I Need A Light

Scripture:

Psalm 119:105-112

Romans 6:5-14

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The future, we all want to know what it holds for us.  I use to love to read my so called horoscope in the news paper.  For the fun of it I still like reading my fortune cookies when I eat Chinese.  Some people seek out their fortunes by visiting so called "fortune tellers."  We have our palms read or look into the glass ball.  Reading the bones when thrown or tea leaves.  Man has developed many ways to so called tell the future.  No matter how hard we try the future is ever elusive. 

The truth is God alone can show us the future.  He reveals to us what He wishes.  Think of walking outside in the woods.  If it is dark out and you stumble along in the dark you will not get far. You will trip and very possibly hurt yourself.  You run the risk of walking into brambles and thorns.  However, if you take along a good and bright flashlight you will be able to light your path.  Now you can see the dangers ahead and avoid them.  Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."  God shows us the way much brighter and clearer than any flashlight can.  His word is like the sun shinning through the trees showing us the way.  However, God doesn't reveal everything to us all at once.

God will show us the way all we have to do is seek Him first in all things.  John 8:12 "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.'"  Christ is the light and life of the world.  In Christ we are given freedom from our wages of sin.  Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."  In our freedom let us grab the Light of the world and walk together.  Let us seek what God would reveal to us.  No one else can tell us the future.  No one else can foresee what awaits us down the path of life...

All Alone...Really?

Scripture:
Romans 5:1-5
Romans 8:28-39

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Have you ever felt alone, all alone.  I once told someone at a men's group function at church that I could feel all alone in a crowd of people.  At that time I was in a room full of people and yet I could have been the only one there.  Even though people were seated all around me and I could hear conversations throughout the room I was still alone.  Not knowing why I did it I shared that with one of the pastors I had briefly met before.   He saw something I didn't and later we would have some very uplifting conversations.

Even though I felt alone and separated God was with me.  He wouldn't let me stay alone for very long.  No matter what we feel or think we are never truly alone.  God is with us all the time.  Romans 8:35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?..." Verses 38 & 39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

There is nothing or anyone who can separate us from God.  Not even Satan can tear us from God's loving arms.  The only separation we have from God is when we walk away and deny Him.  Then and only then can we be truly alone.  As long as we turn to God and embrace Him we will never be alone.  So the next time I feel all alone in a crowd I just have to turn around and see Christ...

A Public Show Or Private Practice...

Scripture:
Psalm 55:16-22
Matthew 6:1-6 & 16-18

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In Matthew we are told to practice our righteousness in secret.  We are not to be a show case for the world to see.  Growing up Methodist I never felt the need to be baptized, since I was baptized as an infant.  Recently I have felt God stirring my heart to be baptized by submersion.  I had a hard time with it because it was a public display.  I didn't want to go before an entire congregation so that they could see what I was doing.  Another aspect is the alter call for prayer.  I rarely ever go down to pray.  I have always felt I was going on display for everyone to see me pray.

Jesus tells us to pray  and fast in secret.  I don't think he meant it as denying ourselves intimate moments with Him.  Praying at the alter is for one's self to lay before the Lord at His table, not a public display.  I tend to go to the extreme which is a danger.  God doesn't want us to parade around strutting.  The important thing is not so much where you pray or how you fast.  What is important  is where the focus is.

By being baptized in front of the congregation I am showing my focus is on Jesus.  Hopefully it will help others to be able to do the same.  When walking to the alter to pray the focus should be on Jesus not look at me go and pray.  As long as we have our hearts right with God it really doesn't matter.

As long as our hearts are right with God He will be the focus not us.  Problems and worries can also get in the way of focusing on Jesus.  Psalm 55:22 states "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;  He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."  We need to take our burdens to him and leave them there.  God is willing to share our burdens and take them over.  I need to take each problem and instead of focusing on it I need to hand it off to Jesus.  Allow my focus to shift from the problem to Jesus.  Once it is in His hands I can let go.  As in a relay race I pass the baton to Him and He will finish the race with it. 

Is It Time To Go Home?

Scripture:
John 13:33-38

1 Peter 5:6-7

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I remember when I first arrived on board the Nimitz.  I was 18, young and not so bright.  I thought everything would be so much different than what they were.  As I stepped off the plane onto the flight deck I saw a beautiful sight.  The ocean blue meeting the blue skies off in the distance.  I was brought to reality by the onslaught of noise and commotion all around me.  As I walked off the flight deck I knew I didn't want to be there.  I knew I just had to go home.  

Well the truth was that it wasn't time to go home.  I would fall asleep at night telling myself to have faith.  God was faithful.  He was with me on board that ship.  Even when I went astray He was with me.  I cast all my cares upon Him.  I 1 Peter 5:6-7 " ⁶Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

I wanted to go home, at the time it didn't matter which home.  God however, had a purpose for me being there.  I cast my cares and worry on Him.  He gave me the strength I needed to make it through.  I ended up working for the chaplains on board ship.  I met some people who would even now are influential in my life.  After many years after the service I connected again with a friend.  He was my supervisor and had to deal with me, poor guy.  God reunited us not too long ago.  He has been influential in helping me put together a website, blogging site, and these daily devotional thoughts.

God brought people into my when I needed them.  As long as I cast my cares upon Him and trust Him everything will turn out all right.  I didn't go home right away like I wanted, either home.  God had a plan.  No matter what we go through all we have to do is remember He is with us.  If we allow Him to work in our lives and guide us we will be right where He wants us.  We must look for the opportunities as they present themselves.  Then we need to faithfully act upon them.  God has us here for a reason and when the time is right we will all go Home...