Monday
The Basis of What We Believe
Read Matthew 11:1-6
Do we arrive at our beliefs in a systematic manner or through an intuitive process? Are we predisposed towards some beliefs while being skeptical about others? Do life experiences play a strong role in what we believe? Does scientific training enable us to develop a method for deciding what to believe? Or is it that rationalists are born, not made? Is there a commonly accepted set of methods for deciding the truth value of claims?
Webster’s dictionary gives the following definitions for “belief”: “(1): a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing (2): something believed; especially: a tenet or body of tenets held by a group (3): conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence.” These definitions raise further questions such as “How does one arrive at this state of belief? Upon what does belief stand?
Everyone believes something. Belief is the heart of life itself. Belief makes up the convictions we hold, the principles we live by, the ideas we have about the world around us, the confidence we have in someone or something, and even the “faith” we have in God. But what is “belief”?
The picture we hold of God is the basis for what we believe. When a person has the wrong view of God it will affect what they believe, receive and how they live. John the Baptist sent his disciples to get an answer that he already knew. The circumstances he was in at the time seemed to contradict what he believed. John knew that Jesus was the Lamb of God and that He had come to set the captives free, but found himself in bondage.
Often we find ourselves in that very bondage by the words that we speak or allow others to speak over us. Scripture tells us that all we have to do is have the faith the size of a mustard seed and the problem or mountain sized problem we face can be spoken to and removed from our lives, but, when we live in the midst of contradiction and do not take God at his word we move into unbelief and doubt we do not see the things that want to take place happen and we begin to search for our own solutions and answers, which never work. Put you faith to work, trust God and sit back and watch what happens.
Tuesday
Waiting On God’s Will
Read Habakkuk 2:1, 3:16-19
I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.(Habakkuk 2:1 niv) Unlike Habakkuk often we are not willing to wait on God to see what He is going to do. We live in such rush, rush, society to get things done, we want to see results immediately we often settle for second best instead of waiting on the very goodness that God has for us. There are advantages and rewards for waiting on God.
In several place throughout the book of Isaiah we find that God acts on our behalf as we wait for Him. “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him”. As you are waiting for God, He strengthens you. “But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” When waiting for God, He blesses you. “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him”
What does it mean to be blessed by God while we wait on Him? As we wait on God and His timing, He can accomplish so much in our hearts. Often we find new purpose in life, receive answers to prayer, see God work, increase our faith, and most often we see God’s perfect plan fulfilled in our situation. Remember, waiting is not wasted time!
Wednesday
Finding God’s Goodness In The Hard Times
Psalms 23
Everyone needs a bit of encouragement from time to time. Thankfully we have the Bible as our ultimate source of encouraging words! Even in the midst of the “financial crisis” or in the middle of a health crisis, we can remain hopeful and encouraged if we keep trusting in God. I have found that the key is to finding specific Bible verses and meditating on them. According to the Word, this is how faith comes. The more we soak up the truth of God’s Word, the more assured we become that He really is going to take care of us!
I know some people whose lives have been dramatically affected by this and I am one of those who have been affected, and I think as it progresses we will all know people who will go through struggles as a result. The important thing to remember in the midst of the chaos is that God is in control. He is not surprised by the events and He is not unsure how He is going to take care of his children. We are just as safe putting our trust in Him when things are going great as when it looks like everything is falling around us. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 4:19) Notice the verse says “ALL.” It doesn’t say “some” or “most,” but it says that He will meet all of our needs. It doesn’t say how He will meet our needs and I have found from experience the way He does it is often not what I expected. But the bottom line is that God is faithful and He does what He promises. In Psalms 23 David found rest and peace in the midst of his enemies and hard times. When facing the difficult times all we have to do is look to God and to His word to find his goodness.
Thursday
His Suffering Is Redemptive
Read Isaiah 53
The story of a Job is not about the sufferings of Job, but is a revelation about God and His mercy, love and His redemption of those who wait in faith on Him. Religion has it so messed up and religion teaches that the devil is the source of our pleasure and that God is the source of our pain. Scripture tells us that God only wants what is pleasurable and good for us. At the cross Jesus took on all of our pain and suffering, therefore our suffering is fruitless as there is no redemption in our suffering. Redemption is found in Jesus’ suffering.
God does not will our suffering. God desires fullness of life for all. Not the physical pain, but the love underlying the suffering. Love redeems, not pain. Love redeems, not shame. The unjust execution of an innocent man, Jesus, the Son of God, is the work of human sin, a travesty in the eyes of God, the rejection of the Father’s supreme gift to humanity. But the love of Jesus underlying his suffering and his fidelity to his Father and his mission despite the consequent persecution is redemptive. Ultimately, the depth and purity of love, not the extent and intensity of physical pain, is what is redemptive. Forced suffering is evil, but suffering freely embraced out of love heals and liberates. Suffering is redemptive because Jesus redeemed us from sin through His suffering. We must remember that Jesus took all of our burdens, if we trust Him, and the sufferings of the present is nothing compared to the glory that awaits those who trust Him.
Friday
In The Know
Read John 9, Revelation 12:5
As we see the wonders of the universe all around us; the complexity, beauty and design everywhere we look, we are confronted with what should be undeniable evidence that there is an infinitely wise and powerful Creator behind it all. In spite of this evidence in nature, one can observe throughout history that many people choose not to respond to this light they are given. They get preoccupied with the pleasures and possessions of this life and never search for the truth about the One Who created us and the universe in which we live. Instead, they choose to believe what they want to believe - sometimes creating their own religions or choosing not to acknowledge God's existence at all. Jobs friends and the Pharisee’s tried to come up with a pointing finger theology for every circumstance. They determine their own beliefs and close their eyes and ears to everything else, including the truth.
There are individuals, however, scattered over the face of the earth, who respond to the evidence God has given them about Himself and seek to learn more about Who He is and how they can know Him. God promises to reveal the truth to those who seek Him, and has given us everything we need to know about life, death, and eternity in the Bible; a Book which He has miraculously preserved for us down through the ages. Most importantly, He tells us in the Bible how we can be forgiven of our sins and have the assurance of a home in Heaven. We have not arrived yet we just need to know that it will end in the glory of God. We need to live up to what we already know and seek to know God more. When we seek Him out for solutions to the problems we face He knows the answer and is willing to give us the solution.
The Weekender
Implementing What You Have Learned
The things we have learned will gather dust unless it is actionable, unless we do something with it. We should not just assume because we have learned something or we have read something that it will make an immediate change in our life without taking some sort of action. If you do not take what you have learned and put it into some type of action plan then nothing is going to happen. Often as God speaks to us through our Pastors, a prophet, His word or through our friends and the solution we are facing is right there we miss an opportunity by not doing something with what we have learned. Beginning today we want to give you an opportunity to look back at that you have learned this week and reflect. In reflecting it is our desire that if something that you have learned really stands out that you look at ways in which you can implement them into your situation and life that will make a difference in your life.
Do you really believe what you say or are you just fooling yourself?_________ Are the words you are speaking bringing you freedom or keeping you in bondage? _________ List ways that you can see what you believe begin working in your life: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When looking for God to work in your life do you get impatient and try to fix things on your own, waiting on God is not wasting time. What are some things you can do while waiting on God? _______________________________________________________________
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When facing hard times look for ways to keep in mind that God is in control. What are ways that we can be encouraged and reminded that God in is control? _____________
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It is the suffering of Jesus that redeems us, God desires fullness of life for us. What are some ways that we can show God that we are thankful for what He has done for us? _____________________________________________________________________________
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God has given us instructions and solutions for our circumstances, what do we do, do we continue to live with a problem or do we listen to what God’s instructions and do something about it? List problems you are facing and search God’s Word, pray, wait for the answer and when you have it do something: __________________________________
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