Rear View Mirror

Why is it so much easier to see God's hand at work in our lives"after the fact" than when we are living through the situation? I believe it is because we are more influenced by our emotions and feelings than we are by our knowledge of His character and ways.
For years I struggled with being consistent about having a quiet time---a time when I put aside every other thought or responsibility and paid attention to my Lord. I would have good intentions and follow through for a few days, sometimes even for a few weeks, but then let other things get in the way.
I cried out to God, "Why can't I follow through with my intentions? You know I want to be close to You, to have a more intimate relationship with You...Why can't I be consistent?"
Silence....from God, but not disinterest or neglect or rejection, for He heard and He was at work. That was several years ago. In the summer of 1995 we were spending a week with friends in Wisconsin. I fell down the steps in the middle of the night going to the bathroom. I landed on three steps bump-bump-bump- right between my shoulder blades and yes it crushed two vertebrae. Although there were two doctors in the house the break was not diagnosed until a week later when I was in so much pain that I finally saw a doctor and was put into a back brace for six weeks. A year later my internist suggested I have a bone density test. It showed that I had considerable bone loss. I was shocked for I had been taking hormones, calcium and exercising for years, all the things to prevent osteoporosis. I immediately started taking Fosamex--a medicine to stop bone loss and reverse it.
But it had to be taken every morning with 8 ounces of water and the patient must sit or stand for 30 minutes before eating or drinking anthing else.
What was a very inconvenient situation turned out for my good, just as Paul said that his being in jail had turned out for the greater progress of the gospel. (Phil 1:12) {for from jail Paul wrote to the churches many of his epistles that we study today} and as Joseph told his brothers in Gen 50:20 "You meant it for evil but God meant it for good."
How did this turn out for my good? Because I had 30 minutes every morning that I could sit down and meet with my Lord. This began to run into 45 minutes or an hour or more, as I had a greater desire to meet with Him and hear what He spoke into my heart.
After several years, they developed a pill to be taken every week instead of every day, but by then my quiet time had become a deeply ingrained habit in my life.
Years ago I ran across a saying that I put in my Bible to remember when things were hard...."Never despise the circumstances that bring you closer to the Lord." My back still hurts when I get very tired or strain it, but it serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness in answereing prayers and doing it in unexpected and inspiring ways...ways we could never imagine.
I Cor2:9... just as it is written: things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him."

The "Forerunner"

Heb 6:19-20  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both secure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

It was night, dark, no moon and driving on a two lane state road in the county seemed a lonely place to be.  I was not familiar with the road; it's turns, hills and crossroads.  This slowed me down for I recognized the dangers of driving the unknown.  And yet I needed to make good time so as not to arrive late to my appointed meeting.

Suddenly a car entered the road ahead of me.  After following it for a few miles I realized driving was easier.  His lights lit up the road further ahead: he made the turns and hills more evident by his lights and his turns.  His speed was what I need to reach my destination on time!

Oncoming cars dimmed their lights for him first and did not blind me.  What a relief!  I did not have to drive unaware of where I was going.

One had gone before!

All of the sudden the word "forerunner" jumped into my mind.

Jesus had been called our "forerunner" in Hebrews 6:20.  He had entered into life on the earth and into death, and had come into life on the other side so that when we enter into death, following Him, we also will enter into life with Him.  Jesus entered into the presence of the Father behind the rent veil that we might enter in behind Him.  Before Jesus, only the Israelites' High Priest could enter behind the veil once a year to make atonement offering for the people's sin.  This was a fearful entering, but our entering behind our "forerunner," Jesus Christ. is a welcome entering.  Because He went before with eternal payment for forgiveness of sins, we can "come boldly into the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need."  Heb 4:16

The Sword

The Sword

Hebrews 4:12 - For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Word of God in Hebrews 4 is not a threat. It is a gift!  It is not a literal sword, but likened to one in its amazing properties. A sword is not always meant for judgment and destruction, but can be used for clearing a path through dense undergrowth. It cuts into our thought life and lops off things that are not consistent with Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. It is like the surgeon’s scalpel, in that it exposes and cuts out diseased tissue from our hearts and souls, our doubts, selfishness, defensiveness, and self-justification. If we place ourselves in the surgeon’s hands for wellness, should we not place ourselves in God’s hands for healing and correction by His Word to be able to walk strong in His ways?

Ephesians 6:17 - And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

Jobs Well Done--Devotions for Different Occupations

The Store Clerk:

Matt 25:21 Well done good and faithful servant.

The Lord is the store Owner.
As the clerk of His choosing (hiring) this is my job description.
My part is to turn the management over to Him. He is my Overseer.
My part is to be responsible for cleaning up and restocking the shelves of my life...taking my old sinful habits off the shelves and replacing them with His choices.
My part is to be a faithful clerk, not robbing Him of time, productivity or resources.
My part is to trust His management decisions on how to present His products. (salvation and forgiveness)
My part is to rearrage His resources so as to present in an attractive way  to those who come seeking them and to always give them a warm welcome.
May His words to me be "Well done good and faithful clerk."