Good morning all-
With the new look and the new year, I thought it important to ask a new question. Is God with you wherever you go even when you can't see Him? My answer is yes. Joshua 1:9 says, "Yes." So can you say, "Yes?"
It seems like a straight forward question but I have questioned it from time to time, I have friends that question it from time to time and I know that anyone who has suffered a major tragedy has questioned it. It's part of life. When things aren't going our way or we can't make sense of what's happening, we think God doesn't hear us, isn't with us and doesn't care. I think He cares more in the silence. What we see later is the numbers of people that took the time to be there for us. This life is one big puzzle and I doubt very much that the God of the Universe is going to piece it all together so we can understand everything He is doing. As a matter of fact, He tells us, "His ways our not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts." So, why then do we have to have answers? Because we're human and if we can't touch it, feel it or see it, we just don't believe it.
It's kind of like aliens for me. I have never seen one, no one can prove that they exist, yet, people believe in them. How do I know if God has another universe of strange creatures millions of miles away? I really don't. All I know for sure is the that the prophets of old prophesied that a baby would be born to a virgin. Jesus did come as a baby born to Mary and died on a cross at 33. That's a fact. He did walk with numerous people, healed wherever He went and spread the word of God. He gave us the Holy Spirit upon His resurrection to direct us but never, in all the time that He was here, did He tell us we would have all the answers.
Even the men that walked with Him did not truly understand what He meant when He called them to His side. Many of them were persecuted, John was beheaded and Peter was stoned. But they left their lives to follow Him and I doubt any of them ever regretted it. When they came with Him, they didn't know the miracles they would see, the people that would be healed or the masses that would come to know Him. They blindly went and left everything behind. He commanded them to stay with the Gentiles, which for a Jew was like saying, "Stay in a community of lepers."
No one knew what the puzzle would look like in the end. Think about Abraham. He trusted God not to make Him sacrifice Isaac and yet, He was going to the mountain to do just that. He didn't know what the piece looked like and I doubt He really wanted too. He had waited for this child for a very long time and still He was willing to follow God blindly.
I am a person that likes to solve things. I love to fit pieces in to see if I can perfect a method, a system or a person. It's fun to look at what's before you and put it together. The problem is we don't have the tools to see the future or to second guess what Jesus is doing. He is the master planner who is one with His father. We have guidance through the Word and through prayer but in the end, only one knows our purpose, our future, our destiny.
All we know is what's before us today. Christ did leave a road map. He said that He needed people to spread the gospel and to do it throughout the world. There are missionaries all over the world trying to do just that. They heard the call and now live in places many of us wouldn't want to live in. What if you didn't have running water or electricity? What if there wasn't another person that believed in Jesus for cities? These are the places our Lord is sending people and these are the people we need to pray for.
If you are struggling with purpose and don't really see God's hand in anything, think about all the things He's done in the past. Ask Him to reveal to you today His purpose and renew the vision of what He has for you. It probably won't be fame or money. Those things are rarely given, not impossible, but I think He has something far better than we can even see. Loving people, extending our arms out and saying, "I'm here for you and so is Jesus," is far more precious than self-fulfilled success. Our treasures are really not here on earth, they truly reside in Heaven. So let's take some time today and think Heaven bound.
Psalm 16: 1- 5 NIV84:
Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."
As for the saints who are in the land,
they are glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their
names on my lips.
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you
have made my lot secure.
Please read this Psalm in its entirety. It has a lot to say to us today.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, how awesome are You. I listened yesterday to one of the best sermons I have ever heard and it really made me think of You. What is my lot? I could question You all day but I think You would rather have us trust that You know our lot and all we have to do is believe. Belief for man is difficult and often comes with strings attached. It's hard to say what puzzles You are creating, manipulating and solving worldwide. All we know is that we are to look for You, seek You and You promise we will find You. Many feel lost or downtrodden. Please lift up Your people so that they can continue to follow the call. We are tactile in nature. We love to feel things but sometimes You require us to walk in blindness. So, I am coming before You and asking that we would walk when we can't see and that You would give us the courage to do the job we were created for. Only You can give us the tools to succeed and to do our share of the work. We get distracted easily, depressed, annoyed and yet we can call upon You and You can right our way. Today is Your day and our lives, just like the disciples, are Yours to mold and make new. Renew in us a clean heart that is driven by doing Your will. We love You Lord and are so thankful that You came for us. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
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