Nevertheless

After trying everything humanly possible without visible, favorable results, what do you do? Simon and his fellow fishermen had fished all night without success. While the men washed their nets, Jesus entered Simon’s boat, asked him to push out into the water again, and sat down to teach the people who had followed Him. Once finished, He told Simon to go into deeper water and let down the net for a bountiful catch. Simon respectfully replied that they had fished all night without even one fish to show for their efforts, but “At Thy word, I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5). He did, and the fish-filled net was at the point of breaking, so Simon called the others onshore to help; they returned to shore with two boats ladened with fish. Simon (Peter) knew little of The Teacher who told him to act confidently but came to know Him as a miracle worker and, after that, followed Him. Those fishermen became “fishers of men.”

Believers in and followers of Christ know the same Miracle Worker. Is Jesus asking you to “Launch out into the deep?” You’ve been there, and nothing has changed; doing so again seems fruitless. But when He calls you to go deeper with Him, you can trust His word because He is The Word. Like Peter, will you reply that you’ve been there and haven’t seen any results but then readily obey when He says to “Let down your nets for a draught?” God knows every need you have, every desire of your heart, and Jesus wants to fill your “nets” to overflowing, just like Peter’s, if you will trust Him. At just the right time, God fulfills His purposes.

The Price Tag

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Cor 12:15). Yielded to the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul proclaimed the Gospel while pouring out his life serving others. The cost of his service was insignificant to him; he was willing to devote his finances and life wherever God sent him. But not all believers are so giving of themselves.

Indicators of serving God with reservation when He says, “Do this” or “Go there”: Consider the expense, housing situation, salary, or the people’s friendliness as deciding factors. Sometimes the location’s climate weighs in, or the sacrifice of leaving extended family and children’s moans of leaving friends, moving to a new school can sway decisions to follow God’s call. Paul didn’t care what serving God cost, where God sent him, or whether people liked him. God’s genuine, unreserved servants serve others wholeheartedly, no matter where He sends them, or the cost involved. 

What Do You Think?

“How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God; how great is the sum of them” (Ps 139:17). God knew you and me before He intricately formed us in our mother’s womb, creating us uniquely; no one’s DNA is identical. And although parents provide daily needs, teach, guide, and protect their children, the acts of our Father’s care for us are far more significant and numberless. He knows our thoughts, plans, and how we will deal with situations. God knows the number of our days, the tasks He designed us to accomplish in our lifetime. We cannot escape His watchful eye, always on us, knowing how we will react to and handle life’s every circumstance. Like the psalmist, do we think of God’s thoughts toward us as precious, invaluable, or are they a cause for concern? How warm are your thoughts toward this loving God when sometimes, He doesn’t act on your behalf the way and time you hoped He would? When we wake each morning, it would be helpful to be mindful of and keep God, who knows, sees, and holds everything, before us and live in awe and fear of Him. He is worthy. 

Shadowy Places

People, like sheep, sometimes must travel dangerous terrain, rocky high places and low, dark valleys—places of vulnerability. Everyone experiences difficult times, and God’s children are no exception. The difference is how believers walk through shadowy places. We, the sheep of God’s pasture, can confidently walk as we trust Jesus, our Shepherd to guide and protect us. Our footing can be sure; we can face and go through life’s dark places without fear. David said he could walk through the valley of the shadow of death without fear because God was with him (Ps 23:4); so can we.

A shadow is a darkness cast upon a place when someone or something is raised between it and the light. A light source must be present for a shadow to exist. This world’s evils and sin rise, casting scary shadows, causing fear, grief, and turmoil. But Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Like David, we can walk safely and victoriously through life’s sinister valleys knowing Jesus is the Source of light.

No More Excuses

Who am I that I should go? That was the question Moses asked God and gave Him every reason why he was the wrong candidate for the mission. But God was adamant that he was just the right person, telling Moses: “Certainly I will go with thee” (Ex 33:12).

“I can’t.” “I don’t know how.” Do these comments sound familiar? If God called you to a task, He would equip you and go with you to successfully carry it out. Although he felt inadequate to go initially, Moses yielded to God and led the Hebrews out of four hundred years of Egypt’s bondage. But what if God has called you to endure a difficult time, stretching your faith? Whatever your misgivings, tell Him your concerns but trust Him to carry out His purposes. God will “certainly go with you”—His power and wisdom dwell within you; you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil 4:13). Who knows? Your obedient service may set captives free from sin’s bondage; part of that freedom may be yours.

God's Faces

God called His people stiff-necked, telling Moses He would not go with them into the promised land lest His anger consume them along the way. Instead, He would send an angel to drive out the enemy before them. Moses knew they deserved such abandonment and sin’s consequences of sure destruction, but appealed to God for mercy, reminding Him this nation was His people. God extend grace, replying, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest” (Ex 33:14). Interestingly, the word presence is “paniyn,” plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun “paneh,” the face (as the part that turns). God told His undeserving people “His faces would go with them,” varying His appearance, meeting their needs.

God showed grace and mercy for stubborn and rebellious people, sending Jesus to die for the sins of the world. His presence walks with His children today; His face turns, meeting our needs. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will never leave us (Heb 13:5). But to appeal to God’s grace and goodness like Moses, you must first know Him. Confess your sins and turn away from the stubbornness of going your way, invite Jesus to govern your life. When you do, God’s “faces” will journey this life with you, supplying everything you need to live victoriously.

You Could Be Next

Complimenting is giving earned praise, admiration, congratulations to someone unless they use the niceties under the pretense of gaining information, at which point that person becomes a flatterer. Flattery cunningly “squeezes out” and uses news or supposed knowledge of someone to spin tales to tell others. The flatterer is commonly known as a talebearer, and willing listeners are their priority, not truth. What makes you think the people who long to spread secrets and “juicy” news no one else knows haven’t targeted you as you listen to their latest gossip? If you suspect such, avoid giving them audience: “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore, meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips” (Prov 20:19). 

Overcoming Self

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (2 Cor 9:27). The listeners understood Paul’s words alluded to disabling contenders—a boxer hitting his opponent in the face or a wrestler tripping his. In both activities, the goal was to bring and keep down their opponent and acknowledge themselves conquered by the victor. The apostle considered his body an enemy he struggled with, always alert, keeping himself under subjection by strict discipline to remove any evil desires and tendencies to sin, lest he would be considered a worthless messenger of the Good News. He labored strenuously and endured hardships for the sake of the Gospel. His life showed he was a devoted servant of the Lord, whether alone, preaching to a few, in a crowd, or to royalty. We, like Paul, must struggle with and overcome the desires of our flesh. What do our lives and devotions demonstrate whether we’re home alone or with others? Oswald Chambers wrote in his book, My Utmost for His Highest, “My worth to God in public is what I am in private.”

Wisdom or Stupidity

“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright; but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness” (Prov 15:2). Just because something is true doesn’t mean we should say it (i.e., Although all babies are God’s beautiful creation, what parent wants to hear their precious newborn baby isn’t physically beautiful?) An intelligent, skillful person knows the right time and place and words for the situation at hand, as opposed to fools at heart who carelessly belch out whatever is on their mind, often offending the hearer. But even the most knowledgeable and skilled believer can speak thoughtlessly or give unwise counsel unless governed by the Holy Spirit within them. The remedy? Ask God daily to guard your mouth (Ps 141:3), and He will, but the decision is yours of what words cross the boundary of your lips.

When God Can but Doesn't?

Ephesians 3: 20 “Now unto Him, that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Paul concludes his prayer for the believers in Ephesus praising God, the One from whom all blessings come, the One to whom all thanks are due. The Eternal One, our all-powerful God who sees and hears everything and is everywhere, is worthy of all praise by us, His Church.

Is there something that lies heavy on your heart today, stifling praises to God? What miracle are you waiting for the Almighty to work out? He can do more than what we ask or think, even before our minds form the thoughts. How able is He? God can do all—above all, abundantly all. Not only can He do abundantly all but exceedingly abundantly all; far more than we ask or think! God is able. He loves you more than you can imagine, working mightily on your behalf. If you have difficulty trusting Him in your current circumstances, the Maker of your heart knows your heart; tell Him about your concerns. You can walk and battle victoriously by the Holy Spirit’s power working in you. But what if God doesn’t move the way you hoped? How you react is an indicator of what you believe. Praise God and trust Him.

Flying High with Feet on the Ground

Two words hit me like lightning bolts: “mount up,” when I read this familiar verse, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint” (Isa 40:31). Some Bible translations and commentators translate “mount up” as soaring, but in Hebrew, the words mean “arise, (cause) to ascend, carry up.” Before one can soar in high places, one must first rise from where they are, even eagles. Those majestic birds, representing freedom and power, molt their feathers, even in old age, growing new ones for renewed strength to fly high, soaring with the wind beneath their wings.

We, too, must shed the toils and challenges, anything that suppresses us in this life, for God to renew our strength. And He will if we humble ourselves before Him. But the words Isaiah penned are not all-inclusive; God’s promise for renewed strength is for believers who look to, hope in, and put their trust in the Lord—intertwined with Him. We, too, can reach life’s soaring heights with God empowering and carrying us, as we depend on and commune with Him; we can run revitalized and tirelessly walk. But we must first choose to “wait upon the Lord.” 

The Draw

The former owner of our home enjoyed sitting on the front porch, watching birds and squirrels on her feeding stations. But we prefer sitting on the back porch and setting our feeders in the backyard filled with seeds mixed with fruit and nuts soon attracted our feathery friends to the new location.

Jesus called Himself the light of the world (John 8:12). In His Sermon on the Mount, He taught that His disciples should shine in it: “Let your light so shine before men that they shall see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt 5:16). Christians filled with God’s presence should live in such a way that those without Jesus in their lives would want what we have. Though He burns brightly and mightily within every believer, each decides how illuminating they will be by their words and actions. What others see in and hear from us will either attract the unsaved to a saving knowledge of Christ our Savior or turn them away. How effective is your “feeding station?”

One Tiny Seed

Paul understood that the bounty of the Gospel was not of his efforts alone: “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Cor 3:6). With every Gospel morsel we sow, God sends a waterer; no one has bragging rights of a soul’s salvation. The seed and ready heart to receive the Word is God’s; the water is His; the laborer is His—the earth is the Lord’s and everyone, everything in it belongs to Him (Ps 24:1). 

Only God can multiply a pinhead size seed into a bountiful harvest in a garden or the heart of man, and He alone deserves the glory for the fruit.

Love's Enduring Promise

“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever” (Deut. 5:29). Though we often fail, God said He would never leave or forsake His children (Heb 13:5), but the fear and reverence of Him and obedience to Him are crucial for His out-poured blessings. 

Love's Commitment

Luke 6:46 “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things I say?” In chapter six, Jesus taught kingdom principles on treating people rightly, loving and forgiving even the unlovely, and guarding ourselves against hypocrisy. The fruit of our lives will be according to what we store in our hearts.

We can proclaim love for God and thank Him for Jesus, calling Him Lord, but unless obedience follows our words, they fall to the ground. Jesus likens those who come to Him, hears and obeys His words, to a man who, building his house, dug deep and laid it on a firm foundation. That man’s house didn’t budge when life’s floodwaters beat against it. But the one who heard and didn’t obey built his house without a firm foundation, and it fell when the waters came. 

If you and I genuinely love God, we are obeying His Word, our “houses” standing firm on Jesus, the solid Rock, producing fruit for His glory. We can tell God, our spouse, family, others, we love them, but do our actions speak louder than our words? 

Pass It On

David said: “Evey day I will bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Thy works to another and shall declare Thy mighty acts” (Ps 145:2–4). We can read about God’s creating and redeeming acts recorded in His Word. Still, each generation must tell of His continual and innumerable dealings with mankind and pass it down to the next generation, and they to the next. Could our world’s pitiful condition be such partly because we neglect to tell our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of God’s majesty, kindness, forgiveness, and mighty works? Have we told them about Jesus’ saving grace? God forgive us! We can change that starting today! 

Character Builder

Moses instructs Israel before they enter Canaan: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou riseth up” (Deut 6: 4-7). God still charges parents to teach their children (and anyone they meet along the way) to fear and love the Lord at all times. Trusting the world’s system through recreational, academic, sports-related activities or any activity or teacher to build your child’s (or anyone’s) self-respect, leadership skills, or a well-rounded character is faulty. Instead, teach them God’s standards and the necessity for studying God’s Word, faith in Him, and obedience; let God develop their confidence, character, and trust in the Lord, not their ability. When they surrender to His Lordship, He will equip them with everything they need in life to serve Him and their communities well, prepared to discern and follow God’s law above manmade rules. God’s commands are for our good. But until we know the Lord God ourselves, we cannot love Him or teach others He entrusted to us.

Vital Readiness

Do you have days when you don’t feel like doing much? I do. We had recently moved; each day was filled with unpacking, hanging, and putting things in place. One morning, I faced stuff strewn about and dishes still in the sink from the night before because I was tired. Even though I was up early, I had not accomplished much, not even dressing for the day or putting on makeup. When I heard a knock at the door, thoughts raced through my head of what I should have already done in the house but had not. When I opened the door, my heart sank facing the previous owner delivering a beautiful wreath for the front door. Thankfully, she didn’t have time to come inside to visit! My day’s priorities would have been different had I seen her text earlier that she was on her way.

Jesus’ return will not be a surprise. He told us He would return, but we don’t know when: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of man cometh” (Matt 25:13). On that day, or if we breathe our last in this world before then, it will be too late to prepare. We will stand before our Maker, ready or not, and He will not accept excuses of tiredness, busyness, ignorance, or laziness. How do you ready yourself to meet God? Christians must stay alert, ready to meet Him, “confessed up,” so the heart is always right with the Lord. If you are without Christ in your life, admit you have sinned, believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins and rose from the dead, and then turn to God for forgiveness. Confession of sins, repentance, forgiveness, and trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord ready you to meet Holy God. People unprepared at death or His return will not suffer embarrassment but an eternity of torment and separation from the God who loves them. 

The High Climb (part 2)

Abraham unwaveringly put Isaac on the altar of sacrifice as God commanded. But God, seeing he was willing to slay his only son, provided a substitute sacrifice (Gen 22). What a test! God tried Abraham's faith and obedience, showing him how far he had come in his spiritual journey. By faith, the old patriarch trusted God's promise that his descendants through Isaac would be too numerable to count (Heb 11:17, 18). He believed in his soul that God would resurrect his son: "Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead" (v. 19). What faith!

God wants our faith to increase. Has He told you to put someone or something on the altar, testing your trust in Him? Your response will show your spiritual progress. God, our Father loves His children and wants you and me to know how spiritually strong we are; how deeply we trust Him. Did you pass the test? Jesus willingly laid His life down so we could live. He is familiar with everything we go through, and we are never alone. By God's grace, believers can overcome life's challenges by trusting our Father just as Jesus and Abraham did.

The High Climb

Abraham did not consult his wife after God gave him instructions (Gen 22:1–12). Imagine her response had he: "What do you mean God said to sacrifice our son, our miracle child?" Sarah could have swayed him from this most difficult act of faith if he had mulled over with her the details of his journey with Isaac. But the aged and now wiser husband, having learned from past mistakes, discussed his mission with no one and obeyed God, trusting Him.  

Paul was not a disciple or an apostle during Jesus' earthly ministry, but he heard, saw, and surrendered to the risen Lord; the resurrected Christ authorized Paul's apostleship—one sent with a commission (Acts 9:1–15). His mission was to bear the name of Jesus before Jews and Gentiles, kings and commoners, and because of the uniqueness of his calling, Paul often had to defend his authority as God's spokesman. But he was confident of God's calling; there was no need to consult with others, not even the apostles, for opinions, instructions, or direction: ". . . Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood" (Gal 1:16b). Instead, knowing God chose him as His vessel, Paul followed His leading.

When God calls people by His grace for salvation or clearly for a task, they need not ask anyone for their opinions; thoughts that may distract, detract or derail them from His purposes. His instructions are enough unless they are looking for an easier path or escape route. I am not implying we should never seek godly, wise counsel on matters. But when God gives a directive, we should obediently respond in faith, trusting our Father.

What's Wrong?

I felt uncomfortable and didn't know why. I reached for my pullover pocket a short while later to put a note in it for myself, but it wasn't there. Knowing it wasn't on the other side of my shirt, I instinctively glanced down anyway—but my top was on backward. When the Holy Spirit deals with God's children's hearts, telling us something is wrong, we sometimes look elsewhere to avoid learning the obvious. But trying to escape His pinpointing our sin and, with laser-like light, zeroing in on what is awry is pointless: "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly" (Prov 20:27). Our heart's uneasiness is His cue that something is "backward," and He wants us to confess the sin, turn from the cause (repent), and face Him, asking for forgiveness. Only then will He forgive and cleanse (1 John 1:9)—He is faithful to restore. 

Knock, Knock

In Revelation 3:15—20, John wrote to the pastor of the Laodicean church that they nauseated God by their lukewarmness toward Him; He wanted to vomit them out. Yet in mercy, He stands, knocking at their hearts' doors—He wants all men saved (1 Tim 2:4). But before entering an opened door, He said they must first "be zealous" to repent of their sins.

Jesus, Savior of the world, wants sinners to repent. He enters the hearts of all who repent of their sins and invites Him into their lives. But God does not guarantee to unendingly deal with people who reject His Son's offer of eternal life: "And the Lord said, My Spirit will not always strive with man, for that he is also flesh. . ." (Gen 6:3). Although our gracious God wants to save all humanity (2 Pet 3:9), one day His grace ends for those who choose not to acknowledge Him; He will turn them over to themselves, following their passions and lusts, with an undiscerning mind (Rom 1:28–32). These people will no longer have the opportunity to say yes to Jesus and suffer eternally, separated from their Maker who loves them. If you haven't yet opened your heart to Jesus, and He is still knocking, let Him into your life this minute lest "one day" is today for you.

Simple Truths

"A soft answer turneth away wrath but grievous words stirreth up anger" (Prov 15:1). I am so thankful the essentials of God's Word are plain. Even a child can understand such truths as this one:  A gentle reply to someone angry is more effective than harsh words that make tempers flare. 

Take Time to Weed

Weeds in a yard or garden indicate neglect. Minds filled with worries, making money, having fun—even constantly listening to Christian music and filling your days with good deeds but giving little or no time for God's Word can crowd out hearing from God. Neglected weeds can choke the life from vegetation, causing little or no fruit. Negligence also affects Christians' spiritual gardens. God did not save us only to escape hell's fire but to daily spend time with Him, meditate on and hide His Word in our hearts, living out His teachings in faith, tell others of His saving grace and do good works for His glory and bear fruit in His name. Laziness invites weeds to overtake our lives; we are no longer effective, taking for granted the great price Jesus paid to rescue us. "Therefore, we ought to give the most earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. . . How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation. . ." (Heb 2:1, 3)? If we are God's child, we won't escape God's discipline (Heb 12:5, 6). It is better for us to pull out the weeds than for our heavenly Father to start yanking them. 

Until That Day

"For I am in a strait betwixt the two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better" (Phil 1:23). Paul was in a dilemma, knowing that staying where God had him would further the Gospel and help believers, but dying, being with His Savior, was "far better." Departing was a word used by soldiers and sailors, meaning "to take down your tent and move on" and "loosen the ship to set sail." The departure also politically described the setting free of prisoners and the farmers' unyoking oxen, freeing them of their loads.

The apostle had no fear of the death he was facing; this world was not his home, and he was ready to meet his Lord. But the One who called him to serve had unfinished work for Paul. God has each of us here for a reason. Until our earthly tents come down and our spirit joins Jesus in heaven, or God pulls up our ship's anchor to sail home to Him, we have unfinished work. Until our Savior sets us free from the bondage of our bodies' limitations and temptations, or He unyokes and lays aside forever every burden, we have a purpose, unfinished work on this side of glory. For Paul, to live faithfully and joyfully serve or die, Christ was his life (v. 21). That same joy and mindset should be ours.

How Much Is Enough?

Mark 12:41–42 "And Jesus sat over against the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing." Jesus watched the people as they put money into the collection box: the wealthy folks gave of their abundance, what they didn’t need; the poor widow gave about one-third of a penny. He commended the woman’s generous act, telling His disciples to take note of her, saying she had given more than all the others, giving all to help others (vs. 43–44). Jesus saw and knew her charitable disposition; she was trusting God to supply her needs.

Our Lord knows our motives and takes notice of what we give to advance His kingdom, support worthy causes, and help the less fortunate. He knows whether we give cheerfully and generously, grudgingly and sparingly out of necessity, or pridefully to be seen of others. Through the provisions, gifts, and talents our Father entrusted us, do our actions honor Him and reflect gratitude for the abundant blessings He lavishes on us? God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7).

That Rocks!

God sometimes must rock our worlds to shake us awake, stop us in our tracks, move us along, or mold us into shape—even unbelievers. The Philistines’ victory took the Ark of God’s Presence from His disobedient people, thinking they proved their god was more powerful than Israel’s. But their joy was short-lived when they found their hand-made idol that was standing next to the Ark, in pieces face-down before the One True God. They couldn’t rid themselves of God's holiness quickly enough after the disasters He brought upon them. It may seem people in your life with self-made superiority, causing you grief, are victorious. But don’t retaliate; God is watching. He said vengeance belongs to Him; He will repay (Rom 12:19).

Following Jesus’ instructions, the disciples got into the boat to cross over to the other side of the sea, but midway found themselves in a raging storm. Fear overtaking them in the darkness of the night, they didn’t recognize Jesus as He walked on water to meet them. As believers, we don't need to wait for Jesus—praise God. We may not always recognize Him, but He is always with us, ready to calm our fears and meet our every need (Heb 13:5, 6).

Does it seem the enemy has been victorious in your life, robbing you of joy and peace? Have you been mistreated or misunderstood? Or, like the Israelites, are you living disobediently. But if you are faithfully serving the Lord, feeling robbed, or God sent you into a storm, don’t be disheartened; He is with you to safely bring you to the other side. If God, our Father, who loves you deeply, is “rocking” your life, He wants your attention, trust, obedience, and every self-made thing you’ve created to fall before His authority. God wants His best for you: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer 29:11). Jesus is always nearby when you look for Him with all your heart.