working for a hostile foreign king? If Daniel could work in a hostile environment for so many years and remain faithful to God, why can’t we? We wonder today if we should work only for companies that support our values. But Daniel didn’t have a choice and he was able to remain faithful to his God. We can’t always run from the situation we find ourselves in. Sometimes the only choice is to stay and stand strong amidst the daily rebukes thrown at us. When someone calls us horrible names, we can stand strong knowing who knows our true name and calls us by it. Remember. God is with us.

We may not have a choice but to remain in difficult situations. God may even require us to stay. We don’t know what lies ahead for any of us. What we do know is that if God is with us, those against us will not win in the end. We must keep our eye on our eternal prize. Not on an easy life on this earth. As followers of Christ, we aren’t called to an easy life. We’re not called to conform to current cultural trends. We’re called to be faithful and obedient to God. And the Bible clearly tells us that we will face suffering.

Let’s learn to be like Daniel. We must choose to be in the fight for our faith over the long haul. It isn’t a short-term commitment. It is a lifetime of choice. A lifetime of choosing to live in direct obedience to God’s will. To stand for God’s will and no one else’s. Let’s make the commitment. Let’s strengthen our faith and stand strong from this day forward. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Hail or High Water

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

There is a part of God’s creation that doesn’t have a soul but yet always obeys Him. Always does as he commands. That part of creation is nature and animals. They can’t talk back to God. They can’t refuse to obey him. They’re at God’s mercy. When he parted the Red Sea, the water didn’t have a choice but to separate. When he caused the donkey to speak to Balaam, the donkey didn’t have a choice but to speak.

When the sun shines each day. When the stars come out at night. When the rain falls. When the wind blows. When a tornado strikes. When hail pummels the ground. None of these have a choice. Weather patterns don’t have a choice whether to start or stop. It does as God commands.

Excessive weather events are controlled by God. Tsunamis. Drought. Earthquakes. Landslides. Volcanoes. God created this earth to obey his commands. And if you notice, people call these incidents acts of God.

And now mankind is trying to manipulate nature. We want to stop the sun’s rays from beaming to the earth. We’ve put layers of radiation in place to damage human and animal bodies. And we call it good. We call it progress. But we’ve never stopped to ask what God thinks of our plans and ideas for improving his creation. Shame on us. I’d dare to say that God perfectly created the universe. The planets. The stars. The galaxies. The sun and moon. The oceans and all that live therein. He doesn’t need any help improving it. He expects us to care for it, not harm it.

But yet the one part of creation that God loves the most is mankind. The part of creation made in His image. The part that he gave a mind and soul and the power to choose. We’re the one part of God’s creation who decides what we do. We can choose to obey God or we can refuse. Mankind is the one part of God’s creation that God chose to commune with one on one. He gave us a soul. He gave us a mind to reason and choose. Vocal chords to speak. We can communicate intelligently.

In the garden of Even, God spent time with Adam and Eve. He didn’t just sit alone in nature. He went to nature to spend time with his image bearers. And when those first two humans disobeyed God’s command, they were separated from him.

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalms 19:7

If God tells us that we should do something magnificent, we can choose not to do it. If he tells us to stop doing something, we can choose to continue or to stop. We, as image bearers of God, don’t have to obey Him. We can say no. We. Can. Say. No. I’m going to do what I want. When I want. Why I want. Where I want. How I want. We can refuse to obey.

Even though we know God’s will and ways are always perfect, we always have a choice. We have that power. We can say no. We can refuse to honor God. It doesn’t make us more powerful. By any means. It shows our weakness. Refusing to obey God shows our weakness, and it shows that we have given in to another power. The power of Satan influences us by using other people or things that God has made and called good. But Satan twists the good into evil and calls it good.

Only God’s creation that doesn’t have a soul is powerless to refuse God. We might think. Wow, all those poor animals. Those poor flowers and trees. The poor oceans. They have to do everything God commands. But look at what little worries they have. The Bible says just as God feeds the birds of the air, so will he feed and clothe us.

Did you ever notice that Satan doesn’t run after the oceans or skies or animals? He doesn’t tempt them to do what they weren’t created to do. Have you ever seen a potato planted and later harvested as an apple? Does a deer give birth to a cat? Does rain refuse to soak the ground? Satan tempts the creation of God who has the power of choice. Mankind has the choice to do right or wrong. Good or bad. We can create beauty or destroy God’s work. We have the power to refuse Satan’s advances. One little word is all it takes. NO.

We see creation, the trees, the flowers and the insects that are required to keep nature working. God created all of those. He has power over them. They don’t stop and ask why they have to work. The sun doesn’t ask why it has to shine today. It doesn’t beg to be left behind the clouds. Does the moon ever say no, I don’t want to come out at night? Do the stars refuse to shine? Do the constellations refuse to move into format? Does the earth refuse to turn?

God has given those of his creation with souls the responsibility to care for the rest of the earth he created. He created it for our use and for his good purpose. And we treat it with shame because we don’t respect God and His commands. We don’t honor Him through our service of caring for the earth. It’s on us. God commanded us to care for the earth. And there are those who think more highly of creation than they do the Creator. That in and of itself is a problem. But when we care for creation, we acknowledge and honor our Creator.

If creation honors God’s commands, why can’t I?

When the Israelites escaped from Egypt— when the family of Jacob left that foreign land— the land of Judah became God’s sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom. The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs! What’s wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. He turned the rock into a pool of water; yes, a spring of water flowed from solid rock. Psalms 114:1-8

Trouble Spotted Ahead

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I believe Jesus could return at anytime to take his followers home with him. We’re seeing prophecies being fulfilled. We’re witnessing the changing of the guard as it relates to morality and acceptance of blatant sin. There is military unrest throughout the world. Countries once thought enemies have shaken hands. Countries once thought friends have parted ways. Citizens of countries throughout the world have been put on notice that the clamp is tightening on personal freedom and autonomy. Privacy is pretty much a thing of the past. Food shortages are said to be coming soon.

I read an article recently that caused unwanted anxiety. If the warning is true, a catastrophic event could occur soon and you may never read what I’m writing. Or the supposed event may have already passed without fanfare. If the warning is false, life will continue as normal for the time being. All future stability in the world is up for grabs. Some call these warnings conspiracy theories. Others note them as plain conspiracies that will eventually play out in front of our lives. I’ve read that we should pay attention to what is being said about future catastrophic events. I assume we should consider ourselves warned. If the crazy words are being said, then someone has possibly planned to cause destruction. And many lives will be endangered or ended. Only time will tell.

Regardless of what does or doesn’t happen, at the moment, all our hearts are still beating. The sun is shining. The weather is muggy in my neighborhood. And American flags are flying. It looks to be a good day. No one knows at this point what the end of the week will look like. But isn’t that the case for any week?

It just so happens that I was reading in Psalms this morning and came across some chapters that were like a salve to my anxious heart. My soul is at peace, but my physical being is at times shaken by the news and speculations that I read. Perhaps I shouldn’t read them, but I want to be in the know. I’m not one for surprises. But I also know that I can’t plan for every disaster.

But back to the Psalms. The soothing words were written long ago by men facing uncertain times of their own. Their nation, too, had turned its back on God. They too were facing known and unknown enemies. Yet there were some who were faithfully serving God. They were obeying his commands and following his lead. But because their leaders had bowed to false gods, the nation was unstable.

What we must remember is that the enemy we’re facing is unseen. He’s lurking. He’s pushing. He’s gaining power where he once would have none. And he’s being allowed to expand his reach further and further into civilization. He wants full and total control. And there will be a day when that happens. But it isn’t today. Yet he still causes major friction and turmoil in hearts and in homes. In leaders and in followers. In cities and in countries. Yet he is not the savior of the world. He is the world’s worst enemy. But he wants the world to think of him as friend and savior. That he is not. He is Satan. The enemy of our soul.

So during the times of turmoil in my heart, these Psalms are a balm of peace. The one constant, unchanging element of life is God. He is always present, even when times are uncertain. And these Psalms speak peace and comfort in those uncertainties.

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Psalms 42:1-2

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. Psalms 42:8

For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies? Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. Psalms 43:2-3

Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us. O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. Psalms 44:5-8

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Psalms 46:1-3

The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalms 46:6-7

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalms 46:10-11

I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.

Jim Bailey