He Who Provides...

Scripture
1 Chronicles 29:10-14
2 Kings 6:8-17

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Provisions, who is the provider?  Do we provide for ourselves?  Do our parents provide for us?  Too many people look for the government or someone else to provide them with everything they want or need.  There are just as many people think that they do it all on their own.  They get rich from their own doings.  They have because of what they did.  1 Chronicles 29:12 "Both riches and honor come from You,..." David credits everything to God, shouldn’t we? 

Too often in my own life I just didn't trust God with my finances, and other areas of my life.  I didn't tithe any of my income.  I just couldn't see how God could stretch less to pay more.  After all if you need a thousand dollars to pay bills and buy food how can you give eighty out of eight hundred and meet all your needs.  Simple mathematics and logic would say you can't.  Simply put I didn't trust Him to be able to provide all my needs.  This couldn't be farther from the truth.  After all didn't Jesus feed five thousand with just a few fish and loaves of bread?  Didn't God feed the entire Israel Nation in the desert for forty years?

God not only provided for Israel He protected His people.  As we struggle in life we need to know that God will provide not only our needs but He will protect us as well.  He will send a host of angels to our aid if we call upon Him and put our faith and trust in Him. 2 Kings 6:17 "And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."  God is our provider and our protector.

If God can do what He has done for the Israel Nation and for others all through history, He can do the same for us.  Just remember all riches and honor come from God.  We must remember that He is the God who made the universe.  He is the God who made it all.  What can we say we made using nothing but our words?

Temples For God

Scripture:
Exodus 3:1-22
1 Corinthians 6:12-20

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There are places that when you go there you instinctively know it is sacred.  You treat it with respect and reverence.  We don't even think twice about honoring a house of God or sacred ground.  Most of us wouldn't even think twice about it.  It wouldn't even occur to us to tear the house of God apart.

So why do we destroy our own bodies?  Are our bodies not the temple of God, His dwelling place.  I remember when I was a child and was talking with a friend of mine.  We got on the topic of smoking was bad.  I never considered it being bad.  He was the first person to emphasize our bodies are the temple of God.  He said by smoking we are defiling God's house.  On one hand I disagree with him on that note.  However, he was right.  Smoking causes harm and damages our bodies and those around us.  Thus we damage or defile God's house.  When we abuse our bodies or miss use them in immoral ways we are defiling the house of God.  His holy temple.  1 Corinthians 6:20 "you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

We should treat our own bodies the same way we would any church, temple or other holy place of God.  God paid a hi price for our bodies and our spirits.  Let us honor Him with them...

My Way or God's Way

Scripture:

Exodus 2:11-25
Philippians 1:9-18

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As I ponder on what to write I am reminded of two different circumstances in the Bible.  Both could have had totally different outcomes which would have had major impacts on history. The first is Joseph's brothers.  What if they had not been jealous and sold Joseph into slavery.  God's plan would have manifested itself much differently and Israel might not have been placed into slavery by the Egyptians.  The other is Moses.  Had Moses not tried to handle things his way and waited upon the Lord he would not have murdered the Egyptian and been forced into exile.  The Israel's flight to freedom might have been very different.

I think of Paul and his circumstances.  He might have tried to fix things his own way.  Instead he waited upon the Lord doing His work where ever he was.  Paul found the good in all things.  Try as I might I just cannot seem to find the joy in some circumstances.  I can choose to handle things my way or I can choose to wait upon th Lord.  The outcome will be very different depending on my choice.  God's plan will still happen regardless.  How His plan manifests depends upon what we decide to do.  The question is not who is in control, for God is in control.  Instead the question to ask is am I going to let go of my illusion of control.  Am I going to try it my way or God's way.  The means to getting to the end will vary greatly depending on the path we choose.  

As Christians our destination is the same.  What makes the difference is how we get to that destination.  There is the easy way and then there is our way...

Let Us Not Compromise

Scripture:

Psalm 55:1-8

Daniel 6:1-28

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It seems that life's busy ways can distract us and keep us from God.  In order to fit in or to be right with the world we can bend or slip away from what is important.  We do not necessarily stick to what God would have us do.  Even now I find I am easily distracted while writing this.  Life is full of constant interruptions, anything to keep us from God.  

Even when faced with being thrown to his death by the lions Daniel never wavered.  He stayed steadfast and constant.  God always being faithful saved Daniel.  God always being faithful will save us, He is always with us.  Psalm 91:14-16 NIV, 

¹⁴ “Because he^[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; 

   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 

¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him; 

   I will be with him in trouble, 

   I will deliver him and honor him. 

¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him 

   and show him my salvation.”

Daniel and David along with a score of others in the Bible knew this to be true and never wavered in their faith.  Look at all Paul endured for Christ.  His steadfast faith still impacts Christians all over the world today.  Something to keep in perspective is time.  What is a day or even a year of suffering compared to eternity of misery being separated from God.  

God is with those who acknowledge Him and are faithful.  He will never leave or forsake us.  Let us all be more like Daniel.  Let us stand firm for what matters.  4Him plays has a song For Future Generations  that says 

So I wont bend and I wont break 

I wont water down my faith

I wont compromise in a world of desperation...

We need to say that we wont bend or break.  That we will not compromise our faith.  For the rest of this week let this be our motto...