Sherrie Lorance: God's faithfulness

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Would You Eat THAT? (I Kings 17:1-6)

The “raven room service” God provided for Elijah probably caused Elijah to feel heartened and humbled at the same time. By ordering ravens to bring Elijah breakfast and supper every day, God demonstrated His sovereignty over nature and His care for His servant. Meals in Bills may not have been what Elijah had in mind, though, especially when the bills belonged to ravens—birds that mainly eat dead and putrefying flesh. God had declared ravens unclean, abominable, detestable for Jews (Leviticus 11:13). Sure, Elijah was grateful for the blessing of food, but he had to be pretty hungry to eat bread and meat covered in raven germs. Maybe that was the point. Maybe Elijah’s hunger prepared Him to receive God’s help—in God’s way.

As long as we’re full of ourselves—full of our wisdom, our abilities, our plans—we’re unlikely to receive what God graciously offers. But when we reach the end of ourselves, when we realize that we are empty and powerless, we’ll recognize God’s provision for what it is—our only hope, our only life. God makes us hungry; then He feeds us with the Bread of Life—with Christ Himself.

Like the ravens, Christ was cursed. God’s law declared, “Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse” (Deuteronomy 21:23). Yet God turned the curse of the cross into a blessing. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).

Cursed birds brought life to Elijah; cursed Christ brings life to all who receive Him. Have you been hungry enough to receive Him? Are you hungry enough to feed on Him every day? If you’re hungry for Him, He’ll fill you with Himself (Matthew 5:6). It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet. How hungry are you?

Monday, July 5, 2010

A Test of Faith (Acts 12:1-19)

After “earnestly praying” for Peter to be released from prison, why did the church struggle to believe God’s answer when Peter knocked at the door? After all, many people at the prayer meeting had witnessed Jesus’ resurrection—and an empty jail cell is nothing compared to an empty tomb. Perhaps they hesitated to believe the news of Peter’s release because between Jesus’ resurrection and Peter’s incarceration had come James’ execution. Their faith was being tested.

Unexpected tragedy will test our faith. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If something we considered valuable were actually a worthless counterfeit, wouldn’t we want to know? If our faith is phony—based on positive thinking, emotionalism, or confidence in getting our way (instead of confidence in God Himself)—it’s good for us to find that out. Nothing reveals the true nature of faith like severe trials. And nothing engenders and strengthens true faith like experiencing God’s provision in the midst of our trials.

New Testament believers who celebrated Peter’s rescue and grieved James’ death had much in common with their Old Testament counterparts. Some “escaped the edge of the sword,” some “were put to death by the sword,” but “these were all commended for their faith”
(Hebrews 11:34-39 NIV). We can relate, too. Sometimes God provides what we need to escape suffering; sometimes He provides what we need to endure it. But always, always, He provides. When our faith rests in God’s faithfulness, and not in what He’ll do to prove it, our faith will pass the test—any test.

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6-7, NLT).