Friday Morning Devotion (Seeing the Good)

Posted on August 3, 2007 by Henry Neufeld

And God saw everything he had made, and it was very good! There was evening, there was morning, a sixth day. — Genesis 1:31

Sometimes when things are going bad, as they often do in this world, we find ourselves complaining about the way things are. We’re not complaining about God, we tell ourselves (and everyone who will listen). It’s all the devil’s fault that the world is so messed up, so it’s OK to complain. We can complain about the devil all we want!

But God saw everything he made and it was very good! Now someone is certain to be about to e-mail me to remind me that I’m quoting a text that comes before the devil messed it all up. It was good back then, but it’s not all that good now!

This is the day that YHWH made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! — Psalm 118:24

The heavens are making God’s glory known
The dome of heaven declares his deeds! — Psalm 19:1

It looks like God thinks there’s still some good in this creation of his. He still thinks we can learn from it, and he still thinks there are things for which we can praise him.

It’s easy to become a pessimist, to be just a survivor in this world, hanging on for dear life until God steps in and cleans up the whole mess. Some Christians face life on this earth like concentration camp inmates, surrounded by a fence, guarded by demons, not quite daring to hope that their deliverance will come within their lifetimes.

But while we should be homesick for heaven, while we should remember that we are strangers and pilgrims here on this earth, we should also remember that we are the King’s children, living in the world that he made, and that he is the one who is in charge.

Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1-2 and applied it to himself (Luke 4:18-19):

The spirit of YHWH God is on me,
because YHWH has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor,
he has sent me to bind those who are broken,
to announce release of the captives,
and recovery of sight to the blind.

To announce the year of YHWH’s favor,
and the day of our God’s vengeance,
to comfort those who mourn.

That’s the day that God has made—the day of deliverance. But it’s also every day, because God has brought you and me deliverance. While we are strangers here, waiting for our homeland, we are free strangers, who have access to the king. We are the ones who know how things really are.

So if you’re seeing the devil’s world out there, filled with nastiness and things to complain or to worry about, how about a little recovery of sight? In God’s world, the one Jesus came to proclaim, those fences that the devil has placed around your life aren’t there. The devil wants you to think they are the reality, that you have to live in sorrow and failure.

Jesus proclaimed release. It has already happened! This is the day that YHWH has made. Not tomorrow, not a decade or a century or a thousand years in the future. This is the day.

If you are living in pessimism, if the devil has you surrounded by barbed wire fences, and has you convinced you have to stay in the mud until some day in the future, will you ask God to open your eyes and let you see the good world, his world, the one where you are free? If you already know that freedom, will you let it fill your face, and spread out over your coworkers today? Will you “proclaim . . . recovery of sight to the blind?”

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Thursday Morning Devotion (What to Do When You’re Wrong)

Posted on August 2, 2007 by Henry Neufeld

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because we know that we will receive a greater judgment. 2For all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, that’s someone who is a mature person, able to hold the whole body under control. 3Now if we place a bit in the mouths of horses, so that we can bring them into submission to us, we thus also bring along the whole body. 4Note also that ships, which are so big and driven along by strong winds, are guided by the smallest rudder wherever the whim of the steersman desires. 5Thus also the tongue is a small part (of the body) and it boasts of great things. See how great a forest a little fire can kindle. 6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of evil, is placed amongst our body parts, and stains our whole body, It lights on fire the whole of human experience, being lighted directly from hell. — James 3:1-6

Last night I led a discussion of this passage and we got into discussing just how we can be led around by the tongue. Saying something, or writing it puts our egos on the line. If we just think about it, and come to a private conclusion, we can change our minds, but once it has been spoken, it takes on a life of its own. I don’t know about you, but I don’t particularly enjoy being wrong, and I don’t particularly enjoy admitting it. But I’ve had to do so many times in my life.

So what do you do about being wrong? In our passage we’re warned that teachers will be judged more rigorously. The verse is talking about God’s judgment. God expects his teachers to be careful about what they say. Greater influence means greater responsibility. But even though the verse is talking about God’s judgment, those who teach and preach know that they get judged here and now with greater rigor.

What I say as a teacher can come back to haunt me. A dinner table comment influences just a few people. A comment made in a sermon can impact hundreds. You can’t haul those words back in.

So what do you do? Some people might say, “Don’t teach!” Others of us are pretty much addicted to talking so let’s consider some points.

  • Be open to the possibility that you’re wrong. If you don’t admit the possibility, no amount of evidence will convince you that you are wrong. If you never realize your mistake you can never correct it.
  • Try to be clear about your fallibility. There are those preachers and teachers who try to portray an aura of infallibility. There are congregations who expect such a thing. But I would suggest people are better off led and taught by real, fallible people. Think of it this way: Our friends, students, church members, and colleagues need the practice of correcting our mistakes!
  • Readily admit the possibility of error, examine the evidence, and then admit you were wrong if, and only if, you are convinced you were wrong. Sometimes we confuse fallibility and humility with being wishy-washy. You don’t have to be blown about by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14) in order to be teachable. I have had quite a number of people inform me that I’m not teachable right after I rejected some point of which they tried to convince me. Now I’m not perfect. It’s possible in each case that I did not properly consider their evidence and stubbornly rejected their viewpoint. It’s also possible that they were either wrong, or did not yet have adequate evidence to convince someone else they were right.
  • Endeavor to let people know when you’ve changed your mind. I don’t feel an obligation to hunt people down in far countries who might have heard me express a wrong opinion, but I do like people who may have been influenced by something I said to realize I’ve changed my mind.
  • Don’t get stressed over being wrong. Notice how inclusive James is. He uses “we” about teaching, and about being fallible (vv. 1-2). Yet he’s not afraid to write the letter with its teaching. God’s grace is available for the errors of teachers as well.

Even though James says not many of us should be teachers, most of us will say or do something that influences others every day. These principles can help us all, not just those who carry the title, “teacher.”

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Wednesday Morning Devotion (Recognition)

Posted on August 1, 2007 by Henry Neufeld

37Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in, or naked, and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you? — Matthew 25:37-39

It may seem odd to stop quoting this passage with just the questions. We like to get on to the part where Jesus gives the answer. If we’ve done any of these things to the least of his brothers or sisters, we’ve done it to him. But I’d like to think about the questions

Yesterday, Jody and I attended a funeral for a wonderful lady, a good friend, and a gifted encourager in the church. I know that she has touched thousands of lives directly and indirectly. So far as I know, she never regarded herself as extraordinary in any way. She was just who she was, she did what she did, and that was a witness to her Lord.

As I looked around the church at the folks gathered there, I was delighted to see so many of the people she touched thanking God for her life. But I started to compare that gathering with the heavenly gathering around the throne. Now that’s terribly unfair to the earthly proceeding. It was a good celebration for her life. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining.

But if someone who was a VIP in the world’s eyes passed away, we would have many hundreds more in attendance here on earth. But I suspect the heavenly celebration for our friend would surpass the one for those who are regarded as “great” here on earth.

You see, heaven doesn’t look at things in the same way as we do. Heaven will not be counting the political power accumulated, or the number of people who held that person in high esteem, nor the material possessions he or she had on earth. Heaven is interested in who this person touched during their time on earth.

Then there’s the ripple effect. Heaven is big on ripples. I can illustrate this from this devotional list. Time after time, Jody or I have gotten e-mails from people who have been touched by it who are not subscribers, and didn’t read it on the blog. They say that a friend sent them the devotional, and sometimes we don’t even know that person. The blessings spread out in ripples.

As I listened to folks talk about our friend’s accomplishments, I thought about the difference between heaven’s reckoning and ours. In heaven’s reckoning our friend had made a pretty big splash. I’m sure there were more angels around for the heavenly celebration than there were people here—many more.

Sometimes we think that there’s nothing really that we can do, that we’re not important enough to make a difference. When we think that, I suspect we’re getting caught in the earthly view. If we haven’t ruled any kingdoms, won any wars, built large buildings, written volumes destined to be classics, or given millions to charity, we really haven’t done anything. But that’s a deadly trap. If you have just one dollar and you use it right, you have no idea what it will accomplish as it ripples out from you. If your only gift is a smile, you have no idea what it might accomplish.

Try it! I don’t know what will happen here on earth. People might recognize some of what you’ve done and they might not. But there’s a heavenly celebration, and if you’ve been using your smiles, your kind words, and your loose change (or one of a myriad of other things), you’re probably going to run into someone who will say, “You don’t remember me, do you? I’m that grocery store checkout lady you smiled at 20 years ago. I needed that smile! It gave me the courage to go on. After that, I had a son who . . .”

Do you get the picture?

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Tuesday Morning Devotion (Ever So Special)

Posted on July 31, 2007 by Henry Neufeld

1Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that we l have knowledge. Knowledge makes us proud, but love builds up. 2If any regards himself as knowing something,he doesn’t know as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, that one is known by him. — 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

Everybody wants to get the advantage over someone somehow. If it isn’t strength, we try our brains. Perhaps we have a skill. Something! Anything that will let us feel superior.

We should be crucified with Christ. We should be dead when we enter the church, but no, the same things seem to happen again. In the church it might be doctrinal knowledge that we thing makes us ever so special. Or perhaps it’s training in theology or Biblical languages. Could I be tempted to think that heaven has a hierarchy in which those who read Greek and Hebrew are higher up than those who don’t?

But in the church there’s another, often subtle, way of getting the better over our fellows. It’s called “spirituality.” Now don’t get me wrong. We ought to be spiritual. We should grow in our relationship with God. We should make use of the gifts God has given us.

But what happens when we start to make a scale of who’s more spiritual, who’s closer to God, who’s more gifted? Is this not very much like comparing ourselves for knowledge, or training, or money, or any one of the many things we choose in order to rank ourselves in the sight of the world?

But then we read Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Not only are we perhaps not so spiritually mature—was that *me* who created a ruckus at the last church council because I wasn’t getting my way—but we aren’t even supposed to feel so superior. We’re not supposed to put our knowledge or our spirituality on display as a reason why people should feel that they are less than we are.

In fact, Paul gives us the terribly frustrating statement of 1 Corinthians 8:2—if you think you know, you don’t know as well as you should.

So when do I get out of this loop? Never. Not until the kingdom. Any time you get to feeling that you’ve attained, you’re in trouble. Feeling that we’ve attained is a much greater danger than any other. Why? Because it makes us decide to quit trying for something more and start basking in the light of our own glory. It makes us decide that others are much less enlightened than we are. It makes us put the blame on them any time they can’t understand our superior wisdom.

And whether your superiority comes from how spiritual you think you are, or how knowledgeable, it’s all just filthy human pride when it comes down to it.

Should I not then try to gain more knowledge? Of course you should try to gain knowledge. But don’t ever conclude that you know everything; that your learning days are over.

Should I not then try to be more spiritual, to get closer and closer to God? Of course you should try. But the closer you get to God, the more you’ll realize how little are the differences between you and your brothers and sisters when compared to the distance between you and God. And again, you must not get complacent, thinking that you have already attained, that you are the one, superior spiritual being.

What is Paul’s alternative? Love.

Love, the alternative to knowledge? How is that? Love is a guiding motive. People with knowledge can use it to build or destroy. Those who are spiritual—or think they are—can use their gifts to edify or to tear down. But those who are motivated by love will build, whether it is through their knowledge, or their spirituality.

Do you know as you ought to know?

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Monday Morning Devotion (Called)

Posted on July 30, 2007 by Henry Neufeld

1Because of this I, the one bound in Christ, strongly encourage you to conduct yourselves in a way that is worthy of the calling by which you were called, 2with all humility and courtesy, with patience putting up with one another in love, 3being zealous to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. 4One body and one Spirit just as also you were called in one hope that comes from your calling. 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and father of all, who is over everything and through everything and in everything.

7 And to each one of us he has given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. — Ephesians 4:1-7 [Emphasis mine]

As Christians we are all called people. It’s something we should remember constantly. It should be our motivation and encouragement.

I. We are called out of sin to salvation
II. We are called into service
III. We are each specifically called by God
IV. We are called to hope
Many people I talk to are afraid of this little word. “Who me?” they ask. “I can’t be called! Bishops are called! Pastors are called! Missionaries are called! Not me!” But if you have accepted Christ, you did so because you were called. And when you were called out of darkness into light, you were also called to a mission.

That can be even more frightening to people. Not only are you called, but you’re also a missionary. People really don’t want to be missionaries. Those are folks who are called to go do heroic things in foreign places and maybe even to die.

But a missionary is just a person with a mission. And everyone is called to a mission. Your mission may be to the person next door or someone on the other side of the globe. It may be to someone who’s eagerly waiting for you, or to someone who won’t like you at all. But you can count on being called to be a person with a mission.

In our passage, we’re called to behave in a way that’s worthy of our calling. There are many aspects to this, but today I want to emphasize just one point: To be worthy of your call you have to accept it. You have to say “Yes.”

Notice what our passage says about the way you go about your call. Unity, peace, humility, zeal, and love. Those are characteristics our churches are supposed to display. They provide the base from which people can go on whatever mission they are called to.

But the real key is in verse 7. Are you feeling inadequate to carry out the call? Are you wondering how someone as weak or unprepared as you can do it? I’ve found it interesting how many people with wonderful professional credentials, highly successful in the world, are terrified of what they believe God is calling them to do. It might be praying for someone else in the church hallway. Going up and asking that person, “Could I pray with you?” can bring on complete terror. If you’re feeling inadequate, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

On the other hand there are those who miss little calls because they’re waiting for the big one. You may be waiting for God to give you the tough call to go to Africa, when actually he’s waiting for you to contact your next door neighbor. You may need to exercise a little humility and fulfill that little call first!

Whether the call seems to big or two small, Ephesians 4:7 provides the answer. God gives grace. And there’s something wonderful about the way he does it. He gives grace, not according to your capacity or your actions, and not even just according to what you need, but according the measure of Christ’s gift.

Can you fulfill his call using his grace today?

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An Ark?

Posted on July 27, 2007 by Henry Neufeld

13And Elohim said to Noah: “The end of all flesh has come before me, because the land is filled with violence because of them, so I’m going to wipe them off the earth. 14Make for yourself an ark of gofer wood, with rooms shall you make it, and cover it inside and out with pitch. — Genesis 6:13-14

Last night my wife and I went on a date. It’s been some time since we were able to arrange such a thing. We watched the movie Evan Almighty, and then went out to dinner.

Now my reflections, as you might guess from the scripture, are about the movie. Quite often we reflect very little on the possible meaning of something God has done, or something someone says God has done, and we seem to miss the point. Without giving away the movie, I think I can tell you that Evan, the main character, misses the point quite a bit as do the people around him. God is making things happen around him.

Now I don’t know the precise history of the flood. The story is often told totally as a scene of God becoming extremely angry, deciding to kill everyone around, and saving only one person he finds righteous. And on the surface, that is the story. But perhaps the surface is not where we’re supposed to look. We know, for example, from 2 Peter 2:5 that Noah preached to the people. Did anyone listen?

There are many things we don’t know about the flood. Just what was it that the people were doing that made God so angry? Is it possible that they would have destroyed themselves completely without divine intervention and taken Noah and his family along with them? It’s quite possible that God wiped them out not by sending a disaster, but by refusing to clean up their mess. What he did was provide a way of escape for them.

What difference would that make? Well, certainly we could think of a God who allows freedom but also demands responsibility. We so frequently wonder why we’re in trouble, whether it’s financially, in our personal lives, in our church lives, or at work. We demand to know why God doesn’t fix things. But God may be thinking that if he cleans up our messes for us, we’ll never learn to behave any better.

As yourself: Is God a heavenly Dad, or a heavenly sugar-daddy? Is God more interested in solving my problems, or in helping me mature into a better person?

One of the key features I notice about the Bible is that God doesn’t grind the rough edges off of the stories. They are there for you in all their glory, and all their horror. The good people are there along with the bad. The good endings mix in with horrific ones. The best ending of all, salvation through Jesus Christ is accomplished at a cost and in a way that horrifies us when we consider it. We don’t understand how it works and so we argue and debate. But there’s a good thing about all that. We’re thinking about it!

People wonder why God doesn’t speak more clearly or act more clearly. Why can’t he just speak with a loud voice out of the sky so there could be no doubt? But the question is this: Is God trying to make you into a robot who executes his commands, or a person who freely lives according to his generous will?

Jesus himself spoke in parables. Parables sometimes help us understand something, but more frequently they challenge us to go beyond the simple answer. People like to get the explanation of a parable. But that’s not the point. The point is to challenge you to face the principles behind the story and apply them.

I hope you’ll go see Evan Almighty. It’s well worth it. The movie will preach just as it is, and it will challenge you to consider more deeply what God is up to in your life.

Posted in Bible Books, Devotional, Genesis | 1 Comment

Thursday Morning Devotion (Focus on the Goal)

Posted on July 26, 2007 by Henry Neufeld

24Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? So run in such a way that you might receive the prize. 25But everyone who enters a race exercises self control in all things. Those folks do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we do it to obtain an incorruptible one. 26So I run in this way, not uncertainly, thus I fight, not as one beating the air. 27But I put my body under strict discipline and bring it into subjection, lest having preached to others, I myself should be found unworthy. — 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Note: This morning as I listening to the Running Toward the Goal podcast I was about to post, I decided it would make an excellent devotional as well, so I looked up the transcript and used it. For this one day, Running Toward the Goal and Jody’s Devotional for the day will be the same.

I like Paul’s images of running a race. You may be able to tell by the title of this program!

A key theme in Paul is the need to keep pressing forward; to remain engaged in spiritual discipline so as not to fall out of the race.

In this passage Paul is arguing against those who feel that either because they have attained to special secret knowledge, or because they have become spiritual beyond questioning, they no longer need to be concerned.

Paul’s response is that we are in a race. We need to run to win. Unlike the physical races, it’s not a race with only one winner, but just like those “real world” races, it’s possible to drop out and not to make it to the finish line. In a physical race there is a crown. It’s a perishable crown that lasts only for a short time. But in our race, there is an imperishable crown—our very souls. Our crown will last forever. This should be great motivation to keep on running toward the goal.

But there is an additional factor to Paul’s running. He has a goal. He has just told us earlier in the 9th chapter of Corinthians that his goal is to spread the gospel. He will do anything—give up any rights that he may have, change his behavior amongst different groups of people—always provided that it helps to spread the gospel message. He is not just exercising for the fun of it. Everything in his life and ministry is focused toward that goal.

Do we have such a goal in our lives? Do we have a mission, a ministry to which God has called us, and against which we test every decision, every opportunity, every closed door? Is the gospel of Jesus Christ our guiding light, our one focus?

Paul doesn’t beat the air. He looks at what he does for effectiveness. It’s not enough for Paul that someone *says* what he does will help spread the gospel. He wants it to be a real success! He wants to gain some if at all possible.

He works to enslave his body. Many of the Corinthian believers felt that the body didn’t make any difference. They could even engage in sexual sins because the body was not important. But Paul thinks the body *is* important. It too is to be brought into submission to the gospel. It too is part of this plan.

In fact, there is nothing left out of Paul’s focus on his one goal—spreading the gospel.

And there is also a solemn warning here. Paul indicates that even those who preach the gospel have the possibility of themselves being cast aside. Is this a cause to lose our assurance? No! But it is a cause to lose our self-assurance. It should cause us to make sure that we are always leaning on Jesus, focused on Jesus, acting for Jesus.

Let’s live the gospel.

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Wednesday Morning Devotion (Granting a New Beginning)

Posted on July 25, 2007 by Henry Neufeld

16The result is that from now on we no longer regard anyone according to the flesh. If we once regarded Christ according to the flesh we don’t do that any more! 17Thus anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old things are gone. Everything has become new! 18But all of these things come from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 19As God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their transgressions against them, and giving us this message of reconciliation. — 2 Corinthians 5:16-19

Sometimes we read about events in the Bible as though they were all history, just stuff in the past for us to believe in. Now don’t get me wrong. There’s some good history there, and it’s important for us to understand it. Jesus died for our sins and was raised on the third day. That happened in the past.

But the present is a much more difficult thing for us. There are quite a number of Christians who are very skeptical of any claim that God is acting now, in real people’s lives, but who are quite comfortable that God has acted in the past. There are others who say they believe God acts in the present, but who act like he doesn’t.

But in our passage Paul applies an event to his present, and in turn it’s one we need to apply to our present. Paul goes to the most past event you can find. What is that? Well, creation, of course!

Even with creation there is a temptation to see it as a one time thing in the past that is now over with. But God not only created with his word (Psalm 33:6-9) he sustains them all in the same way (Hebrews 1:1-3). Every breath depends on him (Psalm 104:29-30).

When Jody and I visited Niagara Falls, NY, where I quite conveniently have family, I remember Jody’s exclamation on getting the full view of the falls: “My father made all this!” Quite true. Now I know just a little bit about geology, and I could explain something about rock formations and how they erode, and how that formed the falls and the gorge below it. I couldn’t manage it in any great detail, but I know enough to know how complex such a discussion could get.

So I could say, “No, your father didn’t make that. He made water and rocks, and then they formed themselves into that falls.” But the reason water behaves as it does, and the reason rocks behave as they do, and the reason they form themselves into wonderful things like Niagara Falls, is that God wants them that way. Natural law is merely God’s will expressed through his word. God is so consistent, that we can do scientific studies and learn about how he works.

But there’s never a time when God isn’t there. He’s the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).

So what does this have to do with granting a new beginning? God is a God of beginnings. He was at the beginning, and the end for him is merely a new beginning (Revelation 21:1-4). When you first accepted Christ as your savior, he gave you a new beginning, a new creation. By his grace each time he forgives, he again grants you a new beginning. He’s the creator. He can do that!

Now here’s the question for today: Will you grant yourself a new beginning as well?

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Tuesday Morning Devotion (Will You Let God Set You Free?)

Posted on July 24, 2007 by Henry Neufeld

10When the Israelites saw the king coming with his army, they were frightened and begged the LORD for help. 11They also complained to Moses, “Wasn’t there enough room in Egypt to bury us? Is that why you brought us out here to die in the desert? Why did you bring us out of Egypt anyway? 12While we were there, didn’t we tell you to leave us alone? We had rather be slaves in Egypt than die in this desert!”
13But Moses answered, “Don’t be afraid! Be brave, and you will see the LORD save you today. These Egyptians will never bother you again. 14The LORD will fight for you, and you won’t have to do a thing.” — Exodus 14:10-14 (CEV)

In our passage today, the Israelites have just left Egypt, and started on their way through the wilderness to the promised land. I find this incident very interesting, because I think we often behave in the same way in both our secular and our church lives.

Danger presented itself! The sea is in front of them, the Egyptian army coming up from behind. They think, “Maybe this escape wasn’t such a good idea, after all!”

So they cried to the Lord for help. This is an excellent idea. When in trouble, cry to the Lord. But notice what else they do. They complain to Moses.

Don’t we do something similar? We know that we need God’s help, so we cry out, but then we begin looking for the nearest human leader so we can complain to them. Why are they doing what they are doing? Why are they leading us in this way. A few moments, hours, or days before, we may have been in full agreement with them about God’s leading. But now, with trouble on all sides, we blame them. They should have known. They should have heard the Lord more clearly.

Then the Israelites questioned the value of their freedom. Why did we leave Egypt anyhow? There never was any hope! Why don’t we return and just forget all of this. Moses, we knew you were wrong from the start. They had been happy enough leaving Egypt a few days before, but now Moses was to blame.

Isn’t it very similar with us? When the time comes to pay the bill for a new building or a new piece of equipment for the church, how many people who supported the purchase come around complaining about overextending the church budget? But more importantly and more personally, when we find ourselves struggling against the enemy after the Lord has freed us from sin and bondage, how many of us think, “It was easier when I wasn’t trying to follow the Lord? Maybe I should go back.

But God also gave Moses a response.

First, he told the people not the fear. The same God who led you out of Egypt is still with you.

Second, see God’s salvation. God takes the responsibility right back. It’s not Moses’ problem. Moses has done what God said. The results are in God’s hands.

Third, be silent! How difficult that is for us to do. We really want to yell and shout or mourn and cry, or at least make sure those near us know how truly displeased we are with our current situation. But God told the Israelites to be silent.

And the result was a great salvation.

Let’s remember in our daily lives that God remains in control. Let’s remember to bring our questions, our doubts, our fears, and yes, even our complaints to him.

And then let us let him work.

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Monday Morning Devotion (Letting God be YOUR Creator)

Posted on July 23, 2007 by Henry Neufeld

1In the beginning God created heaven and earth.

2Now the earth was formless and empty, and there was darkness above primeval ocean, and God’s wind was blowing above the water. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” . . . 31 And God saw everything he had made, and yes, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. — Genesis 1:1-3; 31

I grabbed an outline I wrote several years ago for today’s devotional. One reason is that I’m running late. Another is that it’s Monday, and Monday can be a hard day for many people.

We’re more than halfway through the year now, and most of us have likely forgotten what our New Year’s resolutions were, much less have we kept them. We’re all probably in need of a new start in some way.

You don’t have to wait for New Year’s Day for renewal or to make new resolutions. Monday is a good day for them as well, but it can be any time, any day for that matter. God is in the business of creating—and recreating. Let’s think about these points we can learn from Genesis 1.

First, God is the creator. No matter what we may think about anything else, we can’t forget this. Behind everything is God. It’s easy to forget this, however, when we’re in trouble. Keep this in mind: Whatever it is, God made it, and he can handle it.

Second, without God’s activity things are barren and lifeless. When we see only barrenness and lifelessness around us, when discouragement and depression seem about to overwhelm us, we can be certain they are not of God. God moves into the chaotic, the dismal, the dark, and makes it light.

Third, despite what we may think, even in darkness, God is active. There could be no darker time, no place where God was less obvious than in the chaos of Genesis 1:2. But God’s Spirit was there, in the darkness, hovering over the chaos and emptiness. No matter how dark things seem, God is still there.

Finally, at the worst of times, God spirit moves. Genesis 1:1-2 gives us the parameters. God can move from nothing to everything. If God can move from nothing to everything, then he can move your life from the darkness of sin to restoration. He can resolve financial issues. He can resolve family issues. None of these are anything like as hard to deal with as going from nothing to everything!

The real question is, will we move with God? Sometimes we choose to stay in darkness. Sometimes we choose to go our own way. But the one real, total solution to our problems will be found in God’s presence in our life. God is still in the business of creation.

Let’s remember the new creation. Paul says,

Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. — 2 Corinthians 5:17

And what God does is good, whether it’s to the world in Genesis or in your own heart today.

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