Journey to the Cross - Following Instructions

I like instructions. I’m not a creative cook so instructions are my best friend. Through instructions, I’ve found a few recipes that are easy to make, turn out the same every time, and delight my guests. While variety isn’t anticipated at my table, consistency and a satisfied palate might be.



When we discern and follow God’s instructions, life is much the same way. Our lives may have less drama but will be more satisfying.

Morning Meditation

Read Psalms 119:167-168.

Ps 119:167-168

My soul guards and keeps all your instructions — oh, how much I love them! I follow your directions, abide by your counsel; my life's an open book before you. THE MESSAGE



• Ponder God’s instructions and let yourself love them.

• Allow your life to be an open book before God.

• Listen to His instructions for today.

Morning Prayer

• Ask God to make His instructions clear.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

Leaders have been giving instructions for as long as people have been on earth. Not following those instructions can have dire earthly consequences. God also gives instructions and when we follow them, the glory of God is visible. Read Exodus 16:9-10.



Ex 16:9-10

Moses instructed Aaron: "Tell the whole company of Israel: 'Come near to GOD. He's heard your complaints.'" When Aaron gave out the instructions to the whole company of Israel, they turned to face the wilderness. And there it was: the Glory of GOD visible in the Cloud. THE MESSAGE



• What were Moses’ instructions to Aaron?

• What were Aaron’s instructions to the people?

• Did the people follow these instructions?

• What did they see?



God even gives us instructions about what to do when the world’s instructions conflict with His instructions. Read Deuteronomy14:1-4.



Deut 13:1-4

If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. NASU



• When we get conflicting instructions, what is God trying to determine?

• What are God’s instructions to us in Deuteronomy 14:4?



On His way to the cross, Jesus too followed instructions. Read John 14:28-31.



John 14:28-31

"You've heard me tell you, 'I'm going away, and I'm coming back.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I'm on my way to the Father because the Father is the goal and purpose of my life. I've told you this ahead of time, before it happens, so that when it does happen, the confirmation will deepen your belief in me. I'll not be talking with you much more like this because the chief of this godless world is about to attack. But don't worry — he has nothing on me, no claim on me. But so the world might know how thoroughly I love the Father, I am carrying out my Father's instructions right down to the last detail. THE MESSAGE



• What was Jesus warning His disciples about?

• What comfort did He offer?

• How carefully was Jesus following His Father’s instructions?

• Why was Jesus willing to follow such difficult instructions?



While on earth, Jesus traveled the countryside, giving His own set of instructions. Read Matthew 10:37-39.



Matt 10:37-39

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. NASU



• What are our instructions?

• What is our promise?



Even in ordinary earthly celebrations, Jesus was doing the extraordinary. He gave His disciples specific instructions about how celebrate the Passover meal. Read Matthew 26:18-19.



Matt 26:18-19

He said, "Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, 'The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.'" The disciples followed Jesus' instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal. THE MESSAGE



• How carefully did the disciples follow instructions?



Now read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.



1 Cor 11:23-26

Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord's Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me.” After supper, he did the same thing with the cup: “This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me.” What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt. THE MESSAGE



• Where did these instructions come from?

• When Jesus gave instructions in Matthew 28-29 (above) for that last Passover meal together, what was He preparing the disciples for?

• What do you think would have happened if they hadn’t followed His instructions to the letter?

• When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper today, whose instructions are we following?

• What is the purpose of these instructions?



Like the disciples when they followed Jesus’ detailed instructions for that last Passover meal, we may not know the purpose behind the instructions we receive. To us, these instructions may seem insignificant while in reality, they may have eternal consequences.

Application

I was late for the next session at the 2006 Florida Writers Conference. The previous session had not been what I’d expected. Instead of speaking about how to write, the speaker had discussed time management. Since the next session was supposed to be about Time Management, I wondered if I even needed to go. I was feeling the leading of the Holy Spirit to attend the class, so I gave in.



In my rush to get to the next class, I almost passed the Ladies Room. Deciding I’d be more comfortable if I paid it a visit, I slowed down and entered. While standing at the sink, I noticed a woman frantically splashing water on her red and swollen face. I didn’t begin a conversation because I was in a hurry. I heard a Still Small Voice whispering, Remember who and whose you are. You’re the “Pocket Full of Quarters Lady” and your calling is to minister to strangers.



In my haste, I shoved down the quiet voice. The woman’s voice was louder. “Are you part of the writer’s conference?”



“Yes,” I said. Knowing there was a church meeting in that same building and noticing she was not wearing the badge of the conference, I asked, “Are you here for the church service?”



“Yes,” she answered. “Are you a writer?”



“Yes,” I said, picking up my stuff to leave.



“What do you write about?” she asked.



“Christian living,” I answered, giving her the short answer and heading to the door.



“I wish someone would write a book on time management,” she said sighing.



I stopped, feeling a little queasy that I was still in a rush. “There are lots of books on that topic,” I said. “You could Google it and get some suggestions.” I disappeared behind the closing door and ran down the hall ignoring my guilt.



The class was well underway. As I grabbed the handouts, I heard the speaker saying, “Don’t get so involved with your writing that you forget to minister to people, or you won’t have anything to write about.” I froze, knowing I’d ignored God’s instructions to minister to that woman in the Ladies Room.



As I turned around to walk back out the door, I felt the speaker staring at me in confusion. Author and speaker Carla Williams is a friend and I worried that my leaving would distress her. Briefly, I hesitated but I knew I had my orders. Determinedly, I left and marched to the Ladies Room, praying she was still there.



I entered and saw her still struggling with her eyes. Through swollen tear filled eyes she said, “My allergies are acting up.”



“I can tell you’re miserable,” I said. “My calling from God is to minister to strangers. I was in a hurry a moment ago and didn’t reach out to you. I’m sorry.” I told her what the speaker was saying when I entered the classroom. “God sent me back here. You mentioned needing a book on time management. Are you struggling with that?”



She sagged with relief, hoping for an answer. “I’m also in a ministry. I’m a missionary but my life is overwhelming. I’m so busy with my family and responsibilities that I’m not getting any work done for God. I feel guilty all of the time and don’t know what to do.”



I smiled. “Ironically, both the last session and the next session were on Time Management. Both stressed taking the time to hear God and following His instructions. Are you having regular morning time with God?”



“No,” she confessed, shaking her head. “I’m too busy so I decided I didn’t have time. I know it’s wrong but I haven’t known what else to do.”



“I understand,” I said. “But God can’t tell you what to do if you don’t listen to Him. I too am busy but when I listen to God and follow His instructions, my time is like the feeding of the 5,000 with the tiny fish. God blesses it and there is always enough of it. When I’m running on my own steam, no amount of time is enough.”



I saw the moment the Holy Spirit convicted her. She smiled gratefully. “Thank you for being obedient,” she whispered.



“I just wish I’d been obedient the first time,” I confessed. “Is that a commitment? Are you going to have regular morning time listening to God?”



“Yes,” she promised, hugging me.



“Do you have a computer?” I asked.



“Absolutely,” she nodded.



“I’m writing a devotional called Journey to the Cross. I put out a new devotional every day. You might enjoy it.” I gave her a card with my website address and a quarter.



I went to the class late, having learned more about time management than the talented Carla could ever have taught me. At the end of the conference, we had a testimony time and I shared my experience with the entire group. Afterward, I apologized to Carla for leaving her class. “I was afraid you would be offended,” I confessed.



“No,” she smiled. “I was just worried about you. I prayed for you as you walked out the door.” Carla too followed God’s instructions and I entered that Ladies Room with someone praying for me.



What instructions has God given you today? Are you willing to follow them? Learn from my mistakes and be obedient the first time.

Journey to the Cross - Why Can't it be Convenient?

Have you ever wished God would make His calls more convenient? In my walk with God, I’ve found His calls fulfilling, peaceful, rewarding, and invigorating, but seldom convenient. I’ve come to the conclusion that my personal convenience, as defined by Cheryle M. Touchton, isn’t of great concern to God. I’ve also noticed that unless I let His strength become mine, His calls exhaust me.

Morning Meditation

Read Isaiah 40:28-31

Isaiah 40:28-31

The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary. NASU



• Let God’s strength fill you.

• If you lack power, let Him increase your power.

• Wait on the Lord and listen for His call.

• Feel your self mounting up with wings of eagles, running and not growing tired, walking and not becoming weary.

Morning Prayer

• Ask God to give you the courage to say yes, regardless of personal convenience to you or your family.

• Ask God to prepare your family for His calls to you.

• Ask God to prepare you for His calls to your family.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

Mary’s life was on track. She was engaged to the perfect man. She expected a normal Jewish life and marriage. Instead, she got an angel telling her she would bear the son of God.



Read Luke 1:30-31

Luke 1:30-31

The angel said to her, " Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

NASU



• Was Mary’s call convenient to Mary and her family?

• The angel said she found favor with God. Do you think it felt like God’s favor?

• After the angel’s visit, how do you imagine the conversation with Mary’s mother went?

• Have you wondered about previous potential Marys that might have said no?



Noah was happily living his life when God interrupted with bad news and a set of instructions.



Read Genesis 6:13-14.

Gen 6:13-14

Then God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms,” NASU



• What do you think went through Noah’s mind as God said He was about to destroy the earth?

• Was Noah’s call convenient?

• How do you think Noah’s wife reacted to news that Noah was dropping everything and building an ark?

• What would have happened if Noah had told God no?

• Have you ever wondered if God warned others who told Him no?



Matthew was a tax collector. He was most likely wealthy, living a life of leisure, and had servants to wait on his every need. Then, a man walks in and says, “Follow me.”



Read Matthew 9:9.

Matt 9:9

As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him. NASU



• Was this call convenient?

• Do you think Matthew blindly followed the call of the cross or did he ask questions that aren’t recorded?

• What do you think was his family’s response to his sudden departure?

• What do you think his life was like on the road?

• What would he have missed by saying no to Jesus?



One enthusiastic scribe promised to follow Jesus everywhere and Jesus warned him of the inconvenience. Another wanted a hall pass to be late for class because he needed to bury his father.



Read Matthew 8:18-22.

Matt 8:18-22

Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."



Another of the disciples said to Him, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, " Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead." NASU



• What was Jesus’ warning to the scribe?

• How does that warning apply to us today?

• What was wrong with taking time to bury a father?

• What hall passes do we ask for?



Throughout the Bible, we see examples of people saying yes to the inconvenient but rewarding call of God. They interrupted their life to follow the way of the cross. If these calls were so inconvenient, why do you think they said yes?

Application

Before the most recent Pocket Full of Quarters missionary journey, God sent me a small 1992 camper van. At first, I named this rolling disaster Hapless. Little by little, Hapless was restored until eventually, he went through a name change much like Paul on the road to Damascus. Now “Happy” happily caries me from city to city being a part of God’s call for my life. Living in Happy is less convenient that my large beautiful home but certainly more convenient than the tent of previous journeys. I was grateful for God’s consideration.



Now that I have Happy, I find myself deciding to save money and use Happy for other traveling events. When it was time for the 2006 Florida Writers Conference, I was tempted to stay in the beautiful comfortable lodge but when I compared the cost to that of their campground, the campground saved $200. Begrudgingly, after arguing with God, I signed up for the campground.



I arrived and looked longingly at the people carrying their luggage inside. I drove over to the campground and hooked up the water and electricity, and finally turned on the air conditioner. I looked at my toes peaking from the sandals and realized they were muddy. The grease on my hands was impossible to get off. I worried about the effect of the hot Florida sun on my aroma but turned it over to God. I trudged over to the conference center, noticing how much fresher everyone else looked.



On the second night, I got up at about 5:00 AM to use the tiny restroom inside the camper. I collapsed into the bed for another hour of needed sleep before beginning the day. At 1 minute before the 6:00 AM alarm, I jerked awake to the sound of running water coming from the toilet. Oh no! I thought desperately, knowing this couldn’t be good.



I opened the door and sure enough, the foot pedal had stuck and the toilet was full and overflowing. Unfortunately, in that last hour of peaceful sleep, the flowing water steadily filled the black water tank. I tried flushing the toilet (not one of my better ideas) and flooded the carpet with more water. I jiggled the foot pedal, stopping the flowing water, but the damage was done.



Dismally, I looked at the pitch-dark morning and knew the holding tank must be dumped. Frantically, I grabbed the flashlight and jerked the door open. Still wearing pajamas, I stumbled out the door only to drop the flashlight into the blackness. I searched the now muddy damp ground but to no avail. Could I dump a holding tank in the dark? I was about to find out.



Blindly I groped under Happy, feeling for the black water hose, and breathed a sigh of relief as I unscrewed the cap. I thanked God for gloves as a tiny bit of liquid leaked. I pulled out the hose only to find out it didn’t reach the sewer line receptacle. Groaning, I went to the other side of Happy in search of the extender to the hose. The compartment was locked which meant I had to remove the gloves and search through my purse for keys. I washed my hands, found the key, put on another pair of disposable gloves, and unlocked compartment. I tried attaching the extender and couldn’t get it to snap. Not sure I remembered how it worked and deciding it would have to do, I pulled it towards the sewer line. It still wouldn’t reach. Groaning was becoming a habit. Wasn’t there a scripture about that?



I didn’t want to touch Happy’s privacy curtains with my muddy hands so I got my keys and sat in the drivers seat with my head peaking out the door so I could see. I carefully backed Happy off blocks and closer to the sewer line. Suddenly the sound of gushing water filled the silence of the early morning.



Oh no,I thought frantically. I’ve rolled over the sewer hose.Thankfully, the spraying water was fresh. I‘d forgotten to unhook the freshwater hose and the coupling connecting the hose to the spigot had snapped into 2 pieces. I thanked God for small favors. At least it had broken off at the spigot and not the end attached to Happy. While annoying, this wasn’t a crisis because I had another coupling. I considered sitting on the ground and crying but decided laughing was a better strategy. At least the “Pocket Full of Quarters Lady” had a pocket full of couplings.



Deciding to worry about fresh water later, I hooked up the black water hose to the sewer. I ignored the loose attachment of the extender and went around to the other side to search for the release to the black water tank. Oh well, I thought as I accidentally dumped the gray water first. I know you’re supposed to dump the black water first but it’s dark and I can’t see.



I went back around, hoping the tank was dumping, only to realize the ground was uphill and I was going to have to lift the hose and help it dump. I carefully held the extender and decided to be thankful that only a tiny amount leaked. Was it empty?I wondered when it grew quiet. I guessed it was time to put Happy back together and clean him and me up.



Was the sun ever going to come up? I asked God as I crawled on my hands and knees, hoping desperately it was fresh water I was crawling in. I slowly fed the hose back into its receptacle and screwed the cap on. I tried to clean off the extender and put it away but decided to wait until I could see.



Carefully, I drove Happy up onto the leveling blocks so the refrigerator would work. I went inside for the messy work of cleaning. As I kneeled on the floor, soaking up what I hoped was clean water; I began discussing my call with God.



Everyone else is sleeping in a nice comfortable hotel room. If their toilet overflows, they call a maintenance person, I whined.



God reminded me that convenience was relative and this was better than a tent. At least I have you on your knees, I felt Him laugh.



I bartered. I’ve done this for a while now. Surely, it’s someone else’s turn. If I go back to work, they pay for the hotel room when I travel. I’ll still talk to people about you.



God reminded me of free will and that I could say no anytime I wished. He offered to give someone else the blessing of this call to America.



I sighed, thinking of all of the rewards of following the voice of God. I remembered the sunsets at the Grand Canyon and the little girl that helped me set up a tent on Lake Michigan. I remembered the children playing with my bubbles as I talked to their mother about God. I revisited the joy on Mallory’s face after she turned her life over to God. I thought about the miracles I’d witnessed and the confidence that goes with knowing God’s will and having the ability to carry it out. No, I wouldn’t miss this call for anything. Following the call of God is sweeter than even holding my grandson and is worth inconvenience.



I washed the mud out of my only pair of pajamas and did my morning devotions. I went to the conference, a little worse for wear and slightly late. I told my story and made people laugh. “I can’t believe you’ve done all of that this morning,” my friend laughed. “I would have just sat on the ground and cried. Aren’t you exhausted?”



I thought about it. “No, surprisingly, I’m not. You’d be surprised what you can do when you have to. God gives the strength to fulfill His call.” It took the rest of the conference for Happy to dry. My life may not be convenient but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.



Think about God’s call for your life. What exciting and challenging thing has the Still Small Voice whispered to you? Are you willing to follow the inconvenient call of the cross?

Journey to the Cross - Apologies Are Not Fatal

If you thought confessing to one person was tough, wait until you see the assignment for today. Be brave. I don’t know anyone who has died from giving an apology.

Morning Meditation

Read Romans 5:20-21

Rom 5:20-21 The Message

All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life — a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.

• Quietly ponder the laws of God.
• Are you perfect? Has knowing the laws of God kept you from sinning?
• Relax as you realize that sin doesn’t have a chance in competition with grace.
• Lift your head with honor and let yourself accept God’s grace.
• Like the scripture says, “God is inviting us into life.” Reach out your arms and embrace His invitation to the sweetness of humility.
• Enjoy the fact that our life “goes on and on, world without end.”

Morning Prayer

• Ask God for the willingness and courage to apologize or make amends for your mistakes.

• If pride or fear stands in the way, confess to God.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

Previously, we made a list of our sins. We confessed to God and to another human being, the nature of those sins. God has graciously forgiven us but we still have a responsibility to the people we have harmed. Peace will be elusive until we have done our very best to apologize or make restitution.

Read Exodus 22:3.
Ex 22:3 NIV A thief must certainly make restitution.

What must a thief do?

Read Exodus 22:3 and Exodus 22:6.

Ex 22:5 NIV If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in another man's field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.

Ex 22:6 NIV

If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.
Many use the excuse, “But it was an accident.”

Better yet, some say, “I was doing the best I could so no one can blame me.”

Even if a mistake is accidental, what are we to do?

If you are still not convinced restitution is necessary, read Numbers 5:6-9.

Num 5:6-9 NIV

When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged. But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for him.

• When we wrong a man or woman in any way, whom are we being unfaithful to?

• What are we supposed to do?
• If we can’t make restitution to a person, what must we do?

“But wait!” you cry. “We live under grace. The scriptures you quoted were from the Old Testament. Jesus died for our sins. We are forgiven and need do nothing further.”

I understand your argument and used to use it myself. Then I discovered the peace of making amends. Grace is not an excuse to be irresponsible to the people around us. If you doubt this, read a New Testament story in Luke 19:1-10.
Luke 19:1-10 NIV

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."

So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'"

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

What did the people call Zaccheaus?

As Zacchaeus confessed, what did he promise to do?

What was Jesus’ response?

Yes, the word of God is clear. We are supposed to make amends. “Amend” means to change for the better. Our personal journeys require that we constantly change for the better. The nature of an amends can take on many different forms:

• If we say something inappropriate, we apologize.

• If we owe someone something, we pay.

• If we break something, we fix it or replace it.

• If our behavior is causing pain, we apologize and change our behavior.

If we choose to ignore this step of faith, never doubt the crippling affect on our spiritual journeys. I beseech you, become willing to make amends. While making amends, keep your head held high and never feel shame. God has already forgiven us. But don’t confuse the act of claiming our grace by holding our heads high with the act of prideful arrogance and sticking our noses in the air.

Did you find yourself wanting to argue, “I’m really a good person. Look at all I’ve done for the world. Surely I’m not bad enough to have to do all of this.” Read Luke 18:9-14.

Luke 18:9-14
He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man.

The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: “Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people — robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.”

Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, “God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.”

Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself." (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

• Who went home right with God?

• What happens if we walk around with our “nose in the air” with regards to our Christianity?

We can walk in the confidence of grace without the sin of self-righteousness. Read Hebrews 10:14

Hebrews 10:14 NIV

By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.


Our savior has already made us perfect and is in the process of making us holy. Let us cooperate with the process by making amends as soon as we get honest with ourselves and agree with God about our weaknesses.

Application

I had the privilege of hearing the author, Rev. Henry Blackaby, speak. His words will stick with me forever. “Your work for God will be hampered if there is any sin between you and God. Every sin against others is a sin against God.”

He told the story of a Sunday morning in his life and ministry. He and his wife woke up a little late. They were tired and grumpy. He found himself snapping at her. As he went to give his sermon, he felt God telling him not to open his mouth until he had made things right with his wife. Henry quickly found his wife and apologized. He was then able to do the work of his Father.

Take your list of sins:

• Beside each sin, write the names of the people harmed by the sin. Be honest and humble, realizing that there is no such thing as a big or little sin.

• Pray about each name, asking God what amend, if any, you owe.

• Be gentle on others and hard on yourself. Focus on yourself and forget any harm they may have done you.

• If you feel a confession is the correct course, be prudent and pray about it. Never harm anyone else with a confession. We don’t have the right to relieve our conscious at the expense of hurting others.

• Amends can be as simple as a hug or apology or as complicated as writing a large check. God will show you the correct way.

• If you are in doubt, call a Christian friend and discuss it.

• Make the amends immediately.

• Remember that amend means to change. God will help you change your future behavior.

At this point, I feel the need to give a warning. This exercise is for our spiritual health. Its success is not dependent on the response of others. Most will respond favorably but some may not. Do what you can and release their reactions into the hands of God. You have no reason to feel defensive or ashamed. Your Savior has already forgiven you.

Journey to the Cross - The Darkness

Are you afriad of the dark? Let's face it - things go bump in the night. When we hear a sound at night, our instinct is to turn on a light. Spiritual darkness leads to destruction and when our loved ones walk in spiritual darkness we beg them the turn on the light.  When God created the world, he said, "Let there be light." Turning a light on physically and spiritually brings relief.

Morning Meditation

Read Micah 7:8-9
Mic 7:8-9 NIV

Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD's wrath, until he pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.



• Allow the Lord to light your darkness.

• Confess sin, doubts, and fears.

• Allow Jesus to plead your case and establish your right.

• Have hope. He will bring you into light. You will see His righteousness.

Morning Prayer

• Praise God for being your light.

• Ask God to reveal your darkness so He can separate it into light.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

Lent is a period of time that many set aside to deal with the darkness in their lives. Dealing with darkness is a difficult but essential part of spiritual development. Everyone faces the darkness. Without understanding the darkness, it is impossible to enjoy the light. Fear of facing the darkness causes many Christians to spend their lives limping through the half-life of denial.

Life on earth is difficult. Relationships begin full of hope only to become stale and or troubled. We look into the eyes of our newborns and anticipate their joyful and productive lives. They grow up and we have to face that they live in a world full of difficulty and pain. We wake up in the morning anticipating a day following God. We go to bed disappointed with the day and ourselves. Peace comes from examining the darkness in our lives to find the wisdom to see what must be accepted or changed.

Read Genesis 1:2-5.

Gen 1:2-5 NIV

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day.

What came first, the light or the darkness?

Have you ever noticed that most spiritual growth periods in our lives begin with darkness? God created the light and saw that the light was good. He separated the light from the darkness. We turn to God to separate our light from our darkness.

The word “darkness” or “dark” is in the book of Job 34 times. We read how God separated Job’s light from his darkness. Read Job 12:22.

Job 12:22 NIV

He reveals the deep things of darkness

God reveals deep things in darkness. How has darkness been your teacher?

Read David’s prayer in Psalms 82:4-5.

Ps 82:4-5 NIV

Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. "They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness.

What are the weak and needy walking in?

Notice David’s concern that the weak and needy are vulnerable to the wicked. Satan attacks us at our weakest moments. Prayer is essential when we are weak and needy.

Read John 12:46.

John 12:46 NIV

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Why has Jesus come into the world?

Notice the word “stay” in darkness. No one who believes in Jesus has to stay in darkness. We may move in and out of darkness many times in our lives but we never have to stay there.

The world experienced three hours of darkness when Jesus was crucified. On the cross, Jesus experienced His own personal moments of darkness. Read His words in Mark 15:33-34.

Mark 15:33-34 NIV

At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Have you ever wanted to cry out, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” Our Savior understands your pain.

Praise God, the world did not stay dark. Read Luke 24-1-6

Luke 24:1-6 NIV

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

Morning came in the form of the resurrection, revealing the deep things only discovered through the darkness. The Light, now separated from darkness, returned from the grave, on the third day. Jesus had accomplished His mission of facing darkness and winning. He is the Light of the World. Let Jesus separate your light from your darkness.

Application

An Episcopal priest told the following story. As a boy, he went on a retreat. Their leaders led them out in the pitch-black night and asked what they saw. It was dark and they saw nothing. Then their leaders blindfolded them for 45 minutes. Wearing a blindfold in the already dark night was terrifying. “I had never felt such darkness.”

Finally, the time came to remove the blindfolds. “What do you see?” the leaders asked.

“It was amazing,” he said excitedly. “Suddenly, we could see in the dark. The stars were brighter than they had ever been. They lit the way for our path. We could see the shape of the trees. By going deeper into darkness, our vision had improved.”

Examine the darkness in your life.

• What terrifies you?

• What is causing you pain?

• What needs improvement?

• Are there behaviors causing you shame?

• Take an honest and fearless look at yourself and your life.

It helps to write it down. If you have time, make a list. If it looks too black, remember the old expression, “It is always darkest before the dawn.” Fear not for He is with you. He will light your way. We will spend the next several days working this through. We will discuss sin, forgiveness, confession, and restoration. Please do not stop in the middle of this process. It would be like staying blindfolded in the night.

Be courageous. As you go through your day, ask God to reveal your darkness.

Journey to the Cross - Hearing Aids - Good Night God

Every night before my 2-year-old grandson, Noah, goes to sleep, he and his parents say their prayers. Noah ends this precious time by saying, “Goodnight God. Goodnight Jesus.”



The Bible tells us to talk to God evening, morning, and at noon. The hearing aid we are going to put on today is the hearing aid we need when we are tired and our defenses are down. In those last moments, before we retire for night, we have one more opportunity to hear God.

Morning Meditation

Read Psalms 55:16-17

Ps 55:16-17

As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. KJV



• Call on the name of God.

• Enjoy your salvation.

• Pray and cry aloud, knowing He shall hear your voice.

Morning Prayer

• Ask God to give you the energy to spend the last few minutes of your evening, listening to His voice.

• Thank Him in advance, for what He is going to say.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

My Bum Bum was a spry little man with a twinkling grin. No one could have had a better grandfather. He could say the alphabet backwards as quickly as he could forwards and his ability to say words backwards kept me giggling. I would sit in church and listen to his booming tenor voice, knowing no one could sing better than Bum Bum.



My cousin named our grandparents Bum Bum and Nanar and no one seems to know why. Bum Bum treasured my Nanar throughout their 55-year marriage. I have the love letters and cards they continually wrote to each other. “Thet, I’m sorry,” he wrote after an apparent argument. “I love you and didn’t mean to scold.”



On our wedding day, Bum Bum walked up and whispered, “You may not believe it now but you’re going to get mad at that man. Just make sure you never go to bed mad at him. Work out all your arguments before you go to sleep.”



At the time, I didn’t know Bum Bum was speaking the words of God. When Bob and I decided to take this advice, we had no idea how hard it would be. In those early years, when two strong willed people were trying to learn how to become one with each other and God, that commitment made for some very long nights. The advice, that I attributed to my grandfather and later learned was from God, has served us well for 35 years and I now give the same advice to newlyweds.



Read Ephesians 4:26-27.

Eph 4:26-27

Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry — but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. (THE MESSAGE)



• Does God say not to be angry?

• What does God warn us about our anger?

• What happens if we go to bed angry?



After God tells us “don’t go to bed angry” in Ephesians 4:26-27, He continues with some questions and instructions. Read Ephesians 4:28-32.

Eph 4:28-32

Did you used to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.



Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.



Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.



Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk.



Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. THE MESSAGE



• What are the instructions for the dishonest?

• What are the instructions about how we are supposed to talk to one another?

• How are we supposed to feel about God?

• What does God have to say about mean behavior?

• How are we supposed to treat one another?

• Why do you think these questions are right after God tells us not to go to bed angry?



Read David’s evening prayer in Psalms 141-1-4.

Ps 141:1-4

O LORD, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You! May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering. Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness with men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. NASU



Note how much of this evening prayer revolves around David’s longing for God to help him refrain from sin.

• How do we know this is an evening prayer.

• What is David asking of God?



And finally, read Daniel’s evening prayer.

Dan 9:20-23

Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering.



He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.” NASU



• What does Daniel say about his physical state when he had a visit from Gabriel?

• What elements of confession do you see in this prayer?

• Do you think Daniel’s weariness made him more open to hearing the message of God?



As we close this series on hearing aids, I urge you to turn up the volume on your hearing aid. Open your ears and listen. Listen in the morning, throughout your day, and at night. Listen to the Still Small Voice as He gently urges. Listen to the God of Fire as He speaks through mighty acts. Listen as you pray without ceasing. Finally, listen when you are tired. Confess before you lay your head down at night and sleep the deep sleep of the innocent. Read Acts 28:27. Hear with your ears and understand with your heart so God can heal you.



Acts 28:27

For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. KJV

Application

The 12 Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous has a step that encourages daily prayer and meditation. It also has a step that suggests taking daily inventory, promptly admitting where they have been wrong.



The book Alcoholics Anonymoussuggests that alcoholics constructively review their day nightly, looking for places where they had been resentful, selfish, dishonest, or afraid. It goes on to ask a series of questions like:

• Do we owe and apology?

• Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once?

• Were we kind and loving towards all?

• What could we have done better?

• Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of what we could do for others?



The book suggests that after reviewing the day, we ask God’s forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken. (p 86 Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Addition)



What members of Alcoholics Anonymous have discovered is that at night, when they are tired and their defenses down, they are more likely to get honest with themselves. They’ve also discovered that sin puts a barrier between them and God and makes them more likely to drink again. For them, nightly confession of sins makes the difference between life and death.



Tonight, before you go to bed, review your day. Use the above questions from Alcoholics Anonymous or use Ephesians 4:26-32. Put on the hearing aid of nightly confession and listen to God in the openness of weariness. Say, “Goodnight God, Goodnight Jesus,” with a clean conscience.

Journey to the Cross - Hearing Aids - Holy Encounters

Have you seen a burning bush lately? Did God’s hand appear and write a message on the wall? Did a river part and allow you to get to your destination? Maybe your day didn’t have that much drama but if you had your hearing aid on, God probably spoke to you throughout the day’s events in what I like to call Holy Encounters.

Morning Meditation

Read 1 Kings 18:24

1 Kings 18:24
Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God." And all the people said, " That is a good idea." NASU
• Ponder the false gods of your life? Were they fulfilling?

• Contemplate the God who answers by fire.

• Call on the name of God.

Morning Prayer

• Ask for forgiveness for any false gods.

• Ask God for the ability to recognize “the God of fire.”

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

God speaks to us in the quietness of the early morning and in the still small voice of our longings as we live in a spirit of prayer. Our God of Fire also speaks to us through Holy Encounters like burning bushes and handwriting on the wall.

The story of Moses and the burning bush is a familiar one. Most would run from a burning bush but Moses stopped and looked. Have you ever wondered how many bushes God burned before He found a Moses?

Read Exodus 3:1-6
Exodus 3:1-6
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

And Moses said, “I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.”

And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, “Moses, Moses.”

And he said, “Here am I.”

And he said, “Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Moreover he said, “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. KJV
• What was Moses doing before the bush started burning?

• What did Moses have to do before God would speak to him?

• When God spoke, what was Moses’ answer?

• Why do you think Moses hid his face?

King Belshazzar had a most unwelcome Holy Encounter. Read Daniel 5:5-6

Daniel 5:5-6

Suddenly the fingers of a man's hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. Then the king's face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints went slack and his knees began knocking together. NASU

• What did the king see?

• How did he react?

• How would you react?

Naturally, King Belshazzar wanted to understand the strange words on his wall. After trying all the magicians, conjurers, and diviners in his kingdom, a young Jewish man, Daniel was called. Read Daniel 5:13-14.

Dan 5:13-14

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. NASU

• What was Daniel’s status?

• How did the king describe Daniel?

• What are the character traits of someone who can hear the voice of God?

Daniel was able to correctly interpret the words from God but the news wasn’t good for the king. The days of his kingdom were numbered. King Belshazzar died that very night.

Lest you think all of these Holy Encounters were in the Old Testament, read the New Testament. God spoke to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, in a dream. An Angel appeared to several people involved in the birth of Jesus. God used people like Paul to speak His message to the churches of Corinth.

Then, there was poor hardheaded Peter. God often had to use what I call “baseball bat therapy” to get his attention. Peter struggled with prejudice and resisted spreading Christianity outside of Judaism. Read Acts 10:-10-12.

Acts 10:10-12

But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. NASU

• What human need did God use to slow Peter down?

• How did God get his attention?

• What vision did Peter see?

If you have time, read the entire story in Acts 10:10-38. Puzzled by his vision, Peter sought answers. While Peter was still pondering, an Angel appeared to a Godly man, Cornelius, and sent him to Peter with answers and orders from God. Peter had a choice. Was he going to listen, obey, and learn his lesson? Read his humble words in Acts 10:34-36.

Acts 10:34-36

I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. NASU

• What did Peter choose?

• What was his lesson?

The Spirit of God was constantly speaking to Jesus on His journey to the cross. After Jesus’ baptism, God gave very specific instructions to Jesus. Read Mark 1:12-13.

Mark 1:12-13

Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. NASU

• What were those instructions?

• Who ministered to Jesus?

Have you ever felt impelled by the Holy Spirit? Perhaps you were driving down the road and had a sudden desire to stop and help. Maybe you passed a church and felt called to enter. Did you think of someone today and wonder how they were? Was the beach calling you for a long walk? Did you wake up full of doubt, only to receive an encouraging message to keep trying? It’s easy to decide these impulses and events are coming from ourselves but when we recognize and obey them, the results become our witness to the workings of God. We only understand Holy Encounters with the benefit of hindsight so perhaps we miss most of them.

Application

Most of my messages from God come from the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. I feel His gentle urgings to act, and when I obey, the wondrous unfolding of His will cements my faith and helps me better recognize that whispering wind.

Occasionally, God sends a clear dramatic answer that I call a Holy Encounter. These occur, usually, but not always, when my faith is wavering or when I doubt the wisdom of what I think I’ve heard. Two such encounters happened at the Florida Christian Writers Conference.

In 2005, I was wondering with what to do next. I was 3 years into my ministry and doubting my continued call. I’d spent the last 3 years traveling the country, talking to people about God and handing out cards that contained a quarter and the address to the website, www.pocketfullofquarters. I had several books mostly finished but nothing published. My call to ministry was to help people have full spiritual pockets but discouragement had my pockets strangely empty as I struggled with the next step.

I was at the writers conference, trying to get my book, Pocket Full of Quarters published. On the last day of the conference, no publisher had shown interest and I was discouraged. I made the decision that when I returned home, I was going to leave the ministry and reenter the corporate world. Right after making the decision, I went into the Ladies Room and there, sitting on top of the toilette paper container, were 2 quarters. I could have decided that someone had just left those quarters behind but I knew God had sent me a very specific message. My “handwriting on the wall” was those 2 quarters. The “Pocket Full of Quarters Lady” left the conference with full spiritual pockets. By the same conference the next year, 2 of my books were published and I had made another missionary journey.

At the 2006 conference, I was overwhelmed by the quality of writing I was witnessing. As I looked through the books of other authors, I began doubting my own skill. I submitted my writings for editorial review and when I received the comments back, I felt like a green child who couldn’t write.

On Saturday morning, I prayed, God, I’m sorry to doubt you and myself, but I need some kind of affirmation about my writing if I’m to continue doing this. I went through all of Saturday discouraged and almost left on Saturday night.

On Sunday morning, at the closing, they gave out awards for various types of writing. I was chatting with my girlfriend when they called out the awards and almost missed my name. Wonder of Wonders - I had won the award for “Best Devotional Writer.” God and the Florida Christian Writers Conference had affirmed my writing skills and I thanked both. Briefly, I felt guilty for taking the award away from the person who would have received it if I hadn’t prayed such a faithless prayer but I shook it off. God loves me even in my doubt and goes out of His way to speak when I’m listening. I’m framing this award, hopefully not out of pride, but as a reminder of the Holy Encounter.

As you go through your day, look and listen for Holy Encounters. Turn up the volume of your hearing aid. Tell God your doubts and notice His answers when they come. Trust those messages and urgings and act immediately. When you get an answer, allow no doubt. For today, I’m continuing to write. What has the God of Fire said to you?

Journey to the Cross - Hearing Aids - Holy Encounters

Have you seen a burning bush lately? Did God’s hand appear and write a message on the wall? Did a river part and allow you to get to your destination? Maybe your day didn’t have that much drama but if you had your hearing aid on, God probably spoke to you throughout the day’s events in what I like to call Holy Encounters.

Morning Meditation

Read 1 Kings 18:24

1 Kings 18:24
Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God." And all the people said, " That is a good idea." NASU
• Ponder the false gods of your life? Were they fulfilling?

• Contemplate the God who answers by fire.

• Call on the name of God.

Morning Prayer

• Ask for forgiveness for any false gods.

• Ask God for the ability to recognize “the God of fire.”

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

God speaks to us in the quietness of the early morning and in the still small voice of our longings as we live in a spirit of prayer. Our God of Fire also speaks to us through Holy Encounters like burning bushes and handwriting on the wall.

The story of Moses and the burning bush is a familiar one. Most would run from a burning bush but Moses stopped and looked. Have you ever wondered how many bushes God burned before He found a Moses?

Read Exodus 3:1-6
Exodus 3:1-6
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

And Moses said, “I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.”

And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, “Moses, Moses.”

And he said, “Here am I.”

And he said, “Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Moreover he said, “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. KJV
• What was Moses doing before the bush started burning?

• What did Moses have to do before God would speak to him?

• When God spoke, what was Moses’ answer?

• Why do you think Moses hid his face?

King Belshazzar had a most unwelcome Holy Encounter. Read Daniel 5:5-6

Daniel 5:5-6

Suddenly the fingers of a man's hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. Then the king's face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints went slack and his knees began knocking together. NASU

• What did the king see?

• How did he react?

• How would you react?

Naturally, King Belshazzar wanted to understand the strange words on his wall. After trying all the magicians, conjurers, and diviners in his kingdom, a young Jewish man, Daniel was called. Read Daniel 5:13-14.

Dan 5:13-14

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. NASU

• What was Daniel’s status?

• How did the king describe Daniel?

• What are the character traits of someone who can hear the voice of God?

Daniel was able to correctly interpret the words from God but the news wasn’t good for the king. The days of his kingdom were numbered. King Belshazzar died that very night.

Lest you think all of these Holy Encounters were in the Old Testament, read the New Testament. God spoke to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, in a dream. An Angel appeared to several people involved in the birth of Jesus. God used people like Paul to speak His message to the churches of Corinth.

Then, there was poor hardheaded Peter. God often had to use what I call “baseball bat therapy” to get his attention. Peter struggled with prejudice and resisted spreading Christianity outside of Judaism. Read Acts 10:-10-12.

Acts 10:10-12

But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. NASU

• What human need did God use to slow Peter down?

• How did God get his attention?

• What vision did Peter see?

If you have time, read the entire story in Acts 10:10-38. Puzzled by his vision, Peter sought answers. While Peter was still pondering, an Angel appeared to a Godly man, Cornelius, and sent him to Peter with answers and orders from God. Peter had a choice. Was he going to listen, obey, and learn his lesson? Read his humble words in Acts 10:34-36.

Acts 10:34-36

I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. NASU

• What did Peter choose?

• What was his lesson?

The Spirit of God was constantly speaking to Jesus on His journey to the cross. After Jesus’ baptism, God gave very specific instructions to Jesus. Read Mark 1:12-13.

Mark 1:12-13

Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. NASU

• What were those instructions?

• Who ministered to Jesus?

Have you ever felt impelled by the Holy Spirit? Perhaps you were driving down the road and had a sudden desire to stop and help. Maybe you passed a church and felt called to enter. Did you think of someone today and wonder how they were? Was the beach calling you for a long walk? Did you wake up full of doubt, only to receive an encouraging message to keep trying? It’s easy to decide these impulses and events are coming from ourselves but when we recognize and obey them, the results become our witness to the workings of God. We only understand Holy Encounters with the benefit of hindsight so perhaps we miss most of them.

Application

Most of my messages from God come from the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. I feel His gentle urgings to act, and when I obey, the wondrous unfolding of His will cements my faith and helps me better recognize that whispering wind.

Occasionally, God sends a clear dramatic answer that I call a Holy Encounter. These occur, usually, but not always, when my faith is wavering or when I doubt the wisdom of what I think I’ve heard. Two such encounters happened at the Florida Christian Writers Conference.

In 2005, I was wondering with what to do next. I was 3 years into my ministry and doubting my continued call. I’d spent the last 3 years traveling the country, talking to people about God and handing out cards that contained a quarter and the address to the website, www.pocketfullofquarters. I had several books mostly finished but nothing published. My call to ministry was to help people have full spiritual pockets but discouragement had my pockets strangely empty as I struggled with the next step.

I was at the writers conference, trying to get my book, Pocket Full of Quarters published. On the last day of the conference, no publisher had shown interest and I was discouraged. I made the decision that when I returned home, I was going to leave the ministry and reenter the corporate world. Right after making the decision, I went into the Ladies Room and there, sitting on top of the toilette paper container, were 2 quarters. I could have decided that someone had just left those quarters behind but I knew God had sent me a very specific message. My “handwriting on the wall” was those 2 quarters. The “Pocket Full of Quarters Lady” left the conference with full spiritual pockets. By the same conference the next year, 2 of my books were published and I had made another missionary journey.

At the 2006 conference, I was overwhelmed by the quality of writing I was witnessing. As I looked through the books of other authors, I began doubting my own skill. I submitted my writings for editorial review and when I received the comments back, I felt like a green child who couldn’t write.

On Saturday morning, I prayed, God, I’m sorry to doubt you and myself, but I need some kind of affirmation about my writing if I’m to continue doing this. I went through all of Saturday discouraged and almost left on Saturday night.

On Sunday morning, at the closing, they gave out awards for various types of writing. I was chatting with my girlfriend when they called out the awards and almost missed my name. Wonder of Wonders - I had won the award for “Best Devotional Writer.” God and the Florida Christian Writers Conference had affirmed my writing skills and I thanked both. Briefly, I felt guilty for taking the award away from the person who would have received it if I hadn’t prayed such a faithless prayer but I shook it off. God loves me even in my doubt and goes out of His way to speak when I’m listening. I’m framing this award, hopefully not out of pride, but as a reminder of the Holy Encounter.

As you go through your day, look and listen for Holy Encounters. Turn up the volume of your hearing aid. Tell God your doubts and notice His answers when they come. Trust those messages and urgings and act immediately. When you get an answer, allow no doubt. For today, I’m continuing to write. What has the God of Fire said to you?