Daily Devotional: Thursday, April 29
Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: More than a Fan
Weekend Music links on iTunes: The Time Has Come by Hillong; God is with Us by Michael Olson; Glory to God Forever by Fee; How He Loves by David Crowder.
Read: James 4:14; I Samuel 28:7; Matthew 6:25-34
Think: When I think of some of my most basic fears, fear of the unknown is right up there. A great example of fearing the unknown is found in James 4:14, "How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it's here a little while, then it's gone." I don't know what tomorrow holds. However, God has a plan for my life today. I need to quit worrying about tomorrow so I don't miss out on living today.
When I talk about fearing the unknown, it can encompass a wide variety of topics: "When am I going to get married...What is my next job...What about our kids...When am I going to get that new house...Or an eviction notice...Or unemployment...Or win the lotto...Or heath issues, maybe even death..." Truth is no one knows the future but God. My hope and trust need to rest in God who holds my future.
But how does a non-believer understand the peace in having Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? How can they embrace not knowing what tomorrow holds? Where do they go when they die? Some look to the stars, some look to tarot card readers or some call the psychic hotline similar to what Saul did in Samuel 28:7. That is why it is so important that we as believers share the Good News with them. Only Jesus can answer their questions and satisfy the longing in their soul.
The Bible is pretty clear that we don't know what is in store for us tomorrow or when Jesus will return. I love Pastor Ben's reference to the Tim McGraw song Sunday, "Live like you were dying." That is how I want to live my life, like tomorrow wasn't coming and my last interaction with people may be today.
Do: Ask God to help resolve fear of the unknown because the only one who knows what is going to happen tomorrow is God. I need to follow His plan for my life. Every time to we try to learn more about tomorrow or that future event, something always has a way of changing at the last minute. Do you think that is by chance?
Pray: Dear heavenly father, I pray today that you grant me the knowledge and wisdom to live life to its fullest, giving all of my stress and anxiety to you because I can't change tomorrow, only you can and you know what's best for me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.
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