God Knew

“I know about their sufferings and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:7b-8 CSB)

The people of Israel had been in captivity in Egypt for many years and had grown in numbers.  So much so the Egyptians feared they may someday over throw them.  They enslaved the Hebrews and even went so far as to start killing all the male babies.  It was in the midst of their cries and suffering God heard them. He rescued the infant Moses from the water and had him raised in the palace of the Pharaoh.  He was educated and taken care of and yet seeing his people oppressed he lashed out and killed an Egyptian.  He had to flee everything he knew and became a sheep herder.  For 40 years he labored in the desert while his people suffered.

At the right moment God spoke these words to Moses out a burning bush.  He knew about the people's suffering and he had come down to rescue them and to bring them into a land where they would be taken care of.  Does this story sound familiar to you?  One of the absolutely wonderful thing about the bible is how God doesn’t change and he is fulfilling his plan.  We can read his promises and we can read about his faithfulness in fulfilling those promises.

Fast forward and God is still using the same game plan. He has heard the suffering of his people in the bondage of sin and he came down to rescue them and to deliver them to the promise land. Only this time he didn’t send a flawed man, he came down personally.  He took residence among us, humbled himself to the point of dying on the cross.  This time he would defeat sin and death, the real enemies—he would set his people free once and for all. Not only does he free them but he is preparing a place for them.  A place with no more sin or death.  A place with no more suffering and pain.  A place where he will wipe away the tears from his people and he will be their God.  The sun will no longer shine but the light of the Son will shine brightly and there will be no darkness.
I don’t know where you are in life.  Perhaps you find yourself in places you never imagined you would be in.  Maybe you’re suffering or cruising through life at light speed and want to stop. I want to encourage you this morning God knows.  He knows where you are in life and he wants you to know he has come down to free you and wants to walk you home through this life.      
     

Think before you speak...

“Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6 HCSB)

It’s concerning to read social media today and to hear how people talk to one another.  There seems to be little room for discussion or tolerance of different points of view.  How we talk to others matters.  Paul reminds us that our conversations are to always be gracious and seasoned with salt. 

Being seasoned with salt is thought to mean to be witty or winsome.  In other words, we should give well thought out responses.  We should talk to others with grace and not in anger—not "over charged" with emotions. We shouldn’t crush people to prove them wrong just to win the argument.  When we talk to others it should be with a heart to glorifying Christ. I see this also a “measured” response, from a life that is lived in Christ.  Is your heart is right, are you praying, to give an answer out love for the other person.  If you are not ready for a measured response be quiet, hit the delete button! 

On my desk I have a small sign under the monitor that simply reads “Be sure brain is engaged before putting mouth in gear”.  I have had this sign for years on my desk and it doesn’t point to people I’m talking to.  It serves as a reminder to me to stop and think before I speak.  I also think about Proverbs 5:1-2 which says, “A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.”

I hope as you reading this you’ll start to think about what you’re saying to others.  I hope for graciousness and wisdom will guide your heart before you engage your mouth or fingers on your keyboards.   

Shrewd Serpents

“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among the wolves.  Therefore be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16 CSB)

Jesus is sending out the disciples to proclaim the kingdom of heaven is near to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  They couldn’t take anything with them and were to be totally dependent upon God to provide for them through the kindness of others.  As they are leaving Jesus gives them this warning, how they would suffer.  As we read the book of Acts we know that is exactly what happened.  We know they were arrested, beaten and in the end killed for their faith.  He also told them not to worry about what they said when brought before magistrates and kings.  He told them in those moments “it isn’t you speaking but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you”.   

How then are we to interact with the world that has entirely different set of values? How do we not compromise the gospel and still engage the world around us?  How do we remain sheep among the wolves?  Prayer—devote yourselves to prayer, as if your very life depended upon it.  Be alert to the needs of those around you and act—be thankful.  Act wisely towards those who are outside the faith, don’t waste your time, but live with a sense of urgency knowing the time is short.  Be gracious towards everyone, be wise when speaking to others.  Especially on social media where you have an audience watching and not responding.  Know how to explain and defend your faith—be able to answer people when they ask about the hope that is in you. 

We live among wolves and we have to be wise to that reality.  Because there is more at stake than some political agenda—like the eternal destiny of those we love.  We need to live dependent upon God, praying for those around us and those in ministry.  We need to live thankfully and graciously.  We need to be innocent as doves and as wise as serpents.   

Evil Plans

“You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people” (Genesis 50:20 CSB) 

Jacob is dead and he has been buried.  Joseph’s brothers now fear what may happen to them with their father’s protection gone.  They had sold Joseph into slavery, ripping him from his home.  They had lied about his death to their father.  Joseph was falsely accused by his master’s wife and thrown in jail.  There he was forgotten about by the cupbearer and eventually was rescued by God.  By interrupting a dream of Pharaoh he saved Egypt from disaster and eventually saved his own family.  Years later Joseph sees the bigger picture of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness. 

This isn’t the only time God has used the evil plans of people in order to save them.  Jesus was innocent and without sin.  He did nothing wrong and yet the evil of man plotted and succeeded in killing him.  What they didn’t know was God was working out his predetermined plan to save man, using their evil hearts.  The men who were pounding in the nails into Jesus’ hands were the very ones whom Jesus came to save.  The religious leaders planned evil against Jesus and God planned it for good—to save his people.

What about you? Have you suffered at the hands of others?  Remember what God’s word says in Romans 8:28, “We know all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”  You are not forgotten, you are not alone, God is working all things to the GOOD of those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.  Trust in Christ, walk with him and know he is with you.  Understand you are part of God’s bigger plan saving his people to bring Glory to his name.  Be encouraged and walk boldly in faith!    

Greatest Need

“Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, "Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2 HCSB)

A group of men who obviously cared for their friend brought him to Jesus.  He was a paralytic and unable to move on his own.  He had to have others care for him and his friends bring him to Jesus.  They were looking for healing and Jesus seeing their faith said, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”  Now that seems like a strange thing doesn’t it.  Why didn’t Jesus heal him first?  What is the bigger issue here?  Jesus was more concerned with the condition of man’s soul than he was with his physical well-being. “Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). 

Jesus knew the greatest healing we can receive is the forgiveness and freedom from the bondage of sin.  Also he knew the religious leaders were listening.  They accused Jesus of blaspheming God.  They believed only God can forgive sin and Jesus was claiming to be able to do what only God could do!  Jesus wanting to heal the man completely and to challenge the religious leaders told the man to get up and walk.  The man did just that, he got up, picked up his mat and went home.  By doing so Jesus declared he had the authority on earth to forgive sins.  This would have had a profound impact on the leaders and the people, because they associated sin with disease, in that God was punishing the person afflicted.  But here we see Jesus not only forgive the man of sin, but also restore him physically.  He freed him from bondage and set him free physically and spiritually.  The crowd was awestruck (3:8) and they gave glory to God.  Understand your greatest need is the forgiveness of sin and Jesus came to set you free!  

Doing Right

“But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him.  He granted him favor with the prison warden” Genesis 39:21

Wait a minute!  Let’s rewind and take a look at the story of Joseph to understand why I would want to pause.  Joseph was his father’s favorite and he let his 11 brothers know it.  He also shared dreams of his brothers and parents bowing down to him.  This caused his father to even question him and stirred his brothers to hatred.  His brothers wanted to kill him but instead sold him into slavery. Once Joseph is sold into slavery he does very well for God and his new master.  That is until his master’s wife accused him of trying to seduce her. Joseph did everything right and refused to sin against his master and especially against God.  His reward was to be thrown in prison!  Where God extended him favor with the prison warden!  Again Joseph does everything right in prison and is forgotten by a cupbearer for two years after helping him.  Only then God used Joseph to bless Pharaoh and Egypt and his family.  Let me ask you a question, have you ever suffered for doing the right thing?  I want to remind you of Joseph’s story and hope it encourages you to stay the course.  Doing right by God is never the wrong way and in the end, will have a greater impact on the kingdom for God’s glory.  Be encouraged today!

~ps 

Judging and Planks

The one bible verse everyone knows is Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged”.  But what is rarely shared is the rest of the verses that give this verse context. The very next verse is scary and should cause you to pause “For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measured you use”

Did you catch the end? It didn’t say you would be judged by the same standard you LIVE but by the standard, you USED to measure others.  What is so scary?  The standard you use is most likely the standard you would like to live by but can’t and so you project that standard on others.  In other words it’s a standard you can never live up to and yet you expect others to reach it.  That is the standard God is going to use to judge you!  In the same set of verses, Jesus is addressing Hypocrisy, first take the plank of wood out of your own eye before you attempt to take a splinter out of your brother’s eye.  When we read this passage we should be greatly humbled by our own shortcomings and how far God has brought us by his immeasurable grace, before we look to judge others sins.  And when approach a brother or sister struggling you do so with gentleness and respect.  Galatians 6:1 “Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourself so you won’t be tempted”  God bless and live for God’s greater glory!