Lessons From Climbing a Mountain

Last year I was blessed to go on a mission’s trip to Alaska. While I was there I was able to hike up a mountain. As I reflected on this experience there were three lessons that I felt transferred over to our spiritual life.

-The climb is hard but always worth it
-Be careful coming down the mountain, it is easy to get lost
-Don’t chase after rabbits

Let me explain these to you. First of all we need to understand and grasp spiritual perseverance. Living the Christian life, just like climbing that mountain is really hard. There are many obstacles in the way. The biggest obstacle climbing the mountain was gravity. As a passionate follower of Jesus Christ you are going against gravity so to speak. It is totally against the cultural and worldly norm. To be passionate for Christ, to stand on the truth of Scripture will cost you and will be difficult. However, just like getting to the top of the mountain and seeing God’s beautiful creation one day we will be in the glorious presence of our beautiful God. That my friends, is worth it!

If you have been following Christ for some time now you have probably experienced “mountain top” experiences with Jesus. The general observation is that right after the “mountain top” experience comes a desert experience. We must be careful coming down the mountain, it is very easy to get comfortable and lose our way. As I came down the mountain I jumped from rock to rock and if I would have lost focus for one second I would have been in trouble. We must stay focused on Christ in our lives, it is essential to our growth, our effectiveness, and our relationships that Jesus is the center.

The last lesson that I learned was not to chase after rabbits. We took a dog with us and coming down the mountain the dog decided to chase after a rabbit. She got lost and we had to leave without her. The dog was lost all night on that mountain until we drove back the next day and found her. The lust of the eyes can quickly distract us and take away our eternal focus. Don’t we know this to be true? How often does sin seem so good at the time and afterwards you realize how far away it has pulled you from God. It brings on feelings of guilt and shame, it makes us want to isolate ourselves and hide. It is a formula that drives us to stay in our sin instead of restoring our fellowship with God knowing that we are forgiven and that he is with us through it all.

I want to encourage you today to persevere, make sure Christ is the center, and keep your focus on the eternal.

Further Reading: Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36

God Has No Problems, Only Plans

"Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see." — Corrie ten Boom

Do you ever look at your life and ask the question, “How in the world did I end up here?” Or maybe you are at the point in life and are saying, “God what in the world do you want me to do and where do you want me to go?” Often times when we look back on life we see the hand of God guiding and directing us to where we are now. God puts people in our lives for a reason and uses our circumstances to accomplish his purpose.

In 1 Samuel chapter 9 we see a man named Saul who one day goes out to look for his father’s lost donkeys. After searching far and wide they do not find the donkeys. As they were about to depart for home Saul’s servant suggests talking to the man of God in the town which was Samuel. God put Saul and Samuel in the right place at the right time. God is always at work changing lives and working out his plan for his glory. Are you at a crossroad in life? Are you wondering why you are in the situation you are in or why you “just happened” to cross paths with certain people? There is no "just happened" in God’s economy, there is only a sovereign plan by an Almighty God who is in control.

Many times God uses the simple to do the extraordinary. Everything does happen for a reason. Today allow God to guide you, direct you, and lead you. Pray to your Creator, give him your cares, worries, doubts, and allow the peace that passes all understanding to guard your heart and mind. When you surrender the steering wheel of your life to God that is when the real journey begins. Enjoy the ride.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 9-11, Romans 8:28-29

The Significance of Insignificance

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” - Philippians 2:3

Have you ever felt insignificant? The interesting thing about insignificance is that there is always a comparison. As human beings we have an innate nature to compare ourselves constantly to everyone and everything. For example, the majesty of nature many times can make us seem insignificant, or sometimes when we have negative self images we compare ourselves to others and the feelings of insignificance come. I don’t want to say it is wrong to feel this, I actually believe it is quite a good feeling when it is compared to the right person, and that person is Jesus Christ. The significance of insignificance is what we see in Biblical humility.

In the passage we see in Philippians 2:3 the word humility can be defined as an inside-out virtue produced by comparing ourselves to the Lord rather than others. This word humility also implies living on total dependence on the Lord with no reliance on self. A few verses later we see that Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Jesus came down to our level and lived a life of total dependence on his Father. In a culture that constantly bombards us with entitlement, the idea that we deserve to be served we often forget to count others more significant than ourselves.

A good friend of mine once told me, “Don’t take yourself too seriously.” We often times take ourselves way too seriously. We think God needs us, we don’t compare ourselves with an Almighty, Holy, Loving, Gracious, Merciful, Sacrificing, God. When we allow our minds to be transformed and our perspective to shift we then begin to understand the significance of insignificance. What or who are you comparing yourself to? The only standard of measure we have is Jesus Christ and we all fall short of the glory of God. Thanks be to God for the humility of Christ Jesus to be the sacrificial atonement for our sins that we may have the righteousness of Christ applied to our account. I pray that today we would walk in humility and count others more significant than yourself.

“The fear of the LORD is instruction and wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” - Proverbs 15:33

Further Reading: Philippians 2, Acts 20:17-38

Return to the Lord

“...If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only...”
- 1 Samuel 7:3

To return is the act of repentance. Many of us have a misunderstanding of what true Biblical repentance is. There are two sides to it, first there is the emotional response, a feeling of regret or sorrow. This is not an overwhelming sense of guilt or shame which can lead us away from God but a sorrow that draws us closer to God. The second part of repentance has to do with changing one’s mind about sin. A repentant person will still sin at times but instead of reveling in that sin, one who is truly repentant will confess that sin and direct their heart to the LORD. It is very important to understand that when turn from sin you must turn toward God.

Israel had not heard anything from Samuel for 20 years and the first thing out of his mouth is call them to repentance. Their idolatry has led them away from God and Samuel gives them 3 commands:

1.) To turn away from idolatry
2.) To direct their heart to the LORD
3.) To serve him alone

What idols have crept into your life that you need to turn away from? What sin is gripping you with guilt or shame? Repentance is an amazing gift from God. Even though we mess up the grace of God is bigger than our sin. Take some time today to talk with God. Turn, Direct, & Serve. Confess your sin to God and ask him to change your mind about sin and to direct your heart wholly to him.

“As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” - 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

Further Reading: 1 Samuel 7, 2 Corinthians 7, Romans 2:4

The Battle is God's

“...Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” - 2 Chronicles 20:15b

Who is fighting your battles?

Battles seem to be a constant part of life, don’t they? It seems just when we get through the storm and have a glimpse of calm the clouds come rolling in again. This life is not easy, Peter urges us in 1 Peter 2:11 to “abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” There is a spiritual war going on that we cannot see with our eyes but it is very real. Many of the battles we are fighting are much deeper and more unseen than we realize. The enemy is real, he hates that Jesus is saving people, and wants to steal, kill, and destroy. One of his greatest tactics is to make us try to fight the battles in our own strength.

As a child of God, a new creation, bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ you have ammo. In fact you have the creator of the ammo. You even have the God who holds the universe in his hands on your side. In fact, your father is that God who holds the universe in his hand. He created, he is the beginning and the end and if you need reassurance of that read Revelation 21.

Jehoshaphat found himself faced with opposition, an intense battle that seemed to have no hope was coming his way. He sought the LORD and chose to exercise faith. He didn’t try to fight the battle in his own strength but trusted wholly on the LORD. He understood that his God, our God is greater than the battles we face. He understood what total dependence on God was and he went to battle with his faith and the land of Judah’s faith fully in the LORD his God.

Today I want to encourage you to know and hold your position in Christ.

“...Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” - 2 Chronicles 20:17b

Further Reading: 2 Chronicles 19 & 20

30 Days of Devotion

One of my passions is to share what God is doing and speaking to me through writing. Devotional writing and encouragement is a favorite of mine and I have really lacked recently due to just the busyness of life and ministry. I feel that God has given me a desire to write and it is amazing to hear random people I have never met send me messages about what they read of my blog.

This has led me to realize that I need to be more committed to writing and place a higher priority on it. Over the next 30 days beginning on March 1st I am setting myself the goal to write 1 devotional a day on this blog. I pray that these devotionals will be an encouragement to you and draw you closer to Jesus Christ. I hope you join me on these 30 days of devotion. See you tomorrow :)

Paradise

And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." - Luke 23:43

As I am studying for the upcoming Labels Retreat I am find myself having a deeper understanding of the grace of God. Try to picture yourself on the cross as Jesus would have been. There are robbers on each side of you. The crowd is mocking you, your body is broken, and your limbs are pierced. You know you must die for the sins of the world but the pain and agony is intense. Then one of the robbers gets it. He repents and puts his faith in a man almost dead on a cross. Can you imagine what joy that must have brought Jesus right before his death? He was able to restore life to a dead person right before he himself would die. Jesus took a man who was labeled a robber and a criminal and labeled him forgiven and free.

John Calvin says, "We ought not to enter into curious and subtle arguments about the place of paradise. Let us rest satisfied with knowing that those who are engrafted by faith into the body of Christ are partakers of that life, and thus enjoy after death a blessed and joyful rest, until the perfect glory of the heavenly life is fully manifested by the coming of Christ."

Today reflect on that Paradise. If you have put your faith and trust in Christ, if you have accepted his grace and forgiveness in your life know that you will be with him in Paradise. Just like the thief on the cross, no matter what we have done Christ has died to set us free.

Spiritual Inventory

"And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart." - 2 Chronicles 25:2

Have you ever taken a "Spiritual Inventory?" Often times in life we get caught in the motions. We often times do things but don't even know why we do them. Have you ever taken a moment to think about your motives? You see, there is a difference between a right heart and a whole heart. God desires a whole heart. He wants all of us. He expects nothing less than wholehearted devotion. In 2 Chronicles 25 we find the story of King Amaziah who does what was right in the eyes of the LORD yet was halfhearted which led to steady degeneration rather than radical reversal.

A few chapters later you see King Hezekiah, a man serving the LORD with a whole heart. My prayer for you is that you will take time for a "spiritual inventory." Change begins when we are honest with ourselves so the question is, "will you be honest with yourself?" Allow God to give you a heart fully devoted to him.

"Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered."
- 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Where is God?

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." - Habakkuk 1:5

When the LORD spoke this to Habakkuk it wasn't good news. If you are like me I guarantee you have been in Habakkuk's shoes. When the circumstances looked hopeless, when violence and destruction was running rampant and God seemed to be nowhere in sight he cried out with the words,

"O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?
Or cry to you Violence! and you will not save?" - Habakkuk 1:2

Have you ever been disappointed when God doesn't seem to be answering prayers? Are you ever frustrated at God when it seems that sin is going unpunished and there is no justice for the oppressed? This is how Habakkuk felt and in the verses 2-4 of chapter 1 he lets God know how he feels. God's response comes in verse 5.

The LORD responds by saying I am working, actually I am going to use a more wicked nation to punish a less wicked one. Habakkuk cannot understand why God would do this and often times we can't understand why God works the way he does. In our lives circumstances and situations often leave us questioning God which is ok as long as we are ok with God's response to us. Habakkuk learned some very important lessons and truths that changed him and strengthened his faith. God is just and merciful and will punish all the wicked at the right time. His timing is perfect and no matter what the circumstances are he is working everything out for His glory and our betterment.

At the end of the book we see a radically changed Habakkuk. He began by informing God how to run his world and ended by trusting that God knows best and will bring about justice. Amid suffering and loss, Habakkuk has learned that he can trust God, and with that trust comes great joy, not in circumstances but in God himself.

"God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on high places."
Habakkuk 3:19

What To Do With Death

There are only three things we can do about death: we can desire it, fear it, or ignore it. When you think about people in general often times the typical response to death is to ignore it. We don’t want to think about it and we feel if we just push it under the rug it makes our conscious feel better.

Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The cold hard facts are that we all are going to die one day. Many people were brought to Christ because they didn’t want to go to hell. They had to take a serious look at death and decide for themselves what they believed was after that. In this world a large percentage of the population are without a Savior and find themselves trying to figure out that question. God determines our days, he decides when we begin and when we end. When we understand this fundamental truth it seems preposterous not to put our faith in trust in him.

I love what Paul says in Philippians 1:21-23, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

That is the confidence and hope we have in Christ Jesus. Once we understand that truth as odd is it may seem we can actually embrace the fact that we one day will die. This is not a sad or morbid thing but a glorious transformation as we enter into the presence of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Does the thought of death freak you out? Do know anyone that is fearful of death or choosing to ignore the thought of it? I would encourage you to dive into the Scriptures, to know the God who is in control, and to live in the peace and security that comes in Christ Jesus. My prayer today is that your desire would be to live in fruitful labor for Christ and that you would have a deep longing to be with Jesus.