DEVO: Do We REALLY Believe It?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Most Christians will agree that this scripture is the truth. Maybe a few will say "AMEN!!". Others will say "That's right". On an intellectual level and on an emotional level Christians will typically brighten up, smile, and agree with this statement.

As followers of Christ, our question should not be "Do I believe this statement is true?" The indicator of true faith is when we ask the question "How am I living this truth out in my life?" If we truly believe it, we will be using it. We will be exemplifying it by the way we live our life.

A living faith is the indicator of a true Christian. Where are you today? Do you simply agree this scripture is correct or is your life showing that you believe this scripture is correct? There is a difference-are you making it?

DEVO: Grabbing Snakes

Exodus 4:1-5 (NIV)
Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the LORD said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” said the LORD, “is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

Living out God's will in our life can be scary sometimes. Sometimes God asks us to do things that we are afraid to do. As we grow in trust, respect, and love for God we are able to perform increasingly bolder tasks for Him.

In this scripture God is trying to convince Moses to go to Egypt to free the Israelites. Moses doesn't want to go. God begins to perform miracles for Moses so he would believe and trust in Him. One of the miracles God performs is that he turns Moses' staff into a snake when Moses throws it on the ground. This is one area of scripture I totally understand. When the snake appears, Moses runs away from it. I would have too. But God tells Moses to grab the snake by the tail so it will turn back into a staff. Honestly, I would be more afraid of touching the snake than I would be of going to Egypt. God would have to do some pretty good convincing in order for me to touch that snake. But Moses trustingly touches the snake and it turns back in to a staff. Then God leads him to do bigger and more important things.

There are things in this world that can be scary for us to do. But if God calls us to do them, it's important that we obey. Many people are too afraid of rejection to talk to others about Jesus. They can also be too afraid of looking stupid by standing up for Him or by doing the "right" thing when everyone else is trying to get us to do the "wrong" thing. But it's only by being courageous in these moments that we grow in power and in our relationship with God. They are more necessary than they are tough.

As scared as I am of snakes, I would probably grab its tail if God told me to even though I would have wanted Him to turn it back before I touched it. As you find yourself in difficult or scary situations, listen to the guidance of God and follow what He tells you to do. If you do, you will find yourself doing increasingly scarier and more important things. It's all a part of the growth process and every step is needed. Today, if God is asking to you grab a snake by the tail, I want to encourage you to do it. There is a reason for it and God will bless you as you follow Him in faith, even if you never sleep with the staff by your bed ever again.

DEVO: Drive-Thru Car Wash

Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

My wife and I had just gotten our dog. He was (and is) an amazingly well tempered Lab/pit-bull mix. He's a big guy (about 88 lbs) and his name is Jake. We took Jake on an outing to the beach. We wanted to give him a good walk and work with him a little bit on his leash etiquette. We walked about a mile or so then headed back. The entire time we were there other people were really leery of him. He is a big guy that isn't scared of much. He's got a very outgoing personality so he is always anxious to visit with people along the way. He's not scared of the cars or the other dogs or people.

On the way home we decided to get the car washed. We went to a local gas station and rode through the car wash. Jake was happily hanging out in the back until the water started shooting at the car. Once he heard the water hitting the car and saw the soap on the windows he was scared to death. Despite our repeated attempts to calm him down, he would not be satisfied. His only thought was to get out of that car wash immediately. Jake didn't care that we were there and that we weren't worried. All 88lbs of that dog could only focus on one thing. Escape.

The disciples were in the same position in the scripture above. Even though they had been through some experiences with Jesus and were accomplished fishermen, they were still very afraid of the storm and wanted only one thing. To get out of it. They didn't stop to think that Jesus was with them, He was their master, He was in control and He was going to take care of the storm. Their focus was on the storm, not on the sovereignty of Jesus. When we face trials and storms of our own today, are we any different?

Just like Jake and the disciples, we need to learn to focus and trust in Jesus, not on the conditions around us. We often mistake calm seas for a good walk with the Lord. That is not the case. Whether the seas of your life are calm or stormy, Jesus is still with you, He is still in control and will console you if you come to Him. It's easy to have faith in Jesus when life is going well. But true faith only comes from the times of trial and suffering. If your seas are stormy today, don't focus on the storm. Focus on the truth of the one who ensures that you won't be destroyed by it. No matter what storms may rage in your life, Jesus is with you. He is holding you and He won't let you down. It takes faith to know He's there, even when you can't feel Him.