Your Daily Crossroad
Christ is Unchanging
This isn’t one of those verses that really needs to be expounded on. It’s pretty straight forward. Any difficulty with this verse comes with understanding and applying its implications to our lives. If Christ is unchanging, what does that mean for us?
First off, it means that we have yet another reason to worship Him and trust Him. He’s not going to flake out on us and He isn’t going to suddenly change and decide that He doesn’t want to be bothered saving and loving us. He has saved us and always will. He has loved us and always will.
Secondly, it means that we should change, because He isn’t going to. He is always going to be worthy of our praise and honor, so if even some small part of our life doesn’t honor Him, it’s got to go. He is always going to be holy, holy, holy. He is always going to be just. So we have some transformation to undergo if we are going to be in His presence. He saved us and is remaking us in His image and we should welcome that painful reformation because when’s He done remaking us, we’ll get to join Him in the eternity of holy splendor.
Third, this should change how we respond to different seasons of life. Our response to God tends to be proportionate to our perception of how He is treating us. When we are in good seasons, God is a good, loving Father who cares and meets all our needs. But when we are in hard seasons, God becomes a cold, caustic jerk who doesn’t understand how much pain we are in. But when we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, we have to acknowledge that the Father who lovingly provided for us yesterday is still a loving Father when we suffer today. His love for us may show itself in different ways in different seasons, but it is crucial that we understand that our circumstances are not an indication of how He is changing, but of how we are being changed to be more like Him.
When we understand this, it should give us courage, confidence and comfort to face each season as it comes because we have the unchanging, unbending, unyielding Rock of Ages on our side.
When I read this I was hesitant to post it but I couldn’t shake how much truth there was in it. I can’t honestly think of a time in my life that I’ve thought God was being a “jerk”, there were times I couldn’t understand the why but for some they may have had that feeling and it’s important that we are honest with ourselves and then be encouraged, confident and comforted to face each season as it comes because we have the unchanging, unbending, unyielding Rock of Ages on our side. When the enemy tries to fill your mind with negativity towards God remind him who you choose to serve, trust and believe in no matter the trials your facing in that moment because He is the same yesterday, today and forever! Don’t allow the seasons in your life to alter your confidence in Christ but allow it to draw you closer to Him, He loves you more than anyone in the world.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Romans 8:24-25
Father Knows Best
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (Daniel 2:20-22)
Daniel knew a thing or two about difficult seasons, between being a slave and lions’ dinner at different points in his life. And like the rest of us, I’m sure that Daniel frequently had to remind himself what He had been brought through already and what it had revealed to him of God’s power and control. Like Daniel, it’s important for us to recall the past seasons of difficulty that God has brought us through already. It’s also crucial for us to surround ourselves with brothers and sisters in Christ who have come out of the den and who can be instrumental in helping us remember the power of God in controlling the timing and seasons of our lives. If we let ourselves think that we are the only ones who have ever had a hard season, we will only make it more difficult on ourselves to trust God’s love and control.
When I read this I couldn’t help but think of how lost I would be without Him. I do take comfort in knowing that with each wave that rises only does so by His authority and He sees the beginning and He sees the end of everything I go through. Surround yourself with those who can be instrumental in helping you remember the power of God in controlling the timing and seasons of your life.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Daniel 2:20-22
Leadership
And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 11:1-2)
Being a true leader isn’t always glamorous. There are not always hundreds of people lining up, wanting to be just like you. This can be witnessed in the book of Nehemiah. We read that the leaders lived in Jerusalem and the rest drew lots.
Nehemiah is the account of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. During the restoration, enemies threatened to attack it as the wall and gates were rebuilt; it wasn’t necessarily the safest place. That is one reason the average Joe didn’t immediately sign up to live there. Jerusalem living also meant leaving a previous place of residence, which had one’s farm and livelihood.
At this point, Jerusalem was not yet finished, and business would have been slow. The leaders made a sacrifice. Someone had to live there and start the process of creating a once again bustling city. Could this be what leadership is often about? Not asking people to take a risk for you, but rather taking one for them? Jesus even said that He came to serve and not to be served (Matthew 20:28). That is what leading is. We learn how to do this in the purest of forms through Jesus and His substitutionary death on the cross. He calls us to lay down our lives for others, because He has laid down his for us (John 15:13).
Have you been a leader lately?
When I read this I couldn’t help but think about what my daughter brought home from Sunday School, it was the setting of scripture from John 13:15, when Jesus washed the disciples feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Less of me and more of You! Let us strive to serve and not be served.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Nehemiah 11:1-2
Walking in Faith
Yes But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:30-31)
We have all dreamt of doing something great for God. These dreams might involve some form of sacrifice or great leap of faith. We see others around us who have sold everything to follow Jesus as a missionary in some far corner of the world and view them as a person of great faith. We maybe even aspire to be like them.
Consider this, if we had been sitting in that boat with Peter, we would have thought he was brimming with faith as he began to climb out of the boat and walk toward Jesus. But suddenly, something even stranger happened and Peter began to sink.That courage and faith he had in Jesus was getting smaller as he saw the wind and the waves getting bigger.
A true measure of a person’s faith then is not just the first step of their faith journey, but the subsequent steps thereafter. We deal with this every time we get excited about something, starting any given project only to stop halfway through because it was much more difficult than anticipated. The same thing happens when we believe Jesus would have us do something. We start doing it and it doesn’t turn out like we thought it would, or the ministry isn’t immediately growing, we begin to sink, losing faith in and sight of Jesus. What we must realize is that if Jesus has called us to make a first step, then he will provide a path for each step toward him after that.
Where is Jesus calling you to walk in faith?
When I read this I felt it needed to be shared because we are all on this journey called life and at times our calling can start to feel a bit difficult and even overwhelming and giving up may seem like the easiest route to take but remember, if Jesus has called you to make a first step, then he will provide a path for each step toward him after that. Don’t give up, keep moving forward. He will catch you if you fall or He will teach you how to fly. Trust Him always!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 14:30-31