Living out our trust in God

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TODAY’S SPECIAL: Jeremiah 37-39; Psalm 23

TO CHEW ON: “‘For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,’ says the LORD.” Jeremiah 39:18

The words of our focus verse were given to Jeremiah for Ebed Melech. In all the palace intrigue we find in Jeremiah 37-39, this African eunuch and servant of King Zedekiah was sympathetic to Jeremiah. When the king’s princes threw him into a dungeon of muddy quicksand, Ebed Melech went to Zedekiah and begged for Jeremiah’s life.

The king allowed him to rescue Jeremiah. He with others made ropes from rags and pulled him from the miry pit.

Then Nebuchadnezzar conquered the city just as Jeremiah had predicted (the predictions and his advice that the king should surrender that got him into so much trouble with the king and his princes). All that Jeremiah had prophesied, about how the king would be treated and the city burned if they did not surrender, came true.

But God did not forget Ebed Melech, the man who trusted in Him and lived out that trust by standing up for Jeremiah. God gave him his life “as a prize.”

I am writing this on the day that the Supreme Court has announced their decision to deny Trinity Western University the right to have a law school—a decision that will impact religious freedom in Canada in many other areas as well. In the days ahead it will become increasingly unpopular and politically incorrect to hold biblically based views on morality and lifestyle. We may encounter persecution.

I take encouragement from God’s remembrance of this servant who trusted Him and lived out that trust by supporting unpopular Jeremiah. Let us likewise continue doing things that are right and supporting and helping God’s servants, no matter how unpopular their biblically based message and stance.

PRAYER: Dear Father, help me to trust You and live out my trust when such trust is culturally popular and also when it’s not.  Amen.

PSALM TO PRAY: Psalm 23

MORE: An article that explains the impact of the Supreme Court decision to the church and Canadian society: "The Supreme Court Now Decides that Faith is Banned from Canada's Public Spaces" - National Post

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Thanks for reading! This year we are using The Bible Project "Timeless Reading Plan" to read through the Bible in 2018. If you'd like to read along in your own Bible, you can download a pdf of the reading plan HERE.

Faith—more than just a feeling

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TODAY’S SPECIAL: Genesis 23:1-20

TO CHEW ON: “So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders were deeded to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of the city.” Genesis 23:17,18

The question that came to me as I read Genesis 23 this morning was, what’s the point of this little story being in the Bible? Sure it’s an interesting example of how people did deals way back then, but is that all?

My Bible’s study notes add this bit of insight:

“A fascinating story of Near Eastern bargaining, Abraham was quite aware that the Hittites did not intend to give him a free burial ground, nor would he have dared to accept their pretended offer. The issue at stake—will Abraham gain a permanent holding in Canaan, or will he remain a landless dependent?” - R. Russel Bixler, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 34.

The Reformation Study Bible says:

“In faithful expectation that God would fulfill the covenant promise of land (Genesis 3:15), Abraham sought to anchor his descendants in the Promised Land” - Reformation Study Bible on Genesis 23:19 - accessed through “Study This” on BibleGateway.com.

This and other incidents support this interpretation of Abraham doing some intentional anchoring here:

• He was adamant about not letting Isaac return to Ur to live, though he sent his servant back there to find Isaac a bride - Genesis 24:6-9.

• He himself was buried in that Machpelah cave and later so were Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Leah - Genesis 25:9; 49:29-31; 50:13.

I like how Warren Wiersbe explains it:

“When Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah for a tomb, he was making a statement of faith to all who were there. He did not take Sarah back to their former home in Ur but buried her in the land God had given him and his descendants” - Warren Wiersbe, BE Bible Study Series, accessed through Genesis 23 on Biblegateway.com.

The lesson that I see for us moderns is one of similarly stepping out of our comfort zone in faith as we take God at His word in His assignments, promises and blessings.

For example, has God given you a burden to communicate the gospel? Maybe you should set up a website or blog.

Are you concerned for today’s children? Consider volunteering in the children’s ministry of your church.

Do you sense an assignment to extend hospitality as encouragement to Christians and outreach to pre-Christians? Start inviting guests over to your teeny tiny apartment.

How will our actions today demonstrate our faith?

PRAYER: Dear Father, help me to act in ways that demonstrate my faith in Your assignments, promises, and blessings. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Morality—taught and caught

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Genesis 20:1-18

TO CHEW ON: “And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, ‘What have you done to us? How have I offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done.’” Genesis 20:9

What horrible thing had Abraham done to the Philistine King Abimelech?

Lied about the state of Sarah, who was his wife and also his half-sister. He told this half-truth because of Sarah’s beauty and his fear that other men, powerful men, would want her and do away with him to get her for themselves.

He had done this previously as well, in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20).

There’s a sequel to today’s story in Genesis 26:1-11. There we see Isaac doing the exact same thing as his dad—saying Rebekah was his sister when she was really his wife, again to save his own skin. In Isaac’s case it wasn’t even half true, but a total lie.

I am struck by the generational aspect of this. Did Isaac witness Abraham do it? Probably not because it happened before his time. Perhaps his dad told him the stories of these events, glossing over the evil of them? Or maybe Isaac picked up something in his father’s general moral code that was unspoken permission to act in this way—an attitude and other actions that sacrificed honesty on the altar of expediency?

Whatever it was, I think there’s a lesson for us in this. We don’t only teach morality (what’s right and wrong) to our kids, but they also catch our morality from us. They pick it up from our attitudes and the way we act.
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, please help me to live in such a way that I can say to others, don’t just do as I say but also as I do. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Faith that dries tears

"Eli thought she was drunk" - 1 Sam. 1:13

TODAY'S SPECIAL: 1 Samuel 1:1-18

TO CHEW ON: "And she said, 'Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.' So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad." 1 Samuel 1:18

The yearly religious trip to Shiloh was a particular trial to Hannah, it seemed. For not only did she have to watch as husband Elkanah gave portions to Peninnah and all her brood and receive a double portion from him herself (something that only made Peninnah's razzing and pestering of Hannah over her barrenness worse), but it was also a reminder that God appeared to dislike her too. For why had He not allowed her to conceive?

On this particular day, Hannah could take no more. So she went alone to the house of the Lord (the tabernacle) to pour out all her frustration and desperation to God. She prayed. She wept. She made a big promise. And then Eli came up to her and accused her of being drunk!

Oh no, she said, I'm just so sad. Then she went on to explain her situation.

Of course Eli saw her genuineness then and said a wonderful thing to her: "… the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him" - 1 Samuel 1:17.

Hannah reacted (went away happy) as if God Himself had spoken. But why? Nothing had changed had it?

Not yet. But she believed it would. Her happiness was the result of FAITH, that considered what God promised through Eli as good as done.

For what do you and I need faith today?

• Wisdom?  (see James 1:5.)

• Big prayer requests? (See Matthew 17:20 & 21:21.)

• Healing? (See James 5:15.)

• A shield against discouragement, temptation and other Satanic darts? (See Ephesians 6:16.)

• Perseverance for whatever situation we're in? (See Hebrews 11:1-40.)

I love the Bible's definition of faith as much as any. It explains so well why Hannah could leave the tabernacle with her tears all dried up and why when we can also leave our stuff with the Lord and go away lighthearted:

"Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality—faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses" - Hebrews 11:1 AMP (emphasis added).

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to leave my issues with You as completely as Hannah did, knowing that You can and will handle things. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

Providence meets faith

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 Samuel 17:41-57

TO CHEW ON: “Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.” 1 Samuel 17:49

What are the chances that this youthful armed-only-with-a-sling shepherd would get the best of a 9 foot, 9 inch fully armed warrior? Pretty slim, I’d say. Yet here it happens before our eyes. What’s the explanation?

Surely David was skillful with his primitive weapon, so that’s one thing. However, I believe much bigger forces were at war here as they had been numerous times before in Israel’s history.

Right now our pastor is teaching a Bible study on Judges. There too we see unlikely Israelite victories.

• Judge Ehud managed to get alone with Eglon, King of Moab, kill him with one thrust of his homemade sword, and get well away before the servants discovered the deed—a catalyst to Israel’s victory over Moab (Judges 3:15-30).

• Tentwife Jael invited fleeing army general Sisera into her tent and, after he fell asleep,  killed him by driving a tent peg through his temple - Judges 4:18-24.

• Gideon defeated an army of thousands of Midianites and Amalekites with only 300 men armed with pitchers, torches, and trumpets - Judges 7:16-25.

What’s at work in each of these incidents is people of faith and courage taking action. That faith combined with the providence of God is what led to these stunning victories.

David had zeal for God’s honour (1 Samuel 17:45-47). That zeal combined with his past experience of God’s help (1 Samuel 17:34-36) filled him with courage and faith, so that he took up what was at hand to do battle. But I believe it wasn’t only his skill that felled Goliath that day, but God’s providence that clinched his success.

My challenge from the story of David and Goliath is wrapped up in these snippets from my study notes on Judges:

“We take steps of faith and courage, and trust in the providence of God … Providence continues to be God’s gift to His people. What’s in your hand? As you partner with God, His grace will come on you. Take a risk this week. Believe God to be with you. Your “hand tool” will make a difference” - Derrick Hamre.

PRAYER:  Dear Father, thank You that as I step out in faith with You on my side, I too can win unlikely victories. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Active Worship

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TODAY’S SPECIAL: Psalm 145:1-21

TO CHEW ON: “Every day I will bless You
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:2

“We can act ourselves into a new way of feeling much quicker than we can feel ourselves into a new way of acting. Worship is an act that develops feelings for God not a feeling for God that is expressed in an act of worship” - Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, 54.

I was reminded of the  above Peterson quote when I read David-authored Psalm 145 this morning. During an earlier reading I had circled the verbs, so they are what jumped out at me. What an illustration of the act / actions of worship!

According to David, actions of worship include:
Extol (“You, my God, O King”).
Bless ("Every day”)
Praise (“Your name forever and ever”).
Declare (“Your mighty acts”).
Meditate (“on the glorious splendor of Your majesty”).
Speak (“of the Your mighty awesome acts… of the glory of Your kingdom”).
Utter (“the memory of Your great goodness”).
Sing (“of Your righteousness”).
Talk (“of Your power”).
Make known (“His mighty acts”).
Call ("upon Him”).
Cry
Love (“Him”).


(Of course, these are the verbs as listed in the NKVJ Bible. If you consult another version, the list will be a little different. Doing that might be an interesting exercise.)

This is active worship. Let’s engage our thoughts and mouths in such worship today—and even if our emotions are unresponsive at first, they will warm up to the activity.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for this beautiful example of active worship. Help me to pattern my worship on David’s especially when I don’t feel like worshiping. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

It's not if you live by faith, but faith in what

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TODAY'S SPECIAL: Hebrews 11:1-16

TO CHEW ON: "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality—faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses." Hebrews 11:1 AMP

The last bit of Hebrews 11:1 from the Amplified Bible is as good a definition of faith as any: "Perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses."

It's interesting to go through our faith chapter reading today and pick out the verbs / actions associated with faith shown by these heroes of the Christian faith. As we do that, let's apply these actions to our own lives of faith.

* "For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good testimony" - Hebrews 11:2.
or, as the Amplified puts it: "For by [faith]… the men of old had divine testimony borne to them" - Hebrews 11:2 AMP.

Interesting, especially the "had divine testimony borne to them." I apply this as us acknowledging that God is involved with life and our world. When looking at life through that lens, God Himself gives us understanding of its purpose. It also applies to us having faith in the "testimony" (the scriptures) that was "borne" (revealed) to those "elders."

* "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God" - Hebrews 11:3.

We take the narrative of beginnings that accepts God as the creator by faith.

* "By faith Abel offered… a sacrifice" - Hebrews 11:4.

We worship God and perform any acts of a religious or spiritual nature by faith.

* "By faith Enoch was taken away" - Hebrews 11:5.

We accept God's sovereignty in setting the boundaries of our lives—their beginnings and endings, by faith. (This is so relevant to current life in Canada, where doctor assisted suicide has just been made legal.)

* "By faith Noah … prepared an ark" - Hebrews 11:7.

We build stuff by faith.

* "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out…" Hebrews 11:8.

We obey by faith, to the extent of moving when we're not even sure where we'll end up (at least that was Abraham's experience).

* "By faith he (Abraham) dwelt …" Hebrews 11:9.

We stay where we are by faith.

* "By faith he (Abraham) … waited" Hebrews 11:10.

We wait by faith.

"By faith Sarah … received strength to conceive" Hebrews 11:11.

We have families, passing on the gift of life, by faith. For women that can mean a nine-month program of working on faith fitness!

By our definition of faith ("perceiving as real fact what is not perceived by the senses"), so much of every life is faith. No matter what our belief system, we'll be putting our faith in something: ourselves, our government, the social safety net, science, medicine, God. So it's not if we live by faith, but faith in what?
I have chosen to put my faith in God. What about you?

PRAYER: Dear Father, help me to live all of life with the awareness of Your presence in it. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

Revelation through disappointment

Jonah and the vine

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Jonah 4:1-11

TO CHEW ON: "So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city." Jonah 4:5

Jonah had done his bit. Now he made sure he had a front row seat for what would happen next.

And what did happen? Nothing!

A guest speaker at our church recently made this thought-provoking statement: "Whenever your experience doesn't live up to expectation, God is trying to give you a revelation"- Robert Madu

What revelation of God might Jonah get through his disappointment? One thing was surely that God was not only a God of black-and-white judgment, but that He was "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness. One who relents from doing harm" - Jonah 4:2.

But wait, there's more. Jonah was delighted by the swift-growing vine that sheltered him from the sun. But when it died just as suddenly and he was subjected to the wind and sun, he mourned the vine's loss and wished for death for himself.

God brought to his attention how out-of-whack his values were. He was mourning the destruction of a vine, while hoping to see the destruction of an entire city including innocent children and animals.  His second revelation was how unlike God he was in his shallow self-centeredness.

Leslyn Musch says in her "Truth-In-Action Through Jonah" article:

"Jonah's faith in God was unwavering. He knew without a doubt who God was and that God would be true to His character. Transforming faith, however, is more than just knowledge about God. It changes us and molds us into the image of the One in whom we place our trust and it is expressed through our actions and our attitudes" - Leslyn Musch, "Truth-In-Action Through Jonah," New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 1200 (emphasis added).

In the area of transforming faith, Jonah didn't have it. But am I any better? Are you?  Don't we too often sulk when God does things differently than we expect? We too show off our faulty priorities when we are more preoccupied with our own comfort than the destiny of the souls of those around us. Sad to say, I detect more than a little of Jonah in me.

PRAYER: Dear God, as I learn about You, through happy and disappointing times, help me to incorporate these insights into my life. I want to pass the transformed-attitudes-and-actions test that separates head faith with lived-out faith.

MORE: What kind of plant was Jonah's vine?

The Quest Study Bible suggests the plant that grew overnight may have been a Castor Oil Plant which can reach a height of over twelve feet. However, its quick growth was miraculous--an act of God.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Doing what we can

Mary & Jesus - Artist unknown

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Mark 14:1-11

TO CHEW ON: " 'She has done what she could.' " Mark 14:8

His teaching speaks like no other words I've ever heard. He brought my brother back to life. I love Him. How can I show Him how much?… I know!

These may have been some of the thoughts Mary* had before she rummaged around in some storage basket for the sealed jar of precious spikenard. When she found it she  hurried to Simon's house where Jesus was a guest at dinner, entered the room where they were eating, somehow managed to break the seal on the jar and pour that precious, perfumed oil on Jesus' head. How impulsive! How crazy!!

But to Jesus, Mary's love, poured out in her feminine language of perfume was more significant than a mere wild (and God-inspired) act. "She has done what she could" Jesus said. Her action touched Him and He imbued it with lasting and worldwide significance (Mark 14:9).

The Bible speaks of other times when people's acts were more significant than they realized:

• The widow who gave the two mites—all she had—to the temple offering got Jesus' attention and a place in the Bible as an example to follow - Mark 12:44.

• Andrew brought Peter to Jesus—the disciple who Jesus called a "rock" and who became one of the early church's founding apostles - John 1:42.

• Barnabas went after Paul to disciple and work with him—another act the significance of which we see every time we open our New Testament (Acts 11:25-26).

• Those who have given the hungry food, the thirsty a drink, the stranger a bed, and the sick and prisoners a visit will discover their simple acts were the key to inheriting the kingdom. For by doing these things for others, they were indeed done for Jesus (Matthew 25:34-36,40). Who knew!?

Let's take the hint, from these examples, that it's important to do what we can. We can't stop human trafficking, but we can tuck a check into an envelope to help fund a project that gives women a chance to earn money in honorable ways. We can't end homelessness but we can support local organizations that provide meals and shelter for the homeless and a way out of their addictions. We can't uncomplicate the lives of our family members, friends, and neighbors but we can offer to babysit, bring over a meal, drive them to appointments.

It may not seem like much, but when Jesus touches our acts of doing what we can, we  have no idea of their actual significance.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, please open my eyes to ways I can serve You by doing what I can for those around me. Amen.

*The woman is not named in Mark's account, but is identified in John's account of the same incident - John 12:1-8.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The synergy of faith and works

TODAY'S SPECIAL: James 2:1-26

TO CHEW ON: "But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:18

Though to some James's letter opens up the possibility of contradiction (Aha—it's works that saves us, not faith!), his contrast of faith and works serves to show how they are not independent of each other but interdependent.

After naming Abraham as an example of someone who lived this interdependence "when he offered Isaac his son on the altar" (vs. 21), James asks, "Do you see that faith was working together with his works and by works faith was made perfect?"

[The words "working together" are synergeo. "Compare synergist and synergism. … There is a practical harmony or synergism between vertical faith in God and horizontal works to a needy world. Faith is both spiritual and practical" - Dick Mills, "Word Wealth," New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 1754.]

Said another way:

"Faith is not simply an idea separate from real life. Rather faith is to produce in us right living, right motives, right thinking, right relationships. Our good works confirm that faith is alive and active in us. Seek to live your faith daily in practical ways" - Leslyn Musch, "Truth-In-Action Through James," New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 1760.

During the Advent season opportunities abound to live this faith in practical ways. Let's take the obvious ones—from contributing food or cash to the hampers our church hands out, to inviting the lonely single to spend Christmas day with our family, to helping out with Christmas dinner at the downtown mission. Let's also look for and welcome unexpected, unusual opportunities to live out our faith during this interlude when even the secular world is exposed to the story of the One in whom our faith is anchored.

 PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to understand at the level of living the synergy of faith and works. I want my life to be a flesh-and-blood enactment of what I claim to believe. Amen.

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New King James Version (NKJV) Used by permission. The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Sheep that hear

Jesus the Good Shepherd - Artist unknown

TODAY'S SPECIAL: John 10:7-30

TO CHEW ON: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know then, and they follow Me." John 10:27

I've thought a lot about what Jesus says here—that His sheep hear His voice. I've asked questions like, 'Is my thought God's voice or my own idea? When I make a decision on what I think is God's voice and things don't turn out as I had hoped they would, does that mean I wasn't hearing God's voice after all?'

Here are some of the things the Bible says about God's voice:

• It strikes terror into the heart of sinners (Genesis 3:8), arrests them (Acts 9:3,4), and asks for entrance (Revelation 3:20).

• Sometimes God's voice comes with power (Psalm 29:4).

• Sometimes it is glorious (Isaiah 30:30).

• And sometimes it is "still" and "small" (1 Kings 19:12).

• It can be misunderstood (John 12:28,29).

• It sifts people in relation to truth and falsehood (John 19:37).

• In our reading it assures those who hear that when they follow Jesus, they follow a good shepherd who cares about their welfare.

There's another interesting verse about the voice of God that describes how He often works in my life. Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) says: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'this is the way; walk in it.'"

I'm always wanting guidance—wanting to know what the next step is before I take it. Wanting to be sure I'm following the right voice. This verse is interesting in that it implies God sometimes guides from behind: "Your ears will hear a voice behind you..."? How does that work?

There are forks in the road. Do we go right or left? This verse seems to say we make a decision, take the steps, and listen for the 'voice behind us,' willing to make adjustments if that is what He says.

I've experienced this. Sometimes I've taken on writing assignments for the simple fact that I've finished the last project and this one came along at just that time. There were no prophetic words, voices or holy thrills—not even a scripture verse on which to hang my hat. Not uncommonly I'll question whether I've made the right decision, especially when the writing gets tough or the piece gets turned down. Later, much later sometimes, I'll get confirmation that the project was a 'God thing' (it finally gets accepted, I get an email or note from someone saying it blessed them, it wins a prize, gets republished).

As far as I can see, this hearing the voice of confirmation behind us is the way we often live the life of faith. Your thoughts?

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to hear and recognize Your voice today.

MORE: More about voice recognition.

Researchers have discovered that mother goats recognize the voice of their kids shortly after birth and retain that memory for at least a year. I couldn't find any research that said the kids recognized the nanny goat's voice, or  about how sheep do in this department.

Want to read more about the spiritual implications of our focus verse? Check out "The Sheep and Their Shepherd a sermon by Charles Spurgeon.

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The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. - Used with permission.

Test of faith

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Mark 7:24-37

TO CHEW ON: "And she answered and said to Him, 'Yes Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs.' Then He said to her, 'For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter'" Mark 7:28,29

Jesus had made a little trip into non-Jewish territory—the only time He did that, according to my Bible's footnotes. Perhaps He needed a break from the crowds that pressed close day and night when he was in Galilee or Judea. But if He expected to escape into anonymity, He was disappointed.

The Syro-Phoeneician mother was despairing and desperate. Jesus' response seems calculated to add to that despair when He chides her—a Gentile—in a seemingly prejudiced way, for asking for a miracle.

But she has nothing to lose.

She turns His insult inside out. I may be a Gentile dog, but even dogs get table scraps (my paraphrase of  Mark 7:28).

My Bible's footnotes again: "Actually assuming the appearance of traditional Jewish prejudice, Jesus was drawing from her a confession of triumphant faith" - Notes on Mark, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 1363.

And then Jesus pronounces her daughter healed!

This story makes me ask, am I too easily discouraged in my prayers? When the answer is "No," do I give up, or persevere?

Maybe it was just for this woman that Jesus made the trip into Tyre and Sidon. Maybe faith, tested in just that way will be precisely what she will need in the days and years ahead, as other circumstances challenge her and her daughter.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for these Mark 7 stories of Your power over dark spirits, and disability. Help me to have faith for crumbs, no, whole loaves of Your power in my life. Amen.

MORE: "He Saw It All" - the Booth Brothers

The story in our reading goes on to tell how Jesus returned to Galilee where He opened the ears and loosed the tongue of a man who had been deaf and mute. The onlookers "...were astonished beyond measure..." Mark 7:37.

"He saw It All" sung by the Booth Brothers is a fabulous expression of that awe and an invitation to trust for our own miracles.

Miracles through worship

A gospel bus at my town's antique car show

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Isaiah 30:27-31:9


TO CHEW ON: "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,

And rely on horses,

Who trust in chariots because they are many

And in horsemen because they are very strong,

But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel

Nor seek the Lord!" - Isaiah 31:1

Steven Stiles tells of the time their church youth group was on a mission trip and they got to the last service station before their planned drive through the night just after it had closed. There was no way their two old gas-guzzling school buses and one van could make the 160 miles to their destination without running out of fuel. But somehow on that night they had faith to trust God for a miracle. Here are snatches of the story of as Stiles tells it in Journey on the Hard Side of Miracles:

"We decided we would indeed drive into the night, and whatever happened would happen. We would simply trust God to take care of us ... p. 248.


... Before getting back on board I suggested that we should be praying during the entire time we were travelling while running out of fuel. Everyone grabbed the idea and ran with it. We were going to begin this adventure in faith worshipping God, and we should honour and praise him the entire time he was leading us to whatever was going to happen next... p. 249.


...After we saw that the fuel gauges had pinned, we turned every more deeply to the Shepherd, and as the miles continued to roll by, we began to experience a palpable sense of God's mercy and care... p. 251.


... There is no way to adequately describe what was happening to us as the hours passed. The farther we travelled, the more grateful we felt. It was as though we were somehow being carried down the road as our singing and praise lifted heavenward in the darkened mountain wilderness. Other than the Everlasting Arms, I have no idea how those two buses continued through the night ... p. 253.


...Now so very close to Marsing with only the final gentle rise before reading level ground, the riders on the Ford gave in to their exhaustion and they decided to stop singing. But that city was not our source of help. Just as suddenly as the singing stopped, the engine on the Ford also stopped" p. 254.

When I first read this story I couldn't help but think of instances in the Bible where physical intercession and worship worked a breakthrough:

• Moses' lifted arms helped Israel gain the victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17:11)

• The trumpeters and the ark led the parade around Jericho (Joshua 6:8, 15-16).

• Queen Esther's three-day fast preceded the Jews' triumph over Haman's threat (Esther 3:16).

• Singers and worshippers led Israel into battle under King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:21,22).

Note a reference to song even in the first part of today's reading. Right in the middle of the judgement on Assyria these words appear:

"You shall have a song

As in the night when a holy festival is kept,

And gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute,

To come into the mountain of the Lord,

To the Mighty One of Israel... Isaiah 39:29-30.

PRAYER: Dear God, I have much to learn about spiritual breakthrough via praise and worship. Please be my teacher in this area. Amen.

MORE: The songs they sang

Some of the oldies that reverberated through the schoolbuses that night:

"Got Any Rivers"
(The link has a couple of stanzas I wasn't aware of.)

"Peace, peace, wonderful peace"

"Precious Lord, Take My Hand"

Faith for much

"The Widow's Oil"- 1695 woodcut
by Johann Christoph Weigel

TODAY'S SPECIAL: 2 Kings 4:1-17
TO CHEW ON: Then he said, 'Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbours — empty vessels; do not gather just a few.'" 2 Kings 4:3

When one of the 'sons of the prophets' died, his widow was in trouble. For he hadn't left much of a legacy — two sons, a little oil and a debt. Now the creditor was about to claim the sons as his slaves to pay for that debt.

This destitute women went to Elisha for help. He was a miracle-working prophet with the reputation of having inherited the spirit of his mentor Elijah. His instructions were simple yet faith-challenging. "Go and borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbours — empty vessels; do not gather just a few."

Elisha's unspoken message was — God is able to do a big thing, just don't limit Him with your small faith. A footnote to this verse in my Bible says, "The provision was in proportion to the woman's faith and ability to receive" - New Spirit-filled Life Bible, p 485.

In what ways do we need God to intervene for us in miracles today? Are we limiting Him with small faith? What steps of faith (equivalent to borrowing all those containers) could God be asking us to take, to prepare for His extravagant outpouring on our behalf? Do we actually believe He can do this? Are we affirming that faith by preparing for the abundance He has the ability to provide?

"...And try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, 'If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it'" - Malachi 3:10.

PRAYER: Dear God, please show me any vessel gathering I need to do to prove to myself, to the world, to You my faith in Your limitless ability. Amen.


MORE: Faith wisdom

All quotes taken from Prayer Powerpoints, compiled by Randall D. Roth.

"In order to make sure that we are not retreating from the tension of faith, it is helpful to ask ourselves as we pray, 'Do I really expect anything to happen?' This will prevent us from going window-shopping in prayer."
- Catherine Marshall - p. 68

"If you pray for bread and bring no basket to carry it, you prove the doubting spirit which may be the only hindrance to the gift you ask."

- D. L. Moody - p. 65

"Prayer is asking for rain.

Faith is carrying the umbrella."

- Robert C. Savage, p. 64