Guest #Bible Devotional: Courage Angers Others by Sheila Hollinghead - #tworship

Yes, it is sad, but true. When we are courageous, it makes others feel uncomfortable. Perhaps they see their own inadequacies. An example of this can be found in the story of David and Goliath.

Even young children are familiar with the story. As soon as David saw Goliath, he was ready to fight. He could not understand the reluctance of others and cajoled them.

His brother turns on him in anger. Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” ~1 Samuel 17:28

People do not like to be told, whether directly or indirectly, that they are not trusting God.

Many times we let the naysayers win. We let our own fears manifest—and often it is simply the fear of ridicule. We turn our backs on our Goliaths, thinking we are foolish to believe we can prevail.

Yet, who would ever have thought David would prevail? His brothers? The other soldiers? The Philistines? Goliath? Saul?

Picture Saul. He is desperate. He puts armor on David to prepare him for battle. David shrugs it off. Saul had to be thinking, “We’re sunk.”

However, David did not need the armor of Saul, just as we do not need the trappings of this world to succeed. We do not need beauty, or wealth, or education. God uses the weak, the common--in this case, a young teen who used a common stone in his common slingshot. Through our weaknesses, God shines all the brighter.

And what happens next? When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. ~1 Samuel 17:51-52

David’s courage routed the enemy and rallied the troops. Just as our courage can do. We must rely on God and know that it is God who gives us the victory. If we stand firm against the naysayers, if we trust God’s power, if we are unafraid to use the common, we can prevail. The courage to stand up for right gives others courage.

No matter who we anger, let’s be courageous. After all, if God is for us, who can be against us! 

###
 

Sheila Hollinghead is the author of
Thundersnow (In the Shadow of the Cedar)
 

 

Study Questions for homeschoolers and group discussion

 available at the author's website

http://sheilahollinghead.com

Guest #Bible Devotional: God's Unconditional Love by Dana Pratola

“But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:8

Recently I read an article about contract negotiations involving a group of workers and their employers. I don’t remember the details but the nutshell version is, “You do this and I’ll do that. If not, I won’t.” If all parties don’t agree, and they go back to the table for more of the same until they do. This idea has a solid place in the kingdom of God. Several things are conditional, salvation for one. If you trust in Jesus, He’ll save you; if you don’t, He won’t. If you chose the way of blessings, He’ll bless you; if you don’t, He won’t. But when it comes to His love for us, it is totally, completely, unconditional.

Romans 5:8 has become my banner. Ask me what I know for certain and I’ll tell you this: God loves me. Not because I’m good enough, faithful enough or brought so many to Christ. Before I did anything for Him, way back before I had any idea Who He was, He knew me. He chose me. He died for me.

What I hope to accomplish through my books is to emphasize the love of God to others. I’m trying to say, “Hey, God loves you. And no matter what you’ve done, who you’ve been, He wants a relationship with you. You can always come to Him because His love has no limit, no off switch, or expiration date.”

It’s the greatest hope for unbelievers, but I think the church needs to hear the message just as much. There is the temptation among Christians to wallow in condemnation and defeat when we sin. That was never God’s intention. The same love that has made us children of the King, is designed to bring us back when we fall. His love covers everything because it’s perfect love. I’m so thankful for the reminder of Romans 5:8. Just knowing it applies to me, and that Christ also died for the godly, is such a blessing.

***

Dana Pratola is the author of DESCENDED ~ Jett

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#Bible Devotional - Do You Deserve to Be Healed? #tworship

Then (Jesus) came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town.  And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 

And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”

Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up.  And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. (Mark 8:22-25 NKJV)

This story has often made me wonder.  It’s the only recorded “partial” healing that I remember seeing in the gospels.  Other men were completely healed, but this man was partially healed before he was made whole.

I couldn’t help but wonder why.  When the lame wanted to walk, Jesus would say “Get up and make your bed,” and the lame would not only walk, but make his bed – a double portion of healing.  Jesus said to the guy with a shriveled hand, “Stretch out your hand,” and the guy did it, completely healed.  These people were made complete in one quick action. 

So why did this blind man get only a partial healing at first?  What would be the point?

Could it be that this man was only partially healed because he really didn’t have enough faith to be completely healed the first time?

In many verses Jesus tells those that He heals that they their “Faith has made them well,” or “According to your faith” you are healed. (Matt 2:29, 9:22; Mark 5:34, 10:52; Luke 8:48, 17:19, 18:24, etc.)

So is it possible that the man was healed according to his faith?  If he had partial faith, could he be like the man who wanted his son healed, and be desperate for Jesus to help his unbelief?  Could he have had enough faith to be partially healed, so that he could see and have faith that Jesus could heal him completely?

This is a kindness on Jesus’s part if it is so.  Some of us might think that the man with partial faith was not deserving of even the partial healing, much less the effort and energy that Jesus took in order to heal him completely.  Perhaps there is a lesson in this for us.

There are times when we will come across someone in our lives who has only partial faith in us.  They don’t really believe 100% that you can do what you say you can do.  This usually leads me to feeling indignant.  I want to not bother with showing that person what I can do, because I don’t need them to believe in me.

But Jesus did bother.  He stopped, took the man outside of the city, went through the healing ritual twice and the man finally believed enough in order to be healed.  And Jesus went through this process for one man, one soul, and only one life.

I don’t know about you, but I feel guilty reading that.  There are times when I pass up being a blessing to someone because it would be too much of an inconvenience.  It’s an inconvenience I might be willing to go through for two or three people, but for just one? 

The thought of this really brings to light the sentiment of the praise and worship songs that talk about how Jesus would have come down from heaven to die on the cross for even just one person, He would have done it.  He honestly would have.  

Oh Lord,

I am humbled by the knowledge that You proved Your love even through partial healing and partial faith.  If I am to take up my cross and follow You, I need to count the inconvenience as nothing when it comes to bringing one person the love Jesus has for him. By Your grace, I pray you give me the kindness to do as You would. In Jesus Name,  Amen.