Along the Way

Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem. – Luke 13:22

When I read this passage the other morning it caught me so off guard I had to take a moment to consider this short verse and its incredible impact.  Perhaps you're like me.  You get so focused on where you're headed that you don't even realize what you're passing along the way.  Have you ever gotten in the car headed to a pretty routine place (maybe school or the grocery store) and suddenly you're there?  You don't remember stopping at the lights or merging into the next lane.  Honestly, you're kind of hoping you didn't break any traffic laws getting there! 

Too often that's how we live our lives.  We have an end destination in mind that we're so focused on reaching we don't even realize we're living day by day.  We get to the end of a week and think Man!  Is it Friday already?  That's why this verse is so important.  Jesus had a destination.  He was headed to Jerusalem, but consider the multitude of stories we read about that happen on His way to Jerusalem.  He didn't get so focused on getting there that He ignored those around Him.  Instead it says that He "went through the towns and villages" (didn't bypass them!), "teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem."  He could have walked around those towns and kept on going, but He made it a point to stop and talk to the people, heal, and grant forgiveness.

How about you?  Are you stopping in the towns and villages that need to hear the message you carry?  Or are you bypassing them, not even realizing they're there as you make your way to your destination?

Faith Enough

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'" – Genesis 3:1

Have you ever experienced a time when you strongly felt God telling you not to do something?  Even something that looks so great?  A job that sounded awesome, but God putting it on your heart to decline the offer.  A ministry that needs help, but you get the feeling you're not supposed to be involved with that one.  In making the decision to follow God despite what outward circumstances would dictate, have you ever heard the question, "Did God really say . . . ?"  Maybe it came from someone around you who couldn't understand why you would say not to that!  Or maybe you've said it to yourself hoping you could convince yourself God really didn't say.

This is what Eve faced in the garden.  Satan immediately starts off the conversation by trying to shed doubt on the Word of God.  Did He really say?  Are you sure you heard Him right?  The problem wasn't that Even didn't know what God told them.  In Genesis 3:3 she quotes God's command not to eat from the tree in the middle of the garden.  She knew!  Might I suggest that her disobedience came not out of a misunderstanding of God's command, but out of a lack of trust?  After hearing Satan's comments about the tree having the ability to open their eyes, making them like God, knowing good and evil (Gen 3:4-5), it says:

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  – Genesis 3:6

After seeing how great the fruit looked she took some and ate, knowing full-well that God had commanded them not to eat of that tree.  I imagine in Eve's mind there may have been thoughts like this:  Wow!  That fruit looks really good.  God told me not to eat it, but this serpent says God's holding back on me.  Maybe he's right.  I mean it looks good for food and it sure does look nice.  Can I really believe that God's not holding back on me?  I believe she decided God was depriving her of a this good fruit.  She came to a point of questioning whether God could really be trusted not to lie and keep things from her, especially things that looked so nice!  Without knowing what God knew, she decided God didn't have any good reason to deprive her of this delicious fruit and so she ate.  If only she had trusted that God's love is greater than that.  He doesn't withhold good gifts!

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. – Psalm 84:11

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17

Have you ever found yourself in Eve's position?  You're looking at something delicious and seemingly "good for food," but God says no?  Everything about the situation looks great, you can't find a downside, but still God says no.  In those times the question is not whether you've heard God correctly, but if you have faith enough to know that your God loves you and does not withhold good things from you.  Trust that He knows the outcome.  He knows what is best for you and wants to see the best fulfilled in your life.  While you can only see the here and now, you can only know what is before your eyes, He sees far beyond.  He knows the plans He has for you, plans to prosper you, not harm you, plans to bring you a hope and future (Jer 29:11).   

Second Fiddle

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."  ~ Jeremiah 1:5

God recently reminded me of the story of Leah, Rachel, and Jacob (Gen 29).  If you're not familiar with the story, here's the gist:  Jacob loved Rachel at first sight and spoke to her father about marrying her.  A deal was made that Jacob would work for her father, Laban, for seven years and they would then be permitted to marry.  But upon their wedding night, Laban gave Leah, Rachel's older sister, to Jacob.  Check out Jacob's response:

When morning came, there was Leah!  So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me?  I served you for Rachel, didn't I?  Why have you deceived me?"  - Genesis 29:25

Can you imagine how Leah felt?  She was married to this man who didn't want her and made it plainly known that this is not what he signed up for.  Essentially, she was not his first choice – she was second fiddle.  And when you hear this story, no one ever thinks, You know I would just love to be Leah.  That's what I strive for, to be second choice!  Certainly not!  We, or at least I, desire to be the first choice.  I want to be wanted.  I want to be seen as useful and a good choice.  But you know what?  Oftentimes in our society, people feel a lot like Leah.  We get to thinking we're not good as the person next to us.  Opportunities arise and we pass by them thinking, So and so is a better choice for that.  I'm just not as good at this as they are. 

Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.  ~ Galatians 6:4

Wanna know something wonderful?  With God, you are never the second choice.  You are His first choice for the plans and purposes He has for your life.  He has given you a unique purpose that only YOU can fulfill.  Consider all the people who tried to back out of their calling (the plan God had for them) – Moses feared he couldn't speak as well as someone else (Exodus 3:11), Jeremiah thought he was too young (Jeremiah 1:6), Jonah simply didn't want to do what God was asking (Jonah 1:3 )– yet God never abandoned them.  He never once thought, You know what?  You're right.  Maybe you're not the best choice.  Nevermind, I'll get someone else to do that!  He had a purpose wrapped up in their lives and they were His first and only choice.  God feels the same about you.  You are NOT second fiddle.  You are first choice! 

 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.   ~ Psalm 139:15-16

No One from That Tribe . . .

He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. – Hebrews 7:13-14

Have you ever read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien?  Perhaps it can best be identified as the "prequel" to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  In the story, Bilbo, a hobbit, is paired with 13 dwarves for a grand adventure through many treacherous paths.  At one point, after facing many challenges already, the group arrives at Mirkwood, the enchanted forest.  Bilbo is quite reluctant to enter, wishing he could leave with Gandalf, a wizard who had guided them to this point.  As a hobbit, Bilbo was not expected to be an adventurer and, with his small size, was seen as only capable of helping with very small tasks.  Although he managed to rescue himself once, many other times the dwarves, a hardy bunch, were expected to lend a hand in getting little Bilbo out of trouble.  Despite knowing all of this about Bilbo, Gandalf turns to him and says, "You have got to look after these dwarves for me."  Gandalf saw great potential in Bilbo.  This unlikely scenario of the hobbit needing to assist the dwarves would have seemed rather funny to those listening.  But Gandalf knew what he was talking about and, sure enough, Bilbo came in quite handy for those dwarves!

It might seem like an odd introduction to give a brief, limited plot summary of a children's story, but as I read this I thought of how God looks at each of His children.  He does not see what earthly eyes see, but instead sees the potential and the great plans He's prepared for each of us.  Have you ever heard or thought something like this – I grew up in that neighborhood so there's pretty much no way I'm going to college.  Or I'm a girl.  I'm not supposed to be good at science.  Maybe even I'm just a member of the church, not the pastor!  What am I supposed to do about that? 

It's for this reason that I love the above verse from Hebrews.  Up to this point the author of Hebrews has been discussing the priesthood of Christ.  Then here he suddenly notes that it was completely unexpected for Christ to be a priest since He came from the tribe of Judah.  Essentially, Jesus was from the "wrong" neighborhood to be a priest.  If you need another example, consider David.  He was the youngest of his brothers and yet became the King of Israel.  Then there's Joseph, a Hebrew in Egypt that after being a slave and a prisoner becomes the second in command of all of Egypt.  Consider also

Paul, a man who persecuted the Church only to become one of its greatest missionaries!  All were people who came from unexpected places to serve in great ways. 

Perhaps you limit yourself because of who you are, where you grew up, how much money you have, what kind of education you've received, how you look . . . the list is endless.  God says today – I created you for My Glory.  I handcrafted and formed you with every aspect of your life in mind.  You might seem like the "unlikely" or "unexpected" candidate for something, but know that if I have called you to it, I give you the strength and ability to fulfill it. 

If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.  – 1 Peter 4:11

Jesus himself, as a priest, did not come from the expected tribe.  No priest had ever come from the tribe of Judah.  What about you?  What is unexpected of you based on your "tribe?"  God might very well be calling you to exactly that.  Don't deny yourself the possibilities of God's calling on your life, especially if He is leading you to them.  You are not a statistic, you are not bound by your environment.  You are a child of God created with purpose.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. – Jeremiah 1:5a

If not for God . . .

If the LORD had not been on our side
   when people attacked us,
they would have swallowed us alive
   when their anger flared against us;
the flood would have engulfed us,
   the torrent would have swept over us,
the raging waters
   would have swept us away.

. . . Our help is in the name of the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 124:2-5, 8

Take a moment and consider this question:  Where would you be without God?  Seriously, take a couple minutes and think about it.  What has He carried you through?  What has He rescued you from?  What decisions has He kept you from making?

A few Sundays ago during worship at church we began to sing "Nothing is impossible for You."  As I listened to the words sitting in a pew surrounded by such a huge display of God's blessing in my life and the lives of those around me, I couldn't help but understand that those words are so incredibly true.  To my left sat my cousin who was saved within the last year.  I never thought I would sit with him church let alone be able to watch him worship the One, True God.  Down the pew on my right sat my mother and her husband.  Such a blessing and testimony to have each of them there with me sitting all the way up front singing these words.  Next to me sat one of the most amazing, godly men I know.  Our story has God's fingerprints all over it!  And then I began to think of all the things God carried me through to bring me to that place physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  How great is our God!

If not for God none of us would be sitting there.  Each person has their own testimony, their own story of how God brought them to the point they are now.  And each story is just as unique and just as incredible.  How about you?  What's your story?  Where would you be if not for God?