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“Any who believes in him will never be put to shame.” Romans 10:11 (NIV)

God told Noah to “make a boat” (Gen.6:14). Isn’t it like God to assign a task that looks absolutely impossible by human standards? Not to mention taking approximately 100 years to accomplish. During this time no one had seen a drop of rain. The earth was being watered by a mist coming up from the earth (Gen.2:5-6). The Bible doesn’t specify Noah being ridiculed. However, take into account no rain, ungodly humanity and Noah’s warning of pending judgment. I believe it’s safe to assume Noah had scoffers (2Pet.2:5).

Imagine Noah applying the last of the tar (Gen.6:14), the animals coming in the ark and God shutting the door (Gen.7:15). Noah waiting…anticipating God’s faithfulness, and then the rain droplets begin to fall. I wonder if Noah let out a huge sigh of relief. Noah’s faith was in God’s word and not in the tangible natural. Noah believed then obeyed, and God kept His promise of keeping Noah and his family safe.

Has God told you to do something that made you look foolish, but you knew to do it anyway? Has God given you a vision of something bigger than yourself? Something that did not originate with you but has been residing in your core being. God is not calling you to make “it“ happen or put it together with your human resources, but we will need to act on His instruction.

God understands…He knows for that “thing“ to be accomplished it will take His power (Zec.4:6). His divine intervention, His leading, and His faithfulness to bring that bigger than life vision to reality. He is calling us to have faith and believe.

When we believe, we are standing on our faith concerning the vision is going to happen. The vision will drive our actions. God will be the one who brings it to pass. We are not the biggest part of the equation…God is! He chose you, selected you, called you, purposed you, equipped you. God predestined you for something bigger than yourself. God can use anything…a donkey, dead bones or an ark, but God loves to call people into something much bigger than our natural capabilities. It’s our choice to believe, follow and act.

“Father, we believe You regardless of scoffers or how long and how hard the journey may be. We stand in faith like Noah along with other women and men throughout the Bible putting our faith to work. What You have spoken over our lives…in time…is yes and amen.”

For His Glory,

Kim Lacey Schock (www.kimlaceyschock.com)
TRBC Women’s Life

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19

Fitting in with peers has always been a thing. I can recall a scenario from my early elementary school years when my friends had a playground discovery that they all had the same zipper brands on their jackets. Then they actually made up a little song about it and were dancing around singing it. (Nope, not kidding.) However, I did not have that zipper brand—or a zipper, for that matter. It’s crazy that I can still experience the visceral sense of not fitting in.

And that was well before the insidious addiction of social media that pulls young people (and not-so-young people) into an abyss of approval-seeking. Likes, shares, and comments are what matters—and the more attention, the more valued one feels. For teens, this often means standing out from the norm…the more bizarre or provocative the post, the more “support” and affirmation one is likely to receive. Conversely, without enough likes—or with negative commentary—teens (and younger kids) can sadly come to believe their life is not worth living.

But that need to “fit in” is really a need to “fill in”—to fill in the soul-level God-shaped hole we each have. And there are not enough “likes” to do it. Nor bizarre behavior or sand-shifting self-identification. Our desperate pursuits of self-glory will only create more emptiness. We can try to fit in by people-pleasing, alcohol, sex, drugs, doing good, or breaking bad. I promise you, the void will just expand.

Friend, only surrendering to God will satisfy that emptiness. We must receive the free gift of forgiveness and grace—the great exchange of our imperfection and sin for the perfection and sinlessness of Jesus Christ. Accept the price paid on our behalf on Calvary’s cross…and celebrate His victory over sin and death. For me. For you. Only then will our soul be filled by the Holy Spirit—God Himself—as our Counselor, Comforter, and Advocate.

It’s impossible to “fit in” to this world because we were not made for this world. As fallen people in a fallen world, we must return to God, surrendering ourselves to Jesus. When we do, there is a peace that passes understanding, a desire to please only the Audience of One, and a need to glory in the One who loves us with an unfailing, steadfast, un-forsaking love (1 Corinthians 1:31).

“Lord, there is such a pull to fit into this world, even in all its darkness and brokenness. I pray that those desperate for love acceptance will turn to You, their Creator God and the very definition of love (1 John 4:8).”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

“But they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard.” Luke 19:48 (HCSB)

Smooth talk .. persuasive words – we’ve all heard them. Sometimes it’s the caller asking for a donation or a salesman trying to convince us their product is the one we can’t do without. Regardless, they attempt to move us toward belief in what they have or motivate us to give to what they need. Words seeking to birth their desired reaction.

Flip back through the pages of scripture and we find One who didn’t need smooth talk or persuasive words. Jesus, the living Son of God, spoke only the truth and the people were captivated. They listened and hung on His every word as He taught in the temple.

The Chief Priests, Scribes and leaders didn’t like the appearance of Jesus in their space. When He came on the scene and threw out the sellers cleansing was not an element they desired. Monetary gain and control were their driving force and now the center of attention was clearly focused on someone else. Jesus’ captive audience was temporarily derailing their plans to destroy Him.

Wonder what impact God’s word has on our lives? Are we captivated, motivated and inspired to obey His truths? Do we cling to every word seeking to understand His message? Or perhaps we are more interested in what makes us feel good. As seasoned believers, do we long for the spotlight of self-righteousness wrapped up in our hidden agendas and the message we long to convey? Or do we simply embrace familiarity while excusing our response?

Threatened by Jesus’ appearance and His words, these religious leaders missed the blessing found in embracing the truth. Let’s not join them. Let’s determine to be captivated by God’s word. Let’s commit to being doers of the word and not just hearers. Let’s be intentional about obedience and promoters of His agenda and not our own. Let’s approach His words with awe and anticipation. Let’s welcome transformation and never forget the power of His words to birth change and holiness in our lives. Let’s pray His words, hold them tight to our hearts and be amazed, captivated and challenged by the very words of One who loves us more than we could ever imagine.

“Father there will be many things to keep us from Your word…distractions…. pursuits…many other things to do – empower us to choose the best – to gather at Your feet and listen closely to Your words.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life