Don't Let Fear Determine Your Destiny

“Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, ‘The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.’”
Numbers 14:6-9

The Monster job search platform was running a commercial with the tag line “Don’t let fear determine your destiny” as I prepared to write this particular devotion. At the center of the commercial a young woman - whose career choice seems to go against conventional thinking – has found contentment in her choice, thanks to Monster of course. However, there is some truth to be found in that tag line. How often do we let fear keep us from being exactly who we are supposed to be, from being where we are supposed to be and from doing what we are supposed to be doing?

As I thought about that, the whole Biblical narrative that this week’s passage comes from came to mind. God using Moses, Aaron and Miriam had led the people out of Egypt. HE had been with them as they traveled to the edge of the Promised Land, HE had provided for them, everything they needed. They had witnessed miracle after miracle along the way. Now standing on the brink of the amazing life God had promised them, they rebelled because of they were afraid.

In this week’s passage, two of the men who had been on the “scouting” team – Joshua and Caleb passionately plea with their countrymen to fear not, to stay focused on God and not rebel against him. Unfortunately, their pleas fall on deaf ears – ears deafened by fear. Only Caleb and Joshua would live to see the Promise Land, their faith in the power of their God would see them safely to the land of milk and honey – they didn’t let fear determine their destiny.

What about you, Is God calling you to something new, something better, something outside your comfort zone? Will you be like Israelites who refused to take the land God wanted and was ready to give them or will you be like Joshua and Caleb ready to go whenever God gives the green light.

This world is a scary place and God likes calling us out of our comfort zones into something new and better – don’t let fear determine your destiny.

A Prayer
Father, you know how prone we are to fear. Be with us in a new way this week so that we are filled with your love that drives out fear. Be for us the courage we need to live an obedient and abundant life. Help us to live fearlessly in this scary world and in so doing shine the light of Christ. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.

Before and After

“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:16-18

After seven months on the job it was time to make my office more reflective of who I am, of my preferences for color and style. I had already re-arranged some of the furniture and added a comfy chair with a side table. The biggest change would come by way of a fresh coat of paint. The brown walls and darker brown trim were being replaced with a rich smoky blue for the walls and cream for the trim. The change would not come over night, but it would happen slowly. However, each small change made a difference.

The Bible – both the Old and New Testaments – is filled with stories of lives transformed by the glorious power of the Living God. Moses went from being a murderer hiding in the desert to leader of the Hebrew people and his relationship with the God who had empowered him was so up close and personal, that he had to cover his face because it radiated God’s glory. Esther went from Jewish peasant girl to Persian Queen who would be so favored by her husband the king that her influence saved her people. Then there’s Paul author of this week’s passage.

Paul declares himself “the worst of all sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) yet the transformation of his life from zealous Pharisee set on destroying followers of The Way to sold out disciple of Christ is miraculous. In this week’s passage he had been talking about the differences between the “old” covenant based on the law and the “new” covenant in Christ and how Jesus removes the veil covering the hearts of anyone who turns to Him. All of us who call ourselves Christian reflect the glory of the risen Lord to some degree and according to Paul we “are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory…” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

This incredible transformation, available to everyone because of God’s great love is a process. Just like the transformation of my office happened over time, so our hearts are being made new day by day. Sure when someone decides to follow Christ some major changes take place, differences that might be noticed right away. As heart healing begins, how we look on the outside begins to change and those around us notice the difference, but they are just catching a glimpse of the change that is happening.

The before and after pictures of my office, clearly show the change and reflect me. I can’t wait for that day when the transformation of my life is complete and I can see the before and after pictures – I know the changes will be beyond anything I can imagine. What about you? Is Jesus transforming you, is He healing your heart? Does your life reflect the changes He is making? Are you excited to see the before and after pictures? If not, tell Him you need Him and ask Him for His glorious makeover – He is excited to see your before and after.

A Prayer
Father, you know we like seeing before and after pictures as old things are made new, thank you that Jesus through His Holy Spirit is the renovator of our lives and by His power our old, beat up and broken lives are made new from the inside out. In this world renovations are expensive and life renovations cost more than any of us could ever hope to pay – so thank you that Jesus paid the price and that all we have to do is ask Him to take over and make us new. Help us everyday to let the newness of our lives shine and bring You glory. In the name of Jesus, the Renovator of our hearts and lives, we pray – Amen.

From the Shore

“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment around him…and jumped into the water.”
John 21:4 & 7

I look forward to my weekend walks around the lake at our neighborhood park. In the early morning quiet, I can think, pray and get some exercise. As I walk along the shore I enjoy God’s creation and some of his amazing creatures – ducks, geese and a lone heron. I think of Jesus walking along the shore of a lake on the other side of the world so long ago, and all that he did and taught along those shores.

Three years before the scene described in this week’s passage, Jesus was walking along the shore, perhaps even along this same stretch of the shore when he saw Simon Peter and his brother Andrew – Jesus called them to follow Him and to become fishers of men. A bit further up the shore Jesus calls two more brothers to follow him. All four of these young men left their livelihoods behind to follow a stranger to who knew where and to fish for men (what did that even mean?), but they followed – how amazing is that?

Over the next three years, these four men along with another eight would witness some incredible things and be taught things that were difficult to understand but that would change their lives forever. The time was so short, I suppose they thought they had much more to learn from this man Jesus who they knew with all their hearts to be the Son of God – but He was dead – He had told them what would happen, He had told Peter he would deny Him, something Peter fiercely denied he would never do, but did just like Jesus had said.

When in this week’s passage we once again see Jesus on the shore, calling this time to his friends it was the third time the Risen Lord had appeared to spend some time with His friends, with the men he was leaving behind to continue the work He had for them. Peter so wanted to be with Jesus he jumped out of the boat and waded ashore. Scripture doesn’t say what Peter did when he reached Jesus on the shore – did he give in a hug or fall on his knees, did he ask for forgiveness? What we do know is that they all ate breakfast together and then Jesus and Peter had a short fierce talk that restores the relationship between Peter and Jesus and sets Peter firmly back on the path Jesus means for him to follow.

Where are you today, this week? Are you drifting on the sea of life? Have you heard Him call to you from the shore? Maybe you are doing your best to follow Him but need to hear His voice encouraging you on the way. Maybe you’ve allowed life to interfere and have turn from him – listen He’s calling you from the shore of your life - rush back to the shore and into His embrace – you won’t regret it.

A Prayer
Father, thank you that Jesus stands at the shore life’s sea and calls us to come to him on solid ground. You know that sometimes the winds of life make it hard to hear Him calling to us across the distance – give us ears and hearts that hear Him in the gale. Help us daily to follow after Him and to call to others from the shore so that they too can be changed by Your love. In the name of Jesus we pray – Amen.

Forget Them Not

“...and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
1 Corinthians 11:24-26

It seems time has flown as vast parts of the planet and especially the U.S. stop for a moment to remember the tragic and senseless losses of 9/11. Fourteen years have gone by and in the wake of that terrible day another day of remembrance was born. 9/11 is not the only day that the humans of this planet take time to remember the sacrifices others have made for us. In America it is Memorial Day. England observes Remembrance Day, Australia and New Zealand remembers on Anzac Day. In the Netherlands it’s Dodenherdenking and Armistice Day in Belgium. It’s important to not forget the sacrifice of others who have allowed us to live free.

This week’s passage reflects the importance of remembering the sacrifices made. Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was about to happen. The Son of God was about to make the ultimate sacrifice, laying down His life to free them and us from sin and death and His followers were going to face some really hard things and they would need to remember His death was part of a divine plan and the start of a new and better covenant between God and mankind.

Jesus went to the cross, choosing to sacrifice His life for ours. Every day first responders around the world answer the call to serve and protect, never knowing when their lives will be demanded of them as they carry out their duties. Each day members of our Armed Forces and the Armed Forces around the world willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedom and the freedom of others. It is good to have special days set aside to remember the courageous men and women who willingly lay down their lives daily.

Let us not forget the sacrifice that makes us eternally free. Let us not forget the sacrifices of those who serve and protect us every day. Let us forget them not.

A Prayer
Father, because of Your Son’s sacrifice we live free from sin and death, may we never forget that. Help us to live in a way that is a constant remembrance of that sacrifice – showing love, grace and mercy to those around us. Thank you that you have put it on the hearts of so many to willingly put their lives in harm’s way to serve and protect us, grant them divine protection and draw them near to you so that they have your power and strength. Help us to forget them not as we go about our lives every day. In the name of Jesus we pray – Amen.

Given Mercy to Give Mercy

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive our brother from your heart”
Matthew 18:32-35

Lots of titles were rumbling through my head and heart all trying to express some form of the same idea but not really getting to the point. It’s an interesting for of writers block, but not necessarily good for myself imposed deadlines. As I was studying, looking for that one passage that would accurately and contextually say what needs to be said, the parable of the “Unmerciful Servant”, from which this week’s passage came from; popped into my head.

Jesus used this parable to teach about His followers about forgiveness. See the wicked servant in this passage owed his master a ton of money – if it were today, the sum would have likely been in the millions of dollars – imagine owing your boss that much money. His master wanted him to pay up, but in an act of grace and mercy he forgave the debt and sent the servant on his way. The servant in turn found a fellow servant who owed him a couple of bucks and instead of giving the same mercy he had just received; he had him thrown in jail. That’s where we come into the story with this week’s passage. The master caught wind of what happened as was not pleased – needless to say things did not go well for the unmerciful servant and the passage ends with Jesus giving a warning that it would not go well for anyone who had been shown His mercy and then did not give it to someone else.

As followers of Christ we have all been shown a tremendous amount of mercy. None of us, on our own could have repaid the debt we owed because of our sin. If we tried to put a dollar amount on that debt it would be a number so big we would never be able to repay it. But, Jesus paid that debt with his life – an act of mercy so great that we should be filled with awe and humility. Jesus said the two greatest commandments were to love God and love others (see Matthew 22:34-40). Earlier in Matthew Jesus warns his listeners not to judge least they be judged (see Matthew 7:1-6).

Bottom line if you've been to the cross you've been given the gift of mercy so you can give mercy and in turn love someone else to the cross.

A Prayer
Father, really there are no words to fully express what extravagant gift of your mercy and grace means. There is no way we could have paid the debt owed but Your Son paid it in full. Your word tells us that to whom much has been given much will be expected. If we could spend our lives giving to others all that you have given to us with Your love, mercy and grace the world would be a better place but we will still need Your mercy, because we will still be short of Your standard. Help each day to love You, love other and give away the mercy we've been given. In the name of Jesus who paid the debt – Amen.