You heard about two friends
were walking together when they came to a high wall?
It stretched into the hills
on both horizons.
“So, Freddy,” Pete said, “I
think we’ll have to turn around. We have reached the end of our road!”
Freddy grabbed Pete’s hat, a treasure he never let out of his sight, and threw it over the wall.
Pete angrily asked, “Why did you do that? That is my favorite hat! I’ll never see it again!”
Freddy grabbed Pete’s hat, a treasure he never let out of his sight, and threw it over the wall.
Pete angrily asked, “Why did you do that? That is my favorite hat! I’ll never see it again!”
“Ah, I knew it was your
favorite,” Freddy said, “and that is why I threw it over the wall. Now we will
have to find a way to get over the wall.”
That little tale has made its way around the Internet for years. I repeat this Monday morning because I am hoping you are looking for possibilities in your life, not limits! Have you run into a tough situation: a major loss, a child that will not shape up, an addiction, a habit that hinders, a dry spell in your Christian life? Have you concluded that the only option is to quit, to retreat? If you are tempted to believe that by turning away your life will become easier, think again! It might- for a while- but then you will run into yet another wall! If you keep turning back from every challenge, the walls will close in on you! You will find yourself hemmed in by troubles, trials, doubts, and fears – perhaps even enslaved by sin – if you have refused to look for a way over that wall that stands between you and God’s highway of holiness.
The ancient Israelites were led by God to the door of the Promised Land, but once there, they paused to send in scouts. 10 of the 12 returned with a faithless evaluation and advice to retreat. “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night." (Numbers 13:32-14:1, NLT) Israel refused God’s invitation to throw their hat over the wall and follow Him into a place that had every appearance of being impossible. Because of their disobedience, they fell under judgment and God let them wander for 40 years in the Sinai wilderness until that whole generation of doubters died!
40 years later they came again to that moment of decision, but this time, they were inspired by the faith-filled leadership of Joshua. He heard God’s promise and took up the challenge to lead the people to possess the land. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." (Joshua 1:6-8, NLT)
That little tale has made its way around the Internet for years. I repeat this Monday morning because I am hoping you are looking for possibilities in your life, not limits! Have you run into a tough situation: a major loss, a child that will not shape up, an addiction, a habit that hinders, a dry spell in your Christian life? Have you concluded that the only option is to quit, to retreat? If you are tempted to believe that by turning away your life will become easier, think again! It might- for a while- but then you will run into yet another wall! If you keep turning back from every challenge, the walls will close in on you! You will find yourself hemmed in by troubles, trials, doubts, and fears – perhaps even enslaved by sin – if you have refused to look for a way over that wall that stands between you and God’s highway of holiness.
The ancient Israelites were led by God to the door of the Promised Land, but once there, they paused to send in scouts. 10 of the 12 returned with a faithless evaluation and advice to retreat. “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night." (Numbers 13:32-14:1, NLT) Israel refused God’s invitation to throw their hat over the wall and follow Him into a place that had every appearance of being impossible. Because of their disobedience, they fell under judgment and God let them wander for 40 years in the Sinai wilderness until that whole generation of doubters died!
40 years later they came again to that moment of decision, but this time, they were inspired by the faith-filled leadership of Joshua. He heard God’s promise and took up the challenge to lead the people to possess the land. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." (Joshua 1:6-8, NLT)
God’s counsel for Joshua is
wisdom for us.
Be strong!
Obey without question!
Stay steady!
Listen intently for the
voice of the Spirit!
“Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you
do."
I hope I never willingly
abandon the path to which God’s Spirit calls me simply because there is a high
wall that appears to block the way. I am tempted by the broad, smooth
road that does not require faith or effort! But I also know that to give myself
to that temptation is to surely fail! Life is not trouble-free, but
often, our ‘troubles’ become the soil in which God grows new opportunities!
The Word says, "The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." (Psalm 116:6-7, NIV) That word, “simplehearted” is about having a child-like faith. Those full of faith in God’s will and Word, are willing to attempt the impossible. Some may even mock them thinking they just do not know any better!
The Word says, "The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." (Psalm 116:6-7, NIV) That word, “simplehearted” is about having a child-like faith. Those full of faith in God’s will and Word, are willing to attempt the impossible. Some may even mock them thinking they just do not know any better!
Is your faith in God so deep
and strong that you will follow where He leads even when you look like a fool
doing it? Here is a word from the Word for this new week. Own it! "Faith is the confidence that
what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we
cannot see. … And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who
wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who
sincerely seek him." (Hebrews 11:1, 6, NLT)
___________
One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)
(link to listen)
___________
One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)
(link to listen)
Higher than the mountains
that I face.
Stronger than the power of
the grave.
Constant in the trial and
the change.
One thing remains,
One thing remains.
Your love, Your love, Your
love
will never change.
Your love never fails,
It never gives up,
Never runs out on me!
Your love.
On and on and on and on it
goes.
It overwhelms and
satisfies my soul
And I never ever have to
be afraid,
One thing remains,
One thing remains,
Your love never fails,
It never gives up,
Never runs out on me!
Your love
In death, in life, I'm
confident and
Cover'd by the power of
Your great love!
My debt is paid, there's
nothing that
Can separate my heart from
Your great love!
Brian Johnson | Christa Black
Gifford | Jeremy Riddle
© 2010 ChristaJoy Music
Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)
Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
(Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)
Bethel Music Publishing
CCLI License # 810055
Jerry D. Scott, Pastor
FAITH DISCOVERY CHURCH
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