2 Corinthians 8:21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
Help me to live a holy life before You and also before other people.
Your Blind Faith – Daily Devo
John 7:12-13 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.
Lord, give me strong faith so that I may support and praise You in all circumstances, rather than bow to human leaders who stand against You. All praise be to You, Father.
Do You See What I See?
A View of the Guiding Light in a World of Darkness is a devotional that seeks to apply Biblical principles to our everyday lives, written by inspirational speaker and writer, Jeremy Curry.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
Matthew 2:1-10 (NIV)
Last week, much of the world celebrated Christmas. Many of us have heard the story from the passage above over and over throughout our lives. As we prepare for the new year, you may want to take a closer look at the story to learn about what God is putting on your heart.
We all have an image of what we think the manger scene looked like. You might think it looks something like this:
The star is shining brightly for everyone to see where the Messiah has been born. But, read the passage above again. After Herod is asked where the King of the Jews has been born, we read the following in verse 3: “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.” He was “disturbed”. Why? Well, Herod certainly had his reasons. He was a ruthless king. Around 40 BC, Herod had already been named “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate. In his mind, he already had the title.
However, in his heart, he must have known he wasn’t truly the King of the Jews. After all, he wasn’t even of Jewish descent. He attempted to make the people think he was Jewish. He had lavish building projects, including the Second Temple of Jerusalem, a port, walls around Jerusalem, palaces, temples, and more. Herod must have known this was never enough because he was always worried about public opinion. He employed secret police among the population to determine how the people felt about him, he had 2,000 bodyguards, and he went to great lengths to murder anyone and everyone who got in his way. We know that he murdered several of his wives, his father-in-law, two of his sons, and all boys in Bethlehem two years of age and under (known as the Massacre of the Innocents). So, to say Herod was “disturbed” was probably an understatement. And if such a ruthless king was disturbed, it is easy to see why the rest of Jerusalem would also be uneasy. The people were likely uncertain what such a madman would do in spite of such news.
If we look at the story even closer, we notice that when the Magi approach Herod to inquire about the birth because they had seen the star, Herod was surprised. Herod didn’t respond with “I saw the star, too.” Instead, he then had to call together all of the priests to find out where the Messiah was to be born. He also had to learn the exact date regarding when the star appeared. What this tells us is that the star was clearly not apparent to everyone. The images we keep in our minds of the star shining brightly over where Jesus was born is, in fact, not what happened at all. If you wanted to see the star, you had to look carefully for it and be aware of the knowledge of its existence. What is even more fascinating is that even though the chief priests knew the location and they were informed of the signs, they still didn’t go to see the Messiah. . .and Bethlehem was a mere five miles away!
I would contend that pride got in the way of Herod’s ability to see the miracle of what was happening around him. Perhaps fear or the desire to stay in power was at the heart of the chief priests, which kept them from seeking God. What we know is that even when signs seem like they should be completely self-evident, such as the Star of Bethlehem, sin can ultimately get in our way of seeking God or doing His will. In Herod’s case, his heart didn’t change. He actually tried to kill Jesus, instead of accepting him as his Savior. As one commentator, put it, “Uncontrolled ambition can turn a person into a monster.” .
What is getting in the way between you and God today? Is it pride? Is it ambition? Is it pornography or another sexual sin? Is it a sinful relationship? Or, something else? Whatever it is, it is time to break the chains of sin and turn back toward God. He has given us much, but we will be blind to it unless we are seeking Him before all else.
Father, help us to seek You before anything in our lives. May we ALWAYS put You first. May we keep you in our sight, listen to Your words, and accept the merciful gifts You have given us, including the greatest gift; the gift of grace, mercy, and forgiveness through Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Case Against Celebrating Christmas
A View of the Guiding Light in a World of Darkness is a devotional that seeks to apply Biblical principles to our everyday lives, written by inspirational speaker and writer, Jeremy Curry.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Luke 2:8-15 (NIV)
This week, billions of people around the world will celebrate Christmas. It is a time when humanity celebrates the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We read about the birth in the verses above noted in Luke. How amazing it must have been to see angels appear and sing glory to our God! Finally, the time had come for the prophecies to come true and the Messiah had come to save all of us from sin.
All of us know that the above passage clearly happened on December 25, right? Wrong. The passage above notes that the shepherds were living out in the fields and watching over their flock at night. However, flocks would not be out in the cold season due to the bad weather in Israel during this time. They were brought in around October and would not return out until after winter. Other factors that indicate that Christ was not born in December are that we read that the inn was full when Mary and Joseph arrived. This is likely due to the many people traveling just after harvest and prior to winter. Some have attempted to calculate an exact date that Jesus was born based on the birth of John the Baptist in relation to when Mary conceived. This data is used in conjunction as to when John’s father, Zechariah, was selected to go into the temple of the Lord, as we find in Luke chapter 1 in an attempt to calculate the exact time of Jesus’ birth. In fact, some churches are so legalistic and want to be so exact about the fact that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25 that they tell Christians and others not to celebrate Christmas.
To take a closer look at the case against celebrating Christmas, let’s dig deeper as to why it is celebrated on December 25. The birth of Christ is first recorded as being celebrated on December 25 in 336 AD under Roman Emperor Constantine. Constantine was the first Christian emperor and thus, he began pushing Rome toward Christianity. As a result, in 350 AD, Pope Julius I officially declared that Christmas was to be celebrated on December 25. Why did he pick this day? Some say it is because he believed that Mary conceived on March 25 (with no real foundation for that fact) and then nine months later would have been when Jesus was born. This obviously would have been calculated as December 25. However, the more likely story is that the Christian church was trying to “piggyback” off of the pagan traditions that were already being celebrated in the Roman Empire, rather than to compete with them. Saturnalia was celebrated from December 17 to around December 23 or 24, honoring the god, Saturn. The winter solstice happened during this time of year with many celebrations, including that of Saturnalia. The Romans believed that the sun was leaving them during the winter solstice and lit candles to scare away darkness, as well as to celebrate the sun and light. This tradition eventually led to the display of Christmas lights in modern America. People also gave gifts in honor of the goddess of vegetation, Strenia. Gifts that were edible were common among people to celebrate a goddess who brought harvest. Later, gifts that were non-edible became commonplace. Mithra, the god of light and wisdom, was said to be born from a rock on December 25. The Mithraic religion was one of the predominant religions in the Roman empire, and the birth of Mithra was celebrated symbolizing the sun.
Since pagans already had traditions they were celebrating this time of year, the church essentially hijacked these traditions and started to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25. As a result, the church began to change the holiday traditions to be less pagan. However, not all Christians believed that carrying on pagan tradition was a good idea. The Puritans were very much against the idea of Christmas, and in fact, spent December 25, 1620 building one of their first structures. Boston even made it illegal to celebrate Christmas from 1659 until 1681. If you were found celebrating Christmas, you would be fined 5 shillings. That is correct; it used to be illegal to celebrate Christmas! While Christmas became legal to celebrate again, much of the tradition had been lost, as the hearts and minds of much of the American colonies had done without it for over two decades. Finally, in 1843, A Christmas Carol was written and people started to remember how and why they could celebrate Christmas again. It wasn’t until 1870 that Christmas became a federal holiday and it continued to evolve throughout the rest of the 19th century and has become what it is today in the 21st century.
If Christmas is rooted in pagan religion traditions and has absolutely zero historically factual accuracy in regards to the birth of Christ, why should we celebrate it at all? Shouldn’t we be like the Puritans (or even a few of the modern day churches) and refuse to celebrate it? Even today, many would say Christmas has become all about consumerism, carrying on in its pagan founding. So, why celebrate it? My answer to that question would be, “why not celebrate it?” For me, it isn’t about celebrating pagan gods. It isn’t simply about buying stuff for people. It is about celebrating the birth of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Was He actually born on December 25? No, but does it really matter? After all, what other time of the year do I get the best opportunity to talk about my faith? Would it really be better if we just never celebrated the birth of our Savior? I cherish the time that I get to be with my friends and family during this time of year, and I get to talk to them about Jesus. I absolutely love giving people gifts in celebration of God’s greatest gift to all of us. Why celebrate Christmas? We certainly never see this as a requirement in any scripture. But, for me, it provides me an opportunity to remember to love the Lord my God with all of my heart, mind, and soul, as well as to love others and to love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:36-40). This is why I celebrate Christmas. How about you?
Lord, guide us and keep us this Christmas season. Help us to reach others in Your name. Thank You for Your Son. You know all of us need Your mercy and grace. Thank You for such a precious gift. May others see You in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you have been touched by this devotional, Your Blind Faith would like to hear from you. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a public comment, send a note to jeremy@yourblindfaith.com to let us know how God has touched your life with this devotional. We will not publish or share your information.
Who or What Can Separate Us from God?
A View of the Guiding Light in a World of Darkness is a weekly devotional that seeks to apply Biblical principles to our everyday lives, written by inspirational speaker and writer, Jeremy Curry.
Romans 8:34-39
34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Each year, my wife and I invite our immediate family and some of our closest friends to an annual fall party we host at our house. Several of our friends that come are people that we only get to see once a year. Throughout the rest of the year, our life gets in the way with its busy daily tasks and priorities that quickly use up all other available time. With some of these friends, I text back and forth with them almost every day to keep each other updated or share what is going on in our lives. But, nothing is quite like seeing each other in person. After months (and sometimes years) apart, we join together with our friends and family at our party. It is as if we had never been separated.
I think about the things that separate us from others. There are miniscule things that keep us from seeing each other, such as mundane tasks like grocery shopping, cleaning, and maintaining the house. And then there are more important things such as piano lessons, soccer games, marching band contests, and other activities that simply consume our time. Besides activities, sometimes geographical distance separates us. Yesterday, I watched some of my best friends (who had flown in for our party) get on a plane and fly thousands of miles away; none of us knowing for sure exactly when we will see each other again.
Then, there are the more difficult things in life that separate people: Families torn apart by tragedy, breakdowns in the relationship between husbands and wives, bitterness that keeps a father from loving his daughter, a brother resentful of his sister, and friendships broken by a lack of trust. Our sinful nature and things that are out of our control keep us from loving each other to the fullest. They can keep us from displaying the love of God to the best of our ability.
Despite our human nature, despite our sin, isn’t it humbling and amazing to know that no matter what happens; if we love and believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior, there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of our Father? It doesn’t matter what you have done, it doesn’t matter who you have hurt . . . no matter how your relationships are currently separated at this very moment, God is still there. Nothing can separate us from His love. Not “death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation ” can separate us from His amazing, abundant, ever-lasting love as it is always present, and nothing will ever break it.
Whatever you are going through right now, you can have God’s love. If you want a never-ending love that is above all power, if you want to live with our Father forever, pray this simple prayer:
Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I want to live with you forever and share in your everlasting love. Please forgive me for all of my sins, come in to my heart, and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I believe You are the one true King, the Son of the Almighty God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
It’s that simple. God loves you. He loves me. He loves all of us. May all of us remember that we can never be separated from His love as we look forward to the day when He looks at us and says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We will be welcomed home and live with our Father forever, never to be separated from Him or His love. How glorious that day will be!
Father, shower us with Your love. Remind us that You are all we need. When we are discouraged, when relationships are separated, pour out Your abounding love over us. You are the everlasting God, the Holy One, the Almighty. Thank you for never separating us from Your love, Father. When we are at our lowest, when we are attacked by the enemy, when the world falls on in us, fill our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits with Your love. Set us free and become our hearts desire. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you have been touched by this devotional, Your Blind Faith would like to hear from you. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a public comment, send a note to jeremy@yourblindfaith.com to let us know how God has touched your life with this devotional. We will not publish or share your information.
So You Want to Go to Hell?
A View of the Guiding Light in a World of Darkness is a weekly devotional that seeks to apply Biblical principles to our everyday lives, written by inspirational speaker and writer, Jeremy Curry.
Luke 16:19-31
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (NASB)
As a child, I remember walking through the library looking at all of the books on the shelves. For some reason, I always think of walking past the “Self-Help” section and seeing books like, So, You Want to Be Rich? or So, You Want to Be Skinny? Isn’t it interesting that there was never a self-help book called, So You Want to Go to Hell? Or, at least, not one that I know of. And certainly, I never saw one in the library with this title. Isn’t it fascinating that there are many times we hear people on television tell others to go there, but yet, no one has a desire to do so? If people did want to go to hell, surely there would be a book on it, right? It’s as if we all have this built-in, innate desire to avoid a place that even sounds remotely like hell. Yet, it’s the time of year when we begin dressing up our young and impressionable children as things like ghosts, goblins, devils, and other creatures that we so deeply desire to never live with, let alone, to even see them. With hell at the forefront of our minds as we approach Halloween, it seems to be the right time to take a look at the very frightening subject: hell. As you continue reading, please note that this devotional is not meant to be a “fire and brimstone” sermon in order to scare you into salvation. Rather, it is to recognize what hell really is, what that means, and how you can live eternally with God instead of being thrown into a place of eternal torment.
Is hell a real place? First, let’s define a few terms. Sheol is a Hebrew word found in the Old Testament. It can be translated as “hell,” “the grave,” “destruction,” and others. But, at the root, is the word Sheol. As we move into the New Testament, we find that the Greek language uses the word, Hades. This is also sometimes translated as the word, “hell.” However, Hades and Sheol do not typically refer to the place where sinners are held for eternity. Instead, they appear to be a holding place for dead people (those who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior) prior to being thrown into hell at the end of time. This place can be referred to by either word as they refer to the same location. Another Greek word in the New Testament is Gehenna. Gehenna can be translated as “hell” or “lake of fire.” Gehenna was actually referring to a garbage dump in Jesus’ time where people would throw their trash and it would be like a continual, unending fire as the trash burned. Jesus used this reference to help the masses understand what hell is like as He preached. And yet, another Greek word we see translated as “hell” is Tartarus, referring to the “lower regions.” All of these words are typically translated as “hell,” but it is important to know the difference. For example, as previously noted, hell and Hades are likely not the same place. Or, if they are, they are referred to by different names in regards to before and after the revelation of God. Either way, we do know that both are a place of torment and contain fire while the souls within cannot escape.
Now that we know what the Bible is referring to as hell, what does it tell us about this place? There is a lot of information regarding hell in God’s Word. In the passage for this week’s devotional, we read about Hades. Note that the rich man is in “agony in this fire.” He is in a place with real fire while sensing and feeling real physical pain. Not only is he feeling the physical suffering of Hades, but he is conscious that he still has relatives living. He is not unconscious, unaware, nor destroyed. He senses all pain (physical and emotional) and is extremely aware of what is happening. This account comes to us straight from Jesus. Some would contend that hell does not exist because God destroys the soul. They point to Matthew 10:28, which says, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (ESV) Note that this verse says God “can.” It does not say He “will.” Additionally, this verse does not coincide with other verses about hell. Matthew 10:28 is contextually talking about God being all-powerful, not a destroyer. Furthermore, if the enemy comes to “steal, kill, and destroy,” (John 10:10) then those things must not be attributes of an all-loving God. Therefore, God would not destroy a soul. And, while it does not say that God will destroy souls in hell, it does, in fact, state that there is a place called hell. Other passages back this up as we read in Daniel 12:2, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (ESV) Furthermore, Jesus tells us that hell is eternal in Matthew 25:46, “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (ESV) If you are a Christian and believe in eternity with God as noted here, then you must also believe in an eternal hell as Jesus refers to. Yes, hell is a real place. It is eternal. And it is worse than the most awful place any of us have ever seen.
Before he died in 2010, Dr. Maurice Rawlings was a cardiologist and an associate clinical professor of medicine for the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga, TN. He also was a physician for President Dwight Eisenhower and to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As a cardiologist, Dr. Rawlings and his staff were constantly working with people who would be clinically dead and then come back to life. As many of us have heard, most people report seeing a bright light when they are clinically dead and then come to life again. Due to the many experiences that Dr. Rawling had seen, he decided to do a study on the subject. Dr. Rawlings wrote Beyond Death’s Door, which was a study of 300 patients who had near-death experiences (NDE). Dr. Rawlings and his team began interviewing people as soon as they came back from NDE. Instead of seeing a bright, white light, almost 50% of the 300 people reported seeing “lakes of fire, devil-like figures and other sights reflecting the darkness of hell.” Consider the following story from one of Dr. Rawlings patients:
Rawlings told the story of his patient who collapsed during a stress test, and “before we could stop the machine, he dropped dead.”
Well, apparently not completely dead, because in the patient’s own words,
“When I came to, Dr. Rawlings was giving me CPR, and he asked me what was the matter, because I was looking so scared. I told him that I had been to hell and I need help! He said to me, ‘keep your hell to yourself, I’m a doctor and I’m trying to save your life, you need a minister for that.’ … And I would fade out every so often, so then he would focus CPR again and bring me back…Whenever I would come back to my body, I kept asking, “Please help me, please help me, I don’t want to go back to hell.” Soon a nurse named Pam said, “He needs help, do something!” At that time, Dr. Rawlings told me to repeat this short prayer. “I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus, save my soul. Keep me alive. If I die, please keep me out of hell!”
The experience of the patient, Charles McKaig, then became pleasant, and he reported seeing his deceased mother and stepmother and being surrounded and comforted by the Holy Spirit. Upon awakening, he was an immediate evangelical Christian.
In Rawlings words, “After this was all over, I realized what really happened. It was a double conversion. Not only had this make-believe prayer converted this atheist … it had also converted this atheist doctor that was working on him”
Still don’t believe? Check out the video of the patients of Dr. Rawlings who went to hell and came back from their NDE. Hearing their testimony in their own words is extremely powerful. After watching this video, it was enough to make this sinner get on his knees and recommit his life to Christ. These stories are real and they are a scary depiction of what happens to those of us who do not accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Friends, you don’t have to be scared of hell. Jesus has overcome (John 16:33, Revelation 20:6). If you want to live with God for eternity, pray this prayer: “I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I believe He died for my sins. I want to live with You forever. Please come into my life, fill me with the Holy Spirit, and make me clean. Redeem me from my sins. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
It’s that simple. Yes, hell exists, but Christ has saved us from the eternal death. I pray that you find Him as your Savior, so that you may have peace and rest.
Father, please reach those who are lost or undecided. Help them to accept Your free gift of salvation. Lord, lead us away from evil and toward You. May You light our paths and spread Your Word. Give us the ability and opportunity to reach those who need to hear about Jesus as their Savior. Open the hearts and minds of those who have not yet accepted Him as their Lord and Savior. We love you, Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you have been touched by this devotional, Your Blind Faith would like to hear from you. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a public comment, send a note to jeremy@yourblindfaith.com to let us know how God has touched your life with this devotional. We will not publish or share your information.
Where Do I Go From Here?
A View of the Guiding Light in a World of Darkness is a weekly devotional that seeks to apply Biblical principles to our everyday lives, written by inspirational speaker and writer, Jeremy Curry.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV)
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)
This past weekend, as a spontaneous decision, my wife and I decided to take a road trip for the day. It’s fall and the leaves are turning beautiful colors of red, yellow, and gold. The cool, crisp air surrounded us as we took in all that creation had to offer. Without knowing exactly how to get there, we decided to go to an apple orchard about a hundred miles away. So, we got out the GPS, punched in the address, and followed the audible directions faithfully. As we were driving along, we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere driving down a dirt road with little or no cell phone service. Houses were almost non-existent as we passed the seemingly endless acres of soybean and corn fields. We didn’t know where we were going because we had never been there before, but we knew our GPS wouldn’t let us down. When we nearly thought we were lost, all of a sudden, the orchard appeared out of nowhere.
Ever find yourself at a place in life where it seems like you either don’t know if you are on the right path or you aren’t sure which direction to go when you reach a fork in the road? Or maybe you are completely lost and just aren’t sure where to go at all? As much as we may all want it to be, life isn’t as simple as punching in an address on a GPS.
How do you know where to go? God speaks to us in many ways. He can lead us to the right place through circumstances or other people in our lives. We can read His Word and learn what God tells us in regards to His direction. He can even lead us through the Holy Spirit. But, there is something that we often forget to think about . . . the voice in your head. Not the voices you might hear if you were a schizophrenic, but our conscience. All of us are born with it, and it begins affecting us even while we are small children. It can make us feel guilty and it can tell us when we do right or when we do wrong. They are the thoughts that enter into our mind to help us make the right decisions. In essence, it is our connection to God.
The conscience is among one of the many ways God speaks to us. He uses it as a tool for constant communication. To listen to God and to understand Him, we must have faith as we read in the passage for this week. We must believe He exists and we must believe that He rewards us when we seek Him. For when we seek God’s will through our conscience, we are doing what we know is right because we want to please our Father. Going against His will for our lives will create a sense of restlessness just as going forward in faith will give us peace.
So, what direction should you go? Are you lost at this very moment? First, take the time to pray. Read through God’s holy Word. Renew your mind through these things and listen to your conscience. As you do, you will be able to understand God’s will for you. It may not happen immediately, but God will become your GPS. He will give you direction that you will not question. For His will is “good, pleasing, and perfect.”
Father, give us clear direction and guidance. For those of us who are lost or in conflict regarding where we should go, we ask that you make our faith strong and provide us with the right path. Light the correct path with all that You are. When we are asked to wait while you clear the path ahead of us, give us fulfillment in our hearts and minds as we wait until you are ready for us to proceed. We love you, Father and we ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you have been touched by this devotional, Your Blind Faith would like to hear from you. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a public comment, send a note to jeremy@yourblindfaith.com to let us know how God has touched your life with this devotional. We will not publish or share your information.
Why Ask Why?
A View of the Guiding Light in a World of Darkness is a weekly devotional that seeks to apply Biblical principles to our everyday lives, written by inspirational speaker and writer, Jeremy Curry.
Job 38:2-4
2 “Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand. (NIV)
Exodus 5:22-23 – 6:1
22 Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.” (NIV)
I’m whisked back to multiple movie scenes where something awful has happened and the character looks to the sky and screams, “Why God? Why?” How many times have you and I asked God that question? It seems that we ask why when our issues are much deeper, much more emotional, and very personal. We ask God things like, “Why did my best friend die from cancer?” Or, maybe you are asking God, “Why did my relationship with my spouse break apart?” Others of us may be asking about broken families or friendships. No matter who we are or what it is about, at some point in our lives, we have asked God, “why?” Is it okay to ask God this question? And, whether it is or isn’t, why do we ask why? Shouldn’t we just accept everything on faith?
As part of the Bible reading for this week’s devotional, I listed passages from two different stories. The first is regarding Job. Under very difficult circumstances, Job begins to break. In chapter 3 of Job, amidst other questions of complaint, we see him ask why he was even born. He grumbles about many things. Eventually, as you read in the passage, we see God question Job. It shows God’s anger toward all of the complaints and all of the questions of “why” that Job has asked. Job’s heart regarding his questions clearly wasn’t right as he agonizingly grilled the ways of the Almighty. Otherwise, God would not have “put Job in his place.”
If Job can’t ask God why something happens, is there a time that is right? If we look at Moses, he and his brother Aaron have just gone to Pharaoh and asked him to allow the Israelites to go spend several days in the wilderness so they can hold a feast for the Lord. They asked Pharaoh this question because God asked them to do it. Pharaoh gives them a solid “no.” As a result, since the Israelites are slaves to the Pharaoh, he makes work much harder for them. The leaders of the Israelites then complain to Moses and Aaron, blaming them for making life much more difficult. Moses then asks God why He had them go to Pharaoh in the first place. He asks if it was God’s plan to make things worse on the Israelites. Moses asks this with an earnest heart. He asks an honest question, “why?” God replies and says that He does it so that the Israelites will see what He does to Pharaoh.
God uses this example to show the Israelites that He is all-powerful, trustworthy, loving, dependable, patient, and so many other good characteristics of God as He eventually leads them out of Egypt. In this instance, God tells Moses why He is doing these things. He builds trust with Moses and with the people of Israel. In essence, God uses this as a teachable moment for His chosen people.
What does this mean for us? We find that it is certainly okay to ask God “why?” And, as we learn with these passages, we need to change one of our initial questions, which was, “why do we ask why?” Instead, the question should be, “how should we ask why?” The answer to this is that if we ask God “why,” we should do so seeking Him not in complaining, but in humility.
Should we have so much faith in God that we never ask Him why certain things have happened? Even Moses, who literally talked to God, asked Him this question. Despite how great or little our faith, sometimes we need to ask the honest question to God, “why?”
While we can ask this question, sometimes we may not know why something happens. Expecting an answer isn’t part of a heart of humility. We may ask God, but He may not give us an answer. And there are times when we won’t know the answer for years. In fact, even when we are given an answer, the resulting actions taken by God may not happen for a very long time. Certainly, Moses wasn’t instantly leading the Israelites out of Egypt seconds after God answers him. Neither should we expect action to happen immediately whether we do or do not get an answer to our question.
Remember that God has a plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). Whatever happens in your life is part of God’s bigger plan for you. And, if you love God, all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). When you are in the midst of not knowing “why,” ask your Father. And, even if you don’t receive an answer, know that He is the Almighty and always has a reason for whatever you are going through.
Father, remind us that there are reasons for everything that happen in our lives. Remind us that there are reasons for broken relationships, for our wounds, and for the good things in our lives. May you heal the broken-hearted this day, may those who are seeking you find their salvation in you today, may you heal broken relationships, and may you give reasons or reveal the answer to the question of “why” to those who need it most. We love you, Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you have been touched by this devotional, Your Blind Faith would like to hear from you. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a public comment, send a note to jeremy@yourblindfaith.com to let us know how God has touched your life with this devotional. We will not publish or share your information.
Rights of the Accused: The Grace Amendment
A View of the Guiding Light in a World of Darkness is a weekly devotional that seeks to apply Biblical principles to our everyday lives, written by inspirational speaker and writer, Jeremy Curry.
Job 1:6-7
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” (NIV)
Revelation 12:7-11
7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (ESV)
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (ESV)
We have all done things in our lives we wish we had not done. Whether you stole candy out of the local store when you were a child or if you have done much worse things in your life, we have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). It doesn’t matter who you are; if you are human, you will fail, and you will fall. Unless you are God, the curse of sin ensures that this always happens to every man, woman, and child.
The more severe sins in our lives are the ones that eat away at us, the ones that we are constantly reminded of. They may be sins of the flesh, sins that involve stealing, sins that involve hurting the ones we love, or even sins that involve murder. Whatever the biggest sin is in your life, you will feel guilty about it. But, if we are forgiven through the blood of Christ, then why do we continue to feel the guilt? Why do we continue to feel the pain? Why do we not forgive ourselves as God forgave us? Why does grace sometimes not feel sufficient?
These questions often plague the mind of those who suffer most from their past sins. As Satan prepares to torture Job, we find him before the throne of God. God questions him and we hear Satan say that he has been roaming around on the Earth. This tells us that Satan is among us. He is a real and present evil. The last thing that he wants is for us to have a relationship with the one and only true God. He finds those things, those sins you are guilty of and accuses you. The evil one reminds you of your past. He makes you think of the things that would lead you to believe no one, not even our God, is capable of forgiving you. He will do everything he can to keep you from reconciliation from our Savior. The evil one roams throughout the earth looking to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He is always near, waiting to strike, prowling like a “roaring lion” and ready “to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Not only does Satan look to harm us, but he continually accuses us. We see that he “accuses our brothers” literally “day and night before our God.” We are accused by Satan 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Satan wants so bad to separate us from God (via his accusations) that he does what he hates; he enters the presence of God. Without the strength from our Lord, we could never sustain ourselves against such evil. If you wonder why you don’t feel that grace is sufficient, why you can’t forget your past, or why you still feel guilty, it is because the enemy is constantly knocking at our door to remind us . . .to accuse us.
Have you ever thought to yourself that there is no way that God can understand my past because He cannot possibly have the amount of guilt I endure? Think of this for a second . . .Satan goes before our God day and night. Not just for a month or two, but for thousands and thousands of years. He accuses all of us, indicting us before our Father with accusations that may or may not even be true. If it were me, I cannot imagine the guilt I would feel as trillions upon trillions of sins were thrust upon me stemming from my very own creation. Yet, Jesus tells us in Matthew 11 that His “burden is light.” Imagine how big and powerful our God must be to handle these accusations day and night for millennia, and yet have a light burden. Our God is definitely an awesome God.
Fortunately, I have good news. In the end, Satan, the accuser, is thrown down and conquered by the blood of the lamb! Jesus has overcome! Imagine how it will feel to sit at the throne of God without anyone or anything accusing you. All of your sin and guilt will be completely cleansed. The hurt we feel will be no more. Today is a day of celebration. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has defeated the enemy!
If you want to take part in this celebration, if you want to live with our Savior forever, John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” If you believe that Jesus died for your sins and will cleanse you, that He will give you rest, that He will take away your guilt and shame, then pray this prayer, “Father, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus is my Savior. I believe He died on the cross for me. I want to live with you forever, and have rest. Jesus, please come into my heart and forgive my sins. I ask that the Holy Spirit live in me. Make me clean. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” You don’t have to feel the guilt any more. You’ve been set free!
Perhaps you have already accepted Jesus into your heart and you still feel guilt from your past sins. Remember as you are accused that Jesus has forgiven all of our sins. His grace is more than sufficient. The right of the accused is to accept that grace and forgiveness, apply it to our lives, and reach out to others who have the same issues you once had. My friend, Jesus has forgiven you. Don’t let Satan, the accuser, overcome you. It’s time to let the grace of our Lord and Savior fill your heart, fill your soul, and fill your spirit.
Father, fill us with your grace. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. Keep the Accuser from making us feel the guilt of sins that have been forgiven. Keep us on the righteous path, O God. Give our souls rest and give us peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you have been touched by this devotional, Your Blind Faith would like to hear from you. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a public comment, send a note to jeremy@yourblindfaith.com to let us know how God has touched your life with this devotional. We will not publish or share your information.
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