Based on “The Church—Why We Do What We Do, Part 5” by Pastor Mark Balmer;
3/6-7/10, Message #MB410; Daily Devotional #1 - “What Are You Going to Do?”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): When God speaks, step out and obey – NOW. This statement makes me think of different people in the Bible who obeyed God when He spoke. Take Elijah for example. Then the word of the LORD came to him: "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread." "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die." (1 Kings 17:8-12) Now, the rest of the story: The widow cooked the meal for Elijah with all she had, and God refilled the jars every day to provide for them through the drought (1 Kings 17:13-16).
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Both Elijah and the widow had choices to make. When God spoke to him, Elijah was east of the Jordan and south of Zarephath, on the Mediterranean coast north of Tyre. The walk between the two places would have taken many days. When God spoke to the widow, she would have still had food in the cupboard. It may have not been much, but it would have been more than one meal. I know for myself it would have been much easier to obey God when I had a week’s worth of food, than when I was told to give up, not share, my last meal. She had a choice. Elijah had a choice as well. The stream that was providing his water dried up. He had to move. However, he could have stopped at the Jordan when he was heading to Zarephath. It would have been similar to an oasis in the desert. All that would have been in front of him were dry mountains which he would have to climb to get to the Mediterranean and Zarephath. What would have happened if the widow had not obeyed? She and her son would have starved to death, and they would not have seen the miraculous works of God. Even more important, the widow and her son would not have had the opportunity to come to the knowledge of our saving God (1 Kings 17:17-24). The result would have been the same if Elijah had decided to take a break for a few days when he reached the Jordan.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Too often we look at our circumstances and use them as excuses. Do we really believe God? If we do not obey God when He speaks to us, we are showing what we truly believe about our God. If we do not obey, it says we do not believe God is who He says He is. Pastor Mark has been teaching us to close the gap between our belief and our actions. It is time to start looking at circumstances through God and quit looking at God through circumstances. God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19 ?God spoke the following words to us through the Bible and Pastor Mark this week. Go TODAY – Expect God to use YOU to change lives. Stand in a public place TODAY – Go to the seekers and the unbelievers. Share the gospel TODAY – Jesus can change anyone. Now, we have a choice to make. Are we going to obey? What do we really believe about our God? Remember He is faithful. Step out TODAY and watch Him work. Let God out of the box. Pray: God I am available - God I am willing - God I am expectant – use me today.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Luke 14:25-35, Isaiah 41:9-14
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Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.