"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
One of the greatest hindrances to the people of God is longing for "the good old days." Why? Because in the midst of a faith journey, whenever we look back and long for the comfort and security of things gone by, we limit God. We see this in Psalm 78 where we read that in the desert the children of Israel "turned back and tempted [tested] God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" (78:41, KJV).
How on earth could someone limit an all-powerful God? Could a person stand on a railroad track and limit the progress of an oncoming freight train by holding out his hand to stop it? Yet the psalmist tells us these people whom God was leading through the wilderness were actually able to limit Him.
For one thing, they despised the food God gave them and longed for the leeks and garlic of Egypt. By that act, they claimed they knew better than God what was good for them. God was fulfilling His promise to feed them, but they wanted a more interesting menu. Pride and rebellion became a way of life as they doubted God's power and ridiculed His wisdom. They were constant grumblers because God did not always grant their desires. That was Israel's sin.
One lesson from this passage comes forth loud and clear. We had better stop arguing with God, even if our argument seems more logical than what He has revealed. When God calls us to move ahead in faith, let us not hang back in fear, clinging to a comfortable memory of the past.
Prayer
Lord, I'm often guilty of the same sin as that of the children of Israel when I grumble about my life. Increase my faith that You are working out what is best for me, and help me to see this day through Your eyes. Amen.
God is out to help us, provide for us, comfort us. He desires what is best for us, according to His wisdom.
Daily Smile: Kid's Daily Joke
What do you call an ant with frogs legs?
An antphibian!
In The News:
China's Shouwang Church Continues Sunday Protests in Beijing
Beijing's Shouwang Church, one of China's largest house churches, continues to refuse official registration in spite of increasing pressure from the Chinese government, Christianity Today reports. Members of Shouwang have been meeting outdoors for Sunday morning services for 17 months -- and say they will continue to do so until they receive official permission to return to an indoor location. The government has increased efforts to dissuade church leaders, including sentencing senior pastor Jin Tianming to 500 days of house arrest and detaining church members 1,600 times at 90 different police stations over the past 17 months. Tianming recently took legal action, submitting an administrative review protesting the government's interference with legal church functions, but The South China Morning Post reports that the legal affairs office of the Beijing government has rejected the petition. "This is obviously repression of citizens' religious freedom and the church's right to practice its faith," Tianming previously said.
Venezuela: Chavez's Reelection Sparks Fears of Further-Deteriorating Religious Freedom
In a reelection to another six-year term, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez marked his fourth presidential election victory since 1998. It means more of the same socialist policies -- and fears of continuing violations of religious freedom, Mission Network News reports. Since 2009, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has included Venezuela on its annual Watch List, which "provides advance warning of negative trends that could develop into severe violations of religious freedom." In USCIRF's 2012 report, investigators found continued violations of freedom of religion in Venezuela, including government failure to hold accountable those behind attacks on religious leaders and houses of worship; virulent rhetoric from Chavez, government officials and state media; and pro-Chavez media directed episodically against certain faith-based communities. Since Chavez first came to office in 1998, there has been a steady increase of government rhetoric and government action against faith-based groups thought to have ties with the West -- and these trends are likely to continue, says Greg Musselman, spokesman for Voice of the Martyrs Canada. "If things do get more difficult, pray that the church would be strengthened, that believers would be prepared for churches to close down."
Presidential Election
Tuesday, November 6th
No comments:
Post a Comment