Author: Seth Durham

Those Red Sea Moments.

Imagine you’re an Israelite at the time of the Exodus. Your people have been slaves for the last 400 years. Out of nowhere this guy Moses shows up, claiming God has sent him to set you free, and boy does Moses shake things up! You watch as God performs miracle after miracle, afflicting your oppressors with plague after plague.

Before you know it, a final plague hits, and the firstborn of all the Egyptians are killed. The Egyptians are so anxious to be rid of you and your people that they hand over their treasures and practically beg you to leave! You are now part of a massive group of people following Moses out of Egypt to an unknown destination.

It all happened so fast, so unexpectedly! You’re excited because you’ve witnessed God do all these impossible things with your own eyes, but also frightened and unsure about what’s to come.

No (human) way out!

Moses leads you to the edge of the Red Sea, and tells you to make camp along the shore. It seems like an odd spot. There’s nowhere to go except back the way you came.

The next day, you’re wondering, “What are we doing here?” And then, you see something in the distance that makes your heart sink. Egyptian chariots, hundreds of them, are kicking up dust as they charge toward your position. At the rate they’re moving, they’ll be on you by nightfall. You’re trapped! There’s no way out. Game Over.

You have some choice words for this Moses fellow!

As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord,

and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?

Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

~Exodus 14: 10-12

From your vantage point, things look truly hopeless. You’re about to abandon all hope, but you listen to what Moses says in response:

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

~Exodus 14: 13-14

So, what do you do now?

One option is to give in to despair. You could accept that the Egyptians are coming, and you and your family will either be slaughtered or enslaved. This seems inevitable.

~Or~

You can think back on the miracles that God did to bring you to this place, and trust that He will somehow get you through this impossible situation.

That night, you witness one of the greatest miracles ever recorded. God parts the Red Sea, and you and your people walk across on dry land between walls of water.

At dawn, when the Egyptians realize something’s up, you are on the other side of the Red Sea. When they try to give chase, they get stuck in the middle of the sea, and the walls of water come crashing down on top of them. God has done the impossible. He has delivered you, just as He promised He would.

Why that way?

As I was thinking about this story (It’s found in Exodus 14, and I encourage you to read it for yourself), it occurred to me that God could have done things differently. He could have killed the Egyptians in a million different ways before they ever got close to the Israelites, or He could have prevented them from chasing after the Israelites at all. But He intentionally set up the scenario in this particular way. Why? So that He could teach Israel (and us) that He is able to do things that are impossible. That He is able to deliver us from any enemy. That He can make a way when there is no way.

Sometimes we face challenges that are terrifying and seem impossible to overcome. We wonder, Why, God? Why is this happening to me?

We don’t always know why, but God often uses these trials to teach us. He puts us in a position where there is no human solution so that He can step in and provide a solution so incredible that we can only stand in awe and say, That was God!

These experiences deepen our faith and help us to trust in God more. They give us confidence that God is good, that He is in control, and that He keeps His Word.

What about today?

We all face “Red Sea moments” in life. Times when we are trapped with no way out. What should we do in those times? Moses gave the Israelites the best possible advice:

Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today (Exodus 14: 13).

At some point, you will find yourself in a Red Sea moment. Maybe you’re in one right now. Don’t lose heart! Think back to the times when God brought you through difficulties, and trust that He will get you through this one too.

Changing Hearts.

I recently finished reading the book of Genesis, and this time through there were two stories that stood out to me. Both stories are about brothers in serious conflict that somehow manage to reconcile. The first is the story of Jacob and Esau, and the second is the story of Joseph and his brothers (especially Judah). In both stories we see that God can change even the hardest of hearts.

Jacob’s Trickery

Jacob was a bit of a snake. In Genesis 25 we read how he acquires his brother’s birthright. He took advantage of Esau’s famished state, and traded a bowl of stew for Esau’s birthright. Then in Genesis 27 Jacob tricked his father into giving him the blessing that rightfully should have gone to Esau.

It’s important to understand the value of the things Jacob took. The birthright entitled the firstborn son to a double portion of the inheritance and status as the head of the family when the father died. The blessing was a way of transferring God’s covenant promise (which began with Abraham) on to the next generation. Acquiring this blessing ensured that Jacob’s descendants, not Esau’s, would flourish and ultimately inherit the land that God had promised.

Esau was understandably upset. So much so that he planned to murder his brother!

From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.”

~Genesis 27:41

And so, Jacob fled. He moved far away to live with his Uncle and begin a new life.

Going home.

Eventually God tells Jacob it’s time to return to his homeland (Genesis 31:3). Jacob obeys. He takes his wives, children, and everything he owns back home.

Some twenty years have passed since Jacob cheated his brother, but Jacob fears that Esau’s anger could still be raging.

O Lord, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children.

~Genesis 32:11

The last we heard of Esau, he was ready to murder his brother. We can easily imagine a scenario where Esau grew angrier and more bitter over the years. He had every right to hold onto his grudge and seek revenge. But somehow, Esau let it go.

Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. 

Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.

~Genesis 33:3-4

If you read through the rest of Genesis 33, you can see the extent to which Esau forgave Jacob. God had truly softened Esau’s heart.

Joseph and Judah.

Our second story involves the same family. The theme of brothers at odds continues with the children of Jacob.

Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.

But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.

~Genesis 37:3-4

Clearly Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him, and Joseph threw gasoline on the fire by telling his brothers about a dream in which he ruled over them.

One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever.

“Listen to this dream,” he said. 

“We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”

His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.

~Genesis 37:5-8

The brothers hated Joseph enough that they seriously considered killing him.

At this point I want to focus in on one brother in particular: Judah. Note that it was Judah’s idea to sell Joseph into slavery.

 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime.

Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed.

~Genesis 37:26-27

Judah didn’t care what would become of Joseph, nor did he care about the pain that losing Joseph would inflict on his father. He simply hated his brother and wanted to be rid of him, no matter the cost.

Judah’s transformation.

The Bible chronicles Joseph’s journey from slave, to prisoner, to ruler. Because the story is told from Joseph’s point of view, we usually focus our attention on him. And Joseph’s story is truly an amazing example of how God can take things meant for evil and turn them into good. As we read, we’re encouraged by God’s care for Joseph, and we’re inspired by the way Joseph is able to forgive his brothers for what they did to him.

But I want to shift the focus a little bit and concentrate on Judah’s point of view. Go to Genesis 44, near the end of the story. Joseph is testing his brothers. He has accused Benjamin of stealing a valuable silver cup, and even had evidence planted to make Benjamin look guilty. The fate of Benjamin rests in Judah’s hands, and here’s what Judah says:

“Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. 

One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since. 

If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’

“So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father, and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life, 

sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. 

Your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!’

“Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 

How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.”

~Genesis 44:27-34

We see a transformation in Judah just as radical as the one in Esau. The same brother who had showed no regard for his father and was happy to sell his brother into slavery was now willing to sacrifice himself for the wellbeing of his father and youngest brother. A complete 180!

Application.

These two stories brought to mind this verse:

I [the LORD] will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

~Ezekiel 36:26

Take some time to examine your own heart. Maybe you can relate to Esau. Are you angry at someone who has wronged you? Have you let bitterness harden your spirit? Ask God to soften your heart and help you to forgive.

Or maybe, like Judah, you have been callous and cruel toward others who annoy you. Ask God to help you see these people in a new light. Ask him to give you a new spirit so that you can begin to show genuine love and concern for those around you… even the ones that get on your nerves.

God is in the business of changing hearts. Ask Him to soften yours, and He will.

Four Commands And A Promise.

Some verses in the Bible are so rich that they warrant special attention. II Corinthians 13:11 is one of those verses. Here Paul is closing out his second letter to the Corinthian church:

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

~II Corinthians 13:11

In just a few, short sentences, Paul lays out four commands for us. He also tells us what the reward will be for our obedience. Let’s dig a bit deeper into this amazing verse.

Be joyful.

The first command in this verse is to be joyful. People often confuse joy and happiness. Happiness is a feeling that comes and goes with circumstances. Happiness is largely out of our control. Joy, on the other hand, is a choice, and it is always available to us.

Joy is deeper than happiness. It comes when we recognize that God is good, that He is in control, and that His love for us knows no bounds.

Joy comes from having a proper perspective: realizing that our time on this earth, and all that we experience here, is just a blip on the scale of eternity.

Joy comes when we believe the promises of God: that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord (Romans 8:28), and that one day we will enjoy eternal life with Him in a restored creation.

We lose our joy when we focus on the wrong things. When we doubt the promises of God. When we lean on our own understanding.

The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). If you feel weak and find your joy waning, check your focus! Put it back on God, and your joy and strength will be restored.

Grow to maturity.

Many Christians live in a state of spiritual infancy. They ask God for forgiveness, they go to church once in a while, but otherwise they go about their lives in much the same way the unsaved do.

Paul talks about this in I Corinthians:

Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.

I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,

for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

~I Corinthians 3:1-3

So how does one progress from spiritual infancy to maturity? Paul uses the analogy of a baby transitioning from milk to solid food, clueing us in that maturity is a process. This process involves studying the Bible, grasping everything that you can, and continually coming back to what you don’t understand. Over time, with the help of the Holy Spirit, things become clearer. With diligence and perseverance, you begin to grow.

To grow spiritually, do three things every day: read, pray, obey.

Read the Bible and ask God to help you understand what you’re reading.

Pray for wisdom, trusting that God will give it to you.

Obey immediately and completely when God reveals a command from His Word that you’re not currently obeying.

If you do these three things every day, you will grow in Christ.

Encourage each other.

The late Robin Williams once said, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” Boy is that true! Everyone struggles privately, every day, wrestling with demons that no one else sees. This is why encouragement is so powerful and so necessary.

There are many ways to be an encouragement to others. One simple way is just to offer a kind word.

Kind words are like honey- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

~Proverbs 16:24

You can also encourage others by helping them in tangible ways, like bringing them a meal when they are sick, or offering to watch their kids when they need a break.

You can encourage others by telling them how much you appreciate them, by pointing out the qualities in them that you admire.

Your encouragement may be exactly what that person needs. It might be the thing God uses to spur that person on to great things.

And when we start encouraging others, something unexpected happens: we get a shot of encouragement ourselves! There is a blessing for both the giver and the receiver.

So if you need encouragement, don’t wait around for someone to give it to you. Instead, go out and encourage others. You’ll find that you get the encouragement you need in return.

Live in harmony and peace.

The fourth and final command in II Corinthians 13:11 is to live in harmony and peace. There are at least two major obstacles to living out this command: quarreling and grudges.

Here’s the dictionary definition of a quarrel: a heated argument or disagreement, typically about a trivial issue and between people who are usually on good terms.

Nothing damages harmony and peace like quarreling. Are you someone who has to be right about everything? Do you argue over petty details? Do you insist that others agree with your opinions? If so, you might have a problem in this area.

If you want peace, learn to disagree without being disagreeable. Learn to listen more and talk less. II Timothy 2:24 puts it this way:

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

~II Timothy 2:24

The second thing that wrecks peace and harmony is grudges. When people wrong us, our sin nature wells up with anger. It wants to see the other person pay for what they did. It wants them to feel the hurt we feel.

When we’re in that state of mind, we don’t even want to look at that person, let alone talk to them or fellowship with them. And the longer we hold onto that grudge, the worse it gets. Nothing good ever comes of it. The grudge is toxic, both to the relationship and to the individual who holds onto it.

Because we live in a fallen world filled with broken people, it’s inevitable that others will hurt us at times, and that we will hurt others. But rather than hold grudges, Christians are called to forgive.

Even when someone harms us intentionally, we are called to forgive. In those instances, Christ tells us to “turn the other cheek” (Mathew 5:39).

We must remember how much God has forgiven us, and extend forgiveness to others, whether they ask for it or not, and whether we think they deserve it or not.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

~Ephesians 4:31-32

So don’t quarrel. Let go of those grudges. This is the way to live in peace and harmony.

The payoff.

We’ve looked at the four commands in II Corinthians 13:11 (Be joyful, grow to maturity, encourage each other, and live in harmony and peace). Now we turn our attention to the final sentence of the verse, which begins with the word “then.” In other words, after you have obeyed these commands, then you will receive the promise. And that promise is:

Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Here we have to let scripture interpret scripture. It is clear from many other passages of scripture that God is always with us (see Psalm 139, Psalm 16:8, Hebrews 13:5, Mathew 28:20, Isaiah 41:10, and many other passages). So this can’t mean that God is only with us after we obey these four commands.

What it is saying is that when we don’t obey these commands, we miss out on the love and peace that God has for us.

And of course that makes sense. How can we possibly feel God’s love and peace when we are not joyful, when we are not growing, when we are not encouraging others, and when we are not living in peace and harmony with each other? We can’t! On the flip side, God’s peace and love flows to us as a natural consequence of obedience to these commands.

I hope you enjoyed diving into this verse as much as I did. I’m personally challenged to do better in these four areas so that I can experience more of the love and peace of God. How about you?

Fragile, Clay Jars.

The older I get, the more I experience human frailty. My aches and pains, my worsening eyesight, my bald head. All remind me that my body is slowly deteriorating. I won’t lie and say that I like it. I’d rather be strong and healthy. But God has His reasons for allowing us to go through this process of slow decay, and we learn what those reasons are by reading His Word.

It helps us stay humble.

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

~II Corinthians 4:6-7

When we fool ourselves into thinking that we are strong and capable, we are tempted to take credit for the good we do.

But when we are keenly aware of our weakness, we are under no illusion that we can accomplish anything good in our own strength.

We must never forget that our very existence depends on God’s sustaining power, for it is in Him that “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Everything we have, everything we are is a gift from God.

It ensures that God gets the glory.

God often uses the weakest, most unlikely people to accomplish great things so that there can be no doubt that He alone deserves the credit.

When God chose Gideon to rescue Israel from the Midianites, Gideon said:

…“how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”

~Judges 6:15

When Samuel went to the house of Jesse to anoint one of Jesse’s sons king, Jesse thought so little of his youngest boy, David, that he didn’t even bring him before Samuel initially. But God rejected the older sons who were big and strong and confident in their own strength, and instead chose the shepherd boy who understood that true strength comes from the Lord.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 

God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 

As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

I Corinthians 1:26-29

God uses the weak and frail so there can be no doubt that the power does not come from the person, but from God.

It allows us to experience God’s grace.

The Apostle Paul knew what it was to suffer weakness. He didn’t much like it either, and he asked God to intervene. But God had other plans:

even though I [Paul] have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

~II Corinthians 12:7-10

We are naught but fragile, clay jars, but that is by God’s design. Rather than despair, rejoice that though you are weak, He is strong. If you remain humble, and give glory to God, He will make His light shine in your heart, and He will do mighty things through you, in spite of your weakness.

Good Fruit, Bad Fruit, No Fruit.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

~Psalm 1:3

Many passages of scripture liken people to fruit-bearing trees. I’ve been watching and listening to how people are reacting to the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, and I have observed fruit of all kinds.

Charlie’s widow, Erika, has shown incredible strength, courage, hope, love, and forgiveness in the midst of great pain and loss. I can’t think of a better example of a tree producing good fruit.

On the other hand, I have seen people almost gleeful as they celebrate Charlie’s murder. People who call evil, “good” and good, “evil.” There’s been no shortage of bad fruit on display.

Still others are apathetic. They are unfazed, concerned only with their personal lives, unwilling or unable to produce any fruit at all.

Let’s look at what Jesus had to say on the subject of fruit:

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 

You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.

A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.

So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

~Mathew 7:15-20

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.

Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

…

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

~Mathew 11:12-14 & 20

Now is a great time for self examination. Are you producing fruit? Is it good? How about the people you hang around with. The fact is, one day we will all give an account before God for the fruit we produced in this life (Romans 14:12).

Consider this sobering truth:

Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

~Mathew 3:10

And if you want to know what good fruit looks like, here you go:

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

~Galatians 5:22-23

So what kind of fruit are you producing?

Plant yourself near the river of life. Spend time in prayer and reading God’s Word to nourish your spiritual life. Gather together with Godly people who encourage and inspire you. Produce good fruit!

Near And Far.

“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away?”

~Jeremiah 23:23

I’ve been thinking about the above verse a lot lately. Is God nearby? Far away? Is He both near and far? What do near and far even mean in this context?

To get a better understanding of what this verse means, let’s first conceptualize God as being “far away,” and then we’ll think about God as being “nearby.”

Far.

In many ways, God is unfathomable. Consider for a moment the first words of Genesis:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

~Genesis 1:1

Once, there was no universe. No people, planets, stars, or galaxies. There was no time, space, matter, or energy. But there was God. Self-existing, self-sustaining, eternal. Not just a being, but Being itself! God spoke, and the universe began to exist. That kind of power is far beyond human understanding.

The following verses give us further glimpses into God’s greatness and power. As you read them, think about the vast differences between us and God.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

~Genesis 1:3

Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being.

~Psalm 148:5

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

~Isaiah 55:8-9

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

~Romans 11:33

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.

I Chronicles 29:11

These are just the beginning of all that [God] does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?

~Job 26:14

This is but a small sample of what The Bible tells us about God and His nature. When I consider God in light of verses like these, I feel very small indeed. I wonder how you or I, insignificant as we are, could possibly matter to God. King David wondered the same thing when he penned these words:

What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

~Psalm 8:4

When we begin to understand who God is, that He is so far above us and greater than we can comprehend, it should fill us with awe, wonder, and reverential fear. It should bring us to our knees in worship. One should never lose this view of God. A God who is powerful, mysterious, awesome… far away.

Yet, while this is an accurate picture of God, it is incomplete. As we will see from other verses, though God is great and powerful beyond our comprehension, He is not an unknowable, untouchable, impersonal force.

Near.

There are two verses I memorized recently that, for me, really encapsulate the idea of God being nearby:

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

~Psalm 16:8

Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.

~Psalm 73:23

There is incredible intimacy in these two verses. How comforting to know the God of the universe is with me. Right beside me. Holding my right hand.

These verses remind me that He’s here, now, ready to help and to heal. Ready to listen and to guide.

It’s incredible that the same God who created and sustains all things, cares for me personally, but it’s true! God desires to be near us, to love us, and to bless us.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

~James 4:8a

The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

~Psalm 145:18

Perhaps the ultimate example of God’s “nearness” is His Holy Spirit living inside those of us who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.“

~John 14:16-17

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.“

~John 14:26

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

~Romans 8:26

He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

~Titus 3:5

Both.

To sum up, Scripture teaches that God is simultaneously far away and nearby. As we think about God, we should strive to maintain balance between these two views. If we overemphasize the far away aspect of God, we miss out on the intimate fellowship God desires with us. On the other hand, if we stress God’s nearness to us, we forget who we’re dealing with, and fail to show proper adoration and respect. We have to remember that while God is our friend, He is also our King. Thank God for all that He is, and all that He does!

Worth The Cost.

When we think about what it means to be a Christian, we often think about the free gift of salvation. And, yes, salvation is a free gift. It is an act of God’s grace, received through repentance and faith in Christ. This is clear from the following verses:

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

~Ephesians 2:8-9

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

~Romans 6:23

Given that salvation is a free gift, it might seem paradoxical to say that being a Christian has a cost, but Scripture teaches this as well.

Counting the cost.

In Luke 14:28-33, Jesus cautions anyone who wishes to be His disciple to carefully consider the cost. Just as a builder plans ahead for the cost of a new building, or a king carefully assesses the cost of going to war, so a follower of Christ must be prepared to pay a heavy price.

Let’s look at scripture to answer the following two questions:

1) What does it cost to be a follower of Christ?
2) Is the price worth paying?

It will cost you treasure.

To be a follower of Christ, you must be willing to part with your wealth. Don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing inherently wrong with having wealth, but if you love money more than you love God, you’re in trouble.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 

I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

~Mathew 19:23-24

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

~I Timothy 6:10

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.“

~Mathew 6:24

In Mathew 19:16-22, a man comes to Jesus and asks, “what must I do to have eternal life?” The man seems sincere. He tells Jesus that he’s worked hard all his life to keep God’s commandments. But Jesus knows this man’s heart. He knows this man’s true love is his money, so He tells the man, “give up your material wealth and follow me.” Sadly, this man was unwilling to pay the cost.

It will cost you relationships.

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’

If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.”

~Mathew 10:34-37

A follower of Christ must believe and proclaim that Jesus is the one and only way to Heaven. Many reject this truth, calling it intolerant, narrow-minded, etc., but this is exactly what Jesus taught (John 14:6). Don’t be surprised if friends and family members abandon you because of your faith. Some will. Love them, and pray that God will open their eyes to the Truth.

It will cost you comfort.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.“

~Mathew 16:24

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

~I Peter 4:12

There is nothing pleasant about taking up a cross or going through fiery trials, but this is the reality of the Christian life. The good news is, you don’t have to do it alone. All throughout scripture God promises to be with you, and to give you the strength you need to endure.

It will cost your life.

“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.“

~Mathew 10:39

To be a Christian is to surrender your life to Christ. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll die for your faith, but it means you’re willing to. It means you recognize that your life is not your own. You have been bought with a price (I Corinthians 6:19-20), and your life belongs to God.

So what does it cost to be a follower of Christ? In a word: everything!

Is it worth the cost?

What happens when you decide to pay the price, and you fully surrender everything to Christ?

For starters, God promises to be at your side through good times and bad (Psalm 16:8), and to provide for all your needs (Philippians 4:19).

As you trust and obey Him, you will find hope, joy, and purpose in life. You will experience a peace beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7). You will store up treasures in Heaven, far more valuable than anything you could ever attain on earth (Mathew 6:19-21).

And someday, when you die, you will go to be with the Creator in Paradise (II Corinthians 5:1).

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!“

~Mathew 13:44-46

In the parables above, Jesus is promising that The Kingdom of Heaven, His Kingdom, is worth everything you own and more.

So, is it worth the price to be a follower of Jesus Christ? Absolutely! Are you willing to pay it?

I leave you with this quote from Jim Elliot, a man who literally gave his life in service to God:

~He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.

Contrast.

Throughout the book of Proverbs you will find many “pairs” that are contrasted. For example, there are lots of verses that contrast the wise man with the fool. Other examples include:

  • rich vs. poor
  • hardworking vs. lazy
  • humble vs. proud
  • generous vs. greedy
  • patient vs. hot-tempered

One pair that comes up again and again is godly vs. wicked. The many verses that compare and contrast this pair do two things. First, they define the terms “godly” and “wicked”. Second, they explain why choosing to be godly is the better option.

Defining the terms.

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

~Proverbs 10:11

The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

~Proverbs 10:32

The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.

~Proverbs 12:6

The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

~Proverbs 15:28

If you want to know if someone is godly or wicked, listen to their words. What comes out of a person’s mouth is a reflection of what’s in their heart (Mathew 15:18-19). Proverbs 15:28 tells us that, “…the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.”

Are you careful with what comes out of your mouth? Are your words godly or wicked?

The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.

~Proverbs 12:10

Never be cruel to creatures you deem beneath you. Compassion for animals is a sign of godliness, cruelty to animals is wicked.

The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.

~Proverbs 28:1

The godly have courage, the wicked are cowards.

Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely.

~Proverbs 28:5

The godly love justice, the wicked pervert it.


In these verses (and many more throughout the book of Proverbs) the difference between the godly and the wicked is made clear. Godliness or wickedness manifests in what we say and do.


Why be godly rather than wicked?

The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

~Proverbs 4:18-19

The wicked are spiritually blind, marching toward their own destruction, while the godly can see the correct path to take.

The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.

~Proverbs 10:3

This verse is about more than food. The godly find satisfaction in life, while the wicked are never satisfied.

We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.

~Proverbs 10:7

The godly leave a legacy, while the memory of the wicked grows rotten and foul.

The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.

~Proverbs 10:24

We don’t always see this. Sometimes the godly suffer while the wicked prosper. But in the end, God will judge the wicked and redeem those who came to Him for forgiveness and redemption. In the end, God will fulfill this promise.

When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

~Proverbs 10:25

Life is hard, but the godly have a secure foundation on which they can depend.


Take some time now to read through Proverbs 10. Pay attention to all the contrasting pairs you see. When you finish, pray and ask God to help you be godly in word and deed.

Rescued!

The Bible is full of stories of God rescuing His people. He rescued Israel from Egypt, Daniel from the lions, Elijah from Jezebel… and on and on it goes. Psalm 107, tells us that God continues to rescue people from all sorts of circumstances.

The lost.

Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless.

Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.

~Psalm 107:4-5

These represent people in dire straits. They are aimless and filled with despair. The drug-addict. The alcoholic. The destitute and broken. The people we are tempted to deem beyond all help.

But these are not beyond redemption. God loves them, and if they sincerely turn to God for help, He will answer.

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.

~Psalm 107:6

The rebel.

In Psalm 107:10-22 we read about those who have rebelled against God. These refuse to acknowledge their Creator. They mock, and curse, and blaspheme. They defy God to His face.

God knows this path ends in their destruction. Through hardship, He causes them to see the foolishness of their ways. For some, this takes the form of “iron chains of misery” (vs. 10) and “hard labor” (vs. 12). For others, severe illness (vs. 18).

The ultimate purpose of these hardships is not to punish, but to bring the rebel to repentance. And when the rebel turns to God for help, God is there to rescue them.

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

~Psalm 107:13 & 107:19

The self-sufficient.

Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world.

~Psalm 107:23

These are rebels of a different sort. They might even pay lip service to God, acknowledging His authority, but their hearts are far from Him. As long as life is good, they are content to go about their business and leave God out of it.

But when trouble comes…

Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror.

~Psalm 107:26

You can probably guess their response:

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.

~Psalm 107:28-29

Thank God for difficulty.

We have a tendency (as a result of our sin-nature I believe) to misprioritize God. That is, we place Him somewhere other than first in our lives. God often uses trouble and pain to get our attention. Oh that He could get our attention as quickly with blessings, but we often take those for granted.

Trials and tribulations are an opportunity to refocus on God and His plan for your life. God doesn’t want to break you, He wants to mold you. In times of difficulty, you have two choices: harden your heart and resist God every step of the way, or surrender to Him and cry out, “Lord, help!”

If you haven’t already, read all of Psalm 107. How does it speak to you? Do you need rescuing? God is willing and able!

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.

~Psalm 118:5

Which Wolf Are You Feeding?

Have you heard the story, The Two Wolves? There are many variations of it, and I couldn’t find a definitive answer on where it originated, but here’s a version that I like:

AN ELDERLY CHEROKEE BRAVE TOLD HIS GRANDSON ABOUT A BATTLE THAT GOES ON INSIDE PEOPLE.

“MY SON,” HE SAID, “THE BATTLE IS BETWEEN TWO ‘WOLVES’ INSIDE US ALL. ONE IS EVIL. IT IS ANGER, ENVY, JEALOUSY, GREED, ARROGANCE, SELF-PITY, RESENTMENT, LIES, PRIDE, AND EGO.

THE OTHER IS GOOD. IT IS JOY, PEACE, LOVE, HOPE, HUMILITY, KINDNESS, BENEVOLENCE, EMPATHY, GENEROSITY, TRUTH, COMPASSION AND FAITH.”

THE GRANDSON THOUGHT FOR A MINUTE, AND THEN ASKED HIS GRANDFATHER:

“WHICH WOLF WINS?…”

THE OLD CHEROKEE REPLIED, “THE ONE YOU FEED.”

This story came to mind as I was reading Romans 8.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

~Romans 8:5-6

The flesh and the Spirit are the two wolves. When we fulfill the desires of the flesh, we feed the evil wolf. When we fulfill the desires of The Spirit, we feed the good wolf.

Which wolf we feed is no trivial matter. The stakes are literally life and death! I don’t know about you, but I want to choose the path that leads to life and peace over the path that leads to death. Let’s look at some ways that we can feed the Spirit and starve the flesh.

What we look at.

Every day we make important choices about what we allow into our minds via our eyes. Which T.V. shows and movies are you watching? What internet sites are you visiting? What books are you reading? These choices have a massive impact on your life.

I enjoy movies and T.V. as much as anyone, but it’s important to be selective in our entertainment choices. Much of what Hollywood produces is designed to cater to the desires of our flesh. Choose wisely.

What about benign entertainment, like watching sports? Nothing wrong with that, but its like consuming empty calories. We should be careful not to “fill up” on things that have no spiritual value. When it comes to neutral entertainment, moderation is key.

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

~Mathew 6:22-23

What we listen to.

The music you listen to has a powerful influence on you, for good or bad. Talk radio and podcasts can be uplifting or discouraging. The messages you listen to every day feed one wolf or the other.

If you want to feed the Spirit, choose carefully who and what you listen to. Test what your favorite podcaster says against scripture and see if it holds up. Pay attention to the lyrics in the songs you listen to, and ask if they are in line with biblical teaching.

Then [Jesus] added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 

To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

~Mark 4:24-25

The company we keep.

“Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” ~Dan Peña

Who do you spend most of your time with? We become like the people we hang around. Do your friends move you closer to God or farther from Him?

We humans are social creatures. We need each other. But it’s vital to surround yourself with people who lift you up, encourage you, and who care about your spiritual growth.

The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

~Proverbs 12:26

Take stock.

The choices you make every day matter. Take some time this week to assess how you spend your time and who you spend it with. Is there room for improvement? Are there changes you need to make regarding what you watch and listen to? Do you need to make adjustments in your social life? Ask God to help you make changes that will draw you closer to Him. Choose carefully which wolf you feed every day!

Verified by MonsterInsights