No More Overtime

Several weeks ago, my watch fell apart.  The band on it just broke.  Now, that may not be a terribly bad thing for some people in some professions, but for a preacher, that's a bad thing.  Well, at least the people in the congregation probably think so.  I was actually starting to grow pretty fond of not wearing a watch during church.  No worry about time constraints, just go till you finish.  I was a liberating feeling.  Well, yesterday, our most faithful family in the church surprised me with a brand new watch.  Now, this wasn't a cheap, Wal-Mart watch, this was a really nice watch.  They said it was in honor of our being here a year and just to let me know how much they appreciated me and my family. That, and they were tired of me going so long. (They were just kidding about that part, I really didn't go any longer without the watch than I did with the watch.)  I was very grateful to them.  I thank the Lord for meeting needs for us when we have them.  What a blessing that He uses His saints to encourage others. It makes me want to go out and encourage someone else today.  Servant of God, just keep on serving Him.  People are watching.  God is watching.

 

It also really challenged me to be my very best for the church.  In essence, they gave me time.  They gave me a watch.  I want to invest that time wisely.  I want to invest it in a way that God can use us to do great things for His honor and glory.  I am reminded of Ephesians 5:16, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  We all only have so much time to do a work for God.  If we are going to do anything, we must do it now.  We are not promised tomorrow.

 

By the way, I did tell them last night that they did good to buy the watch when they bought it. I told them usually on Sunday evenings I just preach until it is good and dark outside.  With this weekend being daylight savings time, that would have added an extra hour to the service.

Can I Trust Him?

Sunday morning I preached from Genesis 22.  It is the account of Abraham taking Isaac up Mt. Moriah to offer him as a sacrfice, just as God had instructed him to do.  I realize that the Scriptures do not say that he thought it, but if it were me, I would have been wondering, Can I Trust Him?  Can I really trust God with this?  Why is He testing me this way?  Isn't this just a little to much?  After all, Abraham had prayed for Isaac for many years before God gave him.  Isaac was Abraham's promised child, now, God is asking Abraham to sacrifice the thing he has prayed for and desired the most?  Surely I would have thought, and you probably would have too, Can I Trust Him?

   I don't know what test you may be facing right now, but I want to assure you, whatever it is, however huge it seems to be, you can trust Him.  God has no desire to hurt you.  He loves you too much for that.  He cares for you too much, He only wants what's best for you.  Of course the answer to the question is a resounding yes, I can trust Him.  Then another question came to my mind, how?  What is it that enables me to trust Him? 

    I thought of two things, two reasons, why I can trust Him.  I have an Isaac, He has a ram.  I have an Isaac, I have a promise from God that I can trust Him.  Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Now remember, things don't always work out good.  Sometimes bad things happen to good people. However, God has promised me that all things work together for good.  I may not understand why, but it will always be for the better.  I have a promise from God that tells me so.  That is my Isaac, the promises of God.  Another Isaac I have is previously answered prayer.  I have prayed before and seen God answer those prayers.  If He can answer prayer in the past, He can surely still answer them.  He hasn't changed. He never will.  I can trust Him because I have seen Him work on my behalf in the past and I know that He still is.

     I also know that God has a ram.  You see, while Abraham and Isaac were walking up that mountain, there was a ram that would soon be Isaac's substitute, walking up the other side.  God had already prepared a substitute for Isaac, even though Abraham didn't realize it yet.  God was working on Abraham's behalf before Abraham even knew it.  I know that God has everything under control. He is working on my behalf. He is already preparing the answers for tomorrow's problems.  No matter what I may face in the days ahead, I can take comfort in knowing that He has already prepared a ram, He is working on my behalf.  Therefore, because I have an Isaac and God has a ram, I know I can trust Him.  Whatever you are facing today, let me encourage you to hold onto your Isaac, the promises and past provisions of God, and remember that God is working on your behalf.