faith

Where Do You Get Your Confidence

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria had threatened the nation of Judah. His plan was to attack and capture the city, much as he had done to many other neighboring enemies. His tactics for conquering the city were intimidation and threats. He knew that the other nations who had surrendered to defeat did not have gods that would work for them and against him. He knew their gods had no power. But he had heard of the great God of Judah. He had heard the stories of triumph and success that came with this mighty nation he now wanted as his own. So he had to use intimidation to make the people cower to his words of coercion.

Sennacherib had come for the country of Judah. He attacked and conquered their fortified cities. And, of course, King Hezekiah was very concerned. He had tried to align himself with the Assyrian king giving him all the Temple gold and silver. He thought it a better decision to pay off this evil king and become his subject rather than trusting in God. But Sennacherib wanted more. He wasn’t satisfied with just silver and gold. This payment only emboldened Sennacherib against Judah.

Sennacherib asked Hezekiah what he was trusting in that made him so confident. And honestly. Hezekiah was trusting in an alliance with Egypt rather than trusting in God. He got caught up in man’s assurances rather than God’s, and it could have cost him everything if he hadn’t set himself back on the path of following God’s leading.

Sennacherib threatened the people and tried to bribe them into following him. He belittled them. He tried to plant doubt in the people’s minds about their king and revolt against him. He reminded them of all the victories the great army of Assyria had accomplished in defeating the surrounding nations. And he reminded them that the gods of those nations couldn’t save their people. So how could the God of Judah stand a chance?

The king of Assyria knew that Hezekiah, the king of Judah, had destroyed all the shrines and altars to false gods. He insinuated that Hezekiah’s act of removing shrines so the people could only worship in Jerusalem was the wrong thing to do. He pitted the false gods of Assyria against the One True God of Judah. The one good thing that Hezekiah had done was remove the altars to idols. And he took advantage of Sennacherib’s false insinuations, because Sennacherib tried to use his lies against God and Hezekiah. He insulted God. He told the people of Judah that the God of Hezekiah would not be able to stand against him, just as the gods of all the other countries he captured couldn’t. He was bold in his assertions and assumptions of victory because he didn’t know the strength and power of the God of Hezekiah.

Oh sure. The king of Assyria intentionally put fear in the hearts of the people. He told them that Hezekiah would try to deceive them, all the while saying deceptive words himself. He knew if he could get them to cower before him that he would have subjects who would serve him. He and his men threw insult after insult upon Hezekiah to make the people of Judah wary of anything Hezekiah told them. He planted doubt in their minds. He wanted to terrorize the people so the act of capturing the city would be much easier than facing a slew of strong courageous fighters. He wanted weaklings who could be controlled.

Sure. The people were discouraged and shaken to the bone. They knew Sennacherib and his men had a history of torturing and abusing their captives. They knew he meant every word he said, even though his words were lies. When a tyrant or dictator gains power, he is never willing to relinquish it. He will do whatever it takes to maintain control over his subjects. And Hezekiah and his people had heard the stories of the horrible mistreatment of Sennacherib’s political enemies.

When Hezekiah’s men returned to the palace to present this awful message to the king, the king of Judah knew they were in big trouble. Changes had to be made. And the first change he made was a change of heart about God. He knew the God who could calm a raging storm could also part the seas. He knew God was a God of miracles, and that’s exactly what they needed. He sent one of his men to the prophet Isaiah to hear a word from God.

And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord : “O Lord , God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord , and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord , and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God. “It is true, Lord , that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord , are God.” 2 Kings 19:15-19

Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave Hezekiah a promising message of assurance that Assyria would not enter their city. God would defend and protect his people. The city was spared from the Assyrians.

You can read the full story at 2 Kings 18-19.

What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? 2 Kings 18:19

We have much to learn from the story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib. Two strong kings, both following different paths of leadership, clash in their beliefs and leadership styles. One is on a path of obeying God and the other is headed down the path of destruction and futility. One might wonder which leader will triumph, but the real hero of the story is God. The sovereign, omniscient God of the universe who sets the course of all men, knew exactly how to handle this rogue, manipulative king of Assyria.

God knew Hezekiah could have chosen the alliance with Egypt, which wouldn’t have honored God. But Hezekiah saw the writing on the wall, and he turned his confidence over to God’s power to fight his battles.

Satan will often attack us just as Sennacherib’s words attacked Hezekiah when he asked what he was trusting in. If our complete trust isn’t in God, what are we trusting in?

We must be prepared to be criticized, because our behavior is determined by facts which the princes of this world know not. (Meyer)

God is an ever-present help in times of trouble. We don’t need to feel discouraged or anxious because his will is perfect. He has ordained every step of our days, and he will guide us through each heartbreak, uncertainty, and dark day that we face. Each of our anxious thoughts are covered by him. We are not alone. We are never alone with God as our guide. That knowledge gives us the courage to get out of bed each morning and face the day with full confidence that we are surrounded by God’s army.

Just as Hezekiah prayed a mighty prayer of faith, we too have that same pipeline to God. We must know that every prayer of our heart goes straight to God’s ears. He hears our cries for help and repentance. The call to humbly present our requests to God is great because of his sovereignty. God deserves our respect and worship. He leaves nothing to chance. He is ready and able to do the impossible if we ask. As the nation of Judah placed their total dependence on God, so too must we.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

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They were philosophers. Or astronomers. Or were they astrologers? Perhaps they were magicians. All we really know is that a group of men saw an unusual star one night and started an investigation into its meaning. The brilliance of it was unbelievable, and they had to know more. This star has been called an extraordinary celestial event. And the men have been called Magi.

The wise men studied the stars. When they saw a new star, they searched the Scriptures to find the meaning of it. Why were the Scriptures the place they turned to find the answer, one might ask. They were most likely educated men of their day. But what did their education consist of? How did they gain wisdom? Sure. Some might call these men pagan astrologers. But would men who didn’t believe in a deity travel many, many miles to worship a Messiah who had been promised many, many years earlier? It’s doubtful. And God condemned astrology many times in Scripture. So, would he seek out pagans to find his chosen Son? What we know is that God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.

These men commonly known as “wise” set out on a journey to follow the star. They believed it would lead them to the One promised in Scripture many years earlier. Funny thing is. No one else seemed to have noticed the star. No other group of wise men was traveling to an unknown destination to worship the promised Savior of the world. Nowhere else in history is it recorded that groups of travelers were following the star to find a new king. They were on their own.

This group of astronomers went out of their way to find the star. They traveled a far distance without hesitation. There were huge sacrifices. No one knows if they left families behind to trek across the globe. No one knows if they were truly equipped for the journey. No one knows how far they traveled or how long the trek took. And, apparently, they didn’t ask anyone’s permission. They just set out on the trip of a lifetime. Only hope. And a promise.

The star was one of a kind. It actually led these travelers to the sight they were seeking. Oh. They knew who and what they were looking for. But they stopped and asked for directions. The problem is. They asked the wrong person. Little did this small band of travelers know that the One they were seeking was not of the royal bloodline. His bloodline was eternal. And he would prove to be unwelcome and unwanted by those in authority.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Those who believed in the promised Messiah assumed that his throne would be a human, physical one. So, of course, these men sought out the highest position possible, King Herod, to ask where to find the new king. It didn’t go over so well. Suddenly, Herod felt threatened, because he had never heard that someone greater than he was in the area. And it was a baby they were looking for. According to King Herod, the only natural thing to do was kill all boys age two and under. That should solve the problem.

But these wise men lived up to their name. God warned them not to tell Herod where they found the child. And after their visit with the promised babe, they left town taking another route. They duped the king. Such wise men! Before they left town, though, they offered precious gifts for the young boy. Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. Only the best and most useful gifts were offered to the King of kings.

Foolish men think they don’t need God.   Wise men know they have a void, and they surrender to the only One who can fill their deepest longings. In him, they find deep fulfillment. Since he set eternity in our hearts, we’re only complete in him. It should only take common sense to realize that simple truth, but apparently over time, hearts and minds can become hardened to the truth.

If we look around us today, it’s hard to find wise men. Or women. We’ve been choosing unwisely for so long, we don’t understand true wisdom. We can easily fall prey to deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. We follow hypocrites and liars, and we turn away from the true faith. We follow influential people who lead us astray. We consider nothing sacred. 

Wise people want to live a godly life knowing they may suffer persecution as did their Savior. Wise people are humble and listen to advice. They also use their words with restraint and practice patience. They’re even tempered and hold their tongues. And wise men still seek the Savior of the world.

Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown. Proverbs 4:5-9

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 

We Are Not All Right

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He is the mayor of a large liberal city. During his campaign, he said he wanted to improve public safety, but his city is overrun with crime. He said he wanted to build a stronger, healthier city, and now the place is being swarmed with illegal immigrants brought in from the border. He said he wanted to reduce inequality, yet he now says the asylum seeker crisis will destroy his city. After the Hamas attack on Israel, he says enough is enough. He condemns the antisemitism that is being spread by this terrorist group, and he stands strong with Israel.

He has said that we are not all right. And he’s right. We are not all right in this world. The world seems to be collapsing in on itself with no plan for course correction. Oh. We can’t move back the hands of time to a kinder, gentler day. We just can’t. Time continues to move forward even during days of unnecessary evil. It’s just the way life goes. One second becomes two and so on. The peace we once had is gone. The safety we once felt is gone. The time to be complacent is long gone. The courage we never knew we needed is now badly needed.

We can’t return to the good ole’ days, because today is all we have. Tomorrow is not a guarantee, and yesterday is spent. We’re told we need safe spaces where we won’t feel threatened. But what exactly is a safe space, and who is it safe for and safe from what?

In the New Testament, Paul warned his traveling companion, Timothy, that times will be difficult in the last days. And they thought they were living in the last days. Oh. If only they could see us now.

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3:1-5

We’re told that in the last days, there will be wars and rumors of wars. Nations will go to war. There will be famine and earthquakes. There will be persecution of believers. There will be false teachers and false prophets.

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:4-14

Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

There were courageous believers in the Bible who lived through harrowing times. They were persecuted. Their faith was challenged. Their lives were threatened. Things were not all right in their world. Yet they held firm to the conviction that they would serve God regardless of the cost. Two people I think of time and again are Daniel and Esther. Their faithfulness to obeying God’s leading and standing strong in their faith during challenging cultural times is a reminder that my faith doesn’t have to waver in today’s cultural crisis. I too can live in obedience to God’s commands without defiling my relationship with him, even when culture today is pushing in direct opposition to biblical truths.

Daniel lived over sixty years in a foreign land. Taken as an exile as a teenager to Babylon, he never returned home to Israel. His name was forcibly changed to represent a false god. He was indoctrinated with mystical and ungodly teachings. He worked for an employer hostile to his faith during his entire career. He achieved honors and promotions in his career all the while serving kings who disregarded God as the One True God. Yet every time he was pushed to defile his faith in God, he refused. He stood strong in his convictions, regardless of the cost. He never lost faith. He was faithful throughout his life, enduring much loss. And he was highly respected by the kings he worked with throughout his adult life. God honored Daniel’s faithfulness, yet Daniel never lived as a free man.

Esther was a young Jewish woman born into exile in the Persian city of Susa. When the Persian king, Ahasuerus, banished Queen Vashti for refusing to entertain his guests, he began the hunt for her replacement. In a sweep of all the young virgin women, Esther was placed in his court. Each candidate was to spend one night with the king. The one he favored would become queen. Esther, giving up all her hopes and dreams for the future, was forced into a life not of her choosing. Yet God saw her and placed her in the king’s court where she was crowned queen. She found favor in the king’s eyes, and yet the King of Kings favored her and heard her prayers. Her people were not all right. Their lives were being threatened, but through a series of events Queen Esther was able to save her Jewish people from annihilation.

As a nation, we are not all right. We have open borders where young military age men are streaming into this country unchecked and unvetted. We have elderly leaders in top political positions who are unfit for office. We have a presidential candidate, a former head of state, who could end up in prison. Our country is funding a war that is none of our business. Corruption runs deep in the deep state, but it’s a risky business to bring it to an end. Something is very wrong.

We’ve replaced God in schools with extreme ideologies that corrupt young minds. We now push equity over equality. We allow unqualified candidates to edge out the more qualified ones for jobs, and then we are confused when the work suffers. Something is very wrong.

We’re forced to consider everyone’s selected pronouns. We scream in protest when women’s feminine products are removed from men’s restrooms. We applaud when men win women’s sports events and beauty contests. We name a biological man as woman of the year. We’re extremely concerned about the atrocities being exacted upon innocent lives in Israel and Palestine. We hear of babies being beheaded in the Middle East, all the while smiling on the beheading and dismembering of innocent unborn babies in this country. We are not all right.

Our country is focused on issues that have turned our culture into an unrecognizable mess. We’ve been heading down a dark abyss for decades, and we’ve lost our way. Our country is in chaos, and it doesn’t have to be this way. The powers that be have a plan in place to destabilize the country and keep us in a constant state of chaos. We are not all right.

We are not all right. That is definitely true. Is it too late to turn this nation back to God? Can we find our way back? That is the question we are facing. Can this country be turned around to afford more people time to answer the call to surrender their lives and their wills to Jesus Christ? Because that is our only hope. But it’s not just about this great nation we live in. Our country is not the entire world, and evil abounds in every nook and cranny of the globe. Evil and corruption are found in the elite board rooms all the way down to the dirt floor hovels all over the world.

It appears that we’re moving closer and closer to the time Jesus Christ will meet his followers in the sky and take them to heaven with him. But until that time comes, Satan will continue to expand his reach into every area of life. God is allowing Satan to exert more and more power in the world. Our hope is to pray for God to extend his mercy to us and delay his judgment on many unsuspecting souls. It’s time to pray without ceasing, because the day is coming when Satan will have full control for a short time. Then Jesus will soundly defeat him in record time.

Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8

No. We are not all right. But God can make all things right in our hearts if we bow before him and confess him as Lord and Savior of our lives. Then, regardless of our circumstances, everything is all right.

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:5

A Long Obedience

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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.

Sin’s Deception

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I’ve begun reading about sin. Sin. It’s an ugly word. But it looks beautiful. It is attractive and desirable. Sin makes you acceptable to people who ignore God, and it makes them comfortable when they’re with you. But sin separates us from God.  What do we want most? To be acceptable by everyone surrounding us? Or do we want to be found acceptable to God? It’s our choice.

In his book, Know Your Enemy, Graham Beynon gives us some pointers about sin. I thought it would be helpful to stop and consider what sin really is and what it does to us.

Sin is disobedience to God’s Word.  We do not want to be governed by God’s law.  We make ourselves the god of our lives when we take away God’s authority.  We live as if we know what’s best for us, rather than seeking the will of our perfect Heavenly Father, who sacrificed his only Son for our sins.

In any form of sin, we are acting in open hostility to God. It seems harsh to say that, but participation in a sinful life is not an act of loving God. How can it be? We can’t say we love God and then intentionally disobey him. Sin is outright rebellion.

Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.  1 John 3:4

Sin involves losing faith in God. Satan sows seeds of doubt about God and his commands for how we are to live.  Satan twists and distorts God’s word, so we will doubt God’s character.  For example.  God says he loves us, but then he allows hardships to come into our lives.  Why would a good and perfect God do that?  If God is generous, why does he restrict us from doing certain things? I must ask myself.  Have I ever questioned God’s goodness?  If so, what caused me to doubt?  Am I willing to turn the tables on those doubts and study the Bible until I’m reconvinced that God is always and forever good even when my circumstances may not be? How can we say our faith in God is strong if we deliberately choose to sin against him?

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11

It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31

Sin involves believing lies.  In order to separate us from our belief in God, Satan has to distort the truth.  He has to convince us that what we once thought was truth isn’t.  Satan has to win our confidence.  At times, it’s a hard sell for him.  Other times.  He’s got an easy job.  How hard do we make it on Satan to convince us that his lies are the truth?

We can believe that our disobedience is actually good for us. That sin is right. It can be easy to convince ourselves that our actions or our words or even our intentions are good. But if we’re truly honest with ourselves, we know that we’re rotten to the core. We know that we’re self-centered, but we won’t admit it. And we definitely don’t call it sin. We believe the lie that sin has told us. We resist the truth, because the lie seems easier to live with. Until it isn’t.

For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

Sin will always be attractive.  If sin was actually ugly, would we be interested?  Honestly?  We want to look at beauty.  We want to be involved with beautiful people.  We want to drive fancy cars and wear the latest fashions. We want others to want to know us. We long to be part of the in crowd.  We want to be attractive to others, so we look for things that attract us.  We don’t have any interest in ugly.  So, Satan knows how to attract us to his evil schemes.  Make wrong look right and make right look wrong. 

Sin won’t look live an ugly man with glowing eyes, dressed in a red robe and carrying a pitchfork. Oh. No. Sin will be pretty and easy. It will be more appealing than not sinning. Because not sinning means denying ourselves something that seems so right and good and beautiful. But sin will lead to eternal death.

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.  James 1:14

Sin never delivers on its promise. When we sin, we believe something about God that isn’t true. And once we’ve committed that sin, it loses its allure. Suddenly, the shiny apple has dulled. The new has worn off. And we’re left feeling used and worn. Maybe not at first. But, after awhile. After believing the lie that sin has told us, we’ll realize that the lie isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

What was once appealing has now been exposed as a lie. The happiness we thought we would find didn’t last. And we find ourselves in an uncomfortable situation. How can we get back to where we once were? How can we regain our innocence?

We have the option to believe truth or lies. And once we’ve lived with believing lies, we can turn back to the truth. We don’t have to believe lies and live in sin all of our days. We can turn back to belief in God. God keeps all his promises. All the time. In his time.

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

Lukewarm Water

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I drink a quart of water first thing every morning. I know that if I don’t, I may not drink enough throughout the rest of the day. One quart down is a good way to start the day. At least in my opinion. I’m not sure why, but I prefer to drink it warm, or even a little past warm. The other morning, I wasn’t paying too much attention to what I was doing when I filled the quart jar. I took a solid drink and realized it was only lukewarm. It wasn’t very pleasant. I drank a little bit and then set the jar on the counter to finish filling my dog’s breakfast bowl.

When I returned to the water a few minutes later, I realized it had cooled down considerably. It was now almost cold. No. It obviously wasn’t ice cold. But it wasn’t even lukewarm any longer. I realized it didn’t take much time at all for the lukewarm water to cool off. If it had been hot or warm water, I could have taken more time to drink it without it becoming noticeably cool.

Oh sure. There are days when I almost scald myself, because I’ve gotten the water too hot. But those days seem to be rare. Thank goodness. I don’t need to burn myself in the wee hours of the morning. I just want to get an early start on meeting my water quota for the day.

Some may say that lukewarm water is the way to drink it if you’re not looking for ice water or hot tea. But lukewarm water is somewhat akin to complacency. It’s saying it doesn’t really want to make an effort. The problem is that lukewarm water looks like any other water. Someone could be easily fooled thinking they’re getting a nice glass of cold water. Obviously, they’ll know it isn’t ice water, because there’s no ice or condensation. And they’ll know it isn’t hot water because there’s no steam or heat. But will they think it’s lukewarm? Not really. I mean. After all. Who drinks lukewarm water? Besides me on accident.

What is the purpose of lukewarm water?

Lukewarm Christians look like any other Christian. They play the part well. They know the right words to say. They know the right things to do. They know to go to church. They know to treat others well. They most likely know the ten commandments. Do they live by each of them? Only they and God know.

Have lukewarm Christians ever been on fire for God? Have their hearts burned to know more about the God who created them? Have they ever made an effort to spend time with God on a regular basis? Do they pray? Do they attend church? Is their Christianity on the outside, but never made its way inward? Is that even Christianity? When a person calls themselves a Christian, shouldn’t there be evidence that they’re growing in their faith?

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Isaiah 29:13

I have to ask how easy is it to spot a lukewarm Christian? Do they look any different from Christians who are wholeheartedly serving the Lord? Can you spot one easily in a crowded room? Can God even work in a lukewarm Christian? After all, they aren’t really committed to Christ. If God doesn’t work through lukewarm churches, how can he work through a lukewarm Christian? He says we are either hot or cold. Otherwise, like lukewarm water, he will spit us out of his mouth.

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! Revelation 3:15-16

What is the purpose of a lukewarm Christian?

It’s assumed that cold Christians aren’t Christians. They don’t claim to be Christians. They don’t feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit in their lives. But those who are lukewarm call themselves Christians, yet there’s no fruit or growth. So, how can they sense the Holy Spirit’s leading? Pretending to be something you’re not is basically living a lie. As the old saying goes. You can fool all the people some of the time. And you can fool some of the people all the time. But you can’t fool all the people all the time. And you can never fool God. He sees right through our lukewarmness. It’s better to be cold and not pretend to be what you’re not.

If left untouched, lukewarm water always turns cold. And it only takes a matter of minutes to lose any heat it had. Left to its own devices, it will never turn hot. The same goes for lukewarm Christians. They will soon lose what warmth they had if there’s no attempts to be reheated.

Two people set out for home walking the dusty road back to Emmaus. Discussing the disheartening events of the weekend, they suddenly found a stranger walking with them. He acted so innocent when they discussed the troubling scene they had witnessed in Jerusalem. The one they hoped to be the Promised Messiah had been unceremoniously killed. Hanged on a cross. And now on the third day since his death, his body was missing. They couldn’t explain it. And they couldn’t understand how this lone traveler had somehow missed out on all the happenings. How could he have not heard what was happening in their holy city?

But then. When he opened his mouth, he explained the Old Testament in a way they had never heard. He explained all the Scriptures that explained his life. Yet they knew him not. They had no idea the Promised Messiah was walking that seven mile stretch with them from Jerusalem to Emmaus. But when he sat down to break bread with them, the Holy Spirit opened their eyes and their hearts. Suddenly, they were aware the Son of God was sitting with them. They realized why the man who had been hanging on that cross was missing from his tomb. He was sitting in their home. And just as quickly as he appeared to them on the road, he disappeared.

They asked each other. Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked with us and opened the Scriptures to us? They who had been lukewarm in their faith. They who did not fully understand the Scriptures suddenly believed the story of the Messiah. Oh. These two believed in God. They were, after all, practicing Jews. But they didn’t fully believe that the One who had been preaching and teaching and performing miracles was truly the Messiah. They hadn’t accepted him as their Savior. Sure. They wanted him to be the One, but they weren’t yet convinced. And what did it take to convince them? A face to face and a heart to heart conversation. A digging in of the Scriptures. Then they believed.

Read about the walk to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-34.

How can we who hear the story of the resurrection of our Savior have such calloused, cold hearts? How can we go about our days as if the world was our oyster? Aren’t our hearts burning to understand the teachings of our Lord and Savior? What will it take to soften our hearts today and cause us to be on fire for the One who died for our sins?

Oh, ye of little faith. We must either fully trust God and live for him, or deny him altogether. And who of us who call ourselves Christians want to deny him? But then. Why are we so hesitant to fully trust him? What would it cost us? And yet, if we don’t trust him fully, it will cost us our soul. Eternity in hell is a huge price to pay to be lukewarm. Especially when we don’t realize we’re lukewarm.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10

No Smell of Smoke

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Daniel’s three friends were in trouble. They had been invited to a celebration of sorts. The king had built an idol and expected his government leaders to bow down to it. And these three said No. They would not bow. They didn’t even have a second thought about changing their minds. Even when given a second chance, they stood strong on the grounds that it would defile their relationship with God. And there was no way they would let anything come between them and God. There was no hesitation or pause in their response. They had made that decision ahead of time, and they were sticking to it.

So here they were standing in front of a blazing furnace. And the king was so enraged that he had the furnace turned up several degrees hotter. And he had his mighty military men bind these three hand and foot before throwing them in the furnace. The fire was so hot that it killed the soldiers who shoved them into the furnace. As they fell down into the flames, the binding around their arms and feet fell away. They were free to move about freely. No. They didn’t burn up. They didn’t die. They were walking around in that big furnace. And suddenly the king shrieked! He saw a fourth one in the fire. I’m sure he was suddenly fearful. How did a fourth person get in the fire? Who was this and how did he get in there? And the king claimed he looked like the son of a god.

Oh. Deep down he knew, but he didn’t want to admit it. The king knew who was in the fire with these three faithful followers of God Almighty. This king, Nebuchadnezzar, had already had a run-in with this God, and God proved his might. Now, once again, here is God showing up to save the lives of three men who faithfully stood strong in their faith against a self-infatuated king. You see. Just before tossing these men in the fire, the king had dared to ask them just what god would be able to save them. And guess who showed the king. God himself.

So the king did the only thing he could do. He called to the men in the furnace to come out. So out of the furnace the three men walked. Not a hair on their heads was singed. Their clothes weren’t scorched. And they didn’t even smell of smoke. It was a miracle indeed.

You can read the full story in Daniel 3.

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. Psalms 46:1-2

Imagine a time when you are called on to bow to a false god or a false ideology that goes against your faith in God. As you stand with the crowd, there are watchers. They are looking for those who refuse to bow to the demand. And the decision must be made in an instant. To bow or not to bow. What would you choose? Oh. If you’ve already made the decision ahead of time that nothing, and I mean nothing, comes between you and God, then you don’t hesitate. Making that decision in advance is key to not bowing to pressure. But if the decision hasn’t been made, then the split second you have will be very telling. If you haven’t thought out what you would do when a very difficult decision that tests your faith stands before you, you could easily bow to a demand you don’t support. And then. There you are.

Let’s say you decide to stand for God’s truth. You buck the trend and choose to share the reason you can’t comply with what is being demanded of you. And then you’re challenged even further with loss of job or worse. Do you still stand strong in your convictions? Or, does your courage begin to fray? Do you go against the grain and maintain your personal faith in the face of any and all threats? Let’s say that you do.

Then the true test comes. You lose your beloved job and no one will hire you. After all, you’re not one who can be counted on to support current cultural trends. So you’re blacklisted. Loss of income. Loss of respect in your field of expertise. You’re an outcast. During that time of testing, do you feel the fourth person in the fire with you? Do you sense God’s sweet presence walking with you through that burning furnace? Just because you alone stood for your faith when others bowed to pressure doesn’t mean you’re standing alone.

Then, by God’s grace and provision, you land on your feet. You find a job and you’re saved from homelessness and embarrassment. You can once again pay your bills and provide for your family. You know that it is through the hand of God that you have gotten through the difficulty, and you’re so very thankful. You know that God is truly the source of your strength, and your faith is stronger than ever.

But do others see that stronger faith and courage in you? Did you walk out of the fire without any smoke damage? Was your hair singed? Were you clothes scorched? Do you smell like the smoke of testing? Did you walk out with a bitter attitude? Do you grumble and complain because life isn’t fair? Do you carry the smell of smoke or the aroma of Christ?

We’ve all been through deep trials in our lives. Some are walking through the fire of testing at this moment. Others feel they’re about to be burned. They are standing strong in their faith, but some days are more difficult than others. They wonder if standing strong is really worth it. They wonder if giving up and giving in to the pressures they’re facing is the best thing to do. Is it better to cave to pressure or burn in the fire?

When we are in the fiery trials, we can know that God is with us. We know his goodness exists even when life doesn’t feel good. We can sense his nearness as we walk through the fiery trials of life. We don’t know if the three men in the furnace knew there was a fourth person in the fire with them. So, we may not always be aware of God’s presence with us as we face trials and tests in our lives. Can we accept the trials knowing that God has allowed them, even if we don’t sense his presence?

We must walk worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ regardless of the cost. We must stand for what is biblical. We must also decide that the things we believe, the biblical values we hold near and dear to us, will impact the way we live our lives. It is time for Christians to be courageous.

Motley Crew

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

David had been anointed to be the next king of Israel by the prophet, Samuel. The problem was that the current king, Saul, was still alive. There can’t be two kings at the same time. And King Saul had an inkling that David was going to be the next king. Saul had seen God’s favor on David as he fought in battles and as he walked among the people. It wasn’t hard for Saul to see that God’s favor was all over David. So Saul was jealous, and he wanted David dead.

Saul was on the warpath again and was looking to kill David. So, once again, David was on the run. He not only needed a hiding place, but he needed an army to fight with him. How could he accomplish all that at the last minute? David had no place to hide. He couldn’t go home. He couldn’t go to the palace where Saul lived. He couldn’t stay with his best friend, Jonathan, who happened to be Saul’s son. He had nowhere safe to go. So. He did the next best thing. He found a cave to shelter in, and his brothers and his father’s household came along to be protected, as well. But what David really needed was an army to fight with him and for him. Who would do that? Who would fight for him?

Once in the cave, David needed to assemble his army. Whoever he could find would be called on to serve with him. He knew he couldn’t save himself all alone from the mad king hunting him. He needed his own army of men. He needed bodyguards and soldiers to help him fight his battles. He needed marksmen who were straight shooters. So he accepted those who wouldn’t have been accepted into Saul’s army.

Funny thing is. Others down on their luck heard where David was hiding and came to join him. He soon found himself surrounded by those who were in the middle of their own crisis. Their lives were in distress for different reasons, perhaps by their own making. And people who were in debt came to hide out. These men were down on their luck and had seen massive failure. And anyone who was discontented joined him. The discontented men were bitter for different reasons. They either weren’t satisfied with their lives, or they weren’t satisfied with Saul’s leadership. So David basically got all the rejects living in the cave with him. These were men of unsavory reputation, and they became David’s army.

So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men. 1 Samuel 22:1-2

God used an army of misfits to fight for the future king of Israel. God knew that on their own they were no match for Saul’s army. I mean. After all, each member of this motley crew was already running from someone or something in their past. So would they really stand strong and fight for David when they came face to face with the royal army? Would David be able to whip this small band of no-gooders into battle-ready warriors? It wasn’t that David didn’t know how to train soldiers. He was an experienced war-time leader. The question was. Could these men actually become warriors?

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

I just wonder. When David saw these men coming one by one. Or two by two. Did he roll his eyes at the sight of these scraggly losers? Did he wonder, why the outcasts? Why do they want to join me? How did they find me? What should I do with them? And yet. David took them under his wing, and God made him the captain of this mismatched army. God was at work in these men’s lives in a mighty way. They didn’t remain as outcasts forever. God worked in their lives, and they became true warriors. In a short time, they were using strategic maneuvers in fighting their toughest opponents. And over time, they became David’s loyal army and remained faithful to him even after he became king. They were David’s strong supporters, and they won many battles.

I wonder. When we turn our lives over to God, does he only see the word “misfit” stamped across our forehead? Does he wonder what in the world will he do with us? How can he accomplish his plans with rejects who approach his throne? Oh. God isn’t hiding in a cave. He doesn’t have to. But when we approach him with all our troubles and anxieties and mess ups, otherwise known as sin, what will he do with us?

We come to him as feeble, broken beings and he turns us into his fighting warriors. Oh sure. It takes time and work. It takes obedience and effort. It takes study and preparation. All on our part. If we’re going to become fighting warriors of God, we must do our part in the training program. We have no idea what God will do through us, but we know that God is capable of anything and everything.

We know David didn’t do all the work when training his new army. The actual warriors had to do the grunt work. They had to be disciplined and practice. They didn’t become sharp shooters overnight. They didn’t learn all their strategic fighting moves by just watching David. They had to actually get in the fight. They weren’t sideline warriors. And we can’t be either. We must get in the fight and do our part to stand up for God’s truth. We must be disciplined to study God’s Word, his spiritual warfare manual, so we know how to head off the enemy before he strikes. And then we must do our part to fight the good fight. The war has been raging for centuries, and the battle is getting more intense. We must be battle ready at all times. It’s time to buckle up and put on the full armor of God.

We’ve heard that God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. So we don’t have to come to him ready to fight. We come to him in repentance and seeking forgiveness. He will clean us up and make us into his warriors as we submit ourselves to him. When we faithfully commit to serving him, he will prune us and shape us into the spiritual warrior he planned us to be. Oh. It won’t be an overnight pruning. It will take years of study and learning, doubting ourselves, picking ourselves us from missteps. But through faith in God, he will use us as his capable warriors as we place our full and complete trust in him.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Just Say No

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

These three young men said no. No. They wouldn’t bow to the image the king had made. They wouldn’t bow to a god that was manmade. They would risk their lives and their livelihoods in order to remain faithful to the One True God. And so they didn’t bend their knee just to puff up the king’s ego. Oh. It’s most likely that they knew in advance what they would be asked to do so. How could they not know the king was having a huge image built outside the city limits? I’m sure it was the talk of the town. I can imagine people passing each other on the street and checking to see what progress had been made. I’m sure it was a curiosity of sorts. And what exactly was it for?

Then suddenly anyone who was anyone was asked to bow to this monstrosity. As the king and his top officials sat and watched, the crowd was instructed to bow when they heard the orchestra begin to play. I’m sure it was a large crowd. After all, anyone with a title and leadership role from far and wide had been invited to this celebration. And they were expected to attend. To refuse would have been a career breaker. To say the least. So all invitees were in attendance on that day.

But back to these three young men. Most likely, they were still teenagers. They had been taken captive by the Babylonians when King Nebuchadnezzar had seized the city of Jerusalem. They and many other young men of nobility had been whisked away to a foreign land to live as exiles. They had no choice but to go. And then they were sent to a re-education school where they learned exactly what their new employer, the king, wanted them to know. His plan was to erase their allegiance to God and insert allegiance to his many gods. His plan was a failure, at least when it came to these three guys. But they had become acquainted with the king, so he knew who they were. They weren’t total strangers to the king, much as all the other attendees in the crowd were. The king could identify these three young men, because they were close friends of one of his top officials named Daniel.

As they heard the news that a celebration was being planned for the new image being built, these three men set in their hearts to stand true to the God of their people, the Israelites. They would not bow to this new idol, regardless of the cost. And so, when the music played announcing it was time to bow, they stood tall. They refused to bow. They refused to obey the king’s orders. And, of course, their act of disobedience was noticed. When everyone is bowing, it’s easy to see who isn’t. So they didn’t go unnoticed on that day, and their act of alleged treason was reported to the king.

At first, the king gave them a second chance. There must have been enormous pressure on these young men to just bow. Just do it. As they say. Perhaps they didn’t understand the instructions to bow. Or perhaps, they were sidetracked by gawking at all the other attendees. But no. They knew exactly what they were doing when they didn’t bow. And they even said so in no uncertain terms to the king. They would not bow to this idol. Of course, the king changed his mood from kindness to anger very quickly. He lashed out at them and demanded that they be thrown into a fiery furnace. He wanted to see them die.

You can read the full story of these brave young men in Daniel 3.

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:15-17

I wonder. What would I have done? If I was told ahead of time that my employer was planning to require all employees to bow to an idol they had made, what would I do? Perhaps I could call in sick for the day. But I’m sure that would be noticed. Could I half bow? Would that appease them? Or. I could make the tough decision to stand firm in my faith and not let fear of the unknown weaken my stance. If I knew ahead of time that this idol worship was to be required of me, I could prepare my defense. I could begin praying and asking my friends to pray with me and for me. I could surround myself with prayer warriors who would stand in the gap if my faith began to waver.

People today are being called on to go against their faith. Some are asked to add pronouns to their work email signatures. Some are asked to appease men who want to participate in women’s sports. We’re asked to applaud and affirm social agendas that go directly against our faith. We’re asked to support events and speakers who stand against those who present a biblical worldview.

And just for the record. When we’re asked to go against our faith, we must refuse. We must make the decision beforehand that there is a line we won’t cross. We must decide that we will be willing to defend our faith when the moment comes. Do or die. We must be ready, willing and prepared to die on the hill that stands before us. If we’re asked to do or say anything that would defile our relationship with God, we must be courageous and stand strong in our faith. If God doesn’t approve of it, this his followers mustn’t either. If we contradict God, we’re placing our relationship with him in grave danger. 

Perhaps our step of courage will be the start of a movement that gives others the same courage to stand for their faith. Let’s never underestimate the power of God working in us and through us. Children of God, we are not in this fight alone. God is on our side. Let’s make it known that we’re on God’s side. No hesitation. No doubt. No denial.

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31

But all it takes is the courage of one in the face of opposition for others to follow.

Unknown

Giants in the Land

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The Israelites were moving closer and closer to the land of Canaan. There must have been loads of excitement in the air. They were almost home. They could feel a sense of relief and accomplishment. God had provided for them, but they had complained. Soon they wouldn’t have much to complain about. They would root out the people who were living there, according to God’s command. He had told them to clean house and move in. So Moses sent out a reconnaisance team to scout the land. They wanted to know what the area looked like and get a feel for their new homeland.

Imagine being the twelve who were chosen to scout the land. Imagine walking the roads and byways. Watching the people. Were there many or few? Were they large or small? Were they well-fed or hungry? What was the lay of the land? This was going to be home, and the energy among the scouts must have been electric.

The scouts reported that the country was very bountiful. Lots of food was available. They even carried back a sampling from a massive grapevine. There was plenty of land for everyone to settle into. But the people who lived there. It was hard not to notice them. They seemed to be giants. And ten of the scouts were deathly afraid of them.

They said they saw giants. And they were afraid. They were afraid the people who were bigger than them were bigger than the God who had rescued them from the Egyptians. Didn’t they realize these giants were much smaller than the God who had parted the sea so they could walk right through it. Didn’t they realize these giants were much less powerful than the God who provided for all of their needs. Didn’t they realize that these giants would be handed over to them by God? They forgot all that God had done for them. They forgot all that God had promised them. So frozen in a moment of fear, they lied.

These ten men who were afraid of the giants were part of a group of twelve who had been sent out to spy on the neighboring country. God’s plan was that they would eventually conquer the land and take it back as their very own. You see. The land of Canaan was the birthplace of their ancestors who had moved to Egypt due to a famine over four hundred years earlier. And now that they had been freed from slavery in Egypt, God was giving their homeland back to them. It was a time for celebration and victory. But their fear and lack of faith turned one of the best times of their life into forty years of the worst. It was a forty year sentence for them. And for most, it was a death sentence.

After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!” Numbers 13:25-28

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:6

It should have been a rather uneventful journey. The twelve spies set out on a short trip to check out the land the Lord had given to them. Oh. They weren’t sure what they would find, but they were pleasantly surprised. The reconnaisance mission was deemed a success by all twelve until ten of the men spoke their fear and doubt out loud. Those doubtful words caused the people of Israel to go mad. How dare Moses lead them out of Egypt where all their needs, except for freedom, were fulfilled. How dare Moses lead them to a land, although flowing with milk and honey, that housed giants. How dare Moses expect them to move into the land to conquer it and remove the giants. How dare he. But really. What they were saying was….how dare God. How dare God expect them to fight to take back the land that was rightfully theirs. How dare God expect anything of them when he had promised to always be with them. When he had handpicked them out of all the people on the earth to be his chosen people. How dare he.

These twelve men weren’t the runts of the litter. They weren’t the weaklings. They were leaders in each of their tribes. They weren’t nobodies. They were respected men. And their faith fell weak when they ran into people bigger than themselves. Oh. When we run into problems that are bigger than us, we can’t just get scared and run the other way. That’s the moment we step into our faith and live it out loud. We don’t let fear hold us back from obeying God. We walk by faith.

We weren’t meant to slay giants on our own. God will handle the giants in our lives. Our job is to trust and obey him. For there’s no other way to live in Christ except in full surrender. Even when we’re faced with giants. Many times the only thing we see standing before us is the giant. We don’t see all the blessings and abundance that surrounds us. We see the one thing that could cause problems, and we focus only on it. We obsess and grumble. We moan and groan, because we have no idea how we’re going to overcome this one thing. And all around us lies the answer. God has already given us the land. We have to trust him to make the way of provision. In his timing and in his own way, God is faithful to provide the victory for us. But we must step out in faith. God will work through us.

But the fear and doubt put the joy and happiness of nation of Israel on a back burner. Because of their disobedience, God punished them by making them live forty years across the river from their promised homeland. Forty years. And everyone aged twenty and above would not be allowed to enter that new land. They would die before the nation moved forward. So for forty years, they saw every one of the adults live and die in their temporary homes. The promised freedom was just within reach. The fulfillment of God’s promise was just within sight. But because of their lack of trust and respect for God’s command, they paid a huge price.

Let’s not make that same mistake with our lives. Oh. The price for us may not be forty years of living in the wilderness. It may not be forty years of eating manna. We don’t know what we miss out on when we defy God. We just know that when we’re not living in submission to Him, we’re not living in God’s abundance. And abundance doesn’t necessarily mean health and wealth. It’s peace of mind. Joy and contentment. Fulfillment in the will of God. Let’s live abundantly in God’s grace and not our own fear and cowardice. Let’s take the land God has given us.

And those giants. They may not take the fight lying down. But with God on our side, nothing is impossible. Those giants will be cast aside with our hand in God’s. The fight may get dirty, but God will be the victor. Let’s never forget that. He will not fail us or abandon us. God never loses the battles he fights.