Your Daily Crossroad
Questions for God
And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might . . . . Surely I will be with thee . . . (Judges 6:14,16)
What would you do if the Lord showed up in the middle of your workday with a message? This happened to Gideon, one of the ancient Israelites. “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites” (Judg. 6:12–13). Gideon wanted to know why it seemed as if God had abandoned His people.
God didn’t answer that question. After Gideon had endured seven years of enemy attacks, starvation, and hiding in caves, God didn’t explain why He never intervened. God could have revealed Israel’s past sin as the reason, but instead He gave Gideon hope for the future. God said, “And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might . . . . Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man” (vv.14, 16).
Do you ever wonder why God has allowed suffering in your life? Instead of answering that specific question, God may satisfy you with His nearness today and remind you that you can rely on His strength when you feel weak. When Gideon finally believed that God was with him and would help him, he built an altar and called it “Jehovahshalom (The Lord Is Peace)” (v. 24).
There is peace in knowing that whatever we do and wherever we go, we go with God who promised never to leave or forsake His followers. Amen.
What could be better than getting answers to our why questions? Trusting a good and powerful God.
When I read this I knew without a doubt it needed to be shared. What profound truth, we are so quick to focus on the why when all we need to do it trust God, He is good, He is powerful.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Judges 6:11-16,24
Consumer or Producer?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)
The other night I was doing my Bible study and started looking at the maps in the back of the Bible. Kind of strange, I don’t think I have studied the maps since childhood Sunday School class. Something jumped off the map page which I believe you will find interesting.
There are two seas in Israel. Both are fed by the same source of life, the Jordan River. The Sea of Galilee is full of life. The area around the Galilee supports an abundance of wildlife. I am told by friends that it is absolutely a beautiful area. In contrast, the Dead Sea is lifeless. Nothing lives in the sea and few living organisms are found around the Dead Sea.
So, what is the difference? Why is one full of life and the other dead? If you look at the map, the answer is quite obvious. One sea gives; the other only consumes. The Sea of Galilee takes what it needs from the Jordan River, multiplies the gifts and then passes the water on downstream. The Dead Sea takes water and hoards the water, never passing any water on. The Dead Sea only consumes. The water in the Dead Sea evaporates, leaving behind salt, thus making the Sea lifeless.
How about you? Our source of life is Jesus Christ. His love flows in us and replenishes us. He restores us. He redeems us. He is our Savior. He is our everything. Are you hoarding His love or passing that love on because of your gratitude to Christ? Are you replenishing others around you or just draining them? How about in church? Are you sitting on the same pew weekend in and weekend out just being a consumer? Is it time to start producing more for the Cause of Christ instead of only consuming?
Make no mistake about what I am saying. We are saved by the grace of God and the faith alone in Jesus Christ. Our works should be a natural outpouring of our gratitude for what Jesus Christ did for us nearly 2000 years ago on that old rugged cross. For us to think we can add to what Christ did is nothing short of blasphemy. Christ did it all for us (John 19:30).
Is your Christian walk one of consuming or producing?
What a thought! This blessed me when I read it and I wanted to share it with you in hopes that it would challenge you to begin this week by asking yourself this very question, then taking action each day to improve the answer.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is James 2:26 & John 19:30
The Price of Admission
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24)
Every year some two million people from all over the world visit St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It is well worth the admission fee to experience the magnificent structure designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren during the late 17th century. But tourism is secondary at this place of Christian worship. A primary mission of the cathedral is “to enable people in all their diversity to encounter the transforming presence of God in Jesus Christ.” If you want to tour the building and admire the architecture, you must pay an admission fee. But there is no charge to enter and attend any of the daily worship services at St. Paul’s.
How much does it cost to enter the kingdom of God? Entry is free because Jesus Christ paid the price for us by His death. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 3:23–24). When we acknowledge our spiritual need and accept by faith God’s forgiveness for our sins, we have a new and everlasting life in Him.
You can enter a new life today because, by His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, Jesus has paid the price of admission!
You can invite Jesus into your life by praying something like this: Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I want to accept You as my Savior and follow You. Please forgive my sins and help me, from this moment on, to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen.
There is such an urgency for this message to be spread far and wide for all to read and to then choose to invite Jesus, The One who paid the ultimate price for you and I so if we choose we can enter God’s kingdom where we were truly meant to spend eternity. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:10). You are not guaranteed tomorrow, nor are you guaranteed your next breath, make the choice NOW, don’t live in someday, choose Jesus NOW!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Romans 3:21-26
When Morning Comes
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
It was very late when we stopped for the night at a country inn outside of Munich. We were delighted to see that our cozy room had a balcony, although an oppressive fog made it impossible to see into the darkness. But when the sun rose a few hours later, the haze began to fade. Then we could see what had been grimly shrouded the night before—a completely idyllic scene—peaceful and lush green meadow, sheep grazing with tiny tinkling bells about their necks, and big white clouds in the sky that looked exactly like more sheep—huge, fluffy sheep!
Sometimes life can get clouded over by a heavy fog of despair. Our situation may look so dark that we begin to lose hope. But just as the sun burns away a fog, our faith in God can burn away the haze of doubt. Hebrews 11 defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (v. 1). The passage goes on to remind us of the faith of Noah, who was “warned about things not seen as yet,” yet obeyed God (v. 7). And Abraham who went where God directed—even though he didn’t know where that would be (v. 8).
Though we have not seen Him and cannot always feel His presence, God is always present and will help us through our darkest nights.
Father, thank You for Your promise to walk with us through all of life. In moments of doubt, help us to have the confidence You are in control and we can trust You. Amen.
When I read this three words came to mind, He is faithful! Yesterday may have been filled with disappointment, sadness and or frustration but Praise God today’s a new day, another day we have been granted to express our love and trust in The One who created us to soar above our darkest nights, we are never alone, God is always present. Trust Him!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Hebrews 11:1-8