Tag: Mark Harris

Victory in the Face of Uncertainty – Day 2

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Day Two: “From fiery furnace to promotion”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three Hebrew young men who had been carried away into Babylonian captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had made a decree that everyone in the kingdom must bow down and worship the 90 ft. golden image he had set up. The three Hebrew young men refused.

Read the story: Daniel 3:1-30

When these three Hebrews refused to worship the image, King Nebuchadnezzar was furious. In a fit of rage he threatened to throw them into a blazing furnace if they would not obey. The Hebrews replied, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it…But even if He doesn’t we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (vs. 16-18)

In the face of an uncertain future, they understood they had victory either way. The king, carrying out his threat had the furnace heated seven times hotter and threw them into the flames. But to his amazement, he saw not three but four men walking around in the fire unharmed and the fourth was like the Son of God.

The three Hebrew young men had not only experienced victory over the king’s punishment but their victory convinced the king that the Hebrew God was the true God and instead of the Hebrews dying in a fiery furnace, the king promoted them to higher positions in his kingdom. Uncertainty gives way to promotion when we refuse to be controlled by fear trusting God’s love and faithfulness to see us through the uncertainty before us.

Activity:
Instead of the fire affecting them in any way, it burned up the uncertainty they were facing. Sing a song of praise to God acknowledging that all your uncertainties are in His hands and the fire you may be going through will not destroy you but will promote you in victory.

Victory in the Face of Uncertainty – Day 1

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“The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). We have an enemy whose constant goal is to steal, kill, and destroy the fullness of life that Jesus purchased for us at Calvary. This series of devotionals focuses on stories of people in Scripture who maintained victory when faced with the uncertainties brought on by the strategies of darkness.

Day One: “A boomerang in a den of lions”

Daniel, living in captivity in Babylon, had distinguished himself before the king with his wisdom, knowledge, and integrity. This respect and esteem of Daniel caused jealousy among many other of the king’s officials. This jealousy drove them to plot against Daniel to discredit him and to remove him from office.

Read the Story: Daniel 6:1-28

Not being able to find anything with which to accuse Daniel, these officials connived to convince the king to make a decree that anyone who prayed to any god except the king, in the next 30 days, would be thrown into a den of lions. These men knew Daniel openly prayed three times a day to the God of heaven and they had set this trap to have him killed.

Daniel refused to be intimidated or fearful and therefore continued his daily discipline and commitment to openly pray three times a day. Consequently, Daniel was thrown into the den of lions as punishment for ignoring the king’s decree. The uncertainty of that moment must have felt overwhelming to Daniel. All he knew to do was to entrust his life to the God he loved and trusted. He didn’t know if he was going to live or die, but he knew he could trust God with the outcome either way.

God miraculously shut the mouths of the lions and delivered Daniel unharmed to the king the next morning. The king was so impressed with Daniel’s God that he had the men, who had plotted against Daniel, thrown into that same den of lions and they were instantly devoured. The destiny these men had schemed against Daniel boomeranged and became their destiny instead. Daniel’s time of uncertainty became God’s time of overwhelming victory!

Activity:
Make a list of things you are facing that cause you uncertainty. Pray, turning them over to God. Thank Him that He knows best and ask Him to give you strength to trust Him no matter what.

Transformation in the Light – Day 10 – Transformed as Reflections of God’s Glory

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Often when driving at night there will be reflectors, placed by the Highway Department on roadside objects, which will reflect back your car’s headlights alerting you to potential danger. As Christians, God has placed us in the world as reflectors to influence our world for righteousness.

Read the story 2 Corinthians 4:6-18

Reflecting the light of the Son – (2 Cor. 4:6)

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Even though we sometimes go through hard and perplexing times, we are not crushed nor left in despair. Even though we may be persecuted and struck down, we are never abandoned nor destroyed.
Our dark times are simply an occasion to reflect the light of God’s glory to the world around us. Like the moon reflecting the light of the sun at night, how we respond in dark times, is a testimony to the world that God is still working. Seeing the sun shine upon the moon in the darkness of night always assures us that the sun is still shining even though the sun itself is out of sight.

Verse 18 “Therefore, we do not lose heart.” Dark times won’t cause us to lose heart when we have confidence that God is still working and we understand that our momentary troubles are achieving an eternal glory that is far greater than any discomfort we may have endured.

Activity:
Jesus called us to be light to our world. (Matt. 5:16) Make a list of practical ways you can reflect the light of the Jesus the Son to your world of friends and acquaintances in this present darkness.

Transformation in the Light – Day 9 – Transformation of Thinking

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For three and a half years the disciples daily lived with Jesus spending time listening to His teachings, observing His ministry and His interaction with people, and being themselves mentored by His discipleship. But after the resurrection, Jesus’ time with them was only periodic. He appeared from time to time but the daily mentoring routine was over. He expected them to carry-on the business of His kingdom.

Read the story John 21:15-19

The disciples were in the dark and confused as to what to do with themselves. In their confusion and darkness several of them decided to return to fishing. They fished all night but caught nothing. Early in the morning Jesus appeared on the shore and asked, “Have you any fish?” No, they answered. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” They did and 153 large fish jumped into their net.

This was reminiscent of three and a half years earlier when Jesus first called them to be His disciples.(John 5:4 -11). On that occasion, Jesus told them He was going to make them fishers of men, and that fishing for the souls of men was to become their life’s mission. He now reminds them of who they are called to be and He asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Peter responded each time, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus connected Peter’s love for Him to his mission saying each time “Feed and take care of my sheep.”

In the darkness we sometimes forget who we are called to be. Fishing for fish was not their calling, fishing for the souls of men was what their lives were to be about. Shortly after this occasion Jesus ascended into heaven and then a few days later He poured out the Holy Spirit upon them on the day of Pentecost empowering them to effectively carry on the business of His kingdom.

The church was born and grew by leaps and bounds as they pursued their calling speaking the Word boldly day after day in the Temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 5:42)

Activity:
Write a paragraph of what you understand your calling to be at this time in your life. Make a list of things He is doing in you to prepare you for His tasks.

Transformation in the Light – Day 8 – Transformation of Vision

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It’s hard to see past the present darkness when there are so many unanswered questions and conflicting opinions. Will this ever end? Will there be new outbreaks once restrictions are lifted? Will we ever return to normal? All the unknowns are like a ton of bricks weighing us down stealing our motivation and draining our energy. Blind Bartimaeus was a product of this kind of dilemma. Healing came when he understood that Jesus was his only solution.

Read the story Mark 10:46-52

Bartimaeus lived in the darkness of being physically blind. His blindness turned him into a roadside beggar. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he began to shout, “Jesus, have mercy on me.” Many in the crowd around him tried to quiet him. But he shouted all the more to get the attention of Jesus. Jesus asked him what he wanted Him to do. The blind man replied, “I want to see.” Jesus simply said, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Immediately, this man whose life had been full of darkness could see the beauty of the world around him!

Last summer, I took my grand kids to an underground cavern. When in the deepest part of the cavern, the tour guide turned off the lights and it became totally black. You could not see even your hand when you held it close in front of your face. After being in total darkness for a few minutes, the tour guide turned on some ultra violet lights and the rock formations came alive with magnificent color and beauty.

What couldn’t be seen or comprehended in natural light became beautiful in the darkness with ultraviolet light revealing its beauty. Likewise, we may be going through dark circumstances, but the Ultra Light of God’s presence reveals beauty that natural light cannot reveal.

Franklin Roosevelt in his inauguration address in 1933, with the country in the depths of the Great Depression, made this statement to the nation. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Roosevelt understood that the main driver of the Great Depression was fear. And until the nation dealt with their fear they would remain paralyzed and unable to advance to a better day.

Fear can be blinding and paralyzing. Let the Ultra Light of God shine into your darkness transforming your vision and motivating you toward advancement in His provision and grace.

Activity:
Like Bartimaeus, cry out to Jesus with your concerns and questions giving them over to Him. Allow Jesus to open your eyes to the opportunities around you to be a blessing to others and to advance the glory of His Kingdom.

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