Friday the 13th by Larry Refsland
Black cats crossing your path, walking under ladders, being careful not to step on a crack lest you break your mother’s back! These are all superstitions to most people. But everyone has some kinds of fears. In fact, superstitions are founded in fear. Some fears, however, are healthy. I have a healthy fear of electricity. It makes me cautious around wiring projects. When I was a kid, I had an unhealthy fear of chickens! Yeah, that’s right! Go ahead and laugh! I even had nightmares about them. After almost being forced to help catch chickens at my uncle’s chicken ranch, I gradually outgrew my unhealthy fear of them. Fear can be a powerful force. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7, “God did not give us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind.” One of the most repeated phrases in the Bible are these words of God to his people, “Fear not!” God would have us trust Him with our worst fears. Psalm 27, King David wrote, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” It goes with these encouraging words, “for in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle, and set me high upon a rock.” Remember, “perfect love drives out fear”, and God loves you perfectly (1 John 4:18). He loves you more than life itself. He will keep you safe even in the valley of the shadow of death. Call upon Him for peace and safety—He will be sure to answer you. Then you will say with King David, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Pouring concrete for a living is hard, physical work. But there’s a lesson in the mix for all of us. I’ve been doing concrete work since the late ‘70s and have learned every good foundation has the same basic components. First, It has to be formed properly. Second, the concrete must have the right mix of ingredients. And third, it must have a durable finish. Our lives are a lot like that concrete, and I don’t mean all mixed up and permanently set!
Concrete should be poured into forms. The forms give the concrete its shape until it cures and stays there on its own. God has a given us his word, the Bible, which gives us the form for our lives. It helps to shape us into the people he wants us to be. It sets the boundaries for our lives so that we don’t run all over the place like concrete poured on the ground with no forms. The ingredients of our lives are the experiences we go through. God knows just the right amounts of joy and pain, hardship and prosperity that we need to make us strong and steady. The finish is the part people see. 1 Samuel 16:7 records the Lord said to Samuel, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” God is more concerned with what’s under the surface—how our lives are formed, and how strong the mix is, than with outward beauty. Even so, he still takes the time to put an appropriate finish on us. He smoothes out the rough spots and gives us shine that reflects the strength he has given us deep inside. May He continue to build you up into a solid child of God. “I surrender!” “I give up!” “Uncle!” All these phrases are used when one person knows that he has been defeated and can’t take anymore. Whether it’s a kid in a wrestling match on the playground or a nation’s army that knows they have been licked, the action is the same. One gives up and admits it cannot win.
Back in 1945, when the Japanese stopped fighting at the close of World War II, the official surrender occurred on the battleship Missouri. General Douglas MacArthur represented the United States. The highly decorated Japanese admiral representing Japan extended his hand to MacArthur in an expression of peace and friendship. MacArthur, however, did not accept the handshake. He said, “Sir, first hand over your sword.” After the defeated admiral surrendered his sword, MacArthur then shook the man’s hand. This act symbolized an end to the fighting and to the future threat of war. When we come to God for help, we first come to him in surrender. We must hand over the sword—the willful resistance we have maintained against him. He wants to be our friend, not our adversary. When we resist his will, we are saying we don’t trust him completely with our lives. The United States went to great lengths after the surrender to rebuild the country of Japan and establish an ongoing relationship, which continues to this day. God has gone to great lengths to rebuild our relationship with him. We owe him our lives—we owe him our unconditional surrender. Are you ready to hand over your sword and make peace with God today? He’s ready to start rebuilding. I couldn’t help but notice the sign on the back of the semi I was following the other day. It said, “Owner/Operator Wanted.” Trucking companies are always looking for an ambitious driver that is willing to assume the responsibility of paying for and maintaining their own rig. The owner/operator assumes the majority of the risk, while the company lines up the loads and takes care of a lot of the paperwork. It’s a pretty good arrangement for the trucker and the company he drives for.
As a follower of Christ, things work a little differently. Driving for God’s fleet starts with turning over the ownership of our life to him. There are no owner/operators driving in God’s kingdom. God owns the whole rig or nothing at all. And who does the driving? Well, Jesus Christ wants to do that! He’s never content with just being along for the ride. He wants to be the operator of your life. See, in God’s Kingdom, we are not the owner or the driver—God is both. He takes us down roads we would never have been without Him. He shows us people and places that he wants us to deliver his good news to. He’ll steer us to situations where we can pick up a load of grief and drop off a load of joy. Everyday is an adventure when you turn over the title and the keys to the Lord Jesus Christ! Give up the owner/operator status in your life and, instead, report for duty as a passenger and follower of Christ. Whether you’re a trucker, a baker, or a homemaker, God wants to be your leader. Have an awesome day! Have you ever wished for wings? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly like a bird? Every child, at some time, runs around with arms spread out in hopes of catching just the right kind of updraft to send him soaring through the air. I know I’ve done it.
Did you know that the Bible tells us that God wants us to soar like eagles? Maybe not in a physical sense but certainly in a spiritual sense. God’s plan and desire for us is to go higher and experience more than we are right now. If you want to reach new heights in God, follow the eagle’s example. First, find an updraft. You’ve seen eagles circling, effortlessly, rising as they go. That’s because they’ve found an updraft of air that lifts them ever higher and higher. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” Waiting on the Lord is where we catch an updraft. Spending time with him in prayer and worship creates a lift in our spirits and takes us above the day to day circumstances of life that weigh us down. Everyone has a down day—Mondays especially are like that. But your day can change to an “up” day simply by taking a moment to wait upon the Lord. He will send an updraft in your spirit that will energize you and help you to overcome every difficult situation facing you. Why not pause right now and spend a moment with God? Spread your wings and let him lift you higher. You’ll find it takes no effort at all—He will do all the work. Now go soar through the day! |
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