Consider the Incredible

We are surrounded by the incredible. We watch athletes accomplish incredible feats every day and YouTube videos daily document the top ten incredible plays. We see people survive impossible circumstances and are amazing at their fortune and resilience. Seemingly ordinary people accomplish the extraordinary and we celebrate them. But all these incredible acts pale in comparison to the mighty acts that God has accomplished and will continue to do.

In Acts 26:8 Paul says, “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?” Many people will reject Jesus because they cannot believe that He rose from the dead. But God is an incredible God who does incredible deeds. He created all things in six days, divided the Red Sea for His people to pass through, raised His Son from the grave on the third day, and saves those who believe in Jesus. Those who believe in this incredible God will be raised to eternal life in His presence. That’s incredible!

Asking the Wrong Person, Going to the Wrong Place

Working with government agencies can be difficult, confusing, and frustrating. You appear in the office that you believe can help you and they direct you to another department on the other side of town. Or they can help you, but provide you with long and vague instruction on how to get what you want. If only, we could find the right help quickly.

II Chronicles 33:12-13 says, “And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.” King Manasseh and God’s people had walked away from God and then were defeated by the king of Assyria. From captivity and chains, Manasseh humbled himself before God and prayed. Even when we have rejected God, He still hears our cries for help. When we humbly return to Him and pray, He will grant us His favor and demonstrate that He is God.

The Wonder of It All

I have observed or even participated in some events, and then, at some future time, I looked back and marveled at what happened. In those times, something happened that was much greater than I had originally thought. People’s lives were positively impacted, and greater good was accomplished, while I was focused on something much smaller.

Psalm 147:15-17 says, “He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost likeystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?” Sometimes we become so familiar with things that we miss the blessings that God is giving us. We should view every circumstance from a God centered perspective and see the glory in what He is doing around us and for us.

No Off Season

The National Football League’s season came to a close last night with the Super Bowl. That doesn’t mean that the league’s teams suddenly become dormant. They are all active planning for the next season, making personnel changes, and seeking in most ways to make their team better. It is the same in all professional sports as they have no real offseason, just a time when their activities may be somewhat different.

II Timothy 4:1-2 says, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” Those who trust in Jesus Christ have no off season. We must be ready at all times to do the work God has called us to do and to proclaim His name everywhere. We may be called to different tasks at different times, but our message and God’s purpose for us remains the same.

Standing Up For What You Believe

How willing are we to stand up for what we believe in the face of opposition? We may be willing to face verbal abuse for our values. We may even be willing to go into territory dominated by those who oppose our values. Some may be willing to make public protest for their beliefs. Soldiers are willing to die to protect the people and values that they believe.

In Daniel 3:17-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faced with certain death in a fiery furnace for disobeying the king’s order to worship his idol. This was their response: “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Our faith is trusting the God who is able, not in trusting for our desired outcome. These three men were unwilling to compromise their faith in God, but were willing to face a cruel and fatal punishment for their beliefs. They placed their trust in the God who is able to save them, not in their desire for safety.