April 2024 – LookUp

Flight, Fight and Faith

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14 NIV)

It was during the first Spring mowing of my lawn that I made an unexpected discovery. As I was mowing next to a rather large evergreen bush, I was startled by a bird which flew out very close to me. Later I found a small blue egg on the ground and realized that the bird had apparently built a nest in the bush. Likewise, when human beings are confronted with threatening or even challenging situations, their bodies also react with a personal fight and flight response. The response helps them decide whether they should stay and fight, run, or remain still during a threatening situation. Unlike other life forms, we often linger in a high stress state long after an initial trigger has passed. Doing so requires enormous energy, eventually overloading our body and keeping us on-edge as we prepare for the next shoe to drop. This can lead to serious anxiety issues, preventing an otherwise peaceful and happy life. For the believer, however, there is a very simple way to turn off the fight or flight response which, if followed, will help to guide them through a less conflicted and more joyful life. It is found in Deuteronomy 20:4: “For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

In Exodus 14:14 (NIV) we’re reminded that God sees all that we’re going through and acts on our behalf. The verse reads, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Some translations replace the word still with “calm” (NLT) or “silent” (ESV). Whichever way you read it, the words and concept are powerful for weary hearts in need of assurance. After letting the Israelites go out into the wilderness, Pharaoh pursued them with the might of his army and his own hardened heart. The Israelites were spiritually and emotionally weak, and cried out to Moses, complaining that perhaps they should have stayed in Egypt where they were enslaved but at least safe and well-fed. With the Egyptian army bearing down, and the Red Sea at their backs, the Israelites needed God to find hope. Moses spoke these confident words just before parting the sea: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today (Exodus 14:13 NIV). Christians would live a powerful life if they could trust in this amazing truth, but it seems to be difficult to believe it. None-the-less, it is as true for us as it was for the Israelites.

There may be many occasions when we feel just like these Israelites, cornered with absolutely no way to see a way through our problem. The way God chooses to work in our situation may look very different from the way He provided for them. There may be times He certainly wants us to pick up our spiritual armor and fight. Or it could be that He simply wants us to wait where we are until He prompts us to move through a path He has cleared just for us. Whether He wants to fight through you or for you, He will come and help you when you rely on Him alone. Whatever God’s direction is for us, it has a purpose. Through His Son Jesus Christ, we are promised freedom from the fears of an uncertain future. Although our circumstances may feel overwhelming, we need to let Him have control to fight the battle we are facing. While other options may sound like a good idea in the heat of the moment – always decide that you won’t take flight from, but only into, the Lord’s protection. We must stand firm in the faith that only He alone can provide.

REFLECTION: Has there been a time when you’ve felt attacked? How did you respond (with fight or flight)? With what are you currently struggling? Spend some time in prayer to see whether God wants you to fight, lay down your weapons, or simply exercise your faith by giving the battle over to Him? How can we prepare to find strength and provide wise counsel to others as we read these words from the apostle Paul: “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10 NLT)?

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Before It’s Too Late

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20 NIV)

Consider this question: If you could share a meal with anyone, past or present – who would that be? It’s an interesting inquiry which was regularly posed on a food segment of a weekly variety program. Interestingly enough, the responses frequently listed loved ones who had passed on. Occasionally it crossed my mind if some of these folks had regrets for not spending enough time together in days gone by which were now lost. For when we lose someone to whom we should have paid more attention – we don’t get any second chances to fulfill those “should’ve, would’ve, could’ves.” When we permit our lifestyle to disrupt maintaining contact with those about whom we say we care, then we are potentially allowing ourselves to one day be floundering in a sea of regret.

In providing a similar warning, Jesus told this parable: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet’” (Luke 14:16-24 NLT).

The Parable of the Banquet reflects the relationship many of us have developed with others who care about us. Our response is to say we have something ‘better’ to do with our time. However, in all actuality, we are simply giving way to bad excuses, thereby taking the place of what we know is the appropriate thing to do. In many cases, we are forfeiting fellowship with one who deeply cares and longs to spend time with us. Those who ignore the invitation miss out on a special gift and will ultimately choose their own destiny. This can also transpire in our relationship with God. He wants His table to be full, and there will always be an open invitation for a seat. The anticipation is that we will come and share in His fellowship. This puts a responsibility on us to accept the offer and likewise participate in the banquet. Jesus extends an invitation to all who will listen and are willing to accept it. So, take your place at the table today and enjoy the feast of a lifetime. And please, do so now . . . before it’s too late.

REFLECTION: Are you making mistakes in your own life similar to those portrayed in this devotion? Whose invitation are you neglecting? Jesus has invited you to spend time in his presence, to spend time in his Word, and to spend time in fellowship with Him. Have you exchanged the good things God has planned for you at His banquet table for some worldly thing that seems better or more important in the moment?

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A Simple Trust

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” (Luke 16:10 NLT)

Let your mind wander back to the day you first learned how to ride a bike. You are nervous as you hop onto the seat of your shiny new Schwinn, but you trust the adult who stands at your side. One day that adult figure running beside you will finally let go. You are either off and running or ready to face a few scrapes and bruises. Teaching a child to ride a bike can be a bonding experience that some parents might not want to miss. For the child, it is one of those occasions where they learn to appreciate the value of placing trust in another individual. Assured that even if he or she fell off the bike, that faithful adult would be there to pick them up and provide the necessary care. Perhaps that’s why Jesus identified so readily with children.

Children are characteristically humble, trusting, and therefore teachable. Jesus promoted unpretentious faith in God, and He used the innocence of a child to demonstrate His point. When He wanted to bless the children, Jesus said, “”Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14 NIV). While simple childlike faith is perhaps a good place to start, it is important for us to grow into a deeper faith hopefully leading us to a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. This only comes from an assured confidence when we know with certainty who the object of our faith is. For . . . “it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NLT). Mature faith is characterized by conviction, not by blind belief. We are sometimes surprised by those who display this type of faith.

“When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, ‘Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.’ Jesus said, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the officer said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed…’ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, ‘I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, ‘Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.’ And the young servant was healed that same hour” (Matthew 8:5-13 NLT).

Identifying oneself as a member of ‘the faithful’ can easily create circumstances where individuals are included or excluded by the self-righteous. In The Message translation of verse 12 (above), a profound statement is made: “Then those who grew up ‘in the faith’ but had no faith will find themselves out in the cold, outsiders to grace and wondering what happened.” Of course, Jesus was speaking here of the religious elite who would have classified themselves as dutifully practicing their faith. Consider the possibility of how many persons might have been raised in the faith but show no conviction. Just remember, “People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart” (Proverbs 21:2 NLT). When we are tested by circumstances that to us seem out of control, God will acknowledge those who are truly faithful. With just a little faith, great things can happen. For whenever you give your faith to Jesus, it’s like riding a bike . . . you never forget. All it takes is a simple trust in Him.

REFLECTION: Can you think of examples where you have been surprised by individuals whom you thought were strong in their faith but did not demonstrate it in times of crisis? In what specific ways might you serve as a positive example by exercising a simple trust in God today? How can you help those who might be doubtful in understanding that faith begins with small steps that become affirmed over one’s lifetime?

A NEW DEVOTION IS POSTED EACH SATURDAY. YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

New Normal. . . New You

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthains 5:17 NIV)

How dramatic does an event have to be to bring about permanent change? It is a question often asked following a human tragedy or otherwise catastrophic occurrence which is accompanied by some form of imposed sacrifice. After such happenings, life as we know it is often altered for a while. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, experts told us that on the other side there would be what many referred to as a ‘new normal.’ No one was able to tell us exactly what that would look like or how long it would last. After a hurricane, for example, people frequently join to help their neighbors. They cut up one another’s fallen trees, drag waterlogged furniture to the curb, and grill food from powerless freezers. Sometimes, the bonds that form last forever; most times, however, they are fleeting. Life often returns to what it had previously been, and over time – the memory of the shared experience begins to fade. In the end, as we emerge on the other side of a life-altering event – we will likely struggle to define a new normal based upon what had once been mixed with the need to adapt as a result of what happened.

Experiencing new life and implementing a new normal are inherent in the Christian faith. Following the death of Jesus, Paul told the early Christians they were a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and that those who believed in Christ died with Him and would no longer live for themselves. Their lives would no longer be worldly; they were now more spiritual. The same is true for us, as our old sin nature was also nailed to the cross with Christ. It was buried with Him. As He was raised by the Father – so are we raised to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4 ESV). Because of the new life that we have been given, there is an expectation that we will live a ‘new normal.’ Paul continues: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV). It is then that our purposes, desires, and understandings are made fresh. We hopefully see the world differently with new feelings toward all people—a new love for family and friends, a new compassion never before felt for enemies, and a new respect for the world.

A new normal can be experienced as either positive or negative, dependent on the way we react to the change. New norms encourage one to deal with current conditions, rather than lamenting about what could have been or what was. It is often dependent on our ability to exercise some degree of control over the situation in which we find ourselves. In those circumstances where social distancing is essential, perhaps a silver lining will occur awakening a better appreciation for the simple things. One can hope that we will never again take for granted a hug from our grandparents, the roar of a crowd at a sports event, coffee with a neighbor, a walk with a friend, a taste of communion, a pot-luck supper, a packed concert hall, or a handshake with a stranger. Possibly it’s our turn to answer the question many of us have asked of the older generation: ‘What did you do during such times, and how did you change?’ When the pause from our old normal ends, we will hopefully find that we have become more like the person we were called to be. And it just might be that we will change for the better because of the worst we have seen.

A new creation can be an amazing thing. But if it is imposed by an outside force like a pandemic, it may not lead to any permanent change. If it is a conscious choice, such as a decision to follow Christ, we are provided with an opportunity to transform our lives. When we decide to walk with God, He will be by our side and not abandon us. His word tells us, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV). If you’re on the cusp of a new normal, you won’t always know what to do, but those first fumbling steps can be a sweet training ground. As you follow Jesus, you’ll learn how to trust and lean on your faith. So be faithful, my friend, and allow that new normal to form a new you.

REFLECTION: As you walk into a season of life challenged with uncertainty – how can you prepare yourself for acceptance of that new reality, if only for a time? The apostle Paul wrote: “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on …” (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV). When you are faced with a sudden change in your life, in what ways can you positively press on in order to embrace what lies ahead?

A NEW DEVOTION IS POSTED EACH SATURDAY. YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.