Lord, we will fail, but You do not! Thank you for the confidence we can have because of what you've done for us. Thank you, Jesus, that by your worthiness and righteousness, our sins are covered over! Help us to honor You today in our words, thoughts, and deeds. May we stand on your truth about us, that we are are justified (Rom. 5:1), we are redeemed (Col. 1:14), and we are chosen (Jn. 15:16). Keep us from the snares of guilt and doubt!
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"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." - Ephesians 3:20 Empty jars. The little house is full of them. Curved clay vessels sit stacked on benches, tables, even the earthen floor. Their round mouths gape black...wanting. The widow crouches down, holding her own meager jar of oil in arms that once cradled the two young men at her side. The oldest puts his hand on her shoulder and finds her gaze. How much he looks like his father... The same deep, soulful brown eyes search hers with expectancy, with hope. The younger carries over an empty jar, setting it on the ground at their feet. For a moment the three look at one another, volumes of love and years of life shared in the silence. The woman takes a breath, and begins to pour... In 2 Kings 4, the Bible tells us a story of a widow who had nothing except a little oil, and was in danger of losing her sons as payment for her husband's debts. In her distress she appealed to God through the prophet Elisha, who told her, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few." Next, he instructed her to pour oil into all the jars (2 Kings 4:3-4). Let's imagine for a minute that the widow was too embarrassed to ask her neighbors for the jars for fear she would be laughed at or refused. Everybody knows I have nothing, I'll look ridiculous asking for jars to hold oil I don't even have! What will people think of me? Or what if she had been too prideful? Too lazy? Why should I have to do all that work? God could just clear all my debts in the blink of an eye if He really wanted to! Perhaps she might have doubted God would come through for her, and rather than stepping out in faith she stepped back in disappointment. God would never do that for me... Do you think God would have moved as powerfully if the widow had allowed herself to be paralyzed by fear? Does He anoint laziness or promote the proud? Matthew 13:58 tells us Jesus was unable to perform many miracles in his hometown due to the people's lack of faith. If the widow had lacked the faith for the miracle at hand, do you think God would still have performed it? When God calls us to take risks for Him, to pursue something that seems out of our reach, it can be easy to lose ourselves to fear, laziness, pride, or doubt. Rather than risking selflessly, we run selfishly. But our faith is a faith in action! It is a living, breathing faith that requires our partnership with God. Our key verse tells us He is able to do far more than anything we could ask for—things beyond our wildest dreams!—but if we want Him to work through us, we actually have to do something! Just as the widow collected the empty jars, so we must make faith-spaces in our lives for God to fill with His power. Maybe God is asking you to commit to serving in an area at your church, or to take a risk by pursuing your dream. Or perhaps He's simply asking you to persevere, to keep putting one foot in front of the other on the path of day-to-day life. Whatever the task, our job is to do what we can—what He's calling us to do—and trust Him for the increase! Reflection Questions
"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." -Hebrews 12:1 Hectic. Stressful. Exhausting. These words swim in my head as I consider the past week. My son just started Kindergarten and as a family we are smack dab in the middle of transitioning into the school routine—rushed breakfasts, half-brushed hair, haphazardly made lunches, and tearful goodbyes have suddenly shoved their way into our schedules. On top of that, I agreed to manage two of my mother's businesses while she's vacationing out of the country and babysit my sister's one-year-old, all the while trying to juggle the responsibilities of my own family, house, and job without losing my mind. If I were running a race, I'd be zig-zagging through every lane, in danger of falling flat on my face! The result of my overburdened schedule? An irritating case of writer's block. Every time I sat down to write, I struggled to clear the debris of the day from my tired mind as my stubborn, heavy eyelids refused to cooperate and my gaze wavered from the blank computer screen. The weight of everything that still needed my attention—dirty laundry, a sticky dinner table, gritty floors—sat heavy on my shoulders, crushing any creative inspiration. Frustrated and unfocused, I pushed writing to the sidelines. And as I continued to run my marathon of many tasks, it became harder and harder to get back to it. I was losing myself in the clutter of extra responsibilities. When we say "yes" to every seemingly good opportunity that comes our way, we run the risk of neglecting our calling. Hebrews 12:1 states, "...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (emphasis mine)." Like lanes on a track, God has laid our unique path and purpose before each of us with the intention that we should remain focused, diligent, and steadfast in our calling. There will be times when God calls us to step outside of our lane, to help others above and beyond our normal, day-to-day routines. But the danger lies in crafting people-pleasing and overachieving into a lifestyle. In doing so, we lose sight of the One who is blazing the trail ahead of us. Our eyes become fixed on those whose approval we desire, rather than on Him who has already given us His approval. So how do we continue on in the race, embracing selflessness without losing ourselves? By guarding our calling! We should prayerfully consider each opportunity that comes our way, and follow the Spirit's lead. We must learn the effectiveness of a godly "yes" and the empowerment of an appropriate "no". These two little words will determine whether we finish strong...or crawl across the finish line. And above all, let's fix our eyes on Jesus—with a singular focus and an undivided heart, we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us! Reflection Questions
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DEVOTIONS
for PERSONAL STUDY & PRACTICAL APPLICATION Archives
October 2021
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