Perfect Timing

When speaking of God's timing my friend would often say. "Four days late and right on time!". This of course is true. God's ways and timing are not ours - many times. It also refers to an event in the Bible from John chapter eleven. This story sets the tone for what the world would experience over the next ten days. With Palm Sunday coming next week I feel it would be good to revisit one of the greatest miracles of Jesus' ministry - bringing his friend back from the dead!

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.  (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)  So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. John 11:1-6

This is an incredible account in Jesus' ministry. One of His closest friends is deathly ill and Jesus doesn't rush to his bedside. Have you ever felt like this? You cry out to Jesus and then you don't hear His voice or feel His presence? I'm sure we all have, but know this - He does hear you. His way of dealing with your crisis might be totally different than what you had in mind.

Trusting in God means that we will do it His way and in His time (even when we don't understand or like it). Maybe God seems to be running late these days... or maybe we should ask Him to increase our faith.

Amen?

Expectations

For a long time, over 400 years after Israel returned from Babylonian captivity, God was silent. But there was hope. In the midst of being taken over by the Persians, then Greeks, and then the Romans God’s promises were still true. His greatest promise of sending a Savior to the world was yet to come, and His people longed for this coming King.

The prophets foretold of God coming in the form of a man that would create a kingdom that would last forever. Then as now people had their own ideas about what God should and would do. The Jews wanted a conquering King to destroy the enemy and make Israel the mightiest nation on earth. Today  many have the wrong expectations of God. They expect Him to be like a genie in a bottle, and grant all our wishes to give us happy lives.

God always knows what is best for us, and we need to be more in tune with His plans and purposes for our lives.

The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in him. Psalm 37:9-40

Praise God today and always for knowing what’s best for us Amen?

Change the World

Jesus told His disciples that they were going to "Change the World" in The Bible Series that was on TV. A friend of mine was put off by the comment because Jesus never said that in their version of the Bible. They're right - it's not said in mine either, but it certainly is stated loud and clear.

Jesus did change the world! His disciples took on His mantle and started churches all over the know world, and it grew faster and larger than any time since. That is real change - Amen?

Jesus said in Matthew 18:2-5, He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

May we become more "child-like" as we accept how Jesus changes our lives and world as we follow Him. Change is good. Pray today, "Jesus change the world, starting with me".

Learning To Be Humble

Jesus' disciple, Peter, was the one who tried to cut off the servant of the high priest’s ear in the middle of what was possibly 600 Roman soldiers gathered around him. Peter said he wouldn’t deny Jesus even if it meant death. But Peter had to learn that he wasn’t as strong as he thought. He had to learn he wasn’t always right. He had to learn to submit to the Lord with humility. He had to learn his ways weren’t always God’s ways. 

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. -
Matthew 26:33-35

God does that with us. He allows people, circumstances, and events in our lives to take place in order to sift us. He is preparing it for a purpose.

Because of this experience Peter can encourage others, like when he wrote in 1 Pet 1:7 “These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

God allows does allow us to be tested, so that we will rely more on Him. When trouble arises, may we give Jesus all the praise, honor, and glory that He deserves.

Glory Deserved

Habakkuk teaches us to be assured in our decision to follow Christ (who leads to Father). He was reassured because of what he has heard (2:14; 3:1-2)- of God’s fame and deeds and that someday the entire earth will be filled with God’s glory, and what he now sees (3:3-19) – God’s splendor, strength, salvation, and security. He is the King of Glory!

We need to trust in God in our time of fear and time of famine just like this Minor Prophet.

"I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights." - Habakkuk 3:16-19

Give God the glory He deserves and remember the Lord always fulfills His promises! Amen?

Hold Tight

Habakkuk's name means Embrace. Now this isn't just a hug it can also mean "to hold on tight" like in wrestling! Have you ever wanted to be consoled with a hug but got squeezed instead? That's what happens in the book of the Bible, Habakkuk. He asks God to do something about how bad his world was around him (Judah). I think he was hoping for a God movement or Revival. Instead God's answer was very different which led to more questions. The prophet searches for answers to his questions and is reassured by God. (1:1-17; 2:1-13, 15-20)

What will God do about Judah’s sins? (1:1-4) In the midst of the sins of violence, destruction, arguing, fighting, and injustice God is silent until now. Judgment will follow at the hands of their enemy, the Babylonians.

Does Judah have to be punished? (1:5-11) Yes, the Babylonian soldiers are described as swift leopards, fierce wolves, and devouring eagles who laugh at their enemies.

Will Babylon be punished? (1:12-17; 2:1-13, 15-20) Yes, and until then the righteous should live by faith. The reasons for their destruction are numerous but at the end it is their evilness and greed.

God deserves respect – “The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him”. (20) Habakkuk realizes that regardless of the circumstances all believers are to not lose faith and honor God. Regardless of how He answers our prayers.

Ask God for His "embrace" today. Be ready and obedient to His response. (Even if it hurts.)

Always Awesome

I am still thinking and singing about what an awesome God we have! In the book of Deuteronomy we see the word come up several times. This account was written as God's people were entering in to a new phase in history. Their wandering days were over, but there was to be a new change in leadership. There was worry and fear but God is awesome and we hear that throughout this account. Ready for the promise land under Joshua's leadership. Maybe there are big changes ahead for you as well. Turn to our great and awesome God just like Israel did many years ago.

 Deuteronomy 4:34 Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?

Deuteronomy 7:21 Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.

Deuteronomy 10:17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

Deuteronomy 10:21 He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Deuteronomy 28:58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 34:12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

God is and always will be awesome! Amen?