“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?
““I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”” Jeremiah 1:5 NLT
Jeremiah was called before He was conceived.
Let that sink in.
Does that mean that God has a calling for each of us?
I think so.
I believe I have the choice of whether or not to follow that calling. But that doesn’t make the calling less valid.
Jeremiah followed his calling faithfully.
As a result, the people of Israel were given a chance to repent.
Eventually most did, largely because Jeremiah’s prophecies gave them hope for life after the exile.
I pray that when I follow my calling, people will find hope.
And faith.
And love.
What do you know about the calling God has for you? How closely have you followed that calling?
“That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.” 1 Samuel 5:5 NLT
This verse had to make me think, “How did he know?”
I’m sure the author wasn’t a Philistine so he must have heard a rumor of the superstitions of those who worshipped Dagon.
He knew better.
That empty idol had no power.
But he might not have realized that the ark had no power either.
The power was not in the ark but in the God that it represented.
He brought the plagues on the towns that hosted the ark for two reasons: • To make the Philistines realize that their idols were powerless and • To bring the ark back to Israel keep the Israelites from backsliding further.
God may have used the ark to encourage His people, but God is not found in any object no matter how beautiful.
The ark carried reminders of God’s Commandments and His faithfulness, but God is found in the hearts of His people.
Have you ever been tempted to put your faith in things that you can see and touch rather than the God who touches hearts? What keeps your faith strong in those times that nothing you see or touch seems to point to God?
“The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.” Isaiah 65:1 NLT
I caught a cold last weekend. Until today, I’ve just been powering through it.
Honestly, I only took today off because my workload was less, and it wouldn’t hurt anything to rest.
I’ve been taking meds and finally started taking supplements and the symptoms are improving slowly.
But reading this verse, I realized that I have barely mentioned this cold to God in my prayers.
My “power through it” mode didn’t leave much room for God’s help.
Maybe that’s kind of like what Israel was going through, though magnified in the extreme.
They got caught up in the region’s culture that valued military strength and local religious traditions.
They powered through, relying on their own strength rather than seeking the help and guidance of their Heavenly Father.
That didn’t go so well for them – at least until they turned back to God.
While my problems are minuscule compared to Israel when this verse was written, I can still learn from it.
As of today, I am expressly asking in God to carry me through this illness and to bring me back to strength quickly.
Don’t worry, I believe God would want me to continue to rest and take the right meds, But I will ask for help consistently in my prayers and be open to His guidance and support through it.
How quickly do you think of asking God for help in your day to day problems? What does it take for Him to get your attention?
“Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.” 1 Corinthians 12:1-2 NLT
I’m not sure why this is such controversial chapter.
Perhaps it is because we tend to focus on only parts of the chapter.
Dispensationalists tend to focus on these first two verses and a verse in the next chapter. They say the gifts are no longer needed and only lead people astray.
Pentecostals tend to focus on the gifts themselves. In my experience (as a long time Pentecostal) people can sometimes confuse emotions with spiritual gifts. That is an excellent reason to get to know the Bible well, because God will never contradict the Bible with a spiritual gift.
If you look at the whole chapter, the main point is how all the parts of the body of Christ work together. The gifts of the Spirit are the different functions of those parts that work together to make for a whole and healthy body.
We are still the functioning body of Christ so, yes, the gifts of the Spirit are still valid for today.
We do well to practice them as parts of the body of Christ.
Have you had difficulty making yourself available to the Holy Spirit to practice the gifts of the Spirit? Have you ever found yourself so focused on the gifts of the Spirit that you lost sight of their place in the Body of Christ?
“And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”” 1 Samuel 3:10 NLT
I’d like to say I’ve heard the audible voice of the Lord.
Nope, though I do believe that is possible.
I have learned to understand His leading most of the time.
It’s not easy to distinguish between God’s actual guidance and what our minds and emotions want to interpret as God’s leading.
But it can be done.
How?
Samuel taught us a few things about how to hear God.
• By getting close to God.
Samuel actually slept in the temple.
We can foster a close relationship with God by staying consistent in prayer and worship and digging into God’s Word.
• By seeking wise counsel.
Samuel went to Eli for guidance. Eli pointed him the right way.
• By asking God for guidance.
Samuel made himself available to listen and directly asked God to speak to him.
These steps might not open our ears to hear the audible voice of God, but they will help us be sensitive to God’s guidance in our lives.
When have you witnessed the guidance of God in your life? Have you ever misinterpreted God’s guidance in your life? How did you find out you were wrong?
“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.
Walk in the Light 