A Mere Piece of Bronze

29 Sep 2009Marybeth Whalen

"He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan)." II Kings 18:4 (NIV)

I used to have a quote, cut from a magazine article, taped above my desk. I can't recall the exact quote, but the gist of it was that while our children are gifts from God, it's easy to let them become little idols. I remember the shock value of reading those words printed on the page. My children? Idols? It sounded like heresy! But as I allowed the words to sink in, I realized that the person who penned those words was right. Most anything can become an idol in our hearts -becoming more important th an our relationship with God, taking priority over His place in our life.In Numbers 21:8-9, God told the Israelites to raise a bronze snake on a pole and look to it in order to be healed. Seven hundred years later, the Israelites had gotten off track. They had turned that snake - something that was God's idea -into an idol they worshiped. In our verse for today, we see Hezekiah destroying the snake in an effort to turn the people's hearts back to God. The word Nehushtan in the verse means "a mere piece of bronze." The bronze snake was not the answer to the people's problems. They had attached too much significance to it. Hezekiah had no choice but to refocus their attention where it needed to be by physically removing the idol.Idols can take many forms in our lives. Family members and friends can become idols. Doctors and medicine can become idols. Work and hobbies can become idols. Entertainment - movies, TV, music, games - can become idols. Food can become an idol. An idol by definition is anything that we place our trust in, anything that takes precedence over God. While we may not pray to it and burn incense to it, it becomes more important than anything, including God. Just like God designed the snake to be a good thing in the lives of His people, so He allows us to have good things in our lives. He just doesn't want us to get things out of whack, as we are prone to do. It's not that the thing itself is the problem; it's our attitude about that thing.God showed me that I needed to destroy any idols in my life. For me, I had to spend a lot of time refocusing my priorities. I started with how important I had made my husband and children. Yes, my family needed me. Yes, I needed to spend time with them. Yes, I loved them dearly. But they couldn't take the place of my relationship with the Lord. I had to put them in their proper place and renew my perspective. This can only be done with intentionality and continual heart work. God gives u s good things to enjoy - family and friends and work and food and hobbies and entertainment. But He has also given us Himself, opening the door wide for us to come before His throne. May we keep good things in their place and keep God on the throne of our lives.

Dear Lord, please get my attention when I get distracted. Help me to keep the good things in my life where they belong and to keep You first. Help me destroy any idols I have placed ahead of You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Unexpected things come up in life. When my alarm went off this morning, did I expect to find the evidence of our dog having an accident in his kennel and him covered in a mess? No. Did I expect to have to clean his kennel and give him a bath all before 7 am? No. But unexpected things happen and we have to make the choice whether we are going to roll with the punches or get all uptight and freaked out.

It brings me great peace to know that nothing is unexpected for God. He is in control and anything that comes to me has to go through Him first!

Have a great day

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Good morning and happy Monday! As I got ready for church yesterday, I looked out the window to see a squirrel taunting our dog, Cooper. This is not the first time I've seen this, but it has happened many times over the past couple weeks. When Cooper is tied to his leash, he is right next to a fence, but can't quite reach the fence. On top of the fence, Mr Squirrel has inched a bit closer to Cooper each day attempting to see how close he can get to him without being attacked. Of course, this drives Cooper crazy because he wants to eat Mr Squirrel so badly!

I thought about how this is much like how satan works. He knows what our flesh desires and little by little begins tempting us with it. As the temptation comes closer and closer, we think about it more often. We desire it more because it is just out of our reach. But one day, when we're tired, bored or weak, that "squirrel" is right in front of our face and easily reachable.

Through the strength of God, we can resist. Scripture tells us that God will give us a way out of temptation. But the question is: will we take the way out or will we fall to our flesh and give in?

Standing strong in the face of temptation is not easy, but in the end will make our lives filled with peace.

Have a great day

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

The words I read cut me like a knife "Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled" (Matt 26:56).

I cannot imagine how many times this can be said of me.

How many times has Jesus watched me desert Him, again?

I am ashamed of the number.

The past is permanent and cannot be changed, but the future is ahead and is full of hope.

Lord, please forgive me for the times that I seek my own will over Yours. Help me to live a life that doesn't desert You but embraces You and Your will for me. Lord thank you that Your Word is ALIVE and works in our hearts. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Christie

A Divine Appointment
23 Sep 2009Wendy Blight

"He answered, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;' and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27 (NIV)

Every Memorial Day weekend my friend Karen and I travel with our families to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, for five days of rest and relaxation. We just cannot wait to dig our toes in the sand, take long walks on the beach, and enjoy the island's incredible sunsets. Every trip is special, but this most recent trip stood above all others.Karen and I ran to the local grocery. Feeding nine people for five days resulted in two carts overflowing with food and supplies. We approached the checkout lines looking for the shortest line. We chose a line with an older wo man without a cart. Apparently waiting on someone else, she motioned for us to go ahead of her. Moments later, a young woman scurried up pushing a crying child in a half-full cart. It was clear the older woman was frustrated that they now had to wait behind us, so we offered to give her back her place in line.As the young woman and her child passed by me, my heart began to pound. I physically began to tremble. I felt God impressing upon my heart that Karen and I were to buy her groceries. I hesitated, but past experience caused me to obey. I tapped the young woman on the shoulder and spoke these exact words, "I know it sounds strange, but God told me that we are to buy your groceries."She graciously accepted with tears in her eyes, and then she and the older woman left. A few minutes later, the older woman returned to share an incredible story. The young woman was her daughter. Her name was Micah.Micah's husband had walked out on her and her young son a fe w months before. He had abused her for years before leaving. She could barely make ends meet and felt completely abandoned by everyone, especially God.Days before this God-ordained meeting in the grocery story, Micah and her mother had prayed. Her mother prayed that God would draw Micah back into relationship with Him. Micah prayed, "God, if you are real, if you love me, show Yourself to me!" As her mother shared these words, it was a powerful moment. Micah, in the midst of her deepest sorrow and pain cried out to God for His Presence. Karen and I simply walked in the store that day to complete an ordinary task. And God crossed our paths at one point in time to show each of us He is active, involved, and OH SO REAL!Yes, it was a great day for Micah. But what a day it was for Karen and me as well! Our obedience to the Lord's prompting touched this woman's life in such a powerful way that she KNEW He was real and had not abandoned her, and that He answers prayer.

A divin e appointment ... a day I will treasure forever.

Heavenly Father, Sovereign Lord, the Great I Am. Thank You that You have planned every day of our lives before we have lived a single day. Thank You that You speak into our lives today. Thank You that You invite us to join You in Your work. Father, give us opportunities to be Your hands and feet. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see the broken and hurting people all around us. Give us a heart of obedience. Give us boldness to speak. May all glory and honor and praise go to You. In Jesus' Name Amen.

Next, Jesus takes His disciples to Gethsemane and asks them to keep watch while He goes off to pray. Although He is in complete agony over what He is about to face, the disciples fall asleep and are caught each time Jesus returns.

Once again, people disappoint Jesus.

Jesus tells them "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Matthew 26:41)

What wonderful advice for each of us!

Jesus warns that our own desire is not enough - we need the strength of God. We need the strength that comes from prayer.

We discussed some temptations last night at our Bible study that are so hard to overcome. Yes, they are hard to overcome but through the strength of God they are not impossible to overcome!

I encourage you to make the choice today to begin fervently praying about overcoming your strongest temptations. Not just that the temptation will go away but that the mighty power of God will give you the strength to resist the temptation.

Let me know if you will begin praying about it because I want to be praying with you.

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

I don't even have to ask the question "have you been hurt by a friend or loved one?" because I already know the answer. We live in a world full of sin and we are selfish, sinful people, which is why we all get hurt at times.

Over the past couple days, I have been reading in the 26th chapter of Matthew verses 14-35. 2 things really stuck out to me:

1. Jesus was very open and clear when He told the disciples that Judas would betray Him and that Peter would disown Him.

2. Although, Jesus knew what these 2 men were going to do, He still made the choice to fellowship with them and continue to teach them.

Jesus was a very loving, kind and compassionate man but He was also a straight-shooter. He did not hide behind a mask or sugar coat what needed to be said. He laid issues on the table, so people could either repent and change or reject His teaching.

He was rejected, mocked, betrayed, deserted, and hated but He didn't respond in those ways.

He was focused on His mission. He wanted to please and obey His Father.

I want to be so focused on my mission from God that my reaction to others mirrors His.

Jesus' example to us to follow when we are hurt by others - love them.

Jesus didn't throw Judas and Peter out of the disciples group because of what they were going to do - He continued to love them and teach them. We should do the same.

Man, that's a tough one to follow but regardless of the difficulty, we are to follow the example of Christ and through His power, we can prevail.

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie

Who are you when no one else is watching?

God is always watching