Psalm 119:105 NIV “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” 

Light is something that is necessary to navigate this world of darkness.  We need light to guide us safely through the unforeseen dangers that await us. 

Several years ago, while pastoring a church in the desert of New Mexico, I made a stop at the church with two of my young children.  The sun had already set over the San Andres Mountain range to the west as we entered the church office door. It was dark, and Eric and Ashley took off down the hall just seconds before I could turn the light on.  I flipped the switch, and my attention was immediately drawn to the small rattlesnake coiled in middle of the hallway floor.  There was unforeseen danger in the middle of the church hallway! Living in New Mexico for more than 13 years, we saw our fair share of these venomous reptiles, and thankfully without incident. 

What about our spiritual journey? Are there unforeseen dangers in our spiritual path? In Proverbs 4:19 NIV, the author shares this insight, “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”  We have the choice to walk in darkness or to walk in the light.  Yes, many are the dangers along our path, but we can trust our daily, personal use of God’s Word will shine the light on those dangers. 

From Proverbs 6:23, Solomon shared the “correction and instruction” found in the lamp of God’s Word “are the way to life.”  When we live in the light of Truth, God directs our steps and leads us away from danger.  And He will do so until there is no more darkness; because, in that eternal day, we won’t need the light of a lamp or of the sun for the Lord God will be our endless light. 

But, while it is night and we journey in the darkness of this world… His Word is our light and lamp!

2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV “For we live by faith, not by sight.”

Our memory verse this week is taken from the Fifth Chapter of Second Corinthians. In this chapter, Paul is writing to the church at Corinth regarding the confidence they can enjoy because of the promised hope in Christ Jesus. 

Confidence is the state of being certain of something; it is firm trust or faith. Therefore, having confidence in God’s promise of heaven, we live our life in the body with full reliance on God’s testimony.  In exchange for our faith, God gives us a down payment of the glory seen through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit—the pledge, or deposit on the fulfillment of God’s glorious promise. We have this treasure in earthly vessels. 

So, when we live by faith, or as the King James Version says, “walk by faith”, our faith “supplies the place of direct vision.” Our faith in God’s testimony becomes the evidence of what we do not see; our direct vision is the supernatural ability to see with our heart what our eyes cannot see. 

The same applies when God speaks to us from His Word or by His still, small voice.  When God speaks to us, He creates a vision in our hearts; and when we believe it, our faith becomes the evidence of what we do not see. Therefore, our confidence is not in what we see with our eyes, but in the testimony of God. 

For example, God spoke to David about Goliath; and David spoke to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head.” 

David’s words painted a picture of the direct vision he’d seen by faith; His faith was all the evidence he needed. David walked out his faith, and Israel was rescued.  We, too, can put confidence in the God’s Word and walk out our faith.

Luke 1:37 NKJV "For with God nothing will be impossible."

When I think of the word “impossible”, it always brings me back to the story of Mary and her reaction to the angel Gabriel when he delivered a message that would change the course of her life.  

Of course, we remember Gabriel’s role in delivering the message to Mary as well as the way Luke described Mary … “the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man… the virgin’s name was Mary.” The notable detail regarding Mary was not her age, nor her family heritage, not how smart she was, nor even how beautiful she was.  No, the most notable detail about Mary was that she was a virgin about to be married. Gabriel had been sent by God to an extremely specific place to give a very special message to this wonderfully specific young woman of a plan that could only be possible with God. 

Both surprised and puzzled by the presence of the angel, another reason Mary was being singled out was contained in Gabriel’s greeting, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you…”  Gabriel declared it was because of the Lord’s favor upon her Mary was chosen to conceive and bring forth the Son of God. The next word out of Mary’s mouth was a question; not a question of doubt, but of true curiosity and begging an answer: “How can this be as I know not a man?” 

Gabriel shares the miraculous plan of God to Mary revealing how the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Highest will overshadow her... a miracle so immediate and divinely complete.  It is the same picture of the Holy Spirit hovering over the deep in Genesis 1:2.  Then, Gabriel offers a sign, a miracle in her very own household.  Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth barren and in old age, conceived a child and was now six months pregnant.  In the life of Elizabeth, what man called impossible was not at all impossible with God! 

How did Mary respond to Gabriel’s answer to her question? Mary affirmed to the angel, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” Mary believed the impossible and made herself available to serve and fulfill the plan of God! Mary trusted God would work out the detail; and, in faith, she embraced the possibilities of God. Through Mary’s willingness and obedience, she gave birth to our Savior, Jesus Christ; and His Kingdom truly is without end. 

How does this immaculate event relate to us? Of course, we are not being called upon for something so dramatic as giving birth to the Savior of the world; however, we are being called upon to trust God with our part of His plan to carry the Gospel to the world. What are the most notable details in our lives? Our availability as well as the favor of God on our lives. Also, this truth remains the same, God’s plan will require us to trust Him with the impossible. May we say like Mary, “Let it be to me according to your word.”  When we cooperate with God, we will see the miracles of God taking place in our lives.    

“I am God now and forever. No one can snatch you from me or stand in my way.”  Isaiah 43:13 CEV 

In Isaiah 43, God declares, “For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”   Israel was precious in God’s sight, to the point He ransomed Egypt and exchanged many other people for them. His intent was for Israel to understand the lengths He would use His authority on their behalf. 

In verse nine of the same chapter, God challenged all other the nations to bring their idols and have them make predictions of the future.  The challenge was to show Israel that all other idols were false, impotent, and no gods at all.   God’s desire was for Israel to see He had chosen them to know and believe Him alone. But, as we know, history records the many times Israel would forsake their one, true God to chase after false idols. 

Such was the case with King Ahab, as recorded in 1 Kings 18.  Ahab had led Israel into Baal worship even calling God’s prophet, Elijah, Israel’s “troublemaker” for his boldness to declare the Word of the Lord.  When Elijah met King Ahab face-to-face, he said to Ahab, “Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.” 

Once all the prophets of Baal and Asherah and all of Israel arrived at Mt. Carmel, at the Lord’s direction, Elijah issued a challenge, saying, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” The challenge was to prepare a sacrifice for the true God to be consumed by fire. 

You may well know this story, the false prophets prepared their sacrifice, and then cried and pleaded with their gods, but they would not answer. Then it was Elijah’s turn. First, Elijah rebuilt the altar of God with twelve stones, had a trench dug around the altar, cut up the sacrifice and placed the pieces on planks of wood, and had so much water poured on the sacrifice it even filled the trench. 

The stage was set, then Elijah prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” Then, their God, the Holy One of Israel answered! 

In the same way, God went to great lengths to prepare the only acceptable sacrifice to reconcile fallen man back to Himself…His only son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.” God has chosen us as a precious to Himself to know and believe Him! Our God, now and forever.

“My God, I know that you tested our hearts. And you are pleased when we are honest.”   1 Chronicles 29:17a (NIrV) 

  Our memory verse is an excerpt from David’s prayer regarding the offerings made for the construction of the temple Solomon was to build. The offering received was more than enough to finish the project, and David shared with God how all of Israel acknowledged their offering would never have been possible without His provision.  Further, Israel recognized everything they possessed truly belonged to God. In this verse, David says to God he knows His expectation of Israel... He would only be pleased with honesty.   

The offering to build the temple was a way for God to test the hearts of the people; but, as their leader, King David also observed and judged their actions.  One commentator put it this way, “David judged, as in reason and clarity he ought, of the tree by its fruit, and of their hearts by their actions.”  By their actions, all of Israel passed the test; and in that moment, they were found to be honest.  God was more interested in their honesty than He was in the amount they gave. 

Let’s skip forward to the beginning of the church, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. In chapter 4, we understand each believer willingly shared their possessions with one another. One man, called Barnabas sold a piece of land and brought the money to lay at the apostle’s feet. Then, in chapter 5, a second man, named Ananias also sold a piece of land.  However, Ananias with his wife, Sapphira conspired to hold back part of the money for themselves. 

It is clear from Chapter 5 of Acts, keeping a part or all of the money would not have been an issue had Ananias and Sapphira only been honest.  However, their deceitful actions were judged; and not only did they lie to the apostles, but they lied to God.  Dishonesty cost Ananias and Sapphira their lives. 

  While we have seen people seemingly “get away” with deception, we must remember the price of dishonesty is too heavy to bear.  Dishonesty destroys relationships and is capable of stealing all that we value! Let us honor God with our actions!

“The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground. But what our God says will stand forever. ”  Isaiah 40:8 (NIrV) 

In this passage, the prophet draws a contrast between nature and the Word of God. In the metaphor, grass represents man and the flowers, the works of man.  The question is: Which will endure the test of time? Man, and his works; or God and his Word? 

As for man, we are like the grass, and our greatest accomplishments and our most memorable achievements are like the flower.  In the heat, we well know the outcome of the grass and the flower… neither has the power endure. So, it is with man. 

In 1 Peter 1:23-25, Peter quotes this verse to make the point that God’s Word is the Good News that brings man salvation. With all the wonderful things we may do, our goodness falls short; but “You have been born again by means of the living word of God. His word lasts forever. You were not born again from a seed that will die. You were born from a seed that can’t die.” 

You can trust His Word with your salvation, and you can trust His Word for daily direction!