Transformation

The dock, boat and body of water pictured here could be located just about anywhere in the world. But they are not. A transformation of this scene took place when Jesus walked across this body of water, the Sea of Galilee.

As we look at the photo or even as one stands on the dock, there are no apparent signs of greatness. The Sea of Galilee feels no personal pride for being the spot in the universe where our Creator defied nature's laws by walking on water. Yet one cannot look upon this scene without feeling a sense of awe.

The Almighty does the same with all of us who will make ourselves available. He makes the ordinary extraordinary through His presence. God-sized work is in store for us if we will simply be available.

Why not ask God to make your life extraordinary? It could be by praying this simple prayer: “Jesus, I am available. What would you like to do with my life today?”

Temptation

In Matthew 4:5-6 we read:Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you,and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'

This picture is one of the two possible sites of this event. The temple would have been built above the top of this wall and much of what is below is modern development. Therefore, it would have been several hundred feet from temple top to valley floor.

We often face the same temptation that Jesus faced: to misappropriate God's Word. Satan's knowledge of Scripture should motivate us to know it better for our own defense and obedience.

Remember, before we can claim a promise we usually have to obey a command. Here are some Scriptures to ponder:

Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 22:6
John 3:3
John 6:29
Matthew 28:18-20
Romans 12:3-8

Fall In Love - Thoughts From Israel

As I stood looking into this cave in Qumran, Israel I was overwhelmed at the Essenes commitment to the Word of God. They knew that the Romans in 70 AD were going to destroy everything, so they copied the Word onto scrolls, stored the sacred text in jars, and hid them in caves like this one.

When the scrolls were found nearly 2,000 years later, they were hailed as the archaeological find of the century. The astounding fact is that the text (Bible) that you hold in your hand is an identical translation of the Hebrew texts that were found.

It is my desire personally, and as a pastor, for all of us to love the Word the way these ancient Jewish scribes did in their day. Here are a few verses to meditate on. May we leave a legacy of God's Word for future generations.

Isaiah 40:8
Psalm 89:7-8
Psalm 102:18
Psalm 119:1, 9, 17, 33, 41, 66, 81, 89, 105, 129, 137, 146

What's Your Wall?

We all feel at times that we are up against a wall in our lives. We're out of options and we're not so good at scaling walls. It is in those circumstances that we find out just how faithful our God is to each of us. Now, I have to tell you that it may not always be on our schedule, but God is faithful.

I am reminded of God's faithfulness in so many ways, yet no passage is more inspiring than Isaiah 66:8: "Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children."

No doubt for centuries this little text inspired God's people to hope in the midst of desperation and persecution. The literal fulfillment happened on May 14,1948. According to Jesus in Matthew 24, this prophetic fulfillment is the start of the final chapter of the end times, which we've been in since Jesus' resurrection.

Never in the 6,000 years of earth's history has a nation been reborn, except Israel, in the fulfillment of this grand text. If you are willing to write this off as coincidence then you are mixed up. God will fulfill His scripture. He does provide a way out when up against the wall.

Remember the words of the Archangel Gabriel who should know, "Nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37.