Note: This article will also appear in the April 2013 edition of the newsletter of the Fellowship of Christian Job Seekers (www.globaljobseekersorg)
When God starts to draw you from your predictable routine, the comfort zone will have to go out the window. Some of you may not have known a comfort zone for quite awhile, but even if you don’t have one, my guess is that you may still yearn for one.
“We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic,” the children of Israel cried. “But now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” I know we don’t like being compared with the children of Israel, but this passage from Numbers 11 (verses 5 and 6) reminds me of how much we tend to complain. How it must irritate the Lord.
Numbers 11:1 says, “Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.” Who wants to sign up for that? I don’t. I’d rather sing the songs of the Lord and believe His promises. I believe the Bible says faith is what pleases Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
We’re Not Natural; We’re Supernatural
We have had it so good in the U.S. and now we look around and wonder what is going on. We used to think there was some sort of security somewhere. “Job security” they called it. Well, of course, we all know that is something of an anachronism today, and yet, we still lament its demise. I suppose that’s natural. But we’re not natural. We’re supernatural, remember?
We’re in the world but not of it. We are God’s children. We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. We are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill. We are not our own. We are purchased by the blood of the Lamb. He has fashioned us with His own hands and is molding us into His image.
Remember the Cloud of Witnesses
The writer of Hebrews (some people believe it was Paul) said, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)
We have the Word of the living God to rely on when we are in terrible circumstances. The world has nothing. We have the foundation of Jesus Christ to stand on, His foundation, first of all.
We Have A Firm Foundation
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 3:11) He is our rock. He is our firm foundation. Do we believe it? Sometimes I wonder if we believe what we say we believe. I wonder about it for myself. And on the other hand, don’t forget, we have an enemy who loves to accuse us day and night.
So, in conclusion, we have Jesus Christ, the Word of God, all the saints who have gone before us, and we have each other, so we can run this race together for the glory of the Lord, our God.
So, Father, thank You again for all that You are and all that You do. We worship You. You are our life. Thank You for strength to endure, faith to believe, Your Holy Spirit to keep us, and the opportunity to grow in the likeness of Your Son, our Savior, and to be a light in this dark world, that You might make us fishers of men and bring many sons to glory. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen!
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