WHILE I AM HERE - Part II

“Who then is the faithful, thoughtful, and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household to give to the others the food and supplies at the proper time?  Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is that servant whom, when his master comes, he will find so doing.  I solemnly declare to you, he will set him over all his possessions.”  Matthew 24:45-47 AMP

What will Jesus find you doing when he comes?  You might respond, “Well, I go to church.  I pay my tithes.  I pray.”  It is true that going to church, paying tithes, and praying are all good and things God commands us to do, but did you notice that one little phrase in the middle of the verse, “…to give to the others the food and supplies at the proper time?”  Matthew 24:45-46 describes someone who the master feels will be able to run his household while he is gone, someone who has the skills and abilities to make sure all the duties required to make the household run smoothly are consistently carried out so that when the master returns everything will be in working order, the way he would run it if he were there himself.

While I am here I am the person my Master Jesus has decided will be able to make His household run smoothly (His household being His work, ministry, and fellowship with other believers.)  If you are a believer you are the person Jesus has chosen to make His household run according to His will.  Do you feel inadequate to the task?  Maybe you feel that it is the job of the pastor, deacons, evangelists or missionaries?  I know that carrying on the work of Jesus feels like an overwhelming task.  There are many times I feel inadequate even to write what I share in this blog, but I know that God never calls someone to do something without equipping them to do it.

“Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP

God has given us the instruction book on how to carry out His will regarding what belongs to Him.  The Bible is fit for every need we and our fellow man have.  Do you struggle with sin?  The Bible shows you how to have power over it.  How about being proficient in everything you do?  God’s Word has the way to do it.  I have found ever since I have made it a strong, unbreakable habit to read His Word every morning I find help to not only face the day but to be a blessing to everyone I meet.  Reading His Word brings me so many ideas for blog articles I can hardly keep up with writing them.  (Aside:  I actually have 24 articles currently in the works!)

Writing articles and sharing the Word with those I meet is how my Master has directed me to care for His household.  What he has for you may be different.  Maybe you are a talented singer?  Could it be that you love to help the elderly?  Children, their teaching of or care could be what stirs in your heart.  In any case, reading and staying grounded in the Word will make your calling “complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped”.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”  John 16:33 AMP

In these troubled times we need do not need more Christians caring for Jesus’ “household”, we need ALL believers doing His work!  While I am here, I will do what my Master has called me to do.  Won’t you?

 “Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.”  Colossians 3:16 AMP

FACING GIANTS

Someone I know was sharing with me and a friend that they were struggling through some tough times.  As I listened I felt for them and how overwhelmed they must be feeling.  I remember this sorrowful person looking depressed and defeated stating, “Under the circumstances you can understand what I am going through.”  My wise older friend quietly asked, “What are you doing UNDER the circumstances”?

Often we allow the circumstances we go through to dictate how we respond.  We think it is only natural to do this, and we are right.  It is OUR nature.  What hope is there for us when we feel that our response to our troubles is always dictated by the circumstances?

God has a terrific answer to our dilemma.  We do not have to be under the circumstances!  An excellent example of being UNDER the circumstances is given to us in Numbers 13:32-33:  “And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.  And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (KJV) 

“And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.” (Num. 14:1 ASV)

The Israelites responded to the news of giants in the land with fear.  Their response was dictated by the circumstances and they continued to allow the circumstances to dictate to them:  “All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation, accusing Moses and Aaron, to whom the whole congregation said, Would that we had died in Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness!  Why does the Lord bring us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will be a prey. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?  And they said one to another, Let us choose a captain and return to Egypt.”  (Num. 14:2-4 AMP)

Now God did not intend for them to be under the circumstances to begin with and He provided a way for them to rise above their circumstances:  “Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of Israelites.  And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the scouts who had searched the land, rent their clothes, and they said to all the company of Israelites, The land through which we passed as scouts is an exceedingly good land.  If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.  Only do not rebel against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense and the shadow [of protection] is removed from over them, but the Lord is with us. Fear them not.”  (Num. 5-9 AMP)

We know the rest of the story, the Israelites chose not to believe Joshua or Caleb and sought to stone them, but God intervened and sent the Israelites to wander in the wilderness until all who had disbelieved had died.  When the Israelites returned to the Promised Land, who was it that received the reward of the promise?  Joshua and Caleb did not allow the circumstances to dictate their response because they trusted in and believed God would deliver them.  By faith in God they rose above the circumstances.

One would think that the Israelites would learn their lesson about facing giants, but they did not.  We find them again facing an enemy that sent paralyzing fear through them, and this time only one giant was with the enemy.  1 Sam. 17 gives us the familiar story about David and the giant Goliath.  What was the response of King Saul and the armies of Israel when Goliath taunted them?  “…they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.”  When David heard the taunting he was surprised that no one had gone to slay the giant.  David (remembering his past victories by the hand of God over a lion and a bear that threatened his sheep) volunteered to fight Goliath.  Goliath was a warrior more than twice David’s size but David did not allow the circumstances to dictate his response.  He fought and won the victory that day for the forces of Israel because he trusted God to deliver him.

Do you feel like you are under the circumstances today?  God is ready to face your giants with you and to deliver you.  Just trust Him to do it.  Joshua and Caleb did.  David did.  Won’t you?

“David is king because he conquered Goliath. The only reason why you are facing your Goliath right now is because God wants to promote you.” –Leon Patillo

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

“Something old, something new,
Something borrowed, something blue,
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.”

When we start a New Year we usually determine to make changes in our lives.  It is a custom at this time of the year to make New Year’s resolutions.  We see it as time to let go of old things and start new ones.  Actually, many social customs tend to have this goal.  One such custom for a new start is marriage.  I am sure you recognized the old phrase above, or at least the first two lines.  We hear them often when a woman gets ready for her wedding.  It is tradition for her to wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. 

Each item in the poem is supposed to represent a good-luck for the bride. "Something old" means that she will still continue to stay connected with her family and past. "Something new" means that she has hope for her new life ahead. "Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride.  “Something blue” has early historical connections where blue was the color to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity.  Before the late 19^th century blue was actually the preferred and popular color for a wedding dress.  “A silver sixpence” in the bride’s shoe represents wealth and financial security.  (The sixpence was a coin minted in Great Britain from 1551 to 1967, made of silver and worth six pennies.  Even though they are no longer minted they can still be obtained for use in weddings on the internet!)  -Information on the poem obtained from Wikipedia

Man’s custom of using good-luck charms has followed him throughout the ages, but like many other things that man has created or tried (such good-luck charms and New Year’s resolutions) they really have no power.  The only thing that has power to make change in man’s life is God’s Word.  With good-luck all we can do is hope for things to change.  With God’s Word change is promised, and God is always true and faithful to His promises.

“Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”  Isaiah 43:19 NAS

Was 2011 a year of struggling through the wilderness of unemployment and loss for you?  God promises to make a way in the wilderness for you!  Have you found dryness in your faith as if you are void of emotion going through a dull arid desert?  God promises to quench your thirst, not with just a cup of water but with rivers!

“I will lead the blind by a way they do not know.  In paths they do not know I will guide them.  I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains.”  Isaiah 42:16a NAS

Did your 2011 end with a feeling of wondering which way your life should go?  God has promised to lead and guide you in a way you do not know, making the darkness of wondering what comes next into light before you so you can see His plan for your life!  Did you feel as if you were struggling around detours last year with obstacles placed before you again and again?  He will make those rough rocky paths you have walked into flat plains so you can move ahead unhindered!

It is time to do something new.  Allow God to make a difference in your life.  Make it a priority to spend quality time every day reading His Word.  Do not make it a resolution.  Custom dictates that resolutions are made to be broken.  Spend time with Him every day, reading His Word and finding His promises.  Then grab hold of every promise and watch the amazing changes He will bring in you in 2012.

“These are the things I will do and I will not leave them undone.”   Isaiah 42:16b NAS

See there?  You have His Word on it!