More Than Many Sparrows

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What happens when you lose your job or your home; health or wealth or a loved one? What happens when you lose your reputation because of something you did or lies told about you? It’s tempting to worry or fall into depression. How will you pay your bills? How will you make things right? Friend, I have been there. I’ve lost a job, friends, family members, and my reputation. Instead of falling into depression, I remember a time I went for a walk. A cool breeze ruffled through my hair, and I sensed God’s presence. The fresh scent of Spring flowers and the beauty of the tree-lined streets welcomed me along the path. A flock of sparrows flew overhead and perched on a fence. It was as if I heard the Lord say, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care . . . So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).The sparrows reminded me how God has taken care of me in the past, and I trust He will always take care of me.

Don’t Be Afraid

Imagine how Moses felt when he led two million people out of Egypt and came to the Red Sea, or how Joshua felt facing the walls of Jericho or Joseph when his brothers rejected him and sold him into slavery or Jacob when his brother Esau was ready to kill him. You and I know these circumstances did not destroy these men of God. Joshua told Israel, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). This is what we need to do when trouble comes our way; look to God alone. Paul said, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). We can cast all our anxiety on God because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). It may not seem like He loves us when we experience pain or suffering of any kind, but His word says otherwise. It has many stories of people who came to the end of themselves, trusted God and survived to experience more blessings than could be imagined or hoped for.

Prayer

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your abundant love and care for us. Strengthen us in our time of trouble. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

City by the Sea

Tel Aviv, once known as Joppa or Jaffa, is located on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea in western Israel. God called Jonah to warn the people of Nineveh, a very wicked city in Assyria, about the coming of God’s judgement. So Jonah went to Joppa, the city by the sea, and boarded a ship going to Tarshish in Spain (Jonah 1). Jonah thought by going in the opposite direction he could run away from God, but God was in control. He is always in control, even when we think otherwise. Through a strange chain of events, Jonah finally went to Nineveh, and the people repented of all the mean things they did because of his preaching.

Joppa in the New Testament

Peter stayed with his friend, Simon the tanner, whose house was by the sea in Joppa. Peter had a vision about God telling him to eat unacceptable food for Jews. God’s message to him was that He declared all things to be clean. While Peter took all this into his heart, men came from Caesarea and asked Peter to go back with them to see Cornelius, a man who feared God and gave to the poor. Peter’s explanation of the gospel led Cornelius to be the first Gentile believer (Acts 10).

God’s Plan is not Thwarted

God will accomplish His ultimate plan whether or not we choose to obey. If He doesn’t use us, He will use another. Jonah was afraid to go to Nineveh because the people there were cruel and mean. We might call them terrorists today. Even though Jonah’s first response was to run, God called him back to the mission field and empowered him to speak boldly to warn the people of Nineveh, and they repented. God called Peter to go to Caesarea and preach the good news to Cornelius, a Roman Centurion. It might have seemed like enemy territory, but Peter obeyed and Cornelius and his family experienced salvation.

You can see the ancient home of Simon the Tanner in this short and fun video:

Where Has God Called You to Minister?

Upon our salvation, there is a cost to following Jesus. Where has He called you? Your neighborhood or community? A prison or jail ministry? To mentor young people? Has He called you to another country? Be sure that He will equip and empower you to partner with Him in ministry wherever He calls you. I volunteered as a chaplain at a local hospital before covid isolation, and I prayed for God’s help every time before I entered the hospital, because I never knew what response I would receive on the other side of the door. At first, I went home after every rejection. Then God revealed to me that the patients did not reject me but Him. The rejections got a little easier, and I prayed for the patients’ salvation outside their rooms. Serving God in the hospital became something I wanted to do.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Prayer

Lord God, King of the Universe, open the eyes and hearts of believers to partner with you in ministry, knowing that you are with them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Miracle of the Big Catch

What were the disciples to do? Jesus was crucified and buried. They knew how to do one thing besides follow Jesus–Go fishing, and that’s what they did. They fished all night and caught nothing. In the morning they saw a man on the shore. He said, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” They said, “No.” The man said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some” (John 21:6). When they did, they could not haul in the large number of fish. John said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Then Peter jumped into the water while the others followed in the boat, towing the net filled with fish. Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you caught,” so Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. They counted 153 fish, but the large catch did not tear the net. Jesus said, “Come and have breakfast,” and He cooked the fish over an open fire.

The Mystery in the Number

The disciples caught 153 fish. At the time Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives and gave His friends His last will and testament to go and make disciples of all nations, there were 153 nations. A greater mystery is hidden in this story. Why do you think the disciples fished all night? These were hard times. The taxes were high. It was hard to pay bills. In The Chosen series Peter even fished on the Sabbath. Financial trouble did not surprise Jesus. This miracle is a beautiful example of how God provided for Peter’s and the other disciples’ needs.

Our Point of Need

Whether our need is physical or financial help, Jesus meets our greater need–the need to know and follow Him. He meets us in our loneliness, emptiness and despair. He forgives us our sin and gives us new and eternal life. Friend, this life begins when you believe in Jesus as your Savior. You don’t have to be afraid or discouraged, because God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9). Read His word. It will comfort, counsel and encourage you. And find a Bible teaching church where you can learn how to live for Jesus and be in the family of God.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord God, King of the universe, for meeting us at our point of need. You are our strength and our hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Holy Ground

Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the tomb of our Lord Jesus. Near the tomb is a marble slab over the place where they laid Jesus. People knelt and wept. I knelt too. My face touched the cold marble. Tears flowed. All I could say was, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.” Thankful for the sacrifice He made for me, I wanted to stay as close to Him as I felt at that moment.

Today I think it was odd for me to feel close to God in such a crowded place, because I don’t like crowds. However, when I knelt, I was not aware of the crowd, only the presence of the Lord, as if I hid myself in His divine shelter. Surely that was holy ground. I learned that holy ground is found in the presence of our Lord–wherever that might be.

I get up early each morning to go to our sun room, a place I experience God’s presence. It’s where I read devotions, the Bible and pray. A comfortable chair, a table, a light, a cross, my Bible and an angel figurine set the stage for my time with the Lord. Mercy and blessing fall anew and my day begins with peace and hope and joy. When I leave the sun room, I do not leave God’s presence because He is always with me. Amazing that my feet walk on holy ground because God goes before me to guide me, with me to encourage me, and behind me to protect me.

Friend, I pray holy ground for you too. It is a glorious way to live. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Prayer: Thank your, Father God, for holy ground. Thank you for leading us, for your comfort and peace. Teach us how to live in your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be Strong

The Jordan River

After the death of Moses, the Lord commissioned Joshua, Moses’ assistant, to lead Israel west to the Jordan where they would cross the river, which was at flood stage, into Jericho. Can you imagine the thoughts of the Israelites? Did God make a mistake? Or is Joshua leading us the wrong way? Fear must have gripped them to the core. Please take a couple minutes to see and hear the Jordan River at flood stage in the video below.

God said to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them” (Joshua 1:6). Joshua commanded the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant to the Jordan. When the soles of their feet touched the water, the flow stopped up river at a place called Adam and allowed the people to cross on dry land.

Pastors and priests lead the way for us to have faith, but even they must have been terrified to put their feet into the water. They were at the front line of God’s amazing power. They were the first to experience the miracle. Have you experienced something like that in your ministry? I am not a pastor or priest, but I’ve served as a hospital chaplain. I never knew what might be on the other side of the door. Would the patient welcome me or ask me to leave? I had both experiences. It was harder to persevere after I had been rejected. I had to stop and pray something like, “Heavenly Father, I cannot serve you in this way without your help. Please partner with me to bring comfort and peace to the suffering. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

I remembered God’s words to Joshua and then Joshua’s words to Israel, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

The Jordan River at flood stage

Prayer: O Lord, when fear grips our souls, help us to find hope in you, knowing that you are always with us. Help us to remember Joshua’s words of encouragement, ‘Be strong and courageous.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.