What Are You Looking At?

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Numbers 13: 25-33

"What are you looking at, My Precious One?  What is it that you see that is making you draw back from the things I am calling you to do?  Do you see that what you are seeing is not what I see?  Your spiritual vision is both blurry and OUT OF FOCUS!

His words to me are like a daggers to my heart.  I long to follow My Lord where He leads me, but I am finding, right now, that my gaze seems to fall, far too often,  on the giants of my life.  While I am sure that God is able to do the "exceedingly abundant works" in and through me, my thoughts are consumed with what a "grasshopper" I am among my perceived giants.  While seeing my giants I am becoming more fully aware that what my weak eyes behold is not at all what God sees.

The Hebrews had the same problem.  It was time to enter into the land that God had promised them, but instead of believing that that land would be good for them as God had told them, and obeying His call to take the land as their own, they came up with their own "brilliant" idea.  Instead of entering in as an army of 603,550 able-bodied warriors (more than 1/2 a million!), as Numbers 1:46 records, the great plan of the people was to send in 12 men . . . 12 men!  Twelve men versus a half-million men with the Ark of the Covenant, the very Presence of God, leading the way!  Their 12 men brought their unbelief back from the Promised Land, but now it was in full bloom.  Though they had seen the great blessings of the land, the only thing that they truly were looking at were the giant men of the land.  Everything else was out of focus, but to them, the giants were the sharp image that was engraved on their unbelieving minds.  And they brought that picture into clear focus for all of the Hebrews.

"Why didn't they believe what I had already told them?  Why did they choose unbelief instead of faith?  They were afraid!  Don't you see that you are doing the same thing?  I have called you to a ministry, and I have shown you what the ministry will be.  Will you now come up with your own plan of attack that comes from a place of fear, a place that forgets or disbelieves Me and all I have let you see?"

Again, His painful questions penetrate my heart at just the place that my fear resides.  As I contemplate what He is saying to me, I am beginning to see with His eyes my own fear of the unknown, what my "entering in" is to look like, what the exact plan is to be when I cross into the borders, and the deadly "what if I fail?".   These are my giants that are holding me back, the biggest one being  my need to know the blueprint of His plan.  This is fear cloaked in control.

I don't know where this quote came from, but it has been taped to my bathroom mirror for several years now.  It has ministered to me on several occasions, especially during my book-writing days, but this morning it is an empowered banner that beckons me back to faith. His call to me is to step away from my own unbelief, to fall on my knees, and surrender all my "plans" and all my "giants"  to Him in faith that He will accomplish what He has said He will do.  I pray it is as much of a  blessing to you today as it is to me.

"Never give up on anything God has told you to believe for; never quit doing anything He has clearly shown you to do.  Your diligence will pay off with a blessing from God."

"Now, go My Precious One, and see what I see.  Focus on that!  'For I know the plans I have for you . . . plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope!'"  (Jeremiah 29:11)

Taking Aim

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Numbers 1: 47-54

Israel had now been in the wilderness just over one year.  Having stopped for a lengthy period of time at Mt. Sinai to receive the Law, God  told Moses and Aaron to count all the men who were old enough, and able enough, to go to war.  But there was one particular group that God did not want counted--the family of Levi.  He was setting them apart from the rest of the men to serve Him as priests of the Tabernacle. 

Beginning that day everything concerning the Tabernacle of His dwelling would be the work the Levitical priesthood was charged to do.  They would fight battles on a different front than the battalions God now was counting.  They would soon be waging war between a just God and the sins of all Israel, through their worship and their sacrifices and offerings on the altar.

But their work assignment involved so much more than that. For the priests, everything that they would do was to be focused primarily on God.  They were the first ones who would completely order their lives around God.  He clearly had designed it that way.  Not only would they be taking care of the tabernacle and its laver, altars, sacrifices, lampstand, table of showbread, veil and ark of the covenant, they were to station their tents immediately around this tent where God dwelt.  And when God said it was time to move to the next place, they would be the ones to pack up "God" and take Him with them.  God was, in all reality, at the center of their lives, for everything they would do was related to "keeping charge of the tabernacle."

Oh, believing friend, how this life is ours today as well!  As part of the royal priesthood (I Peter 2:9), we now carry the tabernacle of God in our hearts!  It is now our calling to make Him the very center of all that we think, say, and do.  God intentionally designed the lives of the Levitical priests to focus on and center around Him, creating a picture for us of what it means to be part of His royal priesthood now. Your hearts and mine are the very tabernacle of God!  How well are you keeping charge of your heart?  Is God the "bull's eye" of all you think, say, and do?  As His children, we are to keep Him in the center, the target we are aiming at in all things. 

Reach over your shoulder and pull an arrow from your quiver.  Set it in the string of your bow. Carefully, pull back the arrow, taking aim by aligning the point of the arrow with the bull's eye.  Now, gently release the arrow.  Did you hit the target? 

At the end of this day, count the number of arrows that hit the target.  Then count how many arrows you shot.  How did you do?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 40

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Day 40:  Now What About You?  (Romans 12)

The whole purpose of this 40 day devotional leading up to Easter was for you to focus on the experiences of real people in the Bible whose lives and hearts were resurrected by Jesus Christ, whose resurrection we celebrate today.  This devotional, if read every day, likely challenged, convicted, and humbled you as you read these incredible testimonies and answered honestly the questions that followed. If you have been challenged in your relationship with Christ, your attitudes, your mindsets, and your sinful ways, there is a very good chance that your heart is in the process of being resurrected to a new place of faith.

Can you see that new growth that comes from death to your flesh and surrender to Jesus?   Or are you still acting like the same person you were before your salvation?  What sins have you overcome since you have been saved?  Do you want to experience the kind of dramatic conversion that those you have been reading about the last 40 days, the kind of conversion that reveals to all who know you that you have been resurrected to a new life?  Do you struggle to know what is required of you?

Look at Romans 12: 1-2.  They hold the key.

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present (surrender) your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed (any longer) to this world, but be transformed (resurrected) by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Surrender everything to God!  That is true worship, and God expects it of us.  It is a reasonable request that, if He died for us, we would choose to live for Him! We must be conformed to what God wants, not what we want, because that is a worldly and selfish lifestyle.  By allowing God to convert your heart as you read, study, and apply the Word, and as you surrender to God completely, you can experience a  “Lazarus” resurrection—a calling forth from the way of death to the way of life.  This can be your resurrection day!  Hallelujah!

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 39

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Day 39:  Timothy (2 Timothy 1: 1-7)

It was time to write his beloved Timothy again.  Paul first wrote to him five years earlier, when Timothy was shepherding the new church at Ephesus.  That first letter had been full of instructions on how he should lead that church, in a God-pleasing way.  But this letter would be different.  Knowing his time was short, Paul sat down to write this letter to address how Timothy should guard the spiritual treasure he had in Christ.  But there was another reason he was writing, as well.  Paul wanted is dear friend, Timothy to come and see him—and soon!  So putting quill and ink to the parchment, he began.  ”To Timothy, my beloved son.”   It wasn’t long before Paul’s mind began to reminisce. . .

Timothy had always been a faithful co-laborer for Christ.  And his faith in Him was so much like Paul’s own.  How Paul loved Timothy.  He even called him his true child of the faith.  What a blessing he had been because he constantly lived out what he believed.  How Paul longed for him to come! There was still so much to share with him, so much Timothy needed to learn in order to serve God to the fullest.  Paul’s desire was to be used as an example, and that the words that he wrote would be a great encouragement to Timothy, even long after Paul was gone.

“For I am mindful of your sincere faith,” Paul continued his letter.  Pausing again, he considered why Timothy’s faith had been so sincere.  Timothy’s spiritual heritage was stronger than any other he had known.  Both his grandmother and his mother had trusted God and walked in faith in Him.  The influence of these two godly women greatly influenced the young life of Timothy.  Without seeing their faith in action, Timothy would not have become a man with resurrection power flowing forth from him.  Two strong generations produced a believer who was not afraid to stand for what he believed.  “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and discipline,” flowed on to the page of parchment.  How perfectly those words fit his beloved Timothy!

What does the spiritual legacy you are leaving your children look like?  Are you aware that the legacy they will carry on will look like what they have seen in you, not what they have heard you say?  Are you leaving a legacy for your co-workers and neighbors?  What do they see in you?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 38

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Day 38:  The Jailer, Paul, and Silas (Acts 16: 25-34)

Beaten and thrown into prison, chained by their ankles in the stocks, Paul and Silas began to pray aloud and sing praises to their God.  So loud were their prayers and praise, there was no one in the jail who did not hear their worship.  But the earthquake turned their concert of praise into screams of terror from their captive audience.  The violent shaking caused the foundations of the old jail to shift, and all the doors came unlatched.  Even the chains that held the prisoners to their cell walls broke loose. 

Awakened by the deafening and frightening sounds, the jailer arose to see an even more terrifying sight.  Having been charged to securely guard Paul and Silas, he knew that he would surely be killed for allowing the prisoners to escape.  Pulling the sword from its sheath at his side, the jailer was determined to end his own life; thus, he would avoid embarrassment.  With his sword poised, a tear ran down his cheek as he contemplated the shame his own family would surely endure.  But at that very moment, a shout rang out through the chambers of the jail.  “Do not harm yourself!  We are here!”  Calling for lights to be able to see and running into Paul and Silas’ cell, the jailer fell at the feet of the two. Hugging their feet, he wept for joy and relief that they had not fled.  

Something truly awesome had happened that night—things in the spiritual realm that the jailer had never before experienced.  Turning to his prisoners, he pleaded with them to tell him how he might be saved, for surely their God was the God he wanted to know.  They told him simply that he must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.   Trusting their testimony, he confessed his faith.  No longer caring what might happen to him, the jailer invited these Christian brothers to his home for a meal, these men who had once been his wards.  He took care of their wounds while Paul and Silas told his whole family how they too could be saved.

How do you react to the suffering and trials that come into your life?  Do you receive them from the hand of God?  Do you find ways to praise Him in the midst of your storms?  Or do you ask “why” and throw yourself a gigantic pity party?  Who might you influence, even to the point of salvation, with a testimony of praise and worship while you are being tested?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 37

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Day 37:  Saul and Ananias (Acts 9: 1-22)

Saul hated all Christians, and he wanted them dead.  They threatened the belief system upon which he had built his entire life.  He was more than happy to be used by his God to put an end to their destructive ways that threatened his religion.  As he traveled to Damascus, he had the support of the Jewish priests to bring all traitors of the Law back to Jerusalem.  He reveled in his thoughts while he approached Damascus, but suddenly his thoughts came to an abrupt halt.  The brightest light he had ever seen flashed around him, and being unable to withstand the power of it, he fell to the ground.  The men with him were startled as well, but it was the Voice that came from heaven that rendered them all speechless.  “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me?”

Who was this who knew him by name, Saul questioned with great fear in his heart.  Yet, something inside of him knew it was Jesus.  Getting up from the ground Saul quickly realized that he had been blinded, perhaps by the bright light itself.  The men that were with him led him into Damascus, and it was there that he waited for more instruction from the Lord.  Saul then chose to neither eat nor drink for the next three days.

Ananias was told by God to go to the place where Saul was staying.  Struggling with his assignment, he questioned the validity of Saul’s conversion.  He knew all too well of Saul’s brutality toward the believers in Jerusalem.  But God had clarified to him what Saul’s mission would be—he would be used to bring Jesus and salvation to the Gentiles.  God deemed Saul a “chosen instrument,” much to Ananias’ surprise.

Arriving at the house where Saul was staying, Ananias confirmed Jesus’ involvement in both of their lives.  Immediately Saul could see again, he was baptized by Ananias, and he began to prove to the Christians in Damascus that he solemnly believed that Jesus truly was the Messiah.

Do you think (like Saul might have) that your sins have been too great to be completely forgiven, let alone to be used by God for ministry?  Do you use that as an excuse to not serve Him as He desires?  Do you question the validity of the salvation of those who have greatly sinned?  Do you support those who are newly saved?  Are you a chosen vessel?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 36

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Day 36:  Cornelius and Peter (Acts 10)

Cornelius believed in the God of Israel even though he was a Gentile centurion.  He was a devout man who not only believed in God but acted on his faith in the things he did.  Cornelius was a compassionate man who always was compelled by his heart to give money to the poor, especially to the Jewish people.  And prayer occurred constantly throughout his day as he depended on and called out to Israel’s God.  He knew that the gods of his people were not THE God!  Now this same God had taken notice of his faith and sent an angel who told Cornelius to send for a man named Peter.

Peter’s recent vision allowed him to believe the men who now stood at his gate, beckoning him to come down and go with them to Cornelius.  God had shown him that He had no partiality to Peter and his people.  From now on all people would have an opportunity to be a child of God.  God told him through the vision that He had cleansed all people.  Cornelius and his people could never again be considered unclean.  Peter left with the men and went straight to Caesarea where Cornelius lived.

Arriving at Cornelius’ home Peter found that many people had gathered, relatives and friends of Cornelius.  What was God’s plan for Cornelius, Peter wondered?  When Cornelius described how he had come to seek Peter out, Peter could see the hand of God at work.  Now, Cornelius anxiously awaited a word from Peter.

Speaking of God’s impartiality, Peter began to lay out the entire plan of God’s salvation:  belief, reverence, and fear followed by a life of godly works that flow from that belief.  He spoke of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection and the peace that is found in a relationship with Him.  Then, as he continued, God’s Holy Spirit descended upon all who were in the room.  Cornelius, all of his family, and the friends he had invited were saved, filled with the Spirit, and baptized.  Cornelius’ faith in the God of the Jews had now become complete as he trusted in Christ, the King of the Jews.  That day Jesus became his Lord and Savior.

Are you living a religious life that includes aspects of faith and good deeds, but living it without Jesus being the Lord and Ruler of your life?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 35

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Day 35:  Peter  (Matthew 26: 31-35, 69-75)

Peter’s spiritual journey proved to be long and difficult—painful, to be exact.  His pride had gotten the better of him too many times to count.  But it hadn’t always been like that.  When he met Jesus on a deep sea fishing trip, Peter fell down at Jesus’ feet, proclaiming his sinful unworthiness.  That day he began his journey with Christ.

From the beginning there seemed to be favor on his life.  It was Peter who was called to walk on the water to Jesus.  It was Peter who first declared that Jesus was the Christ.  Christ said of his bold statement, “Upon this rock I will build My church.”  He was one of three who saw Jesus transfigured and was allowed to see Moses and Elijah as well.

Despite these incredible events, Peter seemed to keep trusting in himself.  He sank in the waves.  He thought it would be a great idea to build tents for Jesus and Moses and Elijah, pridefully hanging on to the fact that he had been a part of that powerful moment.  On that day, God spoke aloud and said, “Listen to My Son!”  But listening wasn’t Peter’s strong suit, either.  He can be found on the pages of the Bible usually speaking with great devotion, but little follow through.  “I will never fall away.  I will never deny You,” are the words that surely played over and over in his head along with his three denials of Christ just before His trial.  Had Jesus not said, “You will deny me three times”?

Peter’s pride had caused him to rely more on himself than to trust in Jesus and His word, and he paid a bitter price for it.  I wonder if anyone has wept harder over their sins than Peter.  On the other hand, it’s possible that no one understands forgiveness to the same degree as Peter.  After the failure of falling to pride, Peter received his forgiveness and went on to preach salvation with a boldness that caused thousands to be born again.  Thus, the early church was born, and he learned to tenderly care for and feed God’s sheep.  In the two letters of Peter that have been preserved in the Bible, he feeds us today, as well.

What sins cause you to deny Jesus?  How do you trust more in yourself than in Jesus and His Word?  What have been the results of such a walk?  Is repentance your next step, or will you deny that it needs to be?

THE RESURRECTED LIFE -- Day 34

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Day 34:  Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8: 25-40)

It simply made no sense to the Ethiopian.  In all of his studies, learning to keep accounts, he had never read anything as confounding as these words of a prophet named Isaiah.  Setting the book down in front of him, he buried his head in his hands.  “Oh God, I want to understand!  Please help me know what this means!  Show me, somehow!”

Philip’s time in Samaria had come to an abrupt end.  Now God was calling him simply to “go south.”  Obeying God’s voice, he was heading toward Gaza when he came upon a beautiful chariot.  “Surely this belongs to a wealthy man,” Philip thought.  But his ramblings were inter-rupted by the Spirit’s voice once again.  “Go up to him and his chariot,” was the simple command.

Hearing the man reading from Isaiah, Philip approached him and asked whether or not he understood what he was reading.  Indicating that he couldn’t possibly understand without help, Philip saw an open door and began to minister to him.  Beginning with the very passage the eunuch had just been reading, Philip preached Jesus to him, sharing with him the entire gospel of salvation.  Philip was unaware that this man was returning from Jerusalem where he had gone to worship a God he didn’t yet know, and that he had, just moments before, asked God to answer his questions about what he was reading in Isaiah.   God answered the Ethiopian’s prayer by using Phillip to lead the man to believe that Jesus was God’s very own Son and Messiah!  A divine appointment indeed!

                

For awhile they traveled together in the chariot, but it wasn’t long before they came upon a body of water.  The man desired greatly to be baptized into the faith, and Philip immediately obliged. Because of Philip’s obedience to the Spirit’s call, the eternity of the Ethiopian eunuch was changed forever.  Who knows how many came to a saving knowledge of Christ through this man who couldn’t understand Isaiah.

Do you know the voice of the Spirit?  Do you obey Him when He speaks to you, or do His plans seem too strange to obey?  Are you sharing the message of Christ with others?  If you are, do you share from where YOU are at in understanding the gospel, or from where THEY are?