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Red Sea or the Jordan River?

Throughout the history of the Nation of Israel, God had faithfully led His people.  As they came to critical junctions in their journey, God made His way known to them.  Two great examples of this are found as the Israelites were ready to move through bodies of water.

Soon after leaving slavery in Egypt, the Israelites were face-to-face with the Red Sea.  With Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit, it looked like Moses and the people were trapped.  But God gave His people direction through the words of Moses.  “Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14

Stand firm.  Be still.  God told His people to wait and see what He would do.  God parted the water and the people went through on dry ground.  He opened the path for them to follow so they could stay on course with Him.

If you fast forward several years, we find God’s people on the banks of the Jordan River.  This is the second time they have been there.  The first time they failed to listen to God and spent the next forty years wandering around the desert.  This time, however, they were ready to follow Him.  But what were they supposed to do?  The Jordan was between them and the Promised Land.

I wonder if Joshua thought about the last time Israel was held up by a body of water.  At that time, they simply had to stand firm and be still.  They waited and God clearly showed the path they were to take.  Is that what they should do this time?

The answer is no.  Even more than no, the answer was exactly opposite as last time.  Before they stood, waited and walked through on dry ground.  This time, someone was going to get wet.  God would wait for them to take the first step.  “Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’” Joshua 3:8

As I face junctions in my life, the question seems to be, “Am I waiting for God or is He waiting for me?  Is this the Red Sea or the Jordan River?”  And while I wish I could tell you I’ve discovered the secret to knowing the difference between the two, I can’t because I haven’t.

But this one thing I have learned.  When I’m faced with making decisions, God makes it clear that He is with me.  Now, sometimes, what I wish what was clear was the answer to my question.  By I wasn’t created to have a relationship with someone who could answer my questions.  I was created to have a relationship with Someone Who loves me, knows me, and invites me to know Him.

And that’s better than an answer any day.

What I Want For You

Yesterday at lunch I was asked the question, “What are you passionate about?  What are you willing to give your life to?”  We were in the midst of a conversation about making a difference with our lives.  This is a big issue in my life as the years continue to quickly pass by.  Gone are the days when I had my whole life ahead of me.  How I use, rather invest my time is more important to me now than ever before.  I really want my life to count; I want to make a difference.

 

So back to the question, “What am I passionate about?”  Here’s my answer…

 

I want to help you live it.

 

I want you to have a deep relationship with God.  I want you to rely solely on Him.  I want you to grow in knowing Him more and more.  I want you to thrive in the midst of difficulty.  I want you to live in a way that causes people to wonder what makes you different.  I want you to enjoy the full, meaningful, abundant life that God has for you.  I want you to be free of the trappings of this world.  I want you to give your life away.  I want you to experience all that Jesus died for you to have.

 

I don’t want you to just believe it; I want you to live it.

 

Memorizing God’s Word

Recently, I was challenged by a friend to commit a portion of the Bible to memory.  He encouraged me to memorize 1 Corinthians 13.  I didn’t respond right away because I thought he was going to finish his sentence and tell me what verse I should memorize within that chapter.  Well, the challenge was to commit the entire chapter to memory.

Now before you dismiss this as a super spiritual, insurmountable task, this chapter only has thirteen verses.  It is also a very well known chapter; the Love Chapter.  I have read from this chapter at every wedding I’ve performed and taught from it on several occasions.  Memorizing this was very possible.

Unfortunately, most adults are not involved learning the Bible by heart.  I started out strong, making use of the Navigators Topical Memory System.  I intentionally memorized key verses from my very first days as a Christ follower.  My desire was to learn God’s Word and have it readily available to me.  However, I have not stayed consistent in doing this over the years.

Sure, there have been seasons when a specific verse from the Bible has captured my heart deeply and I committed it to memory.  There have also been times when I’ve learned the verses that my children were learning at church.

Memorizing 1 Corinthians 13 has helped me to place God’s Word deeply into my life by allowing me to recall and recite this passage anytime.  I now find myself considering the truth of Paul’s words as I go about the daily routines of life.  And because of the nature of this passage, I find that I am thinking about life through the lens of love.

And this is the point of what it means to learn and live God’s Word.  It’s not just reading; it’s not just knowing.  The truth of the Bible needs to impact our day-to-day lives.  Memorizing allows us to always carry God’s Word with us so we can let it do its work in us.

Up to the challenge?  Join me in memorizing 1 Corinthians 13.  Let me know when you are ready to share it with me from memory.  Along the way, you will have the opportunity for God’s Word to deeply impact your life.

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”  Psalm 119:11

Dining with Jesus – John 15:1

“I am the true vine.”  John 15:1

 

 

Our dining with Jesus experience ends today.  And yet, I certainly hope that it is only beginning.  Jesus’ invitation is still extended to you and me and we can dine with Him anytime we choose.  “Look!  I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”  Revelation 3:20

 

As I dined with Jesus today I considered what He reveals about Himself in John 15.  I have come to see Him as the One Who sustains me.  He provides life to me as long as I stay connected to Him.  He works through me, bringing about the fruit that He desires.  What I must do more than anything is to stay close, stay attached to Him.

 

As you continue to dine with Jesus, be sure to keep in mind what this time is for.  We often rush into His presence with burdens, concerns and requests.  While we have the freedom to come before Him with all of these, the goal of dining is to simply relax, enjoy being with Jesus, and get to know Him more and more.

 

“For my determined purpose is that I may know Him.  That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly.”  Philippians 3:10 (Amplified)

Dining with Jesus – John 14:6

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

 

Near the very end of Jesus’ life on earth, He took time to comfort His followers.  He told them He would soon be killed.  This brought confusion and hopelessness into their lives.  As a means of encouraging them, He reminded them that there was more; a place where they would be together with Him forever.  Jesus then assured them that they knew the way to this place.

 

Thomas responds as any of us would.  “Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"  Jesus then declares a beautiful statement of Who He is.  “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

 

As we have looked at each day this week, Jesus is a Person that we can have a close relationship with.  Too often, we connect with Him only to get an answer to one of life’s pressing issues.  The great danger is that we will miss the reality that God has made Himself totally available to us through Jesus.

 

If we’re not careful, we will ask for healing and fail to notice the Great Physician.  If we’re not careful, we will cry out in desperation and miss the One Who walked with us and knows us in every way.  If we’re not careful, we will express thanks and overlook the One Who is worthy of all praise.

The way is not only directional; the Way is a Person.  The truth is not only intellectual; the Truth is a relationship.  The life is not only eternal; the Life is a connection.  Jesus told the disciples that they could know all this by knowing Him.

 

"For my determined purpose is that I may know Him.  That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly."  Philippians 3:10 (Amplified)