abundance

You’re a Mess!

/ Chris Courtney / 1 Comment

At least that’s what the enemy wants us to think.  The pastor made a good point this past Sunday, and it is worth remembering: The devil hates you.  He is a “thief (who) comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10, NIV).  He is our “enemy (who) prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV).  He is a “murderer” and the “father of lies” (John 8:44).

He’s cunning and crafty.  This is why Peter warns us to “humble (ourselves) before God,” rid ourselves of anxiety and “be alert and sober minded” (1 Peter 5:5-8, NIV).  Sin has us in such a mess that we don’t even know what we should pray.  Have you ever felt like that?  That feeling that life is so hard, so rough, so messed up, and you are hurting so bad that you can’t even put your feelings in words. 

But, for believers in Christ, there is great news.  You don’t have to buy into the lie.  You really aren’t a mess anymore.  Life is not defined by circumstances or past mistakes or sins.  And don’t let the devil tell you otherwise.  You are a child of God.  The enemy may want to steal your life, but fear not, because Christ came “that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV). 

God’s got your back.  We may not know exactly what God wants us to pray, but that’s ok.  “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:26-28, NIV).

Today, if you’re feeling accused – not the gentle nudge of conviction but the pounding hammer of accusation – don’t buy it.  You are not a mess – you are a blessed child of God.  Cast off the anxiety and embrace God’s promises.  You cannot sin so big, mess up so bad or run so far away that you are out of God’s reach.  If you need to confess your sins to God, then confess.  He knows them anyway, you know.  Confess, repent and move on.  Don’t let Satan steal your joy.  You are loved – even if you feel like a mess.

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Exercising our Faith

/ Chris Courtney / Leave a comment

It is a telling moment, one I believe to be both literal and symbolic.  Such is the importance of the event that it is the one miracle all four gospel writers recorded.  And it speaks volumes about the ability of God working through our lives.  It is the miracle of the feeding of the five-thousand, recorded in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15.

Applicable lessons abound from the passages, ripe for gleaning.  For the sake of brevity, I will pluck only one for now: if we only look to our abundance – our understanding, our gifts, our treasure – we will miss out on what God wants us to do in our lives.  We need to see things as Christ does: through eyes of faith.

Let’s assess the situation in Luke, the most succinct of these four passages.  The crowd had gathered, and Jesus had taught and healed them.  They marveled. 

And they lingered.

And they needed to be fed.

As if Christ wasn’t aware that these folks may need physical nourishment at the end of a long day, the disciples tell Jesus, “Send them away!”  (I’m always taken aback at the temerity the twelve disciples so often display.  But that’s another lesson…)

How does Jesus reply?  “You feed them.”  Eventually, “feeding” the flock would be there job anyway (read John 21:15-19, which is really still another lesson altogether, but…).  Their response was predictable: “You’ve got to be kidding, right?  Five loaves and two fishes for five-thousand people.  And not a supermarket in sight.  Anyone else see a problem here?”

Jesus saw no problem at all, because He saw with eyes of faith.  All the disciples were looking at was their ability.  They were limited by what they could logically see.  But Jesus wanted to stretch their faith.  He instructed the twelve, gave thanks to the Father, which always goes hand-in-glove with faith.  (See there?  Yet another lesson.)

Faith is a stretch.  But faith is exactly what God wants from us – expects from us.  If all we ever do is rely on ourselves to get things done, we are limited.  Crippled even.  Faith is like a muscle.  It requires exercise to grow strong, even just to maintain.  Left unworked, muscle begins to atrophy.  The same is true with faith.

What’s limiting you in doing what God wants you to do?  Do you believe He would expect something you and not equip you for the task at hand?  Step out in faith with gratitude for the wonderful work God has planned for you, not concerned about results or success, but joyful that the Lord is being glorified through your faithfulness.  And many more than you can imagine just might be fed from your hand.