Your Daily Crossroad
Navigating Rough Waters
Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. (1 Chronicles 28:20)
I was enjoying the start of my first whitewater rafting experience—until I heard the roar of the rapids up ahead. My emotions were flooded with feelings of uncertainty, fear, and insecurity at the same time. Riding through the whitewater was a first-rate, white-knuckle experience! And then, suddenly, it was over. The guide in the back of the raft had navigated us through. I was safe—at least until the next set of rapids.
Transitions in our lives can be like whitewater experiences. The inevitable leaps from one season of life to the next—college to career, changing jobs, living with parents to living alone or with a spouse, career to retirement, youth to old age—are all marked by uncertainty and insecurity.
In one of the most significant transitions recorded in Old Testament history, Solomon assumed the throne from his father David. I’m sure he was filled with uncertainty about the future. His father’s advice? “Be strong and of good courage, and do it. . . . for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee” (1 Chron. 28:20).
We’ll have our fair share of tough transitions in life. But with God in our raft we’re not alone. Keeping our eyes on the One who is navigating the rapids brings joy and security. He’s taken lots of others through before.
What a great visual for different transitions in our lives. When I read this I couldn’t help but think of three words, He’s Still God!!! Amen!! What a mighty, mighty, mighty God we serve.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 Chronicles 28:9-20
On Fire!
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51:12)
Have you ever met someone who had just become a Christian and was “on fire” for God? Did you say to yourself, “I wish I were still like that?” We don’t intend for it to happen, but after time, that passion or joy often ebbs and other things in life take priority and focus. Or maybe, you never even had that “fire” because you were saved at an early age and have been a Christian for nearly your entire life.
Whatever the reason is, you are not alone. In fact, the Psalmist even asked for that joy to be restored as it once had been. As we read this, we must realize that salvation is from the Lord and not of our own doing. We often substitute the “thy (your))” in this verse with “my.” Read these verses today and focus on the work of Jesus in our salvation and allow Him to bring back the joy of the Gospel that may have taken a backseat in your life.
“…For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)
“….But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” (1 Timothy 2:5)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
When I read this it made me think of a saying I’ve heard. “One person on fire for God can change the world.” If one person can change the world imagine if we would come together, united as one, with one purpose, to save those who are lost. You may be asking yourself, how can I get that “flame” back that I once had, surround yourself with people who are burning, who are on fire for God!! You will know them by their fruits, you won’t have to question if they are on fire for God, you will know. My prayer today is that when others see me they can say without a doubt, that’s a person on fire for God and I want what they got. I want to be different to make a difference. Use me today Lord to make a difference in someone else’s life, maybe their flame isn’t shining as bright as it once was, let me give them hope through you that their flame can burn bright once again. Amen.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 51:10-12
Our God is a Warrior
The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. (Isaiah 42:13)
When you see pictures of Jesus, do they often depict Him as a warrior? Do they ever show Him defeating his enemies? Probably not. Generally, he is longingly gazing heavenward, holding a child or a lamb. Isaiah, however, is very clear about our God: He is a warrior. In fact, Revelation 19:12-16 reveals what He will look like when He “shall prevail against his enemies”:
“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God . . . And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.”
This may appear to contradict what we are called to do as Christians. For example, Jesus instructed, we are to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), go the extra mile (Matthew 5:41), give up our coat (Matthew 5:42), love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), and show mercy (Matthew 5:7). How can we do this when our God is called “a man of war” whose robe is dipped in blood? We are freed to do this as Christians because it isn’t our job to judge God’s enemies or make them pay the wages of their sin! We are to love them so that they may come to worship this warrior God.
While our God is holy and just, He is also merciful. Merciful, even to the point of sacrificing His only Son that we, His enemies, may be made into friends. We can weather hardships, trials, and injustice done to us because we know that our God is coming back to “judge the quick and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1), and He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
Do you try to judge others instead of loving them and letting God be their judge?
I am so grateful I read this. What truth and power. I want nothing more than to lead others to worship this warrior God!! Let me not judge but love. What a mighty God we serve.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Isaiah 42:24, Revelation 19:12-16
“Here I Am!”
That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. (1 Samuel 3:4)
Sometimes we forget just how big God is. In fact, we even forget the truth that God is unfathomably big. We are short sighted and self-absorbed so often that we neglect a relationship with a God so amazing.
Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart? Have you ever felt the nudging and leading of his hand? That voice that whispers, “Come be with me. Open my word, internalize its truth, I will transform you,” and then rolled over and went back to sleep? Or, decided to keep watching your favorite TV show instead? If so, then think on this simple analogy: The President of the United States of America has just sent for you (imagine it’s the President you have most admired). There is a shiny black SUV, men wearing sun glasses, black ties, and ear pieces who have arrived to take you to him. Question: Do you go? Do you answer the call?
Most of us, if not all, would answer yes to this question. We would quickly respond to the call of someone so powerful and important. I’m sure by now you understand where this is headed, but there is none more important, more powerful, or more worthy of our time than God! Yet so many times we turn to things so unimportant by comparison, and ignore the very God who made and saved us. When God calls us, we should be as Samuel was, responding immediately, “Here I am!”
Think about a time in your life when you immediately responded to the leading or voice of the Lord? Did you regret responding? Nope, and you never will.
Wow! What truth! When I read this it was at three in the morning and instead of going right back to sleep I chose to pray. I am guilty of prioritizing other things above The Holy Spirit as it’s tugging at my heart, are you guilty? Let’s choose to change that starting today, when God calls us let’s be as Samuel was, responding immediately, “Here I am!”
He’s still God!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 Samuel 3