In the Fire, Not Out

But now, this is what the Lord says—
   he who created you, Jacob,
   he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
   I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
   they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
   you will not be burned;
   the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom
   Cush and Seba in your stead.

Isaiah 43:1-3 (NIV)

"What's the worse that could happen?" Does that question send a shiver down your back? Does a list start to form in your mind? Is there a catalog of past disasters from your live that you can review? I don't know about you but, sometimes I feel like my life is Murphy's Law incarnate. 

The truth is that God doesn't promise that we won't go through hard times, he does promise to be with us. He does promise that we won't be swept up or burned as we pass through the waters and the fire. He create us, formed us, and redeemed us. 

I think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3). Because they would not bow down to the ninety foot image of gold they were condemned to death in the fiery furnace. The fire was so hot it killed the men who put them in the furnace. But, God was with them and they were protected from the flames. God was glorified in their trial. I will repeat. God was with them in the flames. 

What flames are you in right now? Know that God is with you. He created you, formed you, and redeemed you. He promises to be with you. 

Father, open our eyes to see you in the fire. Praise be to you in us today!

Scripture, Your Guide or Your Tool?

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

II Peter 1:20-21

I recently just celebrated my eighteenth wedding anniversary. I'll tell you one thing I don't do and that is try and use the Bible to get my wife to act a certain way. I do try to read the Bible and by faith do what it says, like love my wife. How does Christ love me? That is how I should love my wife. 

The deal is that we seek to find God's will, not something in the Bible that backs up our will. 

A friend of mine once told me that you could make the Bible say anything you wanted. I said, "Really, what about where it says to not commit adultery?" Actually, you can misinterpret the Bible to say whatever you want, but, that is different than reading the Bible and just manipulating parts to say things the Spirit of God never intended to say. 

The key is God's will. Am I trying to find out what God has for me or am trying to figure out a way to get God to do what I want for me? 

Do You Need a Word?

Does anyone need a word of encouragement? Perhaps this is for you...

“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen,
   you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth, 
   from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
   I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 
“All who rage against you 
   will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
   those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies, 
   you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.
For I am the Lord your God 
   who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 
   Do not fear; I will help you.
Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, 
   do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord,
   your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
“See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, 
   new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
   and reduce the hills to chaff.
You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,
   and a gale will blow them away.
But you will rejoice in the Lord
   and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:8-16 (NIV)

Is Your Trial God's Protection?

The living, the living - they praise you,
   as I am doing today;
fathers tell their children
   about your faithfulness.
The LORD will save me,
   and we will sing with stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
   in the temple of the LORD.
Isaiah 38:19-20

It's funny how some "tough" situations can be God's protection. When I first started teaching I was worried that some more experienced teacher might bump me out because of seniority. Finally, one of the veteran teachers said, "No one wants your job. No teacher who is from one of the "good" areas is going to want to come down here to South Central and teach." She was right. Although I got pink slips (saying my position was in danger) for my first few years, never once did I come even close to losing my job or position. God placed me in a class that no one else wanted. I was safe there. 

Where are you now? Are you in a tough position? Maybe a job or assignment that is not all that glamorous? Maybe God has you there to protect you. He definitely wants to reveal his faithfulness to you. Remember that  God's love for you is unfailing and his faithfulness is unchanging. Thank you, Lord!

Father, help us to trust you where we are at and thrive. Praise be to you in us today!

What's Your Anguish?

But what can I say? 
   He has spoken to me, 
   and he himself has done this.
I will walk humbly all my years
   because of this anguish of my soul.
Lord, by such things people live;
   and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health
   and let me live.
Surely it was for my benefit 
   that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me
   from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sins
   behind your back.
Isaiah 38:15-17 (NIV)

I don't know about you, but sometimes (well, most of the time) I don't know what God is doing. I mean, I know his ultimate goal is to shape me into the image of his son, Jesus Christ. It's just specifically, at the moment I don't often "see" what God is about. I have to take it by faith that he is working all things out for my good.

King Hezekiah was suffering from a life threatening illness when he cried out to God. God answered and healed him. It was after he was healed that he could say that it was for his benefit that he suffered such anguish. It humbled him. And humility is when we see ourselves correctly or truthfully before God. 

You may be going through some form of anguish. I am. Like Hezekiah we can only call out upon God and seek him. He will keep us from the pit of destruction and put all our sins behind his back. 

Father, hear our prayers and see our anguish. Praise be to you in us today!

Are You a Bit Shaken?

Strengthen the feeble hands,
   steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
   “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
   with divine retributionhe will come to save you.”
Isaiah 35:3-4 (NIV)

Just a little reminder: God is Sovereign, he has unfailing love for you, and he will save you.

Comfort and Protection in His Light

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

II Peter 1:19

I was watching a survival show last week and the situation was a guy stranded on an island for ten days. The first thing he did was set up shelter and make a fire. He said he needed the fire at night not just to keep warm and see but to protect him from the wild animals at night. The Bible not only gives us guidance but protection.

One of the actions the survivalist took was to stay near his fire at night. The fire provided the warmth and protection he needed. Reading the Bible on a daily basis is not about works, it's about staying connected to God. It's about staying near the comfort and protection of living by faith Christ. Having a time with God is not about being able to say to God that he owes you because you pray and read the Bible daily, it's about being reminded that God hears your prayers, that God is faithful, that he doesn't always answer what we want to hear but he will never leave us nor forsake us. We pay attention to his light because we need to stay connected to our Lord and Savior. 

Father, help us to pay attention to the word of the prophets mad more certain in Christ. Praise be to you in us today!