"Smoldering Firebrands"

In Isaiah, chapter seven, God speaks through Isaiah to King Ahaz.  God is trying to encourage Ahaz to trust Him.  In this one chapter, God seemingly bends over backwards to wrap Ahaz in His protective arms but Ahaz is far too earthbound to receive this comfort.

One of the encouragements is in verse four, when God tries to comfort Ahaz in the face of an enemy nation about to attack.  "Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands..."  I had read this passage last week in studying for a class and it came home to me this morning.  As the fire in our fireplace began dying, one of the logs started to smoke profusely.  It wasn't hot enough to ignite a real fire, just hot enough to be annoying, as smoke began pouring into the room.  I began moving it around, trying to put it into a place where the red hot coals could gain access and set it ablaze.

There are more than a few spiritual illustrations here.  Some for us as believers as to why God allows the "fire" of pain or hard situations.  But what I thought of the most was the passage I had read last week about this enemy nation who thought themselves unconquerable and God called them "stubs of smoldering firebrands"!!   As I watched that smoking log, I realized the impotence of any enemy in the face of the living God.

Questions??

People have lots of questions about Christianity that many times stumps them up and causes them to reject or fall away from the gospel.  Questions abound when it comes to the things of God.  He's God!  There is no way we can completely discover the full depth of Him or His ways.  He has given us one book not because that's all there is but because it is all that is needed for us to seek Him and find Him.  I'm not saying questions are bad.  But I am saying that some questions will not be answered here in this life.  That's where faith and trust come in.  That's where God's Word to us (which great minds have not exhausted) comes in and carries us through to the end.   I will not go into the many questions that men have about God.  But what I would like to do is share a devotion I read this week about such things and challenge believers with important questions that do not need to be neglected.

This devotion is from Charles Spurgeon, November 19th, morning:
"Avoid foolish questions."  Titus 3:9
"Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance...  Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether... if we observe [the verse] to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings."

He goes on to list the questions we should be asking:  "Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?  Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind?  Am I walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit?  Am I growing in grace?  Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Savior?  Am I looking for the coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master?  What more can I do for Jesus?  Such enquiries as these urgently demand our attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, [whine, nag, gripe, bellyache] let us now turn our critical abilities to a service so much more profitable.  Let us be peacemakers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to 'avoid foolish questions'."

Thankfulness

Paul mourns over his sinfulness in Romans 7 (a passage for which I'm especially thankful), "Who will deliver me from this body of death?"  I am tracking with Paul this morning as I'm convicted of the sin of my whining.  I fret over everything.  For a few weeks now, I wake up saying, "God help me.  There's too much to do."  I prayed last night, "God, how can I get it all done?"  I prayed this morning, "God, help me to just worship you this morning" and before I knew it, I was whining about everything in my life that seems to be amiss.

Then it hit me...are you thankful?  Thankful!!  Oh, my, why am I so slow?  How long has it been since I've thanked God?  On my prayer walk, I had decided to come home and make a list of everything in my life that I perceive as a problem.  When I began to think of the "thankful" aspect, I decided that's the list I really need to make!  How convicting as I began thinking of all the wonderful, right things in my life!!  What a list that is!!

"Oh, my GOD!! Forgive me!  The me fog has blocked Your gifts from my mind.  Thank You for reminding me of all the wonderful blessings You have richly bestowed on me."  Being thankful is God's will for us.  "In everything, give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  And the most Wonderful gift God has given: Jesus Christ!  It is He that will "deliver us from this body of death."