HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE DAY 1

 

December 1, 2024

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened; and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Be strong and courageous. At times we take God’s commandment to be courageous as something to muster up rather than something revealed to us. We bring out our Christmas trees, deck the halls, and try to muster a spirit of cheer and good tidings, just as we attempt to display our own courage.

But God isn’t commanding Joshua to pull courage from "thin air." Instead, the courage God commands, and the end of fear, is based on the certainty of the promises that precede it:

Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you (Joshua. 1:3-6).

Now remember, this isn’t the first time God has made this promise: “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” In fact from the very beginning, despite their rebellion and their fear, God has been with his people. 

He has sought them out (Gen. 3:9), 

he has remembered them (Gen. 8:1), 

he has blessed them (Gen. 12:1-3), 

he has delivered them from slavery, 

and he has gone before them (Deut. 31:3).

Here is GOOD NEWS, in the midst of our uncertainty, worries and fear, God does the same for you and me as he did for Joshua: he does not leave us, nor does he forsake us. He doesn’t ask us to be courageous on our own. In this season of Advent, we are reminded that through a baby born in a manger, fear has been emptied of its power; you are his, and his strength is yours.

GETTING READY for ADVENT

November 29, 2024

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

To be human is to understand what it means to fear. A tiny child trembles at the darkness of night; even a celebrated star harbors a dread of losing their fans' love. Our society is rife with fear—wars, strife, dangers, crimes, the uncertainty of elections, and the wavering trust in governance. It's a lengthy list, indeed. We are intimately acquainted with fear.

The season of Advent helps us long for a different reality: one ruled by peace rather than fear.Christ’s birth and the promise of his second coming means peace is breaking through. Jesus, the Son of God came into the world surrounded by our struggles, tribulations, despair, and fears, not merely to comfort us but to end that which we fear the most.

This is why the psalmist can boldly say, “We will not fear, though the earth gives way.” (Ps. 46) It is why one of Jesus’ common refrains is “Fear not.” It is why the Apostle Paul proclaims that the peace of God guards and rules over the hearts of his people, as a verse today reminds us. The Biblical message is that our Prince of Peace comes to live for us, die for us, and rise for us.

In Jesus living, dying and rising, he overcomes death itself, cleanses us of our sin, defeats the evil one, and makes us righteous. Through faith in Immanuel, "God with us," we are promised eternal life, finding that in Christ alone, fear gives way to peace.

The message of Advent is that despite our worries, anxieties, and very real suffering, we have a God who stands determined to give us his peace "which transcends all understanding." (Phil. 4:7)

Thanks be to God!!

LIVING WATER

 

NOVEMBER 28, 2024

JEREMIAH 2:13

My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. 


There is something spectacular about fountains and waterfalls.We travel to see them, and we sit mesmerized, listening to the water gurgle, fall, and flow. Something about a fountain (or spring or babbling brook) seems to calm our spirits. 

What is it about fountains that captures our fascination? Maybe it's the refreshing coolness and the mist that offers a break from the sweltering heat of summer. It could be the mystery of its never-ending water flow and the pool's neverending refilling that holds our attention. Or, it might simply serve as a calming break from the hustle and bustle of the world surrounding us. One thing's for sure: fountains have a way of easing stress and breathing life into our days. This may be the reason that fountains have become fixtures in malls, hospitals, and airport waiting areas. 

It is not surprising, then, that God would call Himself “the spring of living water.” He is a constant, endless supply of refreshing life. He delivers peace and relaxation, joy and contentment. God constantly refreshes and fills the our hearts and minds with renewal.

In John 4, when Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, he found a woman who had suffered greatly, having lost five husbands to death or divorce, and was then living with a man to whom she was not married. Jesus offered her the ultimate treatment: living water. "Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst," in these few words Jesus promised to quench her thirsty soul once and for all. And Jesus promises you and me the very same relief.

I heard a wonderful song recently, Jesus, Strong and Kind, and the lyrics say:

Jesus said that if I thirst
I should come to Him
No one else can satisfy
I should come to Him

For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus

Jesus, strong and kind

If you are seeking refreshment, feeling "withered and dry" come to Jesus and drink. There, you will find eternal comfort for your weary heart.

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

John 7:37-38

TODAY'S PRAYER

God, I often get so consumed with my hurts and struggles that I forget to pursue fulfillment in You. Help me realize I will never quench my soul’s thirst apart from the relief  You offer. Amen.

OUR GOD IS THE ANCIENT OF DAYS

 

November 27, 2024

Daniel 7:9

“As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.” 

In our worship liturgy and songs, we often refer to God as the Ancient of Days. This name invites the question: What was God revealing about Himself in Daniel's vision? And what significance does it hold that God is called the Ancient of Days?

This description of God as the Ancient of Days  inspires awe, worship, confidence, and humble submission. The Ancient of Days carries the idea that God is the holy, the ageless and timeless One, that God is perfectly wise, and has the power and authority of one who rules.  The message is that God existed before time began. He alone is Creator and Ruler and Judge of the universe. He is the Everlasting God.

There is a similarity between the words of Daniel 7 and those in Revelation 1 where John emphasizes that Jesus' existence did not begin in the manger at Bethlehem. Instead, He is eternally one with God the Father, sharing in His divine nature and power. ( John 1:1-14) 

Jesus boldly stated to a group of Pharisees, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). You see Jesus professed to be the same eternal, omnipotent, sovereign, holy, wise, and gracious being that Daniel witnessed, with an important distinction, Jesus was not a character visible in visions, but rather actively living among us, as described in John 1:14. The word made flesh!

The name "Ancient of Days" provides a rich background for worship, revealing our God as ageless, timeless, and perfectly wise. Our God reigns with power and authority and is treasured as the "Holy One." As God's people we believe that such a God, ever-present and at work in ways we connot see, will guide us through even the most challenging times. Amen? AMEN!!

TAKE AWAY QUESTION

How does your current understanding of God, compare with this Biblical view we have looked at today? 

What difference might it make if we were to live everyday with the truth that Our God is the awe-inspiring Ancient of Days?

MERCY? THIS IS HARD TO COMPREHEND!

 

November 26, 2024

Nehemiah 9:17

They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.”

Recognizing a need is only half the battle; finding the right help is the real game-changer.  When a friend recommends a top-notch doctor who is taking patients, a trustworthy mechanic, a reasonable plummer, or electrician, we are so thankful.It seems that we are all on the hunt for that advice that leads us to the help we seek.

In a spiritual sense, we all need a skilled restoration specialist. In our verses today, the God's people knew this and theu depended on God to provide the forgiveness they needed. Celebrating solemn festivals was one method they used to keep their reliance on God at the forefront of their thoughts.

At these religious festivals, the people of God acknowledged their sins and their urgent need for forgiveness, and the spiritual leaders would stand in front of the people and through song direct their attention to "Elohay Selichot" which means "the God who forgives."

Their song (recorded in Nehemiah 9) details God’s faithfulness to His people. Now if you think about God's faithfulness to his people its breathtaking and maybe hard for us to comprehend. If you know the story, the Old Testament people of God had a long track record, which one commentator describes as more like a rap sheet, of being hardheaded, hard-hearted, prone to forget, and eager to rebel.

At one point, they were ready to forget God and his promises and return to a life of slavery and captivity. I think most of us if we experieced this in our relationships we would be ready to "cut ties" with the people. I believe, all things considered, God could certainly have been justified in disciplining the people, and "cutting ties" because of their and lack of gratitude and their disrespect.

I want us to notice God’s character in our passage today. Pay attention to His actions. Instead of anger, He is full of grace. He oozes with compassion and floods His chosen ones with an ocean of love. And why would the creator do this? Because He is "Elohay Selichot"; "the God who Forgives". 

Maybe your life today is marked by guilt and shame. You are overcome by regret. You fear that God is going to get you. Punish you is someway. Perhaps you are waiting for the gavel to fall, and are dreading the treatment you know deep down you deserve. But Wait.

Good news! God is "Elohay Selichot". “He does not treat us as our sins deserve” (Psalm 103:10). He forgives. In Christ He has provided a way for us to be fully and finally forgiven.

I invite you to lift your eyes, and see the One whose grace is greater than all your sin.

Do not allow your own feelings of shame and guilt to blind you to God’s mercy.

TODAYS PRAYER

God, when the shame and guilt of my actions and decisions make me want to run and hide from You, help me remember that You are slow to anger and full of compassion, and that You offer full forgiveness. Amen.

 

WHO ARE YOU?

 

November 25, 2024

 Exodus 3:14

“God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you.” 

Living in self imposed exile in Midian because he had killed an Egyptian and in fear he ran. While tending sheep, Moses encountered a burning bush and, in that experience, met God firsthand. God’s message to him was to go back to Egypt and lead his people to freedom. Now let us remember the context of this call. For nearly four hundred years, the children of Israel thought their God had abandoned them,  or was vacationing, or died. 

Think about it not long after Abraham had been introduced to God, and received the  “great Nation” promise, his descendants, found themselves slaves in a foreign land. Slaves!  A promise had been made, that they would be a mighty nation and possess the land of Canaan. But their reality was that they were slaves in the land of Egypt.

In response to God’s call to lead his people to freedom, Moses asked, “Who should I tell them sent me?” God answered, “I AM.” I Am. The meaning is powerful, even when translated into English. To say “I am” means “I exist.” But as a name, it also suggests timelessness, self-sufficiency, changelessness.

 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever,
    the name you shall call me
    from generation to generation.

Now we need to notice that God’s people during the time of Moses may not have been aware of the presence of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, but God still knew all about them. He knew they would struggle to believe in a God who can’t be seen, a God who transcends time.  He knew they would be inconsistent and faithless, and that they would need constant rescue from the consequences of their own foolish choices. And still He set His affection on them.

We are constantly asking God questions:

Are You able to see me?
Are You going to help me?
Are You willing to forgive me?
Or the big “Why? question” in our hard places.

To all our questions, God answers, “I AM.”

Let Us Pray

I Am, I believe You are the one true God who is near and never changes, though I do not understand completely. Your promises will never fail me. Help me to rely on Your presence, God, and to trust in Your constant faithfulness. Amen.

 

HELLO MY NAME IS ....

 

November 22, 2024

Psalm 23:1–3

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”


We finish up the week of devotions we have called “hello my name is …..” with probably the most well known name for God in the Bible, Jehovah-Raah – The Lord is my Shepherd.

There is a popular personality test that compares people to animals. Maybe you have experienced this test in your workplace or educational learning. According to the profile, we are either like a lion, an otter, a beaver, or a golden retriever.

However when it comes to the Biblical view the creature we are most like, all of us, is a sheep.

Are you flattered by this? Probably not. For sheep are notoriously foolish. They’ll eat deadly herbs if you don’t watch them carefully. Or they’ll panic and wander straight into danger. That’s double trouble when it happens, because sheep can’t defend themselves against predators.

Here is something to be thankful about, if we are like sheep (and it’s true—we are Bible says so), God is like a shepherd. This is the great idea of Psalm 23, perhaps the world’s most beloved Bible passage. In it, David, the former shepherd, shows how God faithfully tends to all our needs.

The primary meaning of shepherd (Ra’ah) is to feed, to tend, to lead to pasture. To do all this, a shepherd must be up close and personal, intimately aware of the needs of his sheep.

A shepherd is the protector of his flock. This is why he carries a rod to fight off predators that would harm even one of his flock.

If all that is what a shepherd does, what’s the job description of sheep? Easy. A sheep trusts its shepherd. As sheep, we follow. We go where our Shepherd leads. We do what He tells us to do. We look to Him to supply all our needs.

When we say, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” we are humbly admitting, and gratefully acknowledging, that we need God to guide us and to know the deepest needs of our life. Psalm 23 reminds us that Our Jehovah-Raah is with us! 

Today take a moment and think about the ways that you have experienced God as a Good Shepherd to you. Give thanks.

LET US PRAY

God, You are my good Shepherd. Help me trust that You see what’s coming on the horizon and that You know the best path for me. Amen.

HELLO MY NAME IS ....

 

November 21, 2024

Psalm 30:2

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.



Feeling disheartened about the Lord's power to mend your wounds is natural. Sometimes, it may seem like your prayers for healing go unanswered, leaving you feeling adrift or undeserving. But hang in there, because there's good news coming your way. 

God's love is the foundation of his healing and restoration. It's a love that surpasses human comprehension, extending unconditionally to every individual, regardless of their past or present circumstances. This love is not based on worthiness; rather, it flows from the very essence of God's character. It's a love that never fades, never fails, and never gives up. In the context of healing, God's love is the driving force behind his desire to see us whole and thriving. It's a love that heals the brokenhearted, comforts the grieving, and restores the lost. When we grasp the depth of God's love, we find solace, strength and hope during life's challenges.

God being Jehovah-Rapha means he is the Lord who heals. In every aspect of our lives, physically, emotionally, and spiritually,  He mends the broken and binds their wounds. God understands our deepest pains and provides restoration. His healing goes beyond the surface, reaching deep within, bringing a profound joy and rejuvenation that can only come from Him. When we place our trust in Jehovah-Rapha we are surrendering our brokenness to his care and believing in his power to restore and transform. Let us lean on him, seeking his healing touch in every area of our lives, knowing that in his presence, true healing is found.

Listen to the experience of the poet in Psalm 66:18-20,  If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened: He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me!

Now thats a promise worth hanging unto!

HELLO MY NAME IS ....

 

November 20, 2024

Philippians 4:19

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.



Jehovah-Jireh. God introduces himself as Jehovah Jireh, meaning “the Lord will provide in Genesis 22. There we read the story of Abraham being commanded by God to take his son Isaac to Mount Moriah and sacrifice him. Remember, that Isaac was the son of promise, a miraculous gift from God when Abraham and Sarah were old. He was the promised child whom God had promised to make into a great nation. He was God’s provision, or so it seemed until God said to lay him on the altar and offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed. Hebrews 11 tells us that he acted in faith that God would raise Isaac. He obeyed in the belief that God would provide a miracle of some kind, and God did – a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute sacrifice. Genesis 22:14 tells us

“And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, ‘In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.'”

Provision can pose challenges in our daily lives. We often associate God's provision with abundance and an overflow of blessings. We believe that nothing is beyond God's capability, yet we often overlook the small moments when God provides for us. When significant changes don't occur, we may mistakenly think that God isn't acting. We frequently wait for God's provision without fully understanding his nature. As a result, we might overlook that the continual presence of God is, in itself, our lasting provision.

The Bible reaveals that God’s provision can come in many forms.  From daily sustenance to spiritual nourishment, God’s provision encompasses all aspects of life. Here is a list of verses that share this truth:

Philippians 4:19

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

This verse reassures us that God will meet all our needs through His abundant riches in Christ Jesus, emphasizing His ability to provide.

Matthew 6:31-33

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Seek first God’s kingdom. This passage encourages believers to prioritize seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness, trusting that He will provide for their material needs.

Psalm 23:1

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

God as shepherd. God is a shepherd who provides for all the needs of His flock, ensuring they lack nothing.

2 Corinthians 9:8

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

Abundance for good works. This verse emphasizes God’s ability to provide abundantly so that his people have all they need to perform good works.

Psalm 34:10

“The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

Seek the Lord for provision. This verse assures that those who earnestly seek the Lord will not lack any good thing, emphasizing the rewards of faithful pursuit of God.

Isaiah 58:11

“The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

This passage conveys the assurance that God will provide constant guidance, fulfillment, and courage to His followers, transforming them into "a flourishing garden", even in the middle of scarcity.

The Biblical message is that God’s supply is endless, God does not lack in power; he does not lack in authority. He can and will make us complete if you allow him to be the leader of our life. God shall supply all our need. You see, when you let him provide, you will be filled with his power, wisdom and authority. In our act of yielding to him he will guide our steps.

Jesus in Matthew 6:8 instructs us that “our heavenly Father knows what you need before you ask him. What a comfort to know this. Our God is all-knowing, and knows our need. He knows our struggles. He knows what we lack. He knows our beginning and our end. Trust that truth and choose to listen to his voice, and he will direct our path.

The Good News of the Gospel for us today.

 

HELLO MY NAME IS ....

 

November 19, 2024

Judges 6.24

Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. 

Yahweh Shalom occurs only once in the Bible, in Judges 6.24: “Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace”. The English phrase, “The Lord is Peace”, translates the Hebrew, Yahweh Shalom. As we noted yesterday the name Yahweh conveys the thought of being, or existing, or becoming known. The term Shalom refers to soundness, completeness, harmony and the absence of strife. It has been rendered by our English word, peace.

Have you ever noticed that our ideas and definitions of peace vary wildly, depending on what we are talking about? If I say, “speak now or forever hold your peace,” peace is defined by your acquiescence on an issue. But if I say, “I could use a little peace and quiet,” peace is defined by a lack of interruption to my day.

Judges 6:1-12, tells us of the Midianites' domination of God’s People. The Midianites have driven the Israelites into hiding and despair caused in part at least, the story tells us by the continual pattern of disobedience by the people of God.

Let’s take a bit of an overview of the situation.

• The power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.

• Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites invaded the country.

• They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.

• They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.

• Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help...

In this bleak and messy situation, we read of a glimmer of hope that emerges as Gideon, humanly speaking an unlikely hero, is called upon by the angel of the Lord.

“The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" Now Gideon was not feeling like a mighty warrior and for good reasons. “But Lord,” Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together," (Judges 6:14-16). The Lord calls him a mighty warrior. I wonder if perhaps the teaching here is that God sees what we can and will become in him, and not what we see in ourselves.

Gideon’s encounter with the divine presence transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, as Gideon is called to rise above his circumstances and become a mighty warrior, a light in the darkness to deliver God’s people. Judges 6:23 the angel speaks these words to Gideon, “Peace be to you. Do not fear, you shall not die”. As a result of these words, Gideon’s heart was infused with confidence and courage. He experienced peace in the truest sense. Building an altar to the Lord, he called it, “Yahweh-Shalom”, or “The Lord is Peace”. Come what may, he could now confront the enemy and undertake great exploits for God. His encounter with the God of Peace had taught him that he was not alone.

God’s peace gave Gideon comfort to fulfill the call of God. The comfort described in the Bible, carries a different meaning from our modern thinking of that word. Today, we think of comfort as a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or conflict, but the term comfort in the Bible is about the strength we need to keep going, it is survival power.

This story of Gideon reminds us of the comfort of Jesus words to his disciples in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” Then in John 20:19-21 in his resurrection presence the first words he spoke to his disciples was a repetition of “peace be with you.” What comfort the peace of God is for each of us.

What is your only comfort in life and in death? We ask. Our answer is “We Belong to JESUS.” This is the truth that gives us peace and survival power in “life and in death.” Our Yahweh-Shalom is with us, as he was with Gideon. 

 

 

HELLO, MY NAME IS .....

 

November 18, 2024

EXODUS 17:8-15

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men. Then go out and fight against the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I’ll stand there holding the walking stick God gave me.”

10 So Joshua fought against the Amalekites, just as Moses had ordered. Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hand, the Israelites were winning. But every time he lowered his hands, the Amalekites began to win. 12 When Moses’ arms got tired, Aaron and Hur got a stone and put it under him. Then he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands. Aaron was on one side, and Hur was on the other. Moses’ hands remained steady until sunset. 13 So Joshua destroyed the Amalekite army with swords.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is something to be remembered. So write it on a scroll. Make sure Joshua knows you have done it. I will completely erase the memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”

15 Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”).

"Yahweh - Nissi" translates to "The Lord is my Banner." Yahweh refers to the Existing One or Lord, primarily meaning to be or to exist in Hebrew. It also represents a God who continuously reveals Himself. 

"Nissi" denotes a banner, specifically a pole with an emblem attached, intended to be seen from a distance, serving as a standard or signal. You have no doubt seen this if you have ever seen the opening ceremony of the Olympics, where each team carries their country’s flag.  Or perhaps you have attended a Windsor Spitfires game and watched "Bomber" skate out on the ice leading the team waving the Spitfires flag.  

The name of God, Yahweh-Nissi, is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 17. Here, the people are engaged in a relentless battle against a their enemy the Amalekites. 

Moses, recognizing that the Lord was Israel’s banner under which they defeated the Amalekites, builds an altar named Yahweh-Nissi (the Lord my Banner). In battle, opposing nations would fly their own flag on a pole at each of their respective front lines. This was to give their soldiers a feeling of hope and a focal point to remember who they were fighting for and where their allegiance was.


This is what God is to us, a banner of encouragement to give us hope and a focal point. A reminder for us who we serve and where our loyalty lies. God's Word is our guideline for living. We look to our Creator and his strength during our struggles and battles. This focus of re-focus helps us to recall who God is and whose we are. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus," is how the hymnwriter put it, "and things of earth will grow strangely dim."

A banner beautifully represents God's protection and deliverance. It symbolizes His presence, power, and provision over us. The concept of God as our banner serves as a symbol and a reminder that our reliance should be on Him, rather than on our own strength and efforts. We are to rely upon our good and gracious God. We are to look to Jesus, our banner, our Yaweh Nissi.

It’s easy to become discouraged when we look at the world and the daily suffering and discord all around us. It’s easy to become discouraged and feel defeated in our own lives at times. The book of Hebrews opens with the author emphasizing the ways in which God communicates with us. Hebrews then proceeds to declare the greatness and supremacy of Jesus, affirming that Jesus surpasses all that we may be tempted to rely on in this life.

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. 
Hebrews 2:8

Thanks be to God!

DOUBTS? I'VE HAD A FEW!

 

November 15, 2024

Mark 9:23-24

“Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Growing up I believed, what many people believe, that doubt is something that harms one’s faith in God. I thought of doubt as something that should be avoided, faith and doubt just did not go together. The messaging I often heard was that if a follower of Jesus were to find themself doubting God the solution was to simply replace the doubt with faith. So Doubt, in my experience was brushed off with short answers that misunderstood what was really going on. "You shouldn’t doubt." "You can’t question that.” "You know what the Bible says is true."

But it’s not that simple. If you have ever experienced doubt in your faith walk, you know that. What I didn’t realize when I was younger is that almost every believer experiences some kind of doubt at some point in their faith journey. Despite the commonness of doubt in our spiritual walks, we rarely talk about or acknowledge its role in faith development.

Well you can imagine my delight when I discovered that the Bible views doubt in the opposite way from what I had learned growing up. The Bible highlights the doubters. “It seems God has more of a tolerance for doubt than most churches do.” (Jeff Poor) We should not deny or fear our doubt but express it. One definition of theology, which means “words about God,” is that it is “Faith Seeking Understanding.”

Theologian Paul Tillich put it this way, Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light breaks through. In other words, doubt is not the enemy and not something that needs to be fought. It needs to be understood, expressed, and used.

Let’s look at how the Bible highlights the doubters.

• Abraham and Sarah doubted God’s promise of a child; actually they laughed at it. (Genesis 16-18)
• Asaph doubted because the wicked prospered and he doubted the value of serving God. (1 Chronicles 16:4-7, Psalm 73)
• Job doubted God’s goodness. (Job)
• Moses doubted God could use him to lead Israel out of Egypt. (Numbers 11:21-22)
• Gideon doubted God could use him to turn the tide against Israel’s oppressors. (Judges 6-8)
• The Nation of Israel seemed to be in a constant state of doubt.
• Thomas, Jesus’ disciple, doubted Jesus rose from the dead. (John 20:24-29)

I could go on, but the point is the Bible is full of people that doubted. And not just people, but some of the main characters.

Doubt and disbelief are two separate issues. God doesn’t condemn us for asking questions. Jesus didn’t condemn Thomas for wanting to see the holes in his hands. Moses wasn’t reprimanded asking why him. And Abraham and Sarah still received God’s promise despite laughing in doubt.

Let's always remember hat God is interested in our hearts, not some artificial relationship. Sometimes what’s going on inside of us is doubt!! We cannot hide it from God, and that’s not what God wants. We shouldn’t be afraid to bring our doubts to God. God is not wanting to condemn us for our lack of faith. Rather, God wants to restore and strengthen us. I believe that can only happen when we honestly open our hearts to him. Jesus said in our verse, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” I take that to mean that God can use our doubts to produce in us a richer faith.

In Mark, chapter 9, a father approaches Jesus with the desire to see his son healed of an impure spirit. The man says to Jesus, “if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us”. Jesus replies, “If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes”. Jesus can see that the man doubts Jesus’ ability to heal his son. The man then recognizes his doubt and immediately says, “I do believe; help me with my unbelief”.

This man is clearly wrestling with doubts. He has trouble believing that Jesus is really powerful enough to heal his son, but instead of giving up, he asks Jesus for help with his disbelief. Looking at this story, we can take note of how the man handles and confronts his doubt. Just as Tim Keller wrote, “we ought to acknowledge the areas of our faith that are confusing or hard to trust to begin to make our relationship with Jesus our very own.” Notice, the man in Mark 9 didn’t just believe in Jesus because of the faith of those around him, rather, He asked Jesus himself to help with his confusion.

I’ve learned to embrace the doubt in my faith. It makes it richer in a way. My doubts have actually pushed me closer to God. If you are facing doubt in your faith I would encourage you to do the same. Don’t push your doubt aside. Embrace it. Sit with it.

 Turn to God and ask Him to help build your faith and give you a stronger foundation. Let your doubt lead you closer to Jesus.
Amen.

 

 

LATER YOU WILL UNDERSTAND

 

November 14, 2024

John 13:7

“Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

 

In our devotion yesterday, we said that remembering that we are praying to a living and active God, fills us with great trust and confidence. The living God that we worship is the God, we said, who created us (Genesis 1:27), who forgives us (Ephesians 4:32), who saved us (Ephesians 2:8), who promises to protect us (Isaiah 41:10), who has a purposeful plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and whose words and action demonstrate he loves us intensely (1 John 4:9-10). When we think about who God is and what God has done, we are overwhelmed by his love and grace.

We know these truths, we know the Bible teaches us these truths, right? However, there are times when we forget His truth and disregard God’s ways. I have not known anyone who in their walk with God has not at some point lost focus and forgotten God’s truth and promises.

At times along the way, we get too caught up in our lives and focus on ourselves, and when this occurs, we forget that God already has things taken care of. This sets the stage for worry. If you have had this experience, you know that when we are in the space of worry, we worry about every little thing in our life, whether it is what we are going to eat for supper, what other people think of us, or some other dread we have. Isn’t it true that we can spend so much time and energy worrying over things that we begin to catastrophize or overemphasize a situation, until we feel out of control.

In those moments, we need to take to heart the words of the bible, “say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, He will come to save you.” (Isaiah 35:4)

When we feel life is out of control, we take matters into out hands, trying to get our lives “back on track”. We all have a vision for our lives to turn out a certain way. We all have our own plans, and we try to control situations to make our wants and plans a reality. Yet, we “know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) There are times when our plans may not line up with what God has planned. God may want something different for our life and His plan, at least this is what I have found, is always so much better than we could ever imagine for ourselves.

1 Peter 5:6-7 says “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Ultimately, God has a vision and plan for his people “to give us a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11) God brings the right people into our lives at the exact moment that we need them, he brings us opportunities when we are in need of them at the right time. Everything happens in his timing. This is in part, I believe, what Jesus was saying in our verse, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” In His Time, In His Time!

Can you trust God in that promise?

The only thing that we can control in our lives is our faith and our trust in God. If we trust Him and His purpose for our lives, we will see that God is able to deliver on his promises, going “exceedingly abundantly beyond anything we can ever think or imagine.” Yes, it takes patience, trust, and faith, ah, but the payoff is “abundant life.”

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” (Psalm 37:4-6) 

Amen.

 

BEING INTENTIONAL

 

November 13, 2024

Matthew 21:22

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”



Do you ever find that prayer can become a duty, a requirement for each of us that call ourselves Christians? Have you experienced that prayer can become a routine task, leading to rather meaningless prayers? This can happen can't it.

If prayer as we often say is an important way to mantain a connection with God. That prayer is a relationship practice between God and ourselves, where we both speak and listen. Then perhaps we need to think about how to pray with intention. By praying with intention, we can transform our spiritual practice and witness positive changes in our lives. 

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” Matthew 21:22 teaches us. In other words it is saying believe in what you pray for. When we ask God for help or for him to bring things into our life, or the life of others, trust wholeheartedly that God will take care of things. 1 Peter 5:7 invites us to "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” We know that our God has our best interest at heart, so in prayer we express our confidence and trust that he knows what is best for our life.

Our knowledge of God helps us. When we remember that we are praying to a living and active God, the creator of all things, who the Bible tells us is the God

 

who created us (Genesis 1:27), 

who forgives us (Ephesians 4:32), 

who saved us (Ephesians 2:8), 

who promises to protect us (Isaiah 41:10), 

who has a puposeful plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11), 

and whose words and action demonstrate the he loves us so intensely (1 John 4:9-10). 

When we consider these great truths, it does fill us with a level of trust and confidence as we pray. 

Placing our trust in God always. Offering our prayers sincerely, not on some sort of "autopilot" mode, but with intention because of who God is. Handing over to our loving creator, our concerns and our uncertainties, with the awareness of his promise to assist us and look after us, to be "for us not against us," then we will know in experience what the Psalmist declared "those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”  Psalm 9:10

That is GOOD NEWS!!

THE MAKING OF A JOYFUL PERSON

 

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Isaiah 55:12

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”


Do you every have a song just pop into your mind, and it is on repeat for the rest of your day? 

I remember driving my children to school and singing parts of songs, like “when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, It’s Amore,” or an old Carpenter’s song “why do birds suddenly appear everytime you are near? Just like me they want to be close to you.” When I would pick them up at the end of their school day they would still be singing the song. Well I had that yesterday, a song we often close our worship services with based on our Bible Reading today.

You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace,
And the mountains and the hills will break forth before you.
There'll be shouts of joy and the trees of the fields
Will clap, will clap their hands.

 At this point in the book of Isaiah, Chapter 55, God’s people have been completely disobedient, but God the Father is a God of grace and compassion, so he invites them into his lovingkindness. He is restoring them so they may glorify him once again and he is blessing his people. That is why Isaiah 55 is often given the title "the Compassion of God."

Verse 12 specifically commands the people to go out in joy and be led forth in peace. Why does God ask this? How do we, do this?

As God's people, we are called to be joyful, “Rejoice always” says 1 Thessalonians 5:16a. Which is not a natural thing for us to do as humans. However, joy becomes easier, when we begin to understand and experience God’s love and his constant amazing generous grace.

There are two reasons we are called to go out in joy in our verse today: For our own sake and for the sake of the world.

Perhaps you have found that when you choose to rejoice in your circumstances, your circumstances do not seem to loom as large, they seem to change. Have you found that life is a bit easier to tackle when we choose a positive and joyous perspective rooted in a trust for God and his promises? May the “God of hope fill you all with joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” says Romans 15:13. Many times I have found, I suspect you have experienced this too, that these words have been fulfilled in you. Abounding in hope is a great place to be.

Going out in joy benefits others. The people around us should be able to recognize our Christian experience by how we love and by the joy we have. Please do not misunderstand, this verse or teaching. It is not saying that Jesus followers always act happy and act like everything is okay – being joyful is different than being happy. Joy is trusting in what God is doing and recognizing that he has a plan. Being joyful means not letting your circumstances crush you. To choose joy is to choose hope.

The idea is that the world sees that our circumstances aren’t crushing us and asks us why. Then we can answer with the glorious news of how good our God is and the hope that we have. When we go out in joy, we allow our own spirits to grow and shine the light of Christ at the same time.

When we allow Christ to lead us and guide our steps and our hearts, we find peace. There is peace in our relationship with God. This does not mean that anxiety or fear ceases to exist though. The world is still corrupt, and still seeks to squeeze us into it’s mold. Yet, when we cling to God, trust him follow his plan in obedience, we will find his peace (Isaiah 32:17).

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Those who truly have the peace of God, will stop needing answers for everything, will stop worrying about everything going on in the world and will simply trust in God and what is to come with hope. When we seek God’s heart, we find peace, an incomprehensible peace that will guide us through this messy life and all the hard places we will face.

Thanks be to God!!

So, lets

"go out with joy and be led forth with peace."

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

 November 11, 2024

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning 

We will remember them.

When you go home, tell them of us, and say For your tomorrow we gave our today.

 (Words taken from the Kohima Epitaph)

Micah 4:1-5

In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. 

Today we honor the memory of countless individuals, children of God , cherished by their families, whose lives were tragically ended by the conflicts of war. They were often thought of as the best of their generation, answering their country's call with courage and dedication.

On Remembrance Day each year, we honour them and are determined that they will not be forgotten. We commit to honoring the profound debt we owe them. As we recall the sacrifices made, we pursue the liberation that arises from a Peace dedicated to the welfare of everyone.

Daniel Graves in an article from November 2012 wrote, "a dear friend gave me a button. The words on the button are: “to remember is to work for peace.” I choose to wear that button alongside my poppy to help me understand and interpret what it is that we are called to remember each year, and what it is we are called to do as the result of that remembrance."

I believe that the remembrance of sacrifice should guide our daily lives, be the foundation(s) of our communities, and indeed, influence the story that is being written by our lives we lead.

On Remembrance Day, as a Christian, we reflect not only on the brave sacrifices made by men and women throughout history in the service of their nation but also on God's ultimate sacrifice. Isn't it true that for us, the story of the crucified God is the defining narrative of our lives as Jesus followers. More than anything, it is the story that forms the foundation of the Christian community, and it is this narrative that we are all a part of.

In Christ Jesus, God made the ultimate sacrifice: of giving up his divine power, walking in our midst, as a human being, feeling the pain and the suffering of our condition, and finally offering himself on the cross that we might live. There is more!

In Jesus defeat of death, we come to realize that are no longer enslaved to the devastating power of death. In his sacrifice on the cross and his victory over the grave, the proclamation “death no more has dominion over him,” means that death no more has dominion over us!! Ah, the now and the not yet of the gospel. We hold onto the hope that the ultimate vanquishing of the destructive forces aiming to ruin and corrupt God's children is yet to come.
Sometimes I wonder if this is why we still fight wars. We have tasted the goodness of God, but as human beings, we still hesitate to embrace the full extent of His goodness.

What was God's sacrifice all about? It was about reconciliation; reconciliation between human beings. It was about restoration; the restoration of humanity to God. It was about healing; healing as individuals, and healing as nations. It was about healing our bodies and healing our souls. The underlying theme connecting reconciliation, restoration, and healing is peace. Jesus's mission was to bring peace.

God is on the side of peace. The message of peace is clear in our reading from Micah. Even in the dark times when Israel faced the onslaught of Assyria's armies, Micah boldly proclaimed that this darkness would not last forever. He presented a vision where, led by God, people would choose the path of peace.

“They will beat their swords into ploughshares
And their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
Nor will they train for war any more.”

So Today we will take a time to reflect and remember people who sacrificed their youth, their love, their efforts, gave themselves up for our country, a broken country, but their sacrifice represents hope, and trusting in God. The gospel's call of giving of our whole lives to God means that the systems that are broken have a chance to be repaired.

Perhaps today we are forced to respond to questions like, 

where do we put our energy?

our finances?

our time?

our sacrifice?

our patience? 

Who do we honour?  

How do we give of ourselves so that the kingdom of God, the realm of peace, and hope, and love, has a chance? 

When we remember, it is also an opportunity to reflect on how we can do our part to make it better.

To remember is to work for peace.

F.B. MacNutt in his book A War Primer: an Anthology of War Prayers, Intercessions, and Prayers of Devotion wrote:

We arise today with the power of God to guide us,
the might of God to uphold us,
the wisdom of God to teach us,
the eye of God to watch over us,
the ear of God to hear us,
the word of God to give us speech,
the hand of God to protect us,
the way of God to direct us, and
the shield of God to shelter us. Amen

WAITING with CONFIDENCE

 

November 8, 2024

Psalm 37:13-14

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Throughout the Bible, there's a recurring theme of waiting, waiting for God's promises to unfold. The Old Testament people of God suffered through a lengthy slavery in Egypt before they esperienced freedom. Their journey continued as they roamed the desert for over four decades before reaching the Promised Land. They anticipated the Messiah's arrival for four hundred years. And after Jesus' ascension, he left them with the promise of his return, a promise that remains unfulfilled.

Many of us, after a long wait, start to question whether the promises made by God will ever become reality. It's natural to wonder if perhaps they've been forgotten, or deliberately left unfulfilled. Doubting God's role as the "Promise Keeper" is a rather normal, human reaction to uncertainty and delay.

When we look at the waiting periods in the Bible closely, we will see a different story. What we witness is God asking his people to wait, but he didn’t forget about them or revoke his promises at all. Waiting was and is an invitation to trust in God’s Faithfulness in our waiting.

In Exodus 13:21-22 we read “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”

During this time, God's people had just left Egypt, experiencing the Exodus, and now have begun their wandering through the wilderness. In their waiting we read that God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, so they always knew where to go and when.

This is a useful picture for our waiting process, I believe. Think about waiting times in this way: God may lead us away from a place He doesn't want us to stay, guiding us through the wilderness instead. In these moments, doubt may creep in about hearing God's voice or His plans for leading us to a better place. Yet, if we gaze intently at the sky, during the 'daytime' when the path is clear, or the 'nighttime' when the path is obscured, we can discern the truth: even amidst life's confusion and chaos, the Lord is continuously guiding us.

This is where walking by faith comes in. We won’t always see the road ahead. Sometimes, our lives are just too dark and uncertain to see the plan God is unfolding for us. However, even when we can’t see it, God is faithful, and he is guiding us and slowly walking us toward the abundant life he has planned for us.

Wandering is never a simple path. When we are called to journey the uncertainties of the wilderness, questions arise. How long shall we roam? To what destination are we bound? And how shall we discern the moment thar we arrive at our destination?

Unless the Old Testament people were alot different than most of us, they probably asked these questions, too. One of the things we see in their story is that this experience didn’t last forever. God was faithful, and God still was their guide. When their wandering concluded God still led them to the Promised Land, despite the offenses along the way, and all the questions and doubts they had. God was a promise keeper!

Think abourt some of the decisions the people made in the wilderness. First, they worshipped a golden calf when God was right up the mountain near them, talking to their leader, Moses. Then, they complained about the food God prepared for them. Then, they directly disobeyed the God’s plans for them, and the consequences of this was that they would wander for a much longer as a result. Even after all of this, God still did not remove their Covental blessings from them, nor the future he prepared for them of a land of promise. Instead, he rebuked and corrected them. Like a loving father, he showed them the correct path so they could “grow up” to be the people he wanted them to be.

What this story tells us, I believe is that we don’t need to worry or fret. Just as the God was faithful to in the wilderness long ago, he will be faithful to us as well. Understand this that God will not, no never, forsake us or strip his promises from us. What God will do is strengthen us, and even straighten our path so we can come out of our waiting period as a stronger, and more godly person. During this time, he’ll guide you with your own pillar of cloud or fire. Our wilderness response is trust in the Lord and look to him for guidance, and be faithful and we will never lose our way as we wait on the promises that God has given us..

Here is a song that I have found especially helpful in my wilderness journey, when the doubts set in. May it speak to you as well.