It started Valentines Day, which was Ash Wednesday. Not only did I start reading “Red Letter Challenge” by Zach Zehnder but everyone at church started this challenge. It has been a assignment that I’ve enjoyed very much and I think it goes right along with my second book, “Faithful Promises of God”.
Zach introduces five principles: being, forgiving, serving, giving and going. In “Faithful Promises” I constantly remind the reader that as we read through the Bible, we are called to obedience. In being, Zach challenges us to 1) walk with Jesus and doing the things He asks and 2) words without actions are never acceptable to Jesus. Do you see how closely these two books reflect the same challenge?
This year as I read through the Bible, I am using Bible Pathway devotional and since I am a couple days ahead (which is what God needed for me to read at just the right time), I have 1 Peter 5:6 highlighted, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” Then I have underlined and starred “All who are used of God will experience a time of preparation when it may seem that one’s efforts result in disappointments. Accept with gratitude everything that God allows through friends or enemies—through failures or humiliations—as a means to see yourself as nothing and to see your need of full dependence upon Him. Then will come the time of fulfillment when your faith will be rewarded.” Next to this paragraph I wrote, “I am nothing without Him, He has allowed everything into my life for a purpose…His purpose! Everything!
That is pretty powerful to me as I have made many wrong choices in my life, even as a Christ follower. Yes, I’ve repented of those choices but that doesn’t stop me or others from bringing up those choices and reminding me that I am such a failure. In fact, I had a person who said she was my friend chastise me when I was down on myself with “What’s wrong with you? You keep making bad choices!”
Yes, I have but at that moment, I needed someone to come alongside me and show me empathy, show me the love of Jesus rather than condemnation. I do quite well with that all by myself!
Fortunately, I did not turn away from the Lord or the church just because I’ve had hurtful people judge me. No, I looked to the Lord even moreso, His Word was my only comfort.
But what has struck me through the years is the direction the Lord has allowed me to serve. Ministering to women and children who have experienced abuse, using my compassionate heart to work with children who feel worthless, showing them that Christ gives us the worth that we need. And to love. You see, it’s those wrong choices that I made that God is using for me to minister to the hurting, the abused, the lost, the hungry and the people who are searching for one person to care about them.
And how do we learn to meet other’s needs? Through the reading of the word, but not only reading the Bible but listening to God. He will call you to certain phrases and Scripture that truly will speak to you…like God is directly talking to you! The best thing you can do when that happens is to obey. Don’t worry about doing it perfect…just do what God is calling you to do.
When we doubt that we can do it, look to the Lord and He will give you the strength to be faithful in this calling. We are all weak at times but when we are weak, His strength comes through. We know we cannot take credit for what we’ve done, we know that it’s the Lord who carries us.
Charles Stanley gives us insight concerning Gideon’s call from the Lord. “Gideon challenged the Lord in his calling; not once but twice. Gideon’s actions indicated that he really did not believe that God would do what He said He would do. Still, there was a great desire within his heart to trust the Lord, and this is what God saw in his life.” Stanley goes on, “The Lord calls us to a different path and walk. It is a walk of faith, and not one of fear, doubt and worry.”
Easter is this coming Sunday, attend church if you haven’t been there in a while. Start going if you’ve never gone before. Find a version of the Bible that you can understand and start reading it. Your faith will only get stronger as you obey His Word.
Psalm 46:1-2 is our comfort, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;”
Have a most blessed Easter!