“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 NLT
This week I was talking with an acquisition editor for a company that puts out devotional books. He said they were looking for devotions for men.
Like the car nut that I am, I suggested a classic car-based devotional.
He didn’t think it would fly.
That couldn’t stop me from trying my hand at one.
Don’t worry, I won’t do this for the next 30 Saturdays. But let me know if you like it:
In the early 1960’s, British company AC Cars teamed up with Ford to produce a lightweight sports car with V8 power. The result was a very fast car that could handle the corners of European Racing.
Racing team owner Carroll Shelby brought them to the US, beefed the chassis up and fit them with a huge 427 cubic inch engine for racing. Unfortunately, he could not build enough to officially race, but they would have been a formidable force on the track.
Today, original Shelby Cobras sell for over a million dollars. Even replicas like the one shown can go for $100.000.
As believers, God has already fitted us with the incredible power of the Holy Spirit.
Often, we carry around the heavy baggage of sin, distractions, and discouragement. It’s like we have the Cobra engine in the huge Ford Galaxy.
That extra weight greatly hinders what the Holy Spirit can do through us.
The result is a comfortable but ineffective life.
If we were to strip away the weight of sin, distraction, and discouragement, just imagine what the Lord could do with us.
Then, we could truly run the race to win.
What weighs down your life? What are you doing to shed that extra weight?
““Shout to Judah, and broadcast to Jerusalem! Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land: ‘Run for your lives! Flee to the fortified cities!’” Jeremiah 4:5 NLT
Our college newspaper was called “The Jeremiad” because they always printed bad news.
And that’s what Jeremiah was best known for.
How would you like it if God asked you to got tell a country that they were about to be invaded because of their sin. Not the most fun job assignment.
I am at a writer’s conference this week.
Sometimes writers feel like Jeremiah, called by God to bring news that some might not be excited to hear.
It’s easy for writers to get discouraged when we run into roadblocks to publication. When the calling is clear, we work past that discouragement and persevere until the right door opens.
I write this not to solicit sympathy (though I wouldn’t mind some prayer that the right doors be opened for my Wil Clarey series).
I am confident in God’s calling for my writing and know the right doors will open at the right time.
But God’s calling comes in many shapes and in many ways.
If you have heard God’s call on your life, know that if God is in it, nothing can stop it. Don’t give up when it gets tough.
Keep doing what you need to fulfill your end of God’s calling and wait for God to open the right doors, even if you are called is to tell a whole nation to repent.
What has God called you to? What do you need to do to prepare for it?
“My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.” Psalms 62:7 NLT
David was a poet.
David was a King.
But here, in this Psalm, David was a warrior.
His battles were fought for the Lord alone.
He accepted honor from God alone.
Yet we do well to honor him still as he laid the groundwork for our Messiah to come and bring us spiritual freedom.
This weekend we honor those who gave their lives for us in the US military.
Many, if not most fought for God.
All fought to win and maintain our freedom.
We do well to honor them!
As you enjoy the weekend with your family, traveling or relaxing at home, take some time to honor those who gave everything that we may be a free nation under God.
If there is someone you know of that gave their life in military service for our country, feel free to name them here.
I’ll start with Staff Sargent Howell Thompson, USMC, my great uncle (Grandma Clarey’s brother). Lost over the Bermuda Triangle on December 5, 1945 along with 26 other Marines and Navy airmen.
“Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.” John 21:3 NLT
There’s not a lot of detail before this story. We know that Jesus already appeared to the disciples. Apparently, some time had passed, and the disciples had been waiting.
Peter got impatient.
Maybe they were running out of food or money.
Maybe they were just bored.
But Peter said I’m fishing, and the others followed his lead back to their old profession.
It might have been the wrong thing to do.
They probably should have had more faith and patience.
But Jesus met them where they were, though He had to get their attention through the fish.
He then went out of His way to make sure that Peter felt forgiven from his denials (ch 18) and that knew he was to lead Jesus’ followers.
Sometimes we miss the path that God set before us.
We may not be doing anything bad, but God might have a better path for us.
Rest assured that He will meet us where we are and guide us to where we should be.
We have only to listen and trust.
What course corrections has God made in your life? What did it take to get your attention?
“May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”” Ruth 2:12 NLT
We are saved by grace alone, not by works.
The idea of karma and “What goes around comes around” is misleading.
But let’s be honest, the good things we do often have good results.
Thankfulness to and love for God are far better reasons to do good.
But I don’t think it’s harmful to believe that when we are faithful, generous, and diligent, we are likely to reap some reward for that here on earth.
The reward may only be the satisfaction of knowing you did well.
Then again, sometimes we see a more tangible reward. Promotions, raises, respect, and even gifts are often rewarded to those who are faithful, generous, and diligent.
Ruth is a prime example of blessings received from faithfulness.
Those blessings should not be expected but they can be appreciated and gracefully accepted like in Ruth’s story.
Have you seen blessings as a result of faithfulness, generosity, or diligence? How did you handle it?
“I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”” Isaiah 49:4 NLT
Isaiah was what Bible scholars call a Major Prophet.
He not only spoke out against the enemies of Israel; he advised kings and gave numerous Messianic predictions that came true with Jesus.
Yet here he testifies that he felt useless.
There are times that I can relate, though I certainly can’t compare to the likes of Isaiah.
But, if I make myself available to the Holy Spirit, I do believe that I can be effective to bring people closer to God.
A famous TV chef in the 80’s, Martin Yan, used to always say, “If Yan can cook, so can you!”
With that in mind I think Isaiah would say, “If God can use me, He can use you!”
Have you ever felt discouraged especially in how effective your ministry is? Have you ever left the real work up to the Holy Spirit?
“Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, “She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” “Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,” Isaac replied.” Genesis 26:9 NLT
Isaac must have learned from his dad Abraham.
It didn’t really work for Abraham. Why did Isaac think it would work for him?
I think Isaac trusted his own wits more than he trusted God’s protection.
God chose to protect Isaac and Rebekah anyway.
So did it make any difference that he lied?
I’m sure it didn’t do wonderful things for the relationship between Isaac and Rebekah.
It could also have been a root of the bitterness between Israel and the Philistines.
That, of course, is something we will never know for certain.
What is certain is that lying because we don’t trust God to keep us safe won’t do us any favors. It may help us in the moment but in the long run, it will cause us more grief than it saved.
If we can trust God for our salvation, we can Him to protect us for eternity.
Have you had times when you lied to try to protect yourself? Have you trusted God to protect you in a difficult situation? How did either of those work out for you?
Walk in the Light 