Brought Through

God's word is profound and enduring, and even portions of scripture which seem mundane or repetitive can be treasures hidden in plain sight for those who seek God by reading them.  Instead of looking at reading the Bible as a task to be endured it is better to view it as an intentional opportunity to hear God speak into our lives today.  I discovered such a passage today in the book of Ezekiel as the prophet described a vision he saw.

Ezekiel 47:2-4 reads, "He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. ³ And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. ⁴ Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist."  Ezekiel accompanied a man who measured the depth of living water which flowed from the temple.  After 500 yards the water reached up to his ankles, and 500 yards later the water came to his knees.  It must have taken a good while to wade through the water which grew in volume as it flowed towards the east and revived the Dead Sea.

During this passage Ezekiel often repeated the man he followed "brought me through."  How well this statement relates to the life of a child of God!  We have come to Jesus Christ through faith and He is the one who leads us through all seasons of life by the Holy Spirit.  It didn't matter if the waters were to his ankles or knees:  Ezekiel was brought through them--even when walking became more difficult as the water grew deeper.  Looking back, we can affirm it is God who brought us through trials which seemed to go on forever, through seasons of depression and weariness.  Many times we have lost all sense of direction and a Christ-centered perspective, but Jesus brought us through.

How many times does scripture illustrate the faithfulness of God to bring His people through difficulties to a place of deeper and greater blessing by His grace.  God did not only bring His people to the edge of the Red Sea or Promised land but caused them to enter and He brought them through even in the midst of their enemies and idols.  Moses was brought to the boundary of Canaan, and though he was not permitted to physically enter God brought him through to eternal life in paradise.  Jesus did not leave His disciples perpetually toiling at the oars on the Sea of Galilee but brought them through to arrive at His intended destination.  God brought them through, and He will bring you through too.

Isn't it strange Ezekiel would walk in the stream which became a great river when he could have walked on the bank?  Most of us would have tried to avoid being wet, but Ezekiel was brought through in the midst of the stream.  We often attempt to skirt or avoid any difficulties--even ones God has determined to bring us through for the glory of His name and the strengthening of our faith.  This testimony of how Ezekiel was brought through teaches me I can trust God's leading in the present difficulty which feels like it will sweep me off my feet.  Trials and pressures of life that even look like are heading for disaster are carefully measured in depth and duration by the One who leads us.  Remember we can always trust Jesus Christ who will surely bring us through, and in the process we will grow in love and adoration for Him.

Surrender to God's Will

People struggle with the unknown.  We like to plan, prepare, and strategise.  We all have expectations we hope are met.  Fluid situations, changed conditions, and chaos cause us to feel unsettled and can produce stress.  Fundamentally we prefer to be in control or at least have a sense of control of our lives.  There are aspects of life we do have a degree of control over, but even the most controlling realise there are things beyond us, things which are “out of our hands.”

Knowing God is sovereign and reigns over all is quite comforting when it seems the world has gone mad.  We rest in God’s hands as His beloved people, yet He is not in any way controlled by or dependent on people.  Our prayers might be hindered but His arms are not shortened that He cannot save.  He will accomplish His will regardless of the schemes of Satan or perceived ineptitude of His people.  Knowing God’s will is different than my will helps in trusting Him, for even Jesus said to His Father, “Not My will, but yours be done.”  The Father was intent on saving the lost, and Jesus shared this exact desire.  It was the way the Father determined which caused Jesus to pray fervently and sweat blood in anticipation.

D.L. Moody wrote this concerning the will of God in his book Men of the Bible:  “A great many people are afraid of the will of God, and yet I believe that one of the sweetest lessons that we can learn in the school of Christ is the surrender of our wills to God, letting Him plan for us and rule our lives.  If I know my own mind, if an angel should come from the throne of God and tell me that I could have my will done the rest of my days on earth, and that everything I wished should be carried out, or that I might refer it back to God, and let God’s will be done in me and through me, I think in an instant I would say:  “Let the will of God be done.”  I cannot look into the future.  I do not know what is going to happen tomorrow; in fact, I do not know what may happen before night; so I cannot choose for myself as well as God can choose for me, and it is better to surrender my will to God’s will.”  [Moody, Men of the Bible, The Bible Institute Colportage Association, 1898, pg. 7]

God’s ways are higher than ours and His thoughts are not ours.  It follows that God’s will is far better than ours because He knows all, will accomplish all, and He is faithful.  There is much we know and more we do not know, and our knowledge, experience, and troubling unknowns can move us to make excuses for not surrendering to God today.  God’s will shall be performed according to His Word, not according to our preferences or expectations.  If we kick at the goads worry and bitterness will be our companions; if we attempt to leverage words to goad God to do our will frustration and disillusionment will follow.  Knowing God is good and makes infinitely better choices for us, we can confidently choose His way.

Choosing God is to embrace His will, knowing He does all things well—even when life seems futile and a hopeless disaster. Surrender to God and to His will, for having done the first it only follows.  The One who has saved and redeemed us is also able to guide, protect, and provide for us all by grace.

Marvelous Transformation

Today at Calvary Chapel Santee a message was preached on Acts 4 and focused on the transforming effect of a relationship with Jesus.  Through the name of Jesus Christ spoken by Peter a lame man was miraculously healed before many witnesses.  The only explanation for the man previously lame suddenly walking, leaping, and praising God was the power of God through Jesus' name.  The physical healing of the lame man provided an opportunity for Peter to preach the Word to an intrigued and engaged audience.

Religious leaders who did not believe Jesus was the Son of God or in the resurrection from the dead took offense to the preaching of Peter and other Christians and brought them before the Sanhedrin, rulers of the Jews.  Acts 4:8-10 says, "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: ⁹ If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole."  A marked change was seen in the lame man who stood before the elders, but a more profound and enduring transformation was demonstrated in Peter (who previously denied Jesus three times) because he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter had been transformed through faith in Jesus and his relationship with Him--something the religious leaders themselves concluded.  Acts 4:13 says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."  Pastor James made a great observation:  these rulers were correct in their assessment, but not entirely.  It was true they had been with Jesus while He remained on earth, but they continued to walk with Him.  They were filled with the Holy Spirit in their time of need and guided to answer wisely because of their current relationship with Jesus.

This passage provides hope for healing and transformation for people physically but also for those who lack boldness, have denied Christ with their words or deeds, and played the fool.  The hope, healing, and deliverance Jesus provides is not just for people new to the faith but to those who have walked with Jesus a long time.  This truth is a blessing to my heart and to all those who are burdened with their own failures and sin.  Jesus Christ is a Saviour of Jew and Gentile, to believers new and old.  He brings the refreshment of Living Water to all who seek and abide in Him by His grace.

Downs and Ups

In the Disney cartoon Robin Hood, the minstrel rooster sang of the depressed state of Nottingham and the overtaxed inhabitants under the rule of Prince John:  "Sometimes ups outnumber the downs, but not in Nottingham."  In life there will always be ups and downs which can ebb and flow as the tide.  Calm and serenity can be suddenly overwhelmed with a tsunami of negative emotions.  Unexpected trials and tragedies can knock us off our feet like little children happily playing on the shore as we are having the time of our lives.  Praise the LORD we are not at the mercy of the wind and the waves because God is with us, for us, and helps us.

Life brings with it pains and struggles all people must face, and God provides much more than positive thinking or a means of coping.  He provides comfort, hope, and salvation far beyond our ability to claim or grasp because He is good and with us.  God takes a continual interest in us due to His gracious love for us--not because we have somehow earned it.  Psalm 37:23-24 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand."  Those who walk with Jesus are not impervious to falling because we are walking.  It is the upright man who can fall, yet God upholds us.  We may be cast down, and God allows this so we might realise afresh our desperate need for Him and choose to seek Him fervently again.

Even when the "downs" seem to outnumber the "ups" when we look up to Jesus we find hope and rest beyond our strength and circumstances.  The goodness of our glorious God alone makes all darkness flee and lifts us from the pit like an eagle in full flight.  David mused in Psalm 42:5, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance."  In the light of God's goodness, love, and grace there is no cause for worry or fear.  We sometimes are downcast and even fall, but we shall not be utterly cast down.  God does not cast us off for our weakness or failures, but our need ought to move us to admit them and look to Jesus.  Consider all He endured and the glory revealed in Him as He persevered in faith and love:  such is the future for all those who trust in Him.

"What goes up must come down," the saying goes, and this is true in the natural realm where gravity wins.  We walk during the day and lay down at night to rest; we live our lives and when we breath our last we descend to the grave.  Yet God in His mercy miraculously empowers us to never be at the mercy of gravity or death.  As Christians we have answered an upward call with eyes lifted up and fixed upon Christ.  Our future is not to descend to hell but to ascend to heaven where Jesus and righteousness dwell forever.  Being cast down is a reminder of our need to look up.  Even when we have no strength in ourselves to rise it is God who lift us up because He upholds us.