Your Daily Crossroad
He will help you!
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41:13)
I recently read. Our Lord God is sovereign and in control of all things. He is all-powerful and all-loving toward us. When we are staring something truly scary in the face, He wants us to remember His promise: He will help us. We don’t need to be afraid because the One who is in control of all is on our side.
The physical image of God’s reassurance is of Him taking hold of our hand. He is holding our hand and walking us through the fire. But God doesn’t take just any hand. He takes the right hand. In the Bible the right hand is mentioned quite often. Why? Because the majority of us are right-handed. We use our right hand the most. It is our strong hand, our action hand. And it’s that hand that God takes hold of. He is not only telling us not to fear and that He will help us, but by taking hold of our hand of action, He reminds us yet again who is in control. Spoiler alert: it’s not us.
God holds onto our right hand so we can have the reassurance of His comfort and presence and so we can be right next to Him watching as HE, not us, HE, fights for us, shields us and saves us. Without our hand we are useless to defend ourselves which is a reality. We are not capable of saving ourselves which is why we require a Savior to do it for us. And praise Him that we have one! Because of Jesus Christ, we can release our sense of control to the One who is actually in control and trust in Him to help us out of our fear and into the peace that comes with His presence and touch.
Thank You God, You are in control of all things and it’s not for me to fight any battle alone but to trust in You and You alone, not myself or anyone or thing but You. You watch over me, You shield me and You fight my battles. God, You are my protector. Help me Lord to be still and know. Amen.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Isaiah 41:10-13
Sacrifice
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
Just as one man’s sin (Adam’s) brought condemnation to the world, so one Man’s righteousness (Jesus’s) brought salvation to those who believe (Rom. 5:12–19). Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
John makes it more practical when he says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). This won’t likely mean literal death, but as we align our lives with Jesus’s example of sacrificial love, we find that we are “laying down our lives.” For instance, we might choose to deprive ourselves of material goods in order to share them with others (v. 17) or make time to be with someone who needs comfort and companionship.
Who do you need to sacrifice for today?
In what ways have others sacrificed for your well-being?
When I read this it truly blessed me today. I took a moment and instantly thought of the many people in my life that have sacrificed, sacrificed time and material good to comfort me and help me in times of need and continue to. I am blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by family and friends who care so much. May I in return pay it forward to those in need. May I show love and appreciation for all the good in my life, family and friends included. Thank You Lord for laying down your life for me. Your love is unmeasurable. Amen!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 John 3:16-17
Nabal
On the run from Saul, David had provided security detail for the sheep of a wealthy man named Nabal. When David learned that Nabal was shearing those sheep and celebrating with a feast, he sent ten of his men to politely ask for food as remuneration for these duties (vv. 4–8).
Nabal’s response to David’s request was beyond rude. He said, “Who is David? . . . Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?” (vv. 10–11). He broke the hospitality code of the day by not inviting David to the feast, disrespected him by calling out insults, and essentially stole from him by not paying him for his work.
The truth is, we all have a little bit of Nabal in us. We act foolishly at times. The only cure for this is to acknowledge our sin to God. He will step in to forgive us, instruct us, and give us His wisdom.
I’m selfish sometimes, Lord. I get more concerned with what I need than what others need. Give me a heart of integrity and compassion. Amen.
I must be honest, when I read this my first response was, this doesn’t apply to me but then it provoked a self check and I quickly realized I too have been guilty of being a Nabal. My prayer for today is that we all do a self check and ask God to help us overcome whatever area of sin, big or small, we struggle with. He truly will step in, forgive, instruct and give us His wisdom. We first have to be honest with ourselves, willing and obedient. When we are honest with ourselves, we allow room for growth and in return we can make a difference not only in our lives but in those lives we touch.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 Samuel 25:1-12
Be Merciful
I recently read. When Jesus offered His words about forgiveness in Luke 6, He was helping us understand the difference between people of grace and people without grace. Those who know His forgiveness are to be strikingly unlike everyone else. We must do what others think impossible: Forgive and love our enemies. Jesus said, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (v. 36).
Imagine the impact in our workplaces and on our families if we were to embrace this principle. If a salute can make armies whole again, what power there must be in Christ’s grace reflected through us! Scripture gives evidence of this in Esau’s embrace of his deceitful brother (Gen. 33:4), in Zacchaeus’s joyful penance (Luke 19:1–10), and in the picture of a father racing to greet his prodigal son (Luke 15).
With the grace of Christ, may we let this be the final day of bitterness and dispute between our enemies and us.
Lord, we know how the gentle power of forgiveness can bring healing in relationships. Grant us the courage to end our conflicts by Your grace. Amen.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Luke 6:27-36