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Scripture for the day: Joshua 1:9; John 14:27; Acts 5:29 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go....Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.....we ought to obey God rather than men.
Thought for the day: It has always been this way: "If God be for us, who can be against us?" "I look unto the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord." "I will be with you always, even unto the end of the age."
What more can we ask for than that? Where does our fear come from? Where do we get the idea that mankind has any power to hurt us? We get it from having our eyes too firmly set on the things of this world; getting too caught up in what we've come to believe is important right here. We get it from putting too high a value on the opinions of family, friends and even our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Now don't misunderstand; how others see us is important, providing the necessities of life for ourselves and our families is important and living in harmony with those around us, to the best of our ability, is important. But we must come to the place where we understand that nothing is more important than pleasing God and nothing is easier to do - we simply surrender everything to His control and live in the shadow of His love from that moment on, filled with His Holy Spirit guided in every step by His plan.
There are few, however, who will determine to do such a thing. Most of us tend to hold back some aspect of our lives or some area in which we want to retain control. And that area becomes so important to us that we fear lest men might take it away. We become people pleasers so as to avoid harm in those areas of life deemed most important to us. But let's put the whole thing in God's perspective. Is what we wear important? No, only that we wear something. Is what we eat or where that next meal is coming from important? No, only that we have what we need, and He's promised to provide it. Is where we live or the type of house we inhabit important? No, only that we have somewhere to lay our head at night. Is whether or not we are healthy important? No, only that we have God with us in times of trouble. Is whether or not we live another day important? No, only that we've been faithful in the days given us.
If God let me die tomorrow, could I take the same attitude toward my demise as Paul did toward his? "I don't know which I'd rather do, stay here with you or go home to be with Jesus. To stay here would be to your benefit but to go home would be greatly to mine. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain so whether I live or die doesn't matter, it's all for Jesus" (my paraphrase).
God told Joshua, "Be of good courage"..."every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses (v.3)....for the Lord is with you wherever you go." The promise of the power of God in our lives is there for today and for tomorrow, and for always.
Be of good courage and....
Go take on your world. - Bill