Masquerade

While driving in the city one day, I noticed a very dirty white van with the business inscription on the side, Compulsive Cleaners. Would you give them your business? Well, probably not!

With what label do we identify ourselves? Do others see us that way? If we carry the name Christian, or Christ’s servant, we should bear a resemblance to him and to his likeness revealed in the Bible.

Many counterfeit Christ followers walk around out there, drive through our city streets, comfortably sit in our church pews, even boldly occupy our pulpits. The Scriptures dub Satan as a Masquerader of Light. And, not surprising, Satan's servants sometimes masquerade as Servants of Righteousness. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15.)

Teapots

God doesn’t intend us to be sugar bowls, but teapots with a spout, out of which we pour blessing.

Simple Gifts

How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all...When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. Psalm 104:24, 28.

Out they came, mouths open, tongues out, excitement showing on every face. I stood by the front door doing my daily end-of-the-day bus duty. As though playing from some script, over and over again, the children ran out of school into the new snow with the same reaction. Cries of delight, eyes skyward, they couldn’t have been happier.

The adults reacted with far less joy. We complained and worried about the drive home, finding nothing so gleeful in it. I wonder which group pleased the Lord more. He must have watched with pleasure as the children enjoyed this gift He’d brought to an otherwise ho-hum school day. As I watched their reaction and delight, God reminded me not only of His wonderful creation, but His way with children. He gives us their happy spirits to remind us of simple pleasures, of beauty He provides around us constantly. Thank you, Lord, for revealing the beauty that I wouldn’t have seen except for these open-mouthed, gleeful children.

Improbable Deliverance

There stood the nation of Israel. The whole thing! The Red Sea foamed in front of them and the Egyptian army pursued them from behind. What an amazing deliverance God planned for them, and no wonder Moses told the people to remember and teach this story to their children for all generations.

From this remarkable story we find that:

1. God times His deliverance in a way that darkens and confuses the enemy, but brings the most glory to Himself. He does this by showing deliverance in the light of day. In the experience of Israel, it happened at daybreak.
2. God leads us, not by the common road, but by an impossible route only He can know.
3. God lifts up His servant-leaders who obey Him in the eyes of His people, verifying their place of leadership.

By what impossible pathway has God led you? Look for an improbable, even impossible deliverance!