Spy Novels

I am not a fan of spy novels or mysteries. So, I don’t really understand the intrigue and undercover moves. But I know that a spy must hide his/her true identity in order to carry out their mission. Thus, the people and organizations that think they know the spy, only have a vague outward understanding.

Joshua 24:14 says, “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness.” Our God does not place the highest value upon outward displays of religious devotion. Instead, He searches our hearts for signs of an honest and genuine faith, free from deceit and hypocrisy. Having a faithful heart that follows Him, even in the small callings of everyday life, is important to Him.

Light of Knowledge

Imagine a great library that holds all of the world’s books. Great knowledge and wisdom is contained in these books. However, this library has no access to light. The library has no electricity, no windows, no openings. Should anyone venture inside, the knowledge and wisdom contained within would thus be inaccessible.

II Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” God is the creator of light and apart from Him only darkness remains. Beyond physical light, therefore, He brings the light of all knowledge and wisdom to us through Jesus Christ.

Overslept

When we awaken after oversleeping, chaos ensues. We know that we messed up, but both our minds and our bodies are not ready to process our thoughts quickly. We rush out the door without brushing our hair or tidying up our clothes. It takes a while for us to get it together.

Mark 13:35-36 says, “Therefore stay awake-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning-lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.” Comfort and complacency may cause us to lose the urgency to follow God closely and participate in expanding His kingdom.

Sacred Vending Machine

We step up to a vending machine, put in our money or scan our credit card, and instantly receive the product that we desired. Many of us treat God as a sacred vending machine. We put our requests before God and begin to anxiously wait for His answer. Many times, we don’t wait very long before we begin to form our own answer.

Psalm 62:1 says, “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” God wants us to make our requests to Him. But sometimes, after we have spoken to God, we should be quiet and at peace, waiting for His answer. This demonstrates our faithfulness and trust in Him.

The Good Hands God

In I Samuel 5, the “hand of the Lord was heavy” against the Philistines. They thought that they had won a major victory against God’s people by capturing the ark of God. But everywhere they took the ark, the hand of the Lord was heavy against them and they suffered disaster. For God had said, “Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.” (I Samuel 2:30) The Philistines despised God and suffered for it. Nehemiah 2:18 says, “And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good.” God’s hand brings good through the person who walks in sincere faith. When we honor God by faithfully walking in His ways, He will do good for us and through us.