Hero
We tend to label someone a hero who does something specific to help another in a world-changing way. But even these acts are only temporal. The heroism makes someone’s life better today, but not eternally.
The greatest heroes are people whom God uses to changes lives forever—people He uses as instruments to bring others into His kingdom. And we also know that God specializes in using unlikely heroes—people we wouldn’t ordinarily select.
I think of 11 disciples, ordinary men who were used in extraordinary ways to usher in the church and to spread the gospel throughout the known world.
And I think of a man we don’t have a lot of information on. His name is Enoch. We find him listed in the “Hall of Faith Heroes” in Hebrews 11:5-6:
“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (ESV).
The only other time we read about Enoch is in Genesis chapter 5. In Genesis 5:21, we discover that he was the father of Methuselah (the man who lived longer than anyone else—969 years). And though we don’t have much history on Enoch, we know that Scripture describes him as a man “who walked with God.”
What a description!
Wouldn’t you love for people to think of you that way?
How wonderful it would be if above all your accomplishments, your family, your career, your personality, the thing that stands out most is that you walk with God!
“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24 NIV).
Enoch never died. He walked so closely with God, that he simply walked right into heaven!
Enoch was definitely God’s friend. Wherever Enoch walked, God was there. If we desire it, plan for it and ask for it, God will be constantly in our company as well.
Ask God to deepen your walk with Him in 2016. Tell Him that you want Him to do more IN you and THROUGH you this year than ever before. Determine to walk so closely with God that you see Him in your actions, thoughts, dreams, plans, hobbies and activities.
Make this the year that you live in His presence 24/7 . . . 365.
Strange
Imagine: A young lady becomes engaged to the love of her life. She spends several days searching for the perfect wedding dress. Hours are spent trying on dress after dress. She finally discovers the one-in-a-million dress that seems to be made just for her.
She marks the days off on the calendar; it seems her wedding can’t come fast enough. Soon the big day has arrived. Her hair is styled perfectly. The pedicure and manicure have been completed. She pulls on an old pair of jeans and grabs the sweatshirt she wore to breakfast that morning (with pancake syrup on it) and walks down the aisle to be pronounced her husband’s wife.
Something’s missing, right?
The wedding dress!
As weird as that would be, God hints that forgetting to spend time with Him every day is even stranger than a bride who would forget her wedding dress. Check this out: “Does a young woman forget her jewelry, or a bride her wedding dress? Yet for years on end my people have forgotten me” (Jeremiah 2:32 NLT).
We often make excuses about not spending time reading the Bible each day:
“I don’t need to actually read anything; I’ll just chat with the Big Guy.”
“I have too many other things to get done today. If I stop and make time to read the Bible, I may not have time for my friends.”
“Ahhh, God knows I love Him. I don’t think I really need to spend time with Him to prove it.”
Yet we’d go nuts if God ever used one of those excuses on us, wouldn’t we? Imagine asking God for help and getting one of these responses:
“Seriously? I have people praying from a war zone right now!”
“It takes a lot of strength to be attentive to bazillions of prayers around the world. I just need to take a quick nap.”
“Get in line. Others were praying before you bothered to send me yours.”
Aren’t you glad that when we call on our heavenly Father, He’s always there? And He’s always ready to meet our needs, hold us in His lap, and listen to everything we say.
What’s the most recent excuse you’ve given for not meeting with God? With His help, you can determine to make your daily quiet time with Him part of your lifestyle. Will you do it?
As we continue into 2016, commit to spend time with your heavenly Father every single day.
Try memorizing this:
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me” (Proverbs 8:17 ESV).
MARY Christmas (Part 3)
(Part 3)
I hope you’re having an amazing Christmas today celebrating our Savior’s birth.
To think that the King of kings
chose to leave the perfection of a grandiose kingdom
and invade our sinful world with love
and a plan for redemption is mind-boggling.
I’m still thinking about Mary and want to pass on some lessons
I’m learning that I hope will challenge you today:
• Mary allowed God to make good things from her mistakes.
Twelve years after Christ was born, Mary lost Him!
She and Joseph thought Jesus was somewhere in the caravan of family and friends they were traveling with, but she soon discovered He was missing. Yet Jesus was exactly where He was supposed to be—at the temple. Mary maintained a teachable spirit and learned more about her Son from this incident.
Will you, too, have a teachable spirit?
I’m guessing this has to be one of the most important things to God. Obedience and a teachable spirit.
• Mary pondered things and kept them in her heart.
What’s inside YOUR heart?
Will you determine to make time to ponder some stuff this Christmas?
Instead of doing all the talking, consider being quiet for a while.
Think about Christ’s birth and all that it means.
Be willing to ponder some things as Mary did.
Learn to become comfortable with silence.
Start a journal.
Memorize some Scripture.
Learn to truly meditate on God’s holy Word this Christmas.
God’s best servants are often plain people who are available to Him. Mary was available. Are you?
God’s plans involve extraordinary events in ordinary people.
This Christmas, will you let Him use you in a way He’s never used you before?
Give God a merry Christmas by asking Him to help you celebrate a Mary Christmas.
And if you’re wondering what to give the King of kings on His birthday . . . the very best gift is always yourself.
Thoughts?