Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  Habakkuk 3:17-18

Observe, I entreat you, how calamitous a circumstance is here supposed, and how heroic a faith is expressed. It is really as if he said, "Though I should be reduced to so great extremity as not to know where to find my necessary food, though I should look around about me on an empty house and a desolate field, and see the marks of the Divine scourge where I had once seen the fruits of God's bounty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord."

Methinks these words are worthy of being written as with a diamond on a rock forever. Oh, that by Divine grace they might be deeply engraven on each of our hearts! Concise as the form of speaking in the text is, it evidently implies or expresses the following particulars: That in the day of his distress he would fly to God; that he would maintain a holy composure of spirit under this dark dispensation, nay, that in the midst of all he would indulge in a sacred joy in God, and a cheerful expectation from Him.

Heroic confidence! Illustrious faith! Unconquerable love!
--Doddridge

Last night I heard a robin singing in the rain,
And the raindrop's patter made a sweet refrain,
Making all the sweeter the music of the strain.
So, I thought, when trouble comes, as trouble will,
Why should I stop singing? Just beyond the hill
It may be that sunshine floods the green world still.
He who faces the trouble with a heart of cheer
Makes the burden lighter. If there falls a tear,
Sweeter is the cadence in the song we hear.
I have learned your lesson, bird with dappled wing,
Listening to your music with its lilt of spring
When the storm-cloud darkens, then's the TIME to sing.
--Eben E. Rexford 

Soldiers for Christ..... Dr. Charles Stanley

Soldiers for Christ

Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Timothy 2:1-4

Today's passage is from Paul's letter to Timothy. The apostle encourages the young man—and, by extension, every believer—to face difficulty as a good soldier. The military term "soldier" implies that we are in a battle. And in fact, the combat started before Adam and Eve's lifetime. 

We see the first evidence when almighty God, who had created all the celestial beings, nevertheless allowed Satan and other angels (thereafter known as "demons") to rebel against Him. They established their own kingdom and waged war with the Lord.

Later we see this strife extend to all humankind. In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted Eve to violate God's command by eating forbidden fruit. Her disobedience corrupted mankind's innocence, and ever since, all human beings have been born with a nature bent away from the Lord—and with a profound need for a Savior.

Tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus modeled how to be victorious in spiritual conflict: by means of Scripture. God's Word gives us everything we need to win—from offensive and defensive weapons (Eph. 6:10-17) to the proper perspective on our adversaries' real identity: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the . . . spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (v. 12).

When we see ungodliness in our society, the Enemy may at times seem to be winning. Yet we who are saved have assurance that we belong to Him who is greater—and who will have the final victory (1 John 4:4; John 16:33). View daily battles biblically and look to God, who is mightier than all evil.

Three Ways to Stay Faithful in a Sifting Season..... MEREDITH HOUSTON CARR

Three Ways to Stay Faithful in a Sifting Season
MEREDITH HOUSTON CARR

“‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.’” Luke 22:31-32 (ESV)

Have you ever walked through a season so difficult, you feared your faith might crumble?

The day I received my son’s autism diagnosis, something inside me broke. Through tears, I scribbled in the margins of my daily devotion, I don’t know how my faith is going to survive this hit.

The diagnosis ushered me into a three-year period of darkness. Little cracks in my marriage rapidly became gaping fissures. Seemingly small lies I’d believed about God suddenly loomed large. Tears, fears and endless wrestling matches with my heavenly Father multiplied.

Have you ever walked through something similar?

Maybe you, too, have experienced the withering blow of a surprising or devastating diagnosis.

Perhaps you’ve lost a loved one, and your grieving heart can’t make sense of the sorrow.

Maybe recent months of social isolation, fear and turmoil have taken their toll by beating against your faith.

Where is God in all this darkness?

Like me, you might find yourself in a “sifting” season — a period of deep pain with the divine purpose of purifying and bolstering your faith. “Sifting” in the Bible typically refers to the process of separating wheat from its inedible counterpart, chaff. Likewise, sifting seasons play an important role in separating out the useless chaff from our hearts.

We are not the first followers of Jesus to undergo a refining of this sort. Centuries ago, the Apostle Simon (known as Simon Peter or simply Peter) experienced this. What’s more, Jesus even told him it was coming:

“‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers’” (Luke 22:31-32).

Peter balked at the idea that his faith would ever fail … and yet, hours after Jesus spoke these words, there Peter sat, cowered around a fire with strangers, denying that he ever knew his condemned Savior!

It was his lowest moment — yet as a result, the fear, doubt and cowardice was indeed sifted away. While Satan hoped to sift Peter right out of history, God fortified, purified and prepared Peter to become the “rock” Christ would use to build His church (see Matthew 16:18).

God wants to do the same for you and me, friend. Like Peter, we can learn to survive and even thrive as a result of an excruciating season. As you fight for your faith, here are some important things to remember:

1. Keep calm.
It feels incredibly scary and unsettling when a sifting season hits, but these seasons play a vital role in our spiritual growth. Scripture even tells us to expect them! Like Peter, we also have sins, beliefs and behaviors that need removing.

2. Keep connected.
When our faith is sifted, we need the support of community more than ever. Jesus prayed for the faith of Peter and His disciples. Likewise, we need dear and trusted friends supporting us in prayer, too. Authentic community helps see us through to the other side.

3. Keep the goal in mind.

We must remember God’s heart in allowing these seasons: He’s moving us into deeper faith, tenderly transforming us through the sorrow. As a result, we find ourselves equipped to encourage our struggling brothers and sisters. You never know how God will use this time in your life to help another!

My own sifting season, though painful, led me into a deeper fellowship with my heavenly Father, sweeter than I ever could have imagined! Now, when I see that scribbled note in my devotion, my soul is at peace. I am eternally grateful for all the “chaff” God removed from my heart.

He will faithfully do the same for you, dear one — only let Him lead you through.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us enough to refine our faith. We confess our tendency to doubt You in difficult seasons. Help us continue wrestling for our faith, and sustain us by Your grace until Your work in us is complete. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Job 23:10, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (ESV)

2 Corinthians 12:9a, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (ESV)

Members without a Club..... by Shawn McEvoy

Members without a Club
by Shawn McEvoy

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. - John 14:6

"I don't respect [believers] who don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and a hell, and that people could be going to hell, or not getting eternal life, or whatever, and you think, well, it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward... how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible, and not tell them that? I mean if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you, and you didn't believe it, but that truck was bearing down? There's a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that."

Wow, great words. Completely sums up what's at stake with Christian evangelism, and why it's so important, not to mention commanded. Who said that? Famous pastor? Leading revivalist? World-traveled evangelist?

An atheist. One who later in the same speech will say, "I know there's no God," and "religion does a lot of bad stuff," but who was nonetheless touched by a genuine gesture that a simple, normal, respectable gentleman made in giving the gift of a Gideon Bible.

The atheist in question is Penn Gillette, of the famous magic act Penn & Teller. You can check out his story of being offered a Bible following one of his shows on YouTube (or you used to be able to - the link has since been blocked by Sony).

I am sure Mr. Gillette and I - and you - disagree on a lot of things. But he's so right about this. Our pastor was recently addressing some of the tough questions about Christianity, including the one about "how can Christians claim to know the true way; aren't all ways equally valid?" And he settled on our verse today - John 14:6 - which is always our beloved starting prooftext for how Jesus himself stated that no other way would work.

While that is blessedly true, our pastor suggested we have tended to invert (if not pervert) the subtlety of Jesus' message here. That is, we've behaved like we're privileged members of an exclusive club, one that has all sorts of rules to keep others out. One that gets to tell them how wrong they are. One that should be full of joy and open arms, but is instead full of stern sobriety and pointing fingers. One that nobody would really want to join anyway, even if it were a club, which it isn't.

For one thing, we're on a journey toward perfection rather than cloistered in a cozy clubhouse, and in the same chapter Jesus told his followers that the many rooms in his Father's house were being prepared. We aren't living in them yet. Our clubhouse is not our current home. We have merely started the trip, and yet...

We forget where we come from.

Christianity is flawed in part because it is full of losers - yes, those who have humbly admitted their own shortcomings and acknowledged The Answer is found outside themselves. My own father - before his conversion - said he viewed Christianity as a crutch for weak people. "Exactly," was my response. "But realize, Dad, that also means you're saying it exists and has real value just as a crutch does."

Christ did not come for the healthy, but for the sick, the weak. That's us whether we admit it or not. We have no claim to exclusivity. The message of John 14:6, similar to how eloquently Mr. Gillette put it, is that anyone is welcome for INclusion, provided they... what? Please us? Donate? Stop being so mean? No. They must simply believe. Our job is to tell them that truck is bearing down, politely and sincerely... to give the Bible and to read it ourselves... to model a life not based on legalism or even moralism, but on the joy of every day's opportunity along the narrow road and the freedom we have to choose to follow it or not... to preach the gospel and, when necessary, use words to do so.

When Jesus told His followers that He was the way and the truth and the life, it was a statement of comfort. He had just told them He would be leaving, but that if they had seen Him (and they Had) then they had seen the Father, and that "you know the way to the place where I am going."

Intersecting Faith & Life: Comfort others with this verse. There are a lot of hurting people in this world who point to this text as the source of their conundrum with Christianity. Remind them that we're not about keeping people out, evoking a membership privilege or condemning them to a more dire fate. Let God do His job. Our own part has so little to do with dos and don'ts, and everything to do with sending out party invitations via grace, freedom, and acceptance. I was lost, and someone pointed me to this road. Many others had tried before, but their words finally took hold and my eyes were opened to see it was indeed the right road. Pure blood was shed for you as it was for anyone who would accept it, repent, seek forgiveness, know joy. Here's a Bible. Won't you read it and join us on our merry Way?

Finding Freedom in Christ..... By Alistair Begg

Finding Freedom in Christ
By Alistair Begg

No one but Jesus can give deliverance to captives. Real liberty comes from Him alone. It is a liberty rightly granted; for the Son, who is Heir of all things, has a right to make men free.

The saints honor the justice of God, which now secures their salvation. It is a liberty that has been dearly purchased. Christ reveals it by His power, but He bought it by His blood. He makes you free, but it is by His own bonds.

You go clear because He bore your burden for you: You are set at liberty because He has suffered in your place.

Although the purchase price was great, Jesus gives it freely. He asks nothing of us as a preparation for this liberty. He finds us sitting in sackcloth and ashes and invites us to wear the fitting garment of freedom; He saves us just as we are and without any help from us.

When Jesus sets us free, the liberty is perpetually enjoyed; no chains can bind again. Let the Master say to me, "Captive, I have delivered you," and it is done forever.

Satan may plot to enslave us, but if the Lord is on our side, whom shall we fear? The world, with its temptations, may seek to ensnare us, but He who is for us is mightier than all those who are against us. The movements of our own deceitful hearts may harass and annoy us, but He who has begun the good work in us will bring it to completion in the end. The enemies of God and the antagonists of man may gather their forces together and come with concentrated fury against us, but if God acquits, who is he that condemns?

The eagle that flies to its rocky perch and afterwards soars above the clouds is no more free than the soul delivered by Christ. If we are no longer under the law but free from its curse, let our liberty be practically displayed as we serve God with gratitude and delight. "I am your servant; the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds."1

Heavenly Father, only in you can we find true freedom. You deliver us from the chains of sin, and from the mistakes of our heart. Hold us close to you always, Amen.

A Prayer for When You Need a Reset in Faith and Life..... By Jennifer Waddle

A Prayer for When You Need a Reset in Faith and Life
By Jennifer Waddle

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)

Have you ever been going strong…for days, weeks, and even months, until one day you realize you’re not? You wonder if it’s just a slump or a phase or a hormonal spike, then admit it’s not going away…whatever it is.

To utter the words, “I think I need a reset,” can be scary.

But what if?

What if God, in all of His Sovereignty, leads us to those vulnerable places? What if all along, He is allowing us to run out of steam so that we will finally…stop?

What if a “reset” is exactly what you need? And what does that really mean? I found some interesting descriptions of what it means to reset something. Here are a few of them.

• to set back to the initial state
• to set anew
• to adjust again after an initial failure

How different would our lives be if we asked God to set things anew and sincerely meant it? Would our daily routines look the same? Would our attitudes remain as they are?

If you are sensing from the Holy Spirit that you need a real and lasting change in heart and mind, I encourage you to spend some unhurried time in that secret, quiet place, where you can meet with God. Our own Savior met with the Father in prayer, and prayed for all of us who are kept by Him. And in that prayer, He was specific about the things needed to live in this world but not be “of” it.

Let's Pray Together:

“Lord, I long for those moments early in my faith when I felt your closeness, your joy, your energy and zest for life. I confess that the daily grind has ground down my passion for you. I confess that I allow the cares of the world to choke out the joy of the gospel. Lord, turn my heart toward you again. Fix my eyes on you, fix my heart on you. Help me have a reset in my faith and in my life, starting today. Renew my heart, renew my life for you and your ways. Help me see the daily routines of life as moments to gracefully submit to your will. Thank you for being the Lord of my life everyday. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”