Faith Tested again…

All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:1–7)

Life is filled with tests of faith. Will I trust God in this situation or myself? The above passage is about fear of dying that led to a quarrel because the people were not trusting God to care for them. My fear today was not about water or dying, just about what people might think of my lack of social skills. It is part of an ADHD/Autism thing.

Today a group of quilters arranged a trip to Ronald McDonald House. I didn’t want to go, not due to a lack of interest but I’m not sure I know how to do a tour. I’m in my eighties and do not remember ever being in one. I feared doing and saying things that were not appropriate. And I kept arguing with myself about going and finally said, “Lord, show me what to do.” 

The bus would leave at 10:00, not giving me a lot of time. When I sat at my desk at 9:00, the top page on a stack of old calendar pages I use for scrap was out of place. Before putting it right, I turned it over and it said, “Do the things you fear. . . .” offering reasons why. It was not the Bible, but it echoed it:

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13–17)

Therefore I went, determined not to trust myself or listen to me, instead. And like a child with her hand in daddy’s hand, trusting God and speaking only when He prompted and I knew it was Him. Turned out the tour was a great experience in an incredibly well-run place. 

Jesus, I so often feel like a helpless child, but do not need to be fearful. You hold my hand and whisper in my ears and draw me close, giving me words to say, or not. After weeks of being ill and confined, entering normal life isn’t to be feared, even if it comes with an exam. Thank You for enabling faith.

 

Reasons to trust in and live for Jesus

Deuteronomy 23; Psalms 112–113; Isaiah 50; Revelation 20

A secular organization that I belong to is calling for people to serve on the executive. I’d like to be helpful but have reservations. Being a Christian is not popular in some circles. Even if Christians do a good job in leadership positions, some will not appreciate them and may even hate us simply because we believe in Christ. Dealing with the issues of serving on a committee or being a group leader has enough challenges without the tension and conflict from others who do not want Christians around.

That said, I’m not sure if God is asking me to volunteer or showing me that I’m a coward who isn’t interested in climbing up another learning curve. I do know that if I did serve in a committee in any secular organization, my faith in Jesus would be visible. So would His blessings on my life. I cannot boast that I deserve them, yet the people who do not know the amazing grace of God may not see it that way. In their minds, success is all about brains, hard work, luck and human effort, even though the Gospel says otherwise. The psalmist is more confident than I am:

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor. The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish! (Psalm 112:1–10)

This short psalm puts credit where it belongs. He gives me a heart to fear Him and delight in doing His will. He blesses my children and other Christians around me. He enlightens me regarding spiritual truth, takes care of all my needs and keeps me walking with Him. He picks me up when I fall and encourages virtues that otherwise I would not have. I am not fearful, not even about Covid-19 because He gives me a steady mind. I am certain of His care and His promises. Even if I give away something that I need myself, He will replenish my supply. Such grace is amazing.

Yes, Christians struggle with trials and sorrows and I can share those with others but must also say that God uses any negatives in my life to deepen my faith. I grow stronger because He is working all things for my good, to transform my life. (See Romans 8:28-29) I’m not being punished as some nonbelievers might suppose. (See Romans 8:1)

Another reason that Christians are not popular is that the Bible says when we trust Jesus, our names are in God’s book of life. That means no condemnation. I am left out of His final judgment:

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done . . . . Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11–15)

When people think favor with God is based on human performance, they assume those who claim His favor are arrogant and presumptuous. However, the Gospel is about His mercy and grace. Forgiveness and redemption is offered freely because Jesus died for our sin, not because we are better than everyone else. Such grace makes no sense to them.

How does this relate to my decision-making about serving in a secular organization? Am I being tested? Is my love for Jesus strong enough that I will go into situations where I can be misunderstood and even opposed? Am I willing to follow Him even if He takes me there?

APPLY: Pray more about this. Ask others to pray for me. Trust God with the answer. He knows whether I will glorify Him in this, or if the challenges will be too much for me. But also rejoice — no matter what He says, my eternity is secure. And no matter what my decision is, He wants me to be more like Jesus. I should be able to say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

 

Let Jesus be Seen

A Christian friend often says to other believers who are fearful, “Remember who you are.” I think of him when reading today’s verse.

 . . . and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. (1 Corinthians 3:23)

This verse is courage to those who know You, because by knowing You, what or who can harm us? We have Your Spirit as our strength and guide here on earth, and if harm should threaten, we know that You will take us to our eternal home.  

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

Tonight we watched the memorial service in Tucson for the victims of last Saturday’s shooting, an event we have followed on the news every day since it happened. We have heard many of those close to this tragedy declare their faith in You. Some have shared that loved ones who died also trusted You. It struck me as I listened to them and read these verses the significance of knowing who I am in Christ. How else can I put others first?

Two elderly couples were in the line of fire. Both of the men dove to protect their wives. One of them died doing so. His daughters declared that now he is walking with Jesus.

A tiny woman saw the gunman stop to reload. She dove at him and grabbed the second clip of ammunition, yanking it out of his hands. A white-haired man leaped on the gunman, and helped by a second retiree, they held him to the ground.

Several people rushed into the scene, not away from it. More than one of them immediately applied pressure to wounds, saving lives. The congress woman who was shot in the head is still alive because one man was not afraid to come to her aid and stay with her until help arrived.

Another man said that he was not a praying person, but when his loved one was hit, someone came to him, held his hand and prayed. He was deeply moved by this action of a stranger.

In the memorial service, several speakers read Scripture, including the Attorney General of the United States who had no words of his own, and the President who also spoke of You.

How many of these people know You? From what I heard and saw, many. By that, they ignored their own selves and even their own safety. They ignored politics and rhetoric. Obviously, some of them know the One who watches over them and their destination. They know You and to whom they belong.

Spurgeon had some interesting observations on this fragment of a verse. This is what You said to me as I read it . . . 

It is a sin to be overly modest about what You have bestowed upon me for the good of others. You do not intend that I be a village in a valley, but “a city set upon a hill.” You didn’t light my life so I could hide it under a bushel, but to share it with others. To hide my sinful self is fine, but to hide You who lives in me can never be justified. Further, keeping back truth which is precious to me is a sin against others and an offence against You also. Even as an introverted person, You do not want me to indulge my reticence lest I am useless to the church and to Your kingdom. In Your name and because You are not ashamed of me, I need to ignore and even sit on my feelings — and tell others what You have told me. If I cannot speak or write with great eloquence, then I must use the still small voice. You may not give me a pulpit nor many publishers, but I must still say as Peter and John said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee.”

If I cannot stand on a mountain, I can speak by a well or in a house or at a mall. If I cannot praise You in the marketplace, then I can do it in a garden or a field. If I cannot talk to the world, I can talk to the neighbor next door, or my grandchildren. I am not to hide the little talent that I have, but trade with it so You gain the interest of others.

You may never call me to dive in front of a bullet, but I must not let any fear — of bullets, or other people, or anything else — stop me from letting Your virtue be seen in my life.

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