January 11, 2013 … Faith Under Fire – Or Not!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 11

Passage of the Day: Exodus 5: 23 in the context of verses 19-23 [NLT] …  
19 Since Pharaoh would not let up on his demands, the Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble. 20 As they left Pharaoh’s court, they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them. 21 The foremen said to them, “May the LORD judge you for getting us into this terrible situation with Pharaoh and his officials. You have given them an excuse to kill us!” 22 So Moses went back to the LORD and protested, “Why have you mistreated your own people like this, Lord? Why did you send me? 23 Since I gave Pharaoh your message, he has been even more brutal to your people. You have not even begun to rescue them!”  
============
Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Exodus, Chapter 5 … by using this link … 
============

Reference Passage: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {Faith can wane in the midst of privation or trials; but God smiles when it holds up.} …  
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. 
===============
Reference Passage #2: Hebrews 11: 6 : [NLT] … {Obedience is real faith under fire.} …  
6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. 

My Journal for Today: How many times in Scripture do we read of scenarios where God has to put His children through a life-fire to test their faith and to help them see that faith under fire – i.e., obedience in the face of tribulation – is necessary for God to really show off Whom He is and to receive the glory He deserves? Well, today’s text is one of those many biblical scenarios which we can read to show that God’s promises are ALWAYS true, but His timing and methods of revealing those promises very seldom fit into our time tables or our ways of doing life.

In today’s passage God gave Moses and His children His promise of freedom from Egypt. He just didn’t tell them how long it would take and what would have to transpire involving the Pharaoh to make God’s promise a reality. And when it took plague after plague after plague coming upon the Egyptians to break down the Pharaoh, God’s chosen ones found it harder and harder to extend their faith in their God and His deliverer, Moses.

Have you had any faith-building scenarios in your life where God just didn’t cooperate with your timing when you just knew God’s promise, … where God’s will just seemed WAY TOO LONG in coming? We know that God says to TRUST HIM no matter what comes our way and to avoid leaning on our own understanding (i.e., Prov. 3: 5-6 copied above). We know that’s impossible to please God without faith and He will only reward those who diligently seek after Him (i.e., Heb. 11: 6 also above). But when it comes to remaining obedient in the face of the trials of fire in our lives, our faith so often grows cold, doesn’t it?

CONVICTED!! … GUILTY!! …And I eed to take Oz Hillman’s devotional message to heart today. How often do I read, hear, and study the message in my daily Bible studies that God is God and I am not?! How often do I need to grasp the truth that I should focus my obedience on God’s promises and not on His timing or His method of showing me His way of receiving glory? How often does my faith in the truth of Romans 8: 28 [that’s one you should have memorized, if not internalized, by now] have to be tested in the fires of life?

I’ll not go on with this; because my conviction level is white hot right now; and it hurts!

My Prayer for Today Lord, I need Your faith; but I admit my weakness in being willing or able to go through the trials of life to be obedient and hold onto Your truths – in faith. Help me in my unbelief, Lord! … Amen