Fear of God’s Calling

Scripture:
Isaiah 41:8-14 (NIV)

“But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
    from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
    I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

“All who rage against you
    will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
    will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies,
    you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
    will be as nothing at all.
For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.
Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Devotional:

Are you God’s servant?  Where has God called you to be?  How many of us have neglected God’s call because we were afraid, or it took us out of our comfort zone.  Sometimes we are unsure of ourselves.  After all, how can I?  We allow our fears to overcome our decision to answer God’s call.  But whom do we have to fear?  Isn’t God greater than anything else? “Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10).

No matter where it is that God calls you to go or do He is with you.  When God calls you to a task remember that you have nothing to fear.  If you are unsure ask Him to confirm it.  There is nothing wrong with asking Him to.  After several people in the Bible questioned God’s call, each time God confirmed it.  Ask Him to and He will confirm His calling.  When He does be ready to act…  Remember you have nothing to fear, God is with you…

Faith Alone is Dead...

Scripture:
James 2:14-17 (NIV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Devotional:

Faith alone is meaningless.  With just faith how does the body of Christ grow?  With just faith how do the hungry get fed?  How does the work of the Holy Spirit get accomplished?  James tells that faith without action or works is dead.

I firmly believe that our actions speak louder than words ever can.  I can say I am a Christian.  I can go to church on Sunday morning with everyone else.  On the outside it appears I am a believer.  Then the rest of the time I am living a life of the world instead.  What will people believe?  What are their thoughts about Christianity, or me?  There is nothing to show for my faith.  No one will believe me or really come to know Christ.

However, I can live a life of Christ and change lives.  People will see Christ in me.  They do not have to hear the words to know who Christ is.  They find Him in my life.  What do your actions say about your faith?  Are you living your faith?  Are you doing those things which Christ would have you do?  The question to ask, is the body of Christ feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, visiting those in prisons, giving shelter to the homeless?  Is the body of Christ doing its job?  Or is the faith within the body of Christ dead? 

I read one time where someone wanted to reach out to the homeless in their city.  They got tracts and flyers about Christ and what it meant to be saved.  They walked around passing them out.  In the end they couldn’t understand why their project failed.  They asked someone why no one seemed interested and just dropped the pamphlets.  The answer was a simple one.  People couldn’t eat paper pamphlets.  The pamphlets couldn’t give them any shelter.  Realizing that people needed their basic needs met was more important than receiving a piece of paper. 

Their next time around they provided food for them to eat, and a place to get warm.  They had a huge turnout.  After the homeless were fed and warmed up the gospel was shared.  Faith with works, or actions, will change the world.  Faith all alone is dead…

Times of Need

Scripture:
 Read Ruth 2:13-20

Ruth 2:14-16 (NIV)

At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”

When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”

Devotional:

Have you ever been somewhere and saw someone with a need?  What did you do when you realized they were in need?  Sometimes we fill needs by just a prayer.  Sometimes it is by giving someone food to eat, or a job.  Maybe it is by giving a family a place to live.  Recently Nancy and I were talking with someone in church after the service.  She mentioned her “God pocket.”  She read about it in a book and decided she needed to follow the example.  She put some money in an envelope that became her “God pocket.”  The money was to be given to someone in need.  One afternoon at the gas station she found that person who needed just what she had.  She gave to someone in need.

It doesn’t have to be money.  We have a heat pump that is constantly giving us problems.  We have a friend who can work on air conditioners and heat pumps.  He has given of his time in order that we can get some semblance of heat in the winter.  There have been times when Nancy and I have been able to help others.  A friend needed a place to live, we were able to help.  Someone else just needed help with the kitchen sink, again we were able to give some assistance.  Yet another person needed… 

Take your own inventory of those you have helped in the past.  Remember each of us will need a helping hand from time to time.  We will also be given the chance to help others in their need.  We just need to be attentive to those around us.  If there is a need just maybe you can help.  The next time you feel the Holy Spirit leading you to help someone, listen.  Take a moment to give aid.  Even if it seems you can’t, follow through with what God puts on your heart.  He will ensure you have what you need to help that person.  Allow the Holy Spirit to guide, and be ready to help.  You never know whose life you will make a difference in…

Silver Lining

Scripture:
Romans 5:8-11 (NIV)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Devotional:

How many times have you experienced something you thought was bad?  Who has ever had someone do them wrong?  At the time it seemed to be very bad.  Look at Joseph.  His brothers sold him into slavery.  At first I am sure Joseph thought it was a bad situation.  In truth I am sure it was.  What his brothers intended to do harm with God had something else in mind.  Look at Genesis 50:20 (NASB) “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”  God used something intended for evil to be something beneficial and to the gain of His people.

Even though it looks bleak, God has a plan.  What may seem bad, He will turn it into something good for His people.  God sees and knows all.  Even though God doesn’t cause bad things to happen He will use them to change our lives.  All we have to do is seek Him.  All we need to do is put Him first in our lives, allowing Him to do His will.  We need to let God work in our lives.  What seems to be bad just might turn out to be the best thing ever in the end.  The ultimate display of God’s work is Christ’s death on the cross.  Jesus paid the price of redemption for us all.  What started out as bad, and it was truly horrible what they did to Christ.  God used it to become the greatest gift of all, salvation through Jesus.  What the Jewish leaders meant for evil God used for redemption for us all.

No matter what is going on in your life remember Christ paid it all.  Christ is our future, hope, and life.  Jesus is the silver lining in the cloud.