Tag: Encouragement For The Downcast

¹⁴ He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” ~ Exodus 2:14

When Moses attempted to help and guide his fellow Hebrews, they originally rejected him. His fellow Hebrew responded, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us?” I always just assumed it was because he grew up in the palace as a prince, instead of as a slave with them. While I do believe that was definitely factor, I think there might be a little bit more to the story.

See, they had been enslaved for almost 400 years by this point. They knew the different prophecies Jacob had given his 12 sons. They also knew that Moses wasn’t from the tribe of Judah, but from the tribe of Levi. See, they were looking for a savior, a redeemer to come in and rescue them. To come in and deliver them from this slavery, and here comes this palace brat from the tribe of Levi, who had just killed an Egyptian now trying to lead them.

This Hebrew knew Moses had killed the Egyptian. He knew he had grown up in the palace as grandson of Pharaoh. And he knew the prophecy of Levi. Levi was prophesied that “cursed be their anger… and their wrath… I will divide them in Jacob and scattered them in Israel.” Judah however was prophesied that “the scepter would never depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet…” I fully believe they expected their deliverer from their current slavery to be from the tribe of Judah, not a Levite who had just killed a man out of anger, just as his ancestors had done.

Sometimes people will throw your past in your face. They will tell you that you don’t fit the bill. That you’re not what they believe your call should be. That you will never live up to your call. I’m sure this later factored into the Moses’ decline to the LORD when God officially called him. He remembered this words. He remembered his past. And he allowed his own insecurities to influence him.

We all have a past. We all have insecurities. We all aren’t worthy of the LORD’s call, but that’s the beauty of it. We aren’t worthy, yet the LORD still chooses us and He rises us up to meet the occasion. Your call may feel bigger than you are, but your God will stand by you forever. And when He is for you, no one can be against you. And He will do through you what you cannot.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let God Rise You.

Genesis 49:8-12

[8] Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. [9] Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? [10] The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. [11] Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. [12] His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

Before Jacob died, he went through and prophesied over each and every one of his sons. Starting with Reuben and ending with Benjamin. Now, when Jacob gets to Judah, he prophesied that the scepter would never depart from him. What I find interesting about this, is that the word translated as scepter is actually the word rod. The same Hebrew word given to the Son of God in Psalms 2. The same rod used to comfort the sheep of the Shepherd in Psalms 23. The same rod used to rule the nations in Psalms 21.

Jacob’s prophecy for Judah wasn’t just to be the ruler, but that God Himself would come down from Heaven, in the likeness of men, through his (Judah’s) lineage. Jacob prophesied something profound that day, even if Judah (or his brothers for that matter) didn’t fully grasp it at the time.

God has a plan and prophecy for each and every one of us. We may not know exactly what it is, but we know it is good. Because the plans He has for us are good. Plans not to harm us but to give us a hope and a future. Judah would’ve never dreamed that God Himself would be born from his lineage and likeness, but God had a bigger plan for him and his lineage. You may not think God has a great plan for you, but He does. His plans for you are achievable. They’re set before us, but it’s up to us to seek them out and follow them.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Find Your Plan.

⁵ This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. ~ 1 John 1:5-7

Because of the love of God, He has lavished grace upon us. Because of that grace, we have a blessed hope. A promise to hold to. See, sometimes the world around us can feel heavy—full of challenges, uncertainties, and divisions. It can feel like it’s weighing us down, yet, because of God’s love and grace, we are unfazed.

Because God has made us a community of faith, united in one sacred space, bonded together and seeking the One who is light, the One who casts out all darkness. Therefore, we strive to live in that light by running to it and away from the darkness…

John declared in all confidence that God is light. What was he saying? John was affirming that God is completely:

1. Pure and Holy
   1. There is absolutely no darkness at all in God
2. He’s morally perfect and the source of all truth
   1. There is no relative truth
   1. There is no: your truth, my truth, someone else’s truth
   1. There is one truth, God’s truth
3. He’s good, kind, and forgiving
   1. He is never changing but always the same

According to John and also to Jesus Himself, Jesus came so that we might know the Father.

We were once separated from the holiness of God. Yes, the Israelites saw God’s holiness from a distance, but a veil separated all of mankind, including them, from a perfect and holy God.

Jesus came to bridge that chasm by dying on the cross for us—for our sins, and thus, through His body, He has made a way back to God the Father.

At the point of death, the veil in the temple separating the holy place from the most holy place, or the holy of holies, was torn in two, signifying our permission to enter God’s holiness—the very Presence of God.

This is reason we have hope. This is why we aren’t phased by the darkness because we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. We are no longer our own, but bought by the LORD God Himself. We have been redeemed, restored, and renewed.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Know Why You Hope.

Genesis 41:14-16

[14]  Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. [15] And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” [16] Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Your gift will always provide for you. See, Joseph was in the pit. He wasn’t just in prison, but in a pit that they had to bring him up out of. I used to think Joseph was in like a large cell or something, but no. He was in a pit. A deep pit for criminals. That’s where Pharaoh brought him out of.

See, Joseph didn’t do anything but use his God-given gift. In every circumstance, Joseph used his gift. Whether it be being a natural leader, manager, or dream interpreter, Joseph was always using his God-given gift no matter where he was.

See, it doesn’t matter where the Devil tries to bring you down to. He could bring you as low as possible. It doesn’t matter. As long as God sees you. See, when God sees you, no one can cover you. No one can stop you. No one can keep you down.

And God has given you a way out. Your gift. Your gift is your key and guide to your call. It will help you navigate your life. The life God has for you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let Your Gift Provide For You.

²⁹ The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. ³⁰ And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. ³¹ Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God. ~ Ezekiel 22:29-31

God makes a long list of wrongs and calls out the iniquities that both the people and the priests are all guilty of. But He doesn’t want to bring a swift and terrible punishment on them as He would be justified in doing. He doesn’t do it because He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Neither does He find delight in punishing the guilty.

God would rather bless than curse. Give than take. Help than hinder. Forgive than punish. Because His love is a steadfast love. Therefore, God looked for someone, anyone who would stand in the gap and intercede for those wayward people, but He could find none. His first thought was not execution of His justice, but pardon was the first thing that came to His mind. “Forgive them, for they know not what they do,” Jesus cried out from the cross (Luke 23:34).

And why is that? It is because of The Steadfast Love of God. I’m talking about the unbiased love of God that we’ve been talking about. So unbiased that He causes His sun to rise on the wicked as well as the good. And He sends His rain on the just as well as the unjust (Matthew 5:44). This word translated steadfast love also means great kindness and could also mean loyalty.

In other words, God’s steadfast love is grounded in great kindness and lathered with loyalty. He will never leave you nor will He ever forsake you. God will never leave you holding the bag, as they say, for his steadfast love is filled with mercy and grace.

Here is the good thing about it. It doesn’t matter who we are, where we came from, or what we have done. It doesn’t matter our station in life. It doesn’t matter whether we’re rich or poor, white or black, red or yellow. God’s steadfast love is poured out in abundant grace upon all.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remember His Steadfast Love.

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; ⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, ⁸ guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints. ~ Proverbs 2:6-8

Solomon implores the people that the LORD has a never-ending, vast supply of knowledge and wisdom. It comes from His mouth, and He stores it up for the upright. You know what that tells me? That tells me that the LORD doesn’t just wait for us to need His wisdom or understanding; He prepares in advance before we ever have the need for it.

James, the brother of Jesus, encourages us that this wasn’t just for one time or for one group of people. This applies to us today. The LORD isn’t bound to time the way we are. He sees it before it happens. He prepares what we need before we need it. So, when the time comes, we need only ask because it’s already there for us.

He watches over our way, guarding the paths of justice, protecting us as our shield. We are never alone. Never forgotten. Never do we have to face anything by ourselves; He is with us always. So, be encouraged by this. Let this build up your faith. Our God has stored up wisdom, knowledge, and understanding for us before we even need it. Before we even get to that level. Therefore, never be timid, afraid, or feel unworthy of asking the LORD for His understanding; He has already prepared it for you. He’s just waiting for you to ask for it.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Go To The Storehouse.

⁶ And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. ⁷ And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” ⁸ Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. ~ Genesis 22:6-8

Genesis 1 & 2 tell us that God created man in His own Image. Colossians 3 tells us we are being renewed after the Image of God, lost in the Garden of Eden. God created us with love. Then, it says He came down to earth and walked and talked with mankind. Let that sink in. The Creator of the Universe came and walked in the Garden so that He could commune with mankind. There was a relationship. One of love and care. Like a Father and His children.

How different the God of the Bible is from the gods of the oldest civilization (we have archaeological evidence of today). The Sumerian gods created mankind, not for a relationship. Not to commune with. Not out of love, but because the younger gods were tired of the hard labor of working the earth. Mining. Farming. Digging canals. So, they created mankind as slaves to do the work they didn’t want to do.

This belief is recorded in texts like the Eridu Genesis and other Sumerian religious tales, where humanity is described as the “sheep of the gods”, created to “bear the yoke” and “carry the load” of divine service. This is so very different than our God, who created us for relationship. Who says, “Come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.” Who says, “Take my yoke for it is easy, and my burden is light.” He offers rest. He carries the heavy weight we cannot.

This was the hopeless atmosphere Abram was born into in Ur, an ancient city in Sumer. A society where the gods have no love for their creation, but created them solely for slave labor. How hopeless that was, but the LORD took him out of that. He gave him a hope. A future. He showed him love. It is because of Abraham’s relationship with God that we have the title for God “Yahweh Yireh (Jehovah Jireh),” which means the LORD will provide.

He went from being nothing more than a slave for the gods to the LORD God being his provider. What a change. What a revelation to come to. It changes the story of Abraham and Isaac going up to Mount Moriah and the LORD delivering Isaac with the Ram caught in the bushel. He went from unseen. Unimportant. Disposable to seen. Important. Irreplaceable. What an amazing revelation to have. What an amazing relationship to gain.

Peace. Love. Forth and Be In Awe With Abraham.

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² “Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: ‘Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.’” ~ Jeremiah 50:2

God wasn’t just saying that He was destroying Babylon, but the source of its power, its god. Not just its main god but the title of their god, so that none might take it up again and raise Babylon to its heights, it once was. See, the name Bel was a title. A title that wasn’t unique to Marduk or Merodach. It was originally used by the Sumerians as a title for their chief god, Enki, but when Babylon displaced Sumer and became the most powerful kingdom of its time under King Nebuchadnezzar, his god became Bel. His god took over the title and became the chief god.

God, when He crushes Babylon, will crush the chief god of Babylon and its title. He will destroy it so that none can rise in its place. So that none could rise up and restore Babylon.

Yes, there are other gods. Yes, there are other powers. Yes, they do indeed have power, but they cannot compare to our God. For our God is the God of gods. He is the King of kings. And LORD of lords. He is the Great I Am who puts all into submission under Him. It’s at His feet that all in Heaven, on Earth, and under the earth will bow. He is the LORD God from everlasting to everlasting. He is the Almighty.

Thank You, LORD, that You are a good, good God. For if You were malevolent, who could stand against You? If you were unjust, who could right Your wrongs? But You, oh LORD, are a good God. You are just. You are loving. You are kind. You, oh LORD, keep order in the heavens. You, oh LORD, sit on Your throne prepared to judge the gods for their unjust judgment on the earth, coming against Your people. Attacking Your children. You, oh LORD, rule with justice. Thank You, LORD, for always coming to our aid. Always defending us when we call on Your name. Thank You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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¹ The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” ³ So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. ⁴ And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. ⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁶ “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” ~ Jeremiah 18:1-6

I was just sitting here trying to fix a console I had bought a few months ago that wasn’t working. I had taken it apart. Cleaned it up. Bought a replacement part for it. Still nothing. And so I decided to give it another go tonight, and when I tested it, it flashed on the screen and then the screen went black, and I got really excited. It wasn’t fixed, but it was closer than it was before.

And as that excitement became more and more noticeable to me, it hit me, this is how God feels about us. See, I didn’t make that system. It’s not even one I had as a child. It’s not even a system I had growing up, but I can’t help but try to fix it. We aren’t just some random system God bought from someone who didn’t want us anymore, and now He’s trying to see if He can fix us up and sell us to make a profit.

No, God created us. He formed us in our mother’s womb. He knitted us together. He knows the number of each hair on our head. And when we fail. When we run from Him and make ourselves dirty, it seems unfixable. It seems like we’re too far gone, but God is still chasing us down. He leaves the 99 for the 1. He looks for His sheep, and when He finds us, He rejoices. I felt such excitement and joy when I saw that screen flash because I knew I was on the right track. I knew it was getting close. I can only imagine how much joy the LORD feels when we come home to Him. When we fall at His feet and say, here I am, LORD, have me. Use me. I am Yours.

Yes, we make mistakes. Yes, we are just dust. But to God, we are clay worth saving. To God, we are His people, and He loves us. Just as a father will always love his wayward child, so does our Heavenly Father always love us. He wants us to come home to Him, and when we do, He reshapes us. He renews us. He forgets our sin, our transgressions, for His own sake. He remembers not our past, but instead, He focuses on now and tomorrow. So, let us do the same.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let The Potter Reshape His Clay.

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¹² For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun? ~ Ecclesiastes 6:12

Life is a really weird concept when you think about it. Every single one of us is born just to one day die and soon after be forgotten. Very few are remembered throughout the centuries, but the majority are forgotten. Their lives, stories, names, and faces are all forgotten. Lost to time. A bleak and depressing understanding of life that makes you ask the question, “What’s the point?”

When we leave life there, it honestly seems very pointless. Purposeless. A speck of dust sailing through the wind. Here one day, gone the next. But that’s not the end of the story. We aren’t just born to die and then one day forgotten. No. We are never forgotten by our Creator. Weare so important to Him that our very hair on our heads is numbered by Him.

Our words, thoughts, actions, and legacy are never forgotten by Him. Yes, man may forget us. Our bones one day turned to dust. Our names forgotten and our graves lost, but our souls, if we delight ourselves in the LORD, will forever dwell in the arms of the LORD Most High.

Yes, man will forget us, but the LORD God our Creator, Savior, and friend never will. Therefore, live your life for the one who will never forget you. The one who will never forsake you. The one who loves you like no other.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Live For The One Who Remembers.

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