Judges 18:14-26 (Click on reference to read text)
Many of us have never read this story before. I am not sure I have, but it really struck me. The Danites raid Micah's house and take his idols and the priest he hired to serve his family. They moved on toward their destination when the household of Micah overcame them. When Micah realized that he is not numerous enough to fight the Danites and win, he turned back. However, the striking part of this passage is Micah's desperate explanation, “You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter with you?’”(verse 24).
His desperation seems absurd. All of Micah's faith was placed in his priest and little gods. These same gods that could not even protect themselves. My first response was to pass him off as pathetic and ridiculous. However, as the Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart, I found myself repentant and embarrassingly empathetic to him.
I am ashamed to admit that countless times a day I place my faith in things that are not the One true God. I feel security from locks on my doors to keep out evil, my husband's paychecks to provide what we need, plans I have made and my calendar assuring me of days to come, and doctors that can diagnose and prescribe medicine to heal my family. However, these things are made by man/limited by man, just like Micah's idols. All of these things can come in and be swept away: burglars can break into locked houses, my husband can lose his job, plans can change in the blink of an eye, and doctors cannot treat many diseases. I too during stressful times can ask, "what else do I have??"
The answer is Jesus Christ. He is my strength and security. (Exodus 15:2, Psalms 28:7, Psalms 62:2) He is sovereign and nothing happens outside of His command (Psalm 93:1-2, 2 Thes 3:3). He knows all of our days before one of them came to be and He gives me direction (Ps 139:16, Prov 16:9, Prov 3:5-6) He is my provider and promises to provide all we need when we need it (Phil 4:19, Hebrew 13:5, James 1:17, Matt 6:25-34) . He is the great Healer. He who created our bodies has the power to heal them.
What idols have you created in your life that you put your trust in? A relationship that brings you satisfaction and security (Jeremiah 17:5)? A financial future you have built for yourself(Job 31:24-28)? Your plans of how you think your life should go? What if they were taken away, would you have anything left? The answer, if you belong to Christ, is Him! He wants to be your security, your trust, your love, your future. Let's stop depending on things that can be taken away, and start trusting the Rock that stands forever (Is 26:4)!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
The Daily Grind...
Luke 2:41-50
Mary and Joseph had been given a message and vision from the Lord. They were charged with raising the very Son of God. This purpose and calling turned their life upside down. They experienced a virgin birth, received numerous visits from angels, shepherds, wise men, and prophets appeared to them praising the Savior of the World, and they spent the first few years of Jesus's life in Egypt hiding out. It seems like it would be impossible to forget who they were raising, impossible to lose sight of their calling, yet we find they did. Before we become to judgemental... I would wager that we have found ourselves in the same boat as well.
Mary and Joseph were doing the "right" thing. They followed the law and made the trek to Jerusalem every year for the Passover. They were fulfilling the letter of the law. Yet they lost sight of Jesus and His passions. When they finally found Him they did not understand what Jesus meant by having to be in His Father's house.
I would wager that somewhere along the 12 years of Jesus's life, Mary started to get comfortable. They were back home from Egypt, making a living through carpentry, raising children, and following the "law" by travelling to the temple every year with the rest of their family. The angel's voices may have grown more and more silent with each passing year, the gifts from the wise men pushed back into a corner somewhere collecting dust, the great calling on their life a memory. They did not understand why Jesus HAD to be in the temple.
I am not at all being critical of Mary and Joseph. Life can be tough. Trying to make a living, trying to raise your children in a way pleasing to the Lord, trying to take care of all the daily tasks that need to be completed. We all seem to slip into believing the way to please God is to do the right things and try to follow His commandments. I cringed when I read this story, because I see myself in Mary's shoes.
God has given us all a purpose, and so many times we forget about it in the day in and day out living. Do you know what God has called you to do? Are you still hearing His voice and direction in your life? When is the last time that you drew near to the Father's house just to be in His presence? These are questions I am asking myself.
Lord, protect me from being so busy being the wife, mother, house keeper, teacher, etc. that I lose sight of how you want me to spend my days. Please help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and never lose sight that He came to die for our sins, for the sins of my neighbors, and not just to help me along life's way. May my ears and heart be sensitive to you!
Mary and Joseph had been given a message and vision from the Lord. They were charged with raising the very Son of God. This purpose and calling turned their life upside down. They experienced a virgin birth, received numerous visits from angels, shepherds, wise men, and prophets appeared to them praising the Savior of the World, and they spent the first few years of Jesus's life in Egypt hiding out. It seems like it would be impossible to forget who they were raising, impossible to lose sight of their calling, yet we find they did. Before we become to judgemental... I would wager that we have found ourselves in the same boat as well.
Mary and Joseph were doing the "right" thing. They followed the law and made the trek to Jerusalem every year for the Passover. They were fulfilling the letter of the law. Yet they lost sight of Jesus and His passions. When they finally found Him they did not understand what Jesus meant by having to be in His Father's house.
I would wager that somewhere along the 12 years of Jesus's life, Mary started to get comfortable. They were back home from Egypt, making a living through carpentry, raising children, and following the "law" by travelling to the temple every year with the rest of their family. The angel's voices may have grown more and more silent with each passing year, the gifts from the wise men pushed back into a corner somewhere collecting dust, the great calling on their life a memory. They did not understand why Jesus HAD to be in the temple.
I am not at all being critical of Mary and Joseph. Life can be tough. Trying to make a living, trying to raise your children in a way pleasing to the Lord, trying to take care of all the daily tasks that need to be completed. We all seem to slip into believing the way to please God is to do the right things and try to follow His commandments. I cringed when I read this story, because I see myself in Mary's shoes.
God has given us all a purpose, and so many times we forget about it in the day in and day out living. Do you know what God has called you to do? Are you still hearing His voice and direction in your life? When is the last time that you drew near to the Father's house just to be in His presence? These are questions I am asking myself.
Lord, protect me from being so busy being the wife, mother, house keeper, teacher, etc. that I lose sight of how you want me to spend my days. Please help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and never lose sight that He came to die for our sins, for the sins of my neighbors, and not just to help me along life's way. May my ears and heart be sensitive to you!
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