Friday, May 16, 2008

Return to Bethel

There is nothing like being on the mountain top spiritually. All of us have been there. Feeling so close to God that all you want to do is praise His name. The comfort, security, and joy are almost beyond description. Why can’t all our days be like that? Unfortunately there are the “other times”. Times when we seem to be so far from God. These are the days when we are living in the valley. Satan is attempting to sift us like wheat. How do you deal with those times? How do you find your way back to the mountain? These are important thoughts to consider.

When Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi had taken revenge for their sister Dinah, Jacob was in the valley spiritually. He said in Genesis 34:30, “You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land.” “Then God said to Jacob, Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.” This was the place where God had spoken to Jacob. It was a time when he was close to God, a time when he was in God’s favor. God was telling Jacob to go back to the time and place when God was holding Jacob in the hollow of His hand.

The command God gave to Jacob is still good advise today when we find ourselves in the valley. When God seems so far away allow yourself to come back to your Bethel. If we will ponder deeply we will find that defining moment in our spiritual lives. It may be when you were baptized. Maybe it is when you have made some important decision before God. Perhaps it is a time of correction when God has shown you the correct path for your life. This defining moment is our Bethel. When you are in the valley find your “Bethel moment.” Find that time when your spiritual life was on the mountain top. Allow your mind to take you back to that time. Return to the place and time you were closest to God. Don’t let Satan control you. When times are hard and you are struggling against spiritual darkness return to Bethel realizing God is always there.


Posted by onedaysoon at 18:25:56 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

How Big Is Your God?

In Joshua 10 the children of Israel enter into a treaty with the people of Gibeon. The people of Gibeon misled the Israelites. God’s children were led to believe they were entering into an agreement with a people who lived a great distance from them. Once Joshua learned the truth he was upset, but he kept the treaty because he had given them his oath by the Lord. The results of this treaty were felt almost immediately. The Gibonites were attacked and sent word to Joshua to come quickly and help. Joshua provided the necessary help.

In this battle two great truths emerged. First, God worked through nature to help his people. If you read the text there were as many enemy soldiers killed by hailstones as were put to death by the sword. Second, as a result of Joshua’s prayer, time stood still allowing the Israelites time to finish their mission. The Israelites were serving a mighty God indeed!

Today the Lord continues to use natural events to work in the lives of His servants. God is still working in the lives of those who serve Him. Sometimes we teach God is no longer interested in the day-to-day activities here on earth. Nothing could be further from the truth. God continues to work in and through man.

Perhaps God doesn’t do great things through us today because we doubt Him and His ability. God still answers prayer. God continues to want to hear our petitions. At the point of salvation God adopts us into His family. As heirs of God and joint-heirs of Jesus Christ our ability to petition the father is a tremendous gift. Many times we can’t set up a desired meeting with one of our elected officials. We can always approach the throne of the Almighty.

Could it be that we have not because we ask not? Is it possible that our concept of God is too small? Do we pray small prayers because our concept of God is small? I am glad Joshua’s concept of the father was powerful. Joshua’s concept of God was large enough that his prayer made the sun stand still. How big is your God?

Posted by onedaysoon at 18:20:19 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Sunday, April 20, 2008

God Is Working Upstream

Moses led God’s children for forty years. Due to their unbelief those who were 20 years of age and older when the Israelites left Egypt were not allowed to go into the promised land. Moses and this group with the exception of Joshua and Caleb had died in the wilderness. Joshua had now been placed in the role of leader by the Lord. Joshua was ready to take God’s people into the land the Lord had promised to them. They were nearing the river that separated them from the promised land. In Joshua 3: 9-13 they are given their instructions. “As soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord - the Lord of all the earth - set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” They couldn’t see the things God was doing for them but they could be assured that God was working upstream.

How often we have wanted God to work upstream for us. Truthfully we forget that God has done so much for us already. When Jesus died on the cross it was in reality God working upstream for us. We may not have seen Jesus die but he died nonetheless. In the death that the Messiah suffered, He allowed us an opportunity to reestablish fellowship with the Father. It was God working out of sight, paying a price we could not pay. In the past God has done much for us that was out of our line of sight.

Our God is big enough to continue working in our lives today. He is interested in us on an “individual” basis. God has a purpose in our lives and intends that we accomplish that purpose. In John 9:1-3 the man born blind was born in that condition so that the works of God might be made manifest through him. How marvelous to know that God was glorified as a result of something we were able to do!

It is imperative for us to understand that God is still an active God. He hasn’t given us Scripture and said, “Do your best.” He is a God who is still working behind the scenes for each of us. Find your place in His will and walk in it because He is still working upstream in our lives!

Posted by onedaysoon at 02:43:28 | Permalink | Comments (2)