Where Is Your Faith?

Luke 8:25

25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.

In the case of his disciples, Jesus had just calmed the winds and the raging waters. Jesus had been asleep when the fierce storm came over the lake. Water was filling the boat but Jesus was still asleep. Can you imagine twelve men panicking in a boat while Jesus is sleep? Jesus was unmoved because He knew the storm would not destroy them no matter how fierce it got. After being awakened and accused of not caring, Jesus simply rebuked the storm and it died down. Did you just hear that? Jesus spoke to the storm and it died down!  And then Jesus asked only one question. "Where is your faith?" Has Jesus ever asked you, "Where is your faith?" Just as Jesus was in the boat with the disciples, so He is with you and where you are right now. The problem, your faith isn't with Jesus but with the storm. You fear the storm so much to the point that you have more faith in the storm's destructive power than you do in Jesus' ability to remove the storm or even bring you through the storm unharmed. Why is that? Is it because you do not truly believe what Jesus can do or is it that those you are surrounded by have taught you to fear everything but the one who can actually do something about it? Did you know Satan has to have permission to mess with you as he did with Job? Did you know that Satan's purpose is to shake your faith and show the Lord that you only believe when you get what you want, when you want and how you want it? Did you know that the Lord allows the storm to get close enough because He has faith in you that you still believe in who He is and what He can do in your life? If Jesus has more faith in you than you have in Him, is that not one sided? Yet, He does not have to prove himself to you but still does over and over again. Where is your faith? Is it in what you fear the people will think if you walk in faith the way Jesus is instructing you to do? Here's a thought, when the storm comes close to the boat, will those you are worried about be able to simply speak to the storm the way Jesus does? People come and go but Jesus will be the one in the boat with you no matter where it's sailing. Again, where is your faith?

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The Power of Appreciation

Job 12:15

15If he holds back the waters there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.

Job was referring to God's sovereign or total power, authority and wisdom to do things in the earth. As a whole, the United States is very blessed with many natural resources but those resources are taken for granted. Even in individual lives, many take what they have for granted. The cliche of "you never miss the water until the well runs dry", is a very true statement. Sometimes God has to make things disappear or remove them from your grasp before you notice the significant role they played in your life. That role can make a difference between a smile or frown, peace or unrest, etc. Taking for granted anything God does is a sure way to get Him to reverse the tide. God doesn't have to do anything.God doesn't have to ensure that you have breath in your body today. He created you and if He decided that today was your day to leave here, there's nothing you can do to change that. If God decided to allow a drought in your life in any format, there's nothing you can do to change that. Yes there is  you say? Anything you attempt could turn to sand. Job even says in verse 14 that what God tears downs cannot be rebuilt. Job was referring to the fact that man cannot recreate what God has severed or destroyed. When God destroys something, only God has the power for it to be rebuilt. God will topple anything anyone attempts to recreate if He doesn't want it to be so. Do not take for granted any blessing God has placed in your life. He has the ability to remove it just as quick as He presented it. Holding back the water or letting that well run dry is God's way of teaching you the power of appreciation.

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Is There An Accounting Error?

Luke 16:2

2So he called him in and asked him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer."

What if the Lord came to you at this very moment and asked you to give an account of every gift He has given you? What would be your response? Would the ledger show that you have used every gift He has placed in your possession or would there be an accounting error? What about that idea for a new business He gave you at the start of the year? Did you take any steps? What about that wonderful gift of seeing through a lens what others miss with the naked eye? What did you do with it? What about that wonderful ability to lead others? Are you leading or are you just sitting in the background being someone else's follower? Are you using your ability to communicate ideas, concepts, etc through visual media? The list of assets in your account are numerous. But what if the Lord came to you and said you cannot manage them any longer? What if you were in danger of losing every gift and blessing He's placed in your possession because you did not utilize it properly? What if He said that you didn't appreciate the way He has blessed you therefore all those blessings and gifts would be given to another? What would you do? We are to utilize what the Lord has given us for the purpose of helping others. Our wealth isn't just measured in dollars/euros/yen/etc. Many have wonderful gifts that God can convert into wealth but the first thing He wants to know is how much will you give away? How much will you share with others? An accounting error can be as simple as misplacing an asset as a debt or it can be as complex as not liquidating it. Do you have assets that you misplaced as debts in your life because of the lack of time or pure laziness? Or do you have assets that you have chosen not to liquidate out of selfishness? Either way, when the Lord decides He is ready to do an audit in your life, will He find an accounting error?

To Be Well Pleased

Matthew 3:17

17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

For most children, to hear those words from their parent (s) is a comforting sign of approval. For Jesus it was comforting because His Father, Our Father, was in favor of the mission for which He brought Jesus forth in a virgin womb. What more can a parent want but to see their child go forth in a mission they have approved. But what if the mission your Heavenly Father desires if different from what your earthly father or mother desires? Then what? Jesus said in His word , "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." He was not discounting his earthly family but also that God sent Him on a mission. Obedience to God is above the family lineage. Obedience to God can bring in alignment that which is out of alignment. Obedience to God in the mission and purpose He has set forth for you will break shackles in your own family. Obedience to God will eventually bring your life in focus for others to see, including earthly parents and they will know it is by the hand of God that you walk forth. Obedience to God will cause Him to say to you just as He said to Jesus that He is well pleased. When you please God, eventually, man will understand and get in line with God's direction. For God to be well pleased, means everyone else that needs to be, will be, in God's time.

A Fool in Luxury

Proverbs 19:10

10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury- how much worse for a slave to rule over princes.

King Solomon was given a lot of wisdom by God. One thing that still holds true today is the reality of a fool. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines a fool as one who lacks sense and judgement and also does things thoughtlessly, is aimlessly idle and acts in ignorance. So then it would stand to reason that a fool who lives in luxury will do what? A fool will waste what they have, take advantage, over indulge and misuse it. For a slave to rule over princes is even worse. How can these two things even be compared? Well a fool is slave to their own mentality and lack of judgement, therefore to rule over anyone who is of high standing and who does have sense and good judgement is of no value. What does this mean to you? A fool will continue to do the same thing over and over. But one of wisdom learns from mishaps and is more thoughtful and will seek guidance from God rather than to act in haste. A fool refuses to acknowledge their limitations while one with wisdom understands they do not have all the answers and seeks the source of the one True God to get answers. One with wisdom when put in a position of favor will be wise with it. Do not be a fool or slave to anything but that of Christ. Be one who walks in wisdom.

A Public Introduction

Luke 8:45

45"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."

Sometimes a person's introduction to Jesus is made public not by them but by Jesus himself. Why? As the NIV Study Bible states, Jesus wanted to show the power of the miracle that had taken place. Therefore the only way to do it was to have a public introduction. So the woman with the issue of blood had to come forward. She had pressed her way to Jesus because she had tried everything else. She had spent all her resources for twelve years. She had seen every doctor she could see. And though she was considered ceremonially unclean and could've been severely chastised for making a public appearance while she was considered unclean, she pressed her way to Jesus. She was hoping to go unnoticed since there were so many people. She was hoping that she would only need to touch the hem of his garment, not even him, but his garment that his grace and healing power would be extended to her. Such a public act she sought but yet wanted to go unnoticed. It's these types of acts of faith that will garner a public introduction to Jesus. By Jewish tradition she should have been ashamed of herself, but by Jesus, there was no shame. Therefore her public exposure was to introduce the miracle and who she was because of her faith in a man she had never met. And it gave further evidence that even if you have never been introduced to Jesus, if you believe enough to press your way through whatever the circumstance or need, He will want to meet you personally no matter where and who is present.

BLESS GOD!! Someone has just had their public introduction. Be not ashamed.

Praise God Anyhow!

Job 1:21

21and he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised."

Job was an extremely wealthy man both materially and spiritually. He was known in the land of Uz and in the East for being a great a man. Job was a man who walked upright in the sight of God. In short, Job had favor with both God and men. In this scripture, Job received the news that he lost all his children in one blow. That is enough to dishearten anyone and bring them to a place of anger and resentment. But not Job. Job recognized that he came into the world with nothing and when he was to depart there was nothing he could take with him. That acknowledgement alone speaks volumes. Many are so fixed on what has been acquired during life here on earth that it is easy to forget that this place is not the final destination and nothing acquired here can be taken to the final destination but that of one's heart. And more importantly, Job recognized that God is the giver and only God gives the authorization for anything to be taken. Many of you know the story that Satan did not see anyone who was worthy of being tested but God said, "Have you considered my servant Job?" God thought enough of Job as an upright man that surely even when Satan put him to the test, he would still praise and serve God. After losing all seven of his children, Job still praised God! That is a lesson for everyone. In the midst of your trial, whether it is losing someone or something, praise God anyhow! Why praise God in the midst of loss and tragedy? Because first of all, God considers you worthy enough to be tested. God considers enough of your character, your faith, your love for Him for a test or tests to even come. And even more so, He knows that when the test or tests are complete, you will come out with greater faith, greater praise than you did before you went into the test. And for Job's faithfulness during the test, he received greater materially after then he had before he walked into the test. What does God desire more than anything? He desires to be worshiped and praised and that's why you were created. To worship and praise Him with your life and every gift that He has placed within you. Your test always leads to greater, even if it doesn't seem like greater to you because of a loss, it's greater to God because more is gained than meets the eye. At the end of Job's test, not only did he receive greater, but his friends even learned something and were brought to a greater understanding and appreciation of God. So no matter what your circumstance, just PRAISE GOD ANYHOW!!