Mend Your Net

"Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him."

Matthew 4:21-22

When Jesus called James and John, the fishermen, they were "mending their nets." It is often in the most mundane that Jesus calls us. My late husband's great great grandfather was chopping wood in the back of his parents' home when the Lord called him to become a circuit preacher. He dropped his axe and heeded the Lord's call without hesitation. Throughout our walk with the Lord there may be times when the only task He has for us is to mend our nets. To do only the thing that He's placed before us  -- no matter how simple or mundane -- until He calls us to a greater work. If you are waiting on the Lord with a net in your lap, rejoice. Mend that net and trust that a greater work for you is in His plan.

(Today's devotional is the last entry for Mountain Manna. I want to thank all of you who have followed this devotional blog since I started it just a little over two years ago. Many of you have encouraged me personally, and I appreciate that more than you know. I've enjoyed this journey with you, but all good things must come to an end. I feel the Lord is calling me away from this ministry. I don't know what He has planned for me, so for now I'm just going to mend my own net and wait for Him to show me what's next. 

"The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

Remember to keep your eyes on Jesus. -- Nancy)

Be Patient, Be Strong

"You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, 

for the coming of the Lord is near."

James 5:8

James wants to encourage Christians to stand firm in trials. He reminds us that the Lord's return is near, and he tells Christians to "be patient" and "strengthen your hearts". The focus here in on the Lord's second coming. It is imminent. It will happen. The coming of Christ is mentioned some three hundred times in the New Testament.  There is a mention of the coming of Christ one time for every thirteen verses from Matthew to Revelation. It is the one single event that every Christian should long for and watch for. The Christian life requires patience and endurance as we wait for the Lord's return. Trials are never ending. One may end, but another will eventually take its place. There will always be something for us to endure. That's true for everyone - believers and unbelievers alike. The difference is that we believers have access to the Holy Spirit, and He is able to empower us to endure tribulation. Our responsibility is to purpose to live with patience and strength, and then to ask the Holy Spirit to help us do so. His responsibility is to give us what we need. He is faithful. He will do it.

This I Know

"This I know, that God is for me."

Psalm 56:9

Even under the threat of death David could say, "This I know, that God is for me." David's trust in God was so complete that I sometimes wonder if he was completely human. And yet I know he was because in times of distress he also struggled with feeling rejected by God (Psalm 89:46,49; Psalm 13:1). Perhaps David, more than any other figure in the Bible, is most like the majority of believers. We know theologically that God is for us. We know it by Calvary. But the cares and concerns of life here on earth tempt us to doubt that He is really for us every day. Especially when we are in the midst of physical or emotional pain. Is God really for us when the prognosis is not good? Yes. He is. Is God really for us when a loved one dies? Yes. He is. Is God really for us when a relationship ends, or we lose a job, or our house goes up in flames? Yes. He is. "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32). God is for us. When we call to Him, He will either remove the trial from our lives or give us through His grace the strength to bear it (2 Corinthians 12:9). Like David we can each say with confidence, "God is for me."

First Things First

"How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, 

And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood."

Psalm 40:4

It's election year here in the United States and the rhetoric is building. I'm not even talking about the candidates. I'm talking about the conversations on Facebook, at the coffee shops and in the grocery store check-out lines. It seems many people have placed their trust in an ideology instead of God. Certainly we should participate in the election process, but to do so and leave God out of the picture will never lead to the blessings He wants to bestow upon our country. The Bible tells us to acknowledge the Lord in everything we do and He will direct the way we should go (Proverbs 3:5-6). "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:11-13). I wonder what great things would happen in our country if we put first things first. If we humbled ourselves and honestly prayed for God's wisdom before we vote. 

Our Creative God

"O Lord, how many are Your works!

In wisdom You have made them all;

The earth is full of Your possessions."

Psalm 104:24

There is nothing that speaks to me more of God's creativity than to observe His earthly possessions. From the magnificent mountains to the roaring seas, from the cornfields to the deserts, every locale shows God's fingerprint. They are all beautiful in their own way. The animals that inhabit the earth know their place, for He has placed each one according to their habits and needs. He sees that they are fed and watered. He is the all-wise and loving Creator. "God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). Ah, yes. It is very good. "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." (Revelation 4:11)

Daily He Bears Our Burdens

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,

The God who is our salvation." 

Psalm 68:19

Isn't it good to know that the Lord bears our burdens on a daily basis. Not just once in awhile but every single day.  We don't ever need to wonder if the Lord loves us. His love is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3). He is always watching over us (2 Chronicles 16:9). Even when we are old and gray Jesus is our Rescuer (Isaiah 64:4). He is Yeshua" -- God of salvation. He never tires of hearing us say, "Lord, I can't do this alone." Before we even ask for help He is aware of our need and standing before us with outstretched arms, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 NIV).

Waiting in Hope

"I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,

And in His word do I hope."

Psalm 130:5

We must wait for the Lord, no matter how long it takes, because His timing is perfect. Is it easy? No, most of the time it isn't easy to wait on the Lord. We tend to fret that He's taking too long to move. But as Peter said, "with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day." God's timeline is much different from ours. And it is the hope we have in His word -- His promises - that sustains us while we wait. Scripture gives us the strength we need to wait. It assures us that God has not forgotten us. In the middle of the night when anxious thoughts keep us awake we can think on familiar verses like Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Praise God that He is a loving Father who has the very best plans for us, and has given us His word to give us hope as we wait on Him.

Free Indeed

"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." 

John 8:36

We can live in a free country and still be enslaved. Perhaps not politically, but certainly spiritually. Many people are enslaved to sin and its consequences, and don't even realize it. Our culture has become so desensitized to the word "sin", and so much of what the Bible calls sin has become acceptable to our populace, that we pretty much go through this life thinking we're all okay. And in that thinking we have lost more freedom than we can possibly comprehend. But here's the amazing thing: "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). See, Christ doesn't wait until we realize we're sinners to save us. He already did it. That's why He came to earth. That's why He died and rose again. To conquer sin and death and set us free. But we need to recognize that we are enslaved and admit to Christ that we need the freedom only He can give. He is the Key that unlocks the chains that bind us. Once we receive Him as our Savior we will be free indeed. Until then we're hopelessly enslaved.

Light-filled Lives

"The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."

Romans 13:12

The time for salvation is running out. When Christ the Messiah came He ushered in the light, and all those who have received Him as Lord and Savior live in that light. But unbelievers still live in darkness and need to see the Light we possess. It is up to us to live in such a way that they see the Light. When people meet us, talk to us, spend time with us, they should notice something very different about our lives. Perhaps it's time for us to examine ourselves and ask the Lord to reveal to us where we are living outside His will (2 Corinthians 13:5), and therefore may be a stumbling block to those who have not yet come to Christ. In the power of the Holy Spirit we can live Light-filled lives. We can lay aside the darkness of sin and shine with the pure light of Christ that covers us.  

Six Words I Long to Hear

 "His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’"

Matthew 25:21

There is nothing in the Bible that speaks of reincarnation. In fact, Hebrews 9:27 tells us it is appointed for every person to die only once and after this comes judgment. We only go through life one time. No second chances. So the spiritual decision we make here on earth has eternal consequences. Those who reject Christ will face an eternity separated from God. Those who receive Him will live forever in the light of His presence. Living the Christian life isn't easy. Christ never told us it would be. But He promised to walk with us and help us through this life into the next. And when our time is over and we've remained faithful to Him we can be assured of hearing Him say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant." I don't know about you, but those are the six words I long to hear more than any others. 

Crucified with Christ

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, 
who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, 
for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
Galatians 2:20-21

This is the gospel. That Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, should die for you and for me. That He should fulfill the law by living a perfect, sinless life. The law was given to show us our sinfulness and need for a Savior. And the grace of God in giving HIs Son to die for us shows His incredible love for us and to what lengths He would go to keep us from Hell. What's more, it shows us the undeniable love Christ has for us; to obey the will of His Father and complete the work required of Him. And on the third day, when Jesus rose from the dead, Satan and death were defeated. Only when we accept Christ's sacrifice as sufficient and receive by faith that He paid the penalty for our sins can we say with Paul, "Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." If Christ is your Savior, praise God! Your old sinful self has been crucified with Christ and your new righteous self lives because He now lives in you!

God's Got Your Back

“When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. He shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’"

Deuteronomy 20:1-4

The Lord encouraged Israel with these words and it is just as applicable to us today. When trouble comes you can be assured of this: God's got your back. The floods may come, you may have to walk through a fiery trial, but He is with you (Isaiah 43:2). God's got your back. Storms may come and threaten to sink your fragile boat, but Jesus Christ is the Master of the storms (Luke 8:22-25). God's got your back. A thorn in the flesh may come and torment you as it did Paul, and as with the apostle the Lord might not remove it. But His grace is sufficient for you to endure it. God's got your back. "Do not be faintheared. Do not be afraid or panic, or tremble before [your troubles], for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your [troubles], to save you." God's got your back.

Worship God Alone

"I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. But he said to me, 'Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.'”

Revelation 22:8-9

When John falls down to worship the angel, the angel rebukes him (this is the second time this has happened, for John did a similar act in Revelation 19:10). Angels are not to be worshipped. They are created beings -- created by God Almighty -- and to worship them is idolatry. When the angel Lucifer set himself up to be worshiped God cast him out of heaven (Isaiah 12:14-17, Luke 10:18). No doubt John knew this, but he was overwhelmed by what he had been shown and lost himself in praising the messenger. We can be in danger of doing this, too, if we become awed by those who deliver God's word in a sermon or message and put them on a pedestal. There is only One worthy of our awe and worship. Only One who is awesome. The Triune God. 

The Pearl of Great Value

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it."

Matthew 13:45-46

For the one who seeks eternal life Jesus Christ is more valuable than anything else. Although salvation can never be bought, when the Savior is found by the seeker he or she would gladly give up everything to possess a relationship with Him. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8 "I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ." Jesus is the pearl of great value. 

Forsaking the Fountain of Living Waters

"For My people have committed two evils:

They have forsaken Me,

The fountain of living waters,

To hew for themselves cisterns,

Broken cisterns

That can hold no water."

Jeremiah 2:13

Jeremiah here refers to the Israelites' proclivity to idolatry. They rejected "The Fountain of Living Waters" right in front of them to dig for something they perceived to be better: anything but God. We today are no different. We forsake God for all sorts of idols that we believe will give us more pleasure than He Himself gives. Money, popularity,  possessions, ________ (fill in the blank). Our culture is rampant with false gods; broken cisterns that can never hold life-giving water.  Nothing brings full and lasting satisfaction like a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we drink from His "living water" we are never thirsty again (John 4:13-14). The water He gives is eternal. If we refuse it we lose much more than a refreshing drink. We lose our soul.

The Lord Stands With You

"But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me,"

2 Timothy 4:17

At Paul's preliminary trial in Rome, no one defended him. No one appeared in court to stand up and support him. And yet Paul was never alone. The Lord was with him and strengthened him. The word "strengthened" is from the Greek word "endunamoo". In simple terms it means "to put power in" (like a car needs gas for power) and so to make strong, vigorous, to strengthen, or to be strengthened, enabled or empowered inwardly. The idea is to cause one to be able to function or do something. It can refer to physical strengthening, but more often endunamoo refers to spiritual or moral strengthening. Paul knew by experience the truth of Deuteronomy 31:6: "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Sometimes God removes our support system so that we will totally rely on Him. This is a good thing, for it shows us God's faithfulness and unsurpassed ability to enable or empower us inwardly in impossible situations. If you are feeling alone at this moment, know that if you have confessed that the Lord is your God you are not abandoned. He is standing with you and He will strengthen you. He will not fail you. He will not forsake you.

No Compromise

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."

2 Timothy 4:3-4

Throughout the history of the Church there have been people who refuse to accept the authority of scripture. Paul warned that this would occur. We live in a time right now when the number of people who compromise the word of God is increasing, even among professing Christians. They look for teachers who will say the things they want to hear and support their personal views rather than God's views. It comes down to this: we either accept that the entire Bible is the inspired (the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit on the Bible’s writers, which guaranteed that what they wrote was accurate and trustworthy), inerrant word of God, or we don't. We can't choose to believe some verses and reject others. If we insist on doing this we will never have a complete picture of who God is. Yes, God is a God of love. He is love (1 John 4:8). And He is also a God of judgment (Acts 17:30-31). In John 17:17 Jesus says, "Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth." God's word is truth. All of it.

"Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself but because it contradicts them." E. Paul Hovey

Walking Directions

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; 

I will counsel you with My eye upon you."

Psalm 32:8

One day a woman was trying to find her way to my shop. She called me using her cell phone and asked for walking directions. I asked her location and when she gave it to me I realized she was only a half block away. I told her the way to go and assured her that I was watching for her, and that as soon as I saw her I would wave and lead her into the store. I wanted to keep her from going the wrong way. That incident reminds me of how the Lord directs us. It is the Lord's desire that we walk according to His will. He instructs us on how to do this through His word. He watches us and if we take a wrong turn He corrects us so that we stay on the right path. 

The Lord will protect you from all evil;

He will keep your soul.

 The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and forever.

Psalm 121:7-8

Look Back, Look Around, Look Up

"I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all Your doings;

I muse on the work of Your hands."

Psalm 143:5

When we are in the midst of a trial and peace seems far from us, it's a perfect time to stop what we're doing and mediate on the goodness of our Heavenly Father. Look back to days past when He has brought us victoriously through trouble. Remembering what He has already done for us gives us hope in our current situation. Look around, consider creation and the blessings that He gives us every day through the natural world. Think about how the Lord holds it altogether by His power and strength. How constant He is in bringing the sunrise every morning and the sunset every night. If He is so trustworthy with nature, won't He be so much more trustworthy with our lives today and in the future? Look up. Seek the Lord's face and praise Him. Praising Him when we are troubled is a sacrifice which He will never refuse and one that delights Him. When we focus our attention on Him instead of our circumstances, He responds with all we need for the time. "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Look back and remember His faithfulness, look around and consider His power and strength, look up and receive His peace.

Giving an Account

"But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ 

will be put to shame."

1 Peter 3:14-16

There's not a lot of respect for Bible believing Christians in our culture, but maybe some of that disrespect we have brought upon ourselves. We can't expect people who don't know the love of Christ to understand our belief, much less accept it. Especially if we're speaking harshly to them. It's incumbent upon us according to scripture to defend our faith gently and with respect.  Before we believed we were enemies of the gospel. (Or have we forgotten that?) Now that we know the truth of Christ that has set us free, it's our responsibility to share it with others. We don't need to fear any intimidation they may try to use. We only need to pray and ask God to give us the words He has for us to share. Even the smallest amount of words we use can have a large impact if they are given to us by God and are delivered with love and kindness. It worked for Jesus. It will work for us.