Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

Making Faces
by Katherine Britton

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. – Exodus 34:29

Once upon a time, armed with a couple brushes and makeup cakes, I specialized in turning 20-year-olds into 70-year-olds.

My time backstage in the college theater resulted in curious, long-term fascination with age lines and facial features. I more than once found myself ignoring a professor's lecture to study his face – ironically, studying the faces sometimes gave me a clearer insight into who my professor was as a person, and what his expectations might be. I've carried that quirk with me as I meet new people at church, at work, or at massive family reunions.

Here's the thing – sure, everyone gets crows feet as they age, but only some people have the unique quality that upgrades the "wrinkles" into "laugh lines." The eyes in those faces possess a permanent twinkle that makes me wish I had all day to listen to their tales of dare'n'do. Other faces have the stern, vertical jowl lines indicating a person might not have spent enough time smiling. It's easy to spot the people who talk with their eyes just by looking at their forehead and observing how prominent the creases are.

Backstage in college, these observations played an important role in every theater production. As part of the makeup crew, my goal was to create immediate character recognition and visible personality for actors before they even opened their mouths to say their first lines. This was especially important when creating older characters. The artifice of the theater let me speed through the years and imagine – if this sallow character was 50, 60, or 70 years old, what toll would their personality have taken on their expression? Add a line here, a perceived fullness there, a slight curve or shadow, and my college-age friends would (in theory) walk out not as themselves, but as a visual portrayal of a character. The lines served as an outward sign of an inner temperament.

Theater makeup allowed me to put the habits of a lifetime onto someone for just a few hours. After that, an actor could just wash off the brown and crème lines and "old age" foundation. The rest of us wear – and are always creating – more permanent lines.

The visual character sketches I used to create constantly reminded me that people either get "better or bitter" as we grow older. Our attitudes and values subtly reveal themselves on our faces from childhood on. Dorian Gray was a caricature, but actions do tend to work themselves to the surface whether we want the world to know or not.

You can look around to see what a lifetime of self-centered crankiness will do to a person's looks. On the other hand, if your church is like mine, you can also find faces that show a lifetime of peace in Christ. Those faces – and those eyes – are tied to a world that has more than a few difficulties and anxieties, but that's not what shines through. It's the joy of Christ that gives those eyes a constant twinkle.

Intersection of Faith & Life: We ultimately display what's in our hearts right on our faces. Moses experienced this everyday truth in a supernatural way every time he spoke with God (Exodus 34:29-35), when everyone could tell just by looking at his "radiant" face that he had met with God. After his heart had been fully focused on God, his face reflected it. When people look at your face, what do they see? Are you building attitudes and character traits today that you want reflected on your face in a few years time?

Acts 4:13

Proverbs 15:13

[Judy Harder]

3 More Habits of Happy People
by Debbie Holloway, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

In my previous devotional, I mentioned the first 3 "habits of happy people" according to a list I recently found. I figured I would share more Happiness Tips and continue to measure how the wisdom fits into a Christian worldview. So, let's look at three more habits of happy people...

1. Express gratitude for what you have

Gratitude, or thankfulness, is encouraged throughout Scripture. Just a few verses espousing this attitude include:

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:18).

"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!" (Psalm 95:2)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6).

Followers of Christ are meant to be selfless, other-focused, and God-focused, not wrapped up in our own temporary discontentment. Noticing the blessings we do have, and expressing gratitude for them, helps us remember the big picture: we have already been given the ultimate gift of life through Christ!

2. Dream big

The most important thing the Bible tells us about ourselves is that our identity in Christ, and our status as God's creations and children, should underscore everything we do. Do you think of yourself as a slave to sin, or to a static, hum-drum life? Well, Paul says:

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Romans 8:17).

Co-heirs. Sharing in his glory! According to Christ, God notices the fate of sparrows – so how much more does he care for the hopes and dreams of his sons and daughters? Christ also says that our faith is strong enough to move mountains, and that we will accomplish greater things for his Kingdom than even he did during his ministry. If that doesn't say "dream big!" – I don't know what does!

3. Don't sweat the small stuff

Not only do the Scriptures encourage us to let go of anxiety over "small stuff" – but God even wants us to relinquish worry over BIG stuff! Consider this passage from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Intersecting Faith and Life: Is active gratitude part of your daily routine? What about anxiety? Is a skewed perspective of yourself limiting your potential?

Further Reading

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5-7)

Ecclesiastes 3

[Judy Harder]

Was Psalm 69:9 Jesus' Life Verse?
Alex Crain, Christianity.com

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4)

There's a good chance you won't find the term "life verse" in a theological dictionary. For anyone who hasn't heard the phrase before, "life verse" has become a semi-popular term used by Christians to describe the fact that a certain part of the Bible can be a long-term, recurring source of encouragement... perhaps, throughout one's entire life.

I've heard some Christians say that the act of singling out a life verse can lower a person's view of the rest of Scripture. In other words, a life verse can be a bad thing. That seems a little picky though. Really, how bad can it be for a Christian to recognize the good effect that a certain Bible verse has on his attitude toward God, life, and whatever problems he's facing? Besides, doesn't it sound a little pompous to say, "My life verse is the BIBLE?"

To be honest, I've never given much thought about the merits or demerits of life verses. More than once I've had to stop and ask myself why I am even writing a devotional about them. But here's what sparked my interest in the subject. Recently, I saw a phrase in Romans 15:1 that made me curious if Jesus, perhaps, had a life verse during His time on earth.

Paul quotes an Old Testament phrase in Romans 15:3 that Jesus (apparently) had the habit of thinking on as He walked the earth. If this is so, I'm not sure how Paul would have known this. We can speculate that perhaps other people who were close to Jesus during His earthly life may have observed Him quoting it on a fairly regular basis. Maybe Paul overheard something about it during the days he spent visiting the other apostles. Or, possibly, it was revealed to Paul directly during his three-year period of discipleship before he ever met any of the early church leaders in Jerusalem (cf. Galatians 1:15).

Whatever helped Paul to learn about the mental habits of Jesus, what is clear is that the Lord Jesus Christ characteristically overcame temptation for any and all self-indulgence. "Christ did not please Himself," is the near context of the Old Testament quote that Paul cites next. The way that the rest of the verse strikes me is that Paul seems to imply that Jesus overcame temptation while meditating on a phrase from Psalms 69:9, which says: "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." This passage from Psalm 69 would have been a clear reminder to Jesus that the scorn He received on earth was actually the scorn that people bear in their hearts for God. Such a verse would align His expectations about this life and reinforce Him in His earthly mission.

Now, notice what Paul tells the Romans immediately after his quotation from Psalm 69. See especially verse 4... 

2 "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

"For whatever was written..." is a phrase that conveys reasoning. Paul is making an argument for something here. Teasing out his argument a little, I believe Paul is saying:

"Look at Christ's example of how He dwelt on Psalm 69:9. Scripture gives encouragement and instructs our thinking. It was this biblical perspective that propelled the Lord Jesus with endurance to fulfill the Father's will and not live for Himself. That's what you and I are to do."

Remember, Paul was writing to Jewish and Gentile Christians around 56 AD who were all meeting in segregated house groups throughout Rome. They weren't exactly the picture of Christian charity and unity. They were looking out for their own preferences—"pleasing themselves" to borrow the language of Romans 15:3. A few chapters back, in Romans 12:1Paul pointed out that they were to be transformed by renewing their minds. Now, in chapter 15, Paul seems to show how that's exactly what Jesus did.

Whether or not Jesus had a "life verse," He did let Scripture "dwell richly" in Him (Colossians 3:16). And that's what Christians are to do as well. Isn't it interesting that Paul doesn't just command it? He gives not only reasons but an example—the example of Christ Himself.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Looking at Christ's example here, how can we doubt or downplay the role of meditating on God's Word moment by moment as we go through life? In His humanity, Jesus let the truth of God's Word constantly shape His perspective. This filled Him with encouragement and hope. Let's do the same today.

Further Reading

See this word study on "hope" at BibleStudyTools.com.

[Judy Harder]

Beach Lessons
by Katherine Britton

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven – for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." –Luke 7:47, ESV

How do you explain to a child that's never been to the ocean what waves are like? You might fill a bathtub with water and splash it back and forth. That could teach action of waves – but what about the look? You might take the child to a nearby river with a few rapids, and show them how the foam collects at the bottom of a fall "like on top of a wave." You might show them a 4x6 inch photograph. You might try to show them what waves sound like with a conch shell. But what about their vast dimensions along the shore? What about their unending nature? What about the undercurrent of a wave going back to sea?

No substitute can convey the scale and true nature of waves continually breaking on the shore. No analogies or to-scale models prepare children for their first trip to the beach. They can't grasp the greatness until they've seen it for themselves.

Have you seen the greatness of God's forgiveness yet?

No measure of teaching, preaching, and analogizing can make us really grasp what God's forgiveness means. Even after we reach adulthood, we're still creatures of experience. It takes a firsthand experience – recognition of how vast our sins really are – before we can appreciate how vast God's mercy is to cover them.

Jesus gave Simon the Pharisee the example of two men who owed another money – one owed him five hundred days' wages, one owing him fifty. The moneylender forgives both debts, but, as Simon empathizes, the one forgiven the larger sum has a greater reason to love the one who cancelled his debt. But all Simon heard were the Jesus's words. He failed to realize what a vast stretch of sand he stood on, and what a great tide it would take to overtake all of those grains of sand. As a result, it's the woman Jesus recognizes for her great love of her Savior.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Is it possible that we can extend love and forgiveness if we don't understand how much Christ has shown us? Take your own "beach trip" and survey the vastness of God's incredible forgiveness that covers incredible sin.

[Judy Harder]

Strangely Dim
by John UpChurch, Senior Editor, BibleStudyTools.com

Four crumbling stairs leading up the hill from the rock-encrusted sidewalk—that's all that's left. If you drove by today, you wouldn't know that I once smashed honey bees on the driveway with a shovel, or that I did so barefooted until one got a squishy revenge. You also wouldn't know about the loft in the garage where my brothers would hide away or the window in my room that thieves peeked through before they stole our bikes. You'd never see the stairs leading out the back door where my mom would sit while we brought her giant grasshoppers to examine or plums from the fruit trees.

You see, I had this idea that one day, when I got the chance, I'd take my wife and girls to Marion, Alabama. I'd show them the house where I spent the first five years of my life, regaling them with stories about the giant heating grate in the middle of the hall that my brother used as a bathroom while sleepwalking, and the stove fire that sent my dad to the hospital, and the small square pond with goldfish that our landlady's cat loved to eat.

But I can't—at least, not the way I intended. My oldest brother dashed this plan by posting a Google Street View image. The two neighboring houses still stand. Ours is gone. Completely. Considering the size of the trees that now play the stand-in role, I'm guessing the house disappeared years ago (given our experience with electrical issues there, probably in a blaze of glory).

I've been told by movies and books that I can't go home again, and this sad image of an empty lot does make a pretty good case for that. But that house—no matter the memories of watching PBS in the living room or music blaring from my brothers' stereo—that house was never my home, not really. Nor is the house where I spent most of my youth, nor is the place I live now.

Seeing an empty lot reminded me how easily the things here on earth disappear. One moment you're settling into a comfortable Alabama life; the next you're suddenly uprooted for Tennessee. And when you look back, all that's left is in your head.

Intersecting Faith & Life: When I saw the empty lot in Marion, it reminded me of an old song that I've never really liked. I know I'm supposed to because it's a classic and all. But I don't. I do admit that it makes a ton of sense:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

We can try to cling to all the stuff around us—our family, our house, our money—but it all disappears. That's why our foundation is so important. Building on the Rock of Christ isn't just a happy-happy phrase that we can post on our fridge and feel good about. It's a necessity. If we build on anything else, even without realizing it, we might look down someday to find our foundation and discover it's gone.

For Further Reading

Matthew 7

Luke 6

[Judy Harder]

People Who Need People
Laura MacCorkle

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -Philippians 2:5-11, NIV

Strange but true, the words of the 1964 Barbara Streisand hit, "People" was wafting through my mind this past week.

Now I'm not a huge lover of Babs, but I do appreciate the way she infuses her songs with such emotion. You can't listen without feeling what she's singing—she's that good in connecting with others through song.

As I was thinking about the "people who need people" message, my mind was drawn to Scripture and how the Gospel is really about people in fellowship with their Creator and others. People need God, and we also need ... people!

No greater example of a person who needed people—and was someone other people desperately needed—is Jesus. As I flipped through the pages of Matthew to refresh myseIf on how Jesus purposefully sought to connect with people, I was reminded of how our Savior's ministry was always focused on doing the will of the Father while reaching others ...

Jesus went in search of people. The Son of Man came to earth to connect with people. And, as in the case of Peter's sick mother or the ruler whose daughter died, he went into their homes and then healed them. It all started with the calling of the first disciples in Matthew 4. He went to where they were, identified them and one-by-one invited them to follow him.

Jesus always shared Truth. Jesus didn't mess around. The time he spent with others was meaningful. His words were substantive and reached into people's lives to comfort and convict. Like the crowds in Matthew 7, people were always riveted and some (maybe not the Pharisees) wanted more. Everyone who took his words to heart was changed.

Jesus knew his audience. If you know Jesus, then you know he spoke in parables when teaching crowds. As with the stories of the mustard seed or the workers in the vineyard, Jesus knew the crowds needed something a little simpler at first which would effectively illustrate Truth. Since we're all at different stages in our spiritual growth, it's important to meet people where they are on their faith journeys as well, as we share from the Word.

Jesus made himself available. I'm sure Jesus got tired of being around people, just like we do from time to time. Ministry can be very draining. But the bulk of Jesus' ministry shows that he was often surrounded by others as he went from town to town. This was his calling. And this is our example to follow as God equips us—and empowers us by the Holy Spirit—to do his will.

Jesus established a support system. Jesus didn't have 1,000 disciples; he only had 12. And likewise we need a close network of people who we can regularly be in touch with for prayer and support. Jesus also saved his most intimate, revealing conversations for the disciples. And then he invited them to join his personal ministry as he delegated responsibility in reaching others. The feeding of the five thousand in Matthew 14 is a great example of this; Jesus gave bread to the disciples, and they were then called to give it to others.

Jesus had alone time but was still available. Sometimes we can go overboard in being available to others. We need some quiet time to recharge and be with the Father. Jesus was no different. He may have gone away for a solitary moment from time to time, but his whereabouts were still known (by the disciples, as well as sometimes the crowds) in case he was needed.

Jesus reached out even in his darkest hour. While in agony and hanging on the cross, Jesus was between two thieves. Matthew 27 notes this, but Luke shares even further how Jesus (Luke 23:43) forgave one of these men who asked him to "remember me when you come into your kingdom." "I tell you the truth," Jesus responded. "Today you will be with me in paradise." What a wonderful example of our Savior, understanding and experiencing the pain of separation from God, yet still reaching out,comforting, and bringing people to the Father!

Yes, Jesus is a tough act for any of us to follow. But following his example doesn't mean we have to be perfect as Jesus was. It just means we have to try ... being people who need people.

Intersecting Faith & Life: John 1:14 says that "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." How are others seeing this "glory of the One and Only" in you today as you dwell among them?

Further Reading:

Mark 12:30-31, NIV

Phil. 2:3-4, NIV

1 Peter 4:10, NIV

[Judy Harder]

Romans 8:28 Does Not Mean Giving Thanks with a Plastic Smile
by Alex Crain, Editor, Christianity.com

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Catastrophes like recent earthquakes, hurricanes, and even terrorist attacks remind us that, indeed, we live in a sin-cursed world. Not only do tragedies like these cause many to lose their lives, they often leave countless others in their wake---roiling in doubt and disbelief. The horrors of human suffering can stain our minds and souls and often obscure our vision of the God who is there. How are we supposed to respond?

Closer to home, we experience the curse of sin in personal ways through losses or disappointments that grieve the heart. We may wonder in all honesty at such times what verses like Romans 8:28 mean. Does Christ call His followers to simply put on a plastic smile and somehow grin and bear it?



Hardly.



Francis Schaeffer offers a helpful explanation to this dilemma in the first chapter of his classic book, True Spirituality. In fact, he says that a proper grasp of Romans 8:28 is crucial to understanding the world.



First of all, he takes care to point out that the Bible's view of life in the world is clear-eyed and realistic: At the Fall of man, everything became abnormal. The whole world is not what God made it to be. Therefore, Scripture verses like Romans 8:28 cannot be calling us to think...



"...that in some magical way everything is really fine when it isn't. Rather, we are to say "thank You Lord" knowing that God will somehow bring good ultimately, though we may not know how all the pieces fit together.

"It is not that Christians are to give thanks with a plastic smile, saying things are wonderful when they are hard. It is knowing that the hard things are really hard things, a result of the abnormality of the Fall, yet not revolting against God when the hard things come."

"We do honor to God and the finished work of Christ as we throw the words 'all things' in Romans 8:28 like a circle around all things..."



"...we are contented before God... yet not complacent about the suffering of the world."



In other words, Christ neither calls us to be indifferent nor to put on a plastic smile. Rather, we are to face the facts of hard reality and then sink our roots more deeply in who He is.



What a privilege that we who are naturally God's enemies can even have a relationship of trusting Him—this faithful, sovereign, covenant keeping God who is incapable of failure. He makes and keeps great promises not only for His glory but for the ultimate good of those who are His. 

Intersecting Faith & Life: In what situations are you tempted to be shaken from trusting God? Clearly, this is a sin-cursed world.  Still, do you sometimes catch yourself expecting a rosy path? Why? What do we really deserve? (Read Romans 3:10)

Further Reading

Jonathan Edwards' Sermon: "Men are Naturally God's Enemies"

[Judy Harder]

Dive In
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Entertainment Editor

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. – Galatians 5:13

One summer when I was younger, my church organized a week-long camping trip to Glacier National Park for all the high school boys. It was after one particularly long day of hiking that a few of us decided we'd cool off by taking a swim in a nearby lake. So we grabbed our swim trunks and towels and ran full speed into the lake, desperate to escape the summer heat. Now, I'm going to pause here and ask two questions...

First Question: Where does the water in these lakes come from?

Answer: Well, ice from the glacier melts and runs down through the waterfalls until it empties out into the lake.

Second Question: Does the water ever get warm?

Answer: No

The moment our feet hit the water we were stopped cold. We all stood ankle deep trying to figure out what to do next. A handful of the boys tried to edge gradually into the water, but after almost twenty minutes they still hadn't made it past their knees. As for me and a few other boys, we decided it was best not to wait. We dove headfirst into the water. For a time it was unbelievably cold, but eventually our bodies adjusted and we spent the entire afternoon diving and swimming far out in the lake.

Followers of Christ can encounter the same problem my friends and I had on the beach of that lake. God wants us to dive headfirst into the Christian life, to forget our worries and troubles and just focus on Him. Instead, many of us will stand on the fringes of our faith, trying to slowly and comfortably ease our way into God's plan for our lives. We aren't meant to stand in the shallows of God's love, however, so even though jumping in can be difficult at first, it's the best way. Only by surrendering to God as the center of our lives do we become truly free.     

Intersecting Faith and Life: Have you been avoiding the call to do more with your faith? Consider where and how you can serve, and start at the very next opportunity.

Further Reading

Romans 12:11

[Judy Harder]

"Just Keep Swimming!"
by Katherine Britton

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." – Hebrews 12:1

On Saturday night, I let myself go limp in front of the TV. The blur of activity, newness, and ridiculously hot weather the week before had exhausted me, so a complete mind/body check-out seemed in order. I don't have cable and I didn't bother to turn on instant streaming, so my viewing selection was pretty limited. I soon found myself watching Finding Nemo.

Remember the part where the all-important scuba mask slips down, down, down into the dark gorge? Marlin panics and goes after it, only to swim frantically back out of the darkness. Then the crazy blue fish with a short term memory problem frolics her way into that same blackness with nary a care. A moment later Dory comes back to encourage Marlin. "Hey, Mr. Grumpy Gills," she says, "When life gets you down, you know whatcha gotta do?" "No, I don't want to know watcha gotta do." "Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!"

Not that I'm taking lessons from a digitized blue fish, but Dory's attitude reminded me what perseverance should look like. It's not that sitting on the couch and taking a break was evil in itself, but my can't-go-any-farther attitude was. That attitude indicated that I was slogging away in my own strength and had run out of energy without looking to the Lord for supernatural help. At points like that, even though I know the answer, "I don't want to know watcha gotta do" to keep pursuing what God has called me to do. Wallowing in my exhaustion seems so much easier.

Sunday evening, someone reminded me that, "when life gets you down" and you're exhausted, God's faithfulness has the chance to shine through. The end of my rope is the beginning of grace made evident in my life, providing the strength to "keep swimming" even though I'm exhausted. And He gets the praise, because I know that strength is no longer something in me. His mercies are "new every morning" (Lam. 3:23) and enough to keep me moving in the direction that He encourages me to go. My responsibilities are just one more way to bring me to my knees and let the Lord refresh me with His grace. After that, I can keep going in His mercy, and even sing while I'm at it. His faithfulness never ends.

Intersection of Faith & Life: The Bible is full of reminders of God's faithfulness to believers, and the stories all end with God being glorified for their reliance on Him. In the end, it's when we are weak that He makes us strong (2 Cor. 12:10).

Further Reading:

Philippians 1:4-6

1 Corinthians 9:24

How to Pray on the Go

[Judy Harder]

Seeking God for the Right Reasons
by Sarah Phillips

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  Philippians 1: 21

I ran across an article years ago that really touched me. In her piece "A Change of Plans," Lindsy Pike details the excruciating decision to call off her wedding to a man she loved dearly. Reflecting on the mix of pain and peace that comes with any situation where we must give up something precious, Pike rewinds a few centuries to Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac:

"God promised to give Abraham a son and finally, after years of waiting, God came through, with Isaac. Why in the world would God ask Abraham to give up that gift? In my opinion, it is for the same reason He asked me to call off my wedding. God wants us to love Him more than we love His promises. The minute we get those out of order, He readjusts us."

While we don't fully know the mind of God in Abraham's situation, Pike's simple thought sheds light on a struggle I think all of us encounter at some time in our lives – the struggle to love God above everything else, even His blessings. God wants us to love Him because of who He is, not what He can give us. Yet, how often do we confuse our love of God's promises with love of Him? How often do we see Him as the divine blessing machine, ready to dole out happiness on our terms? The popularity of "prosperity theology" reveals how easy it is for believers to twist love of God into the pursuit of earthly happiness.

To be honest, it's not just greed that gets in the way of loving God. It's also a limited understanding of who God is. I used to wonder how some Christians could sit for over an hour praying. Is God really that interesting? I'd wonder. This type of thinking reveals a fundamental flaw in how I perceived God, and I think that flaw is what keeps many from coming to Christ in the first place. It's easy to see Him as limited like we are limited. It's easy to forget that God is truly our all in all. As C.S. Lewis once said, "God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."

Still, had I not gone through a similar situation, I might not have believed Pike's sincerity when she says: "I am thankful for His grace that saved me from ruining my life by pursuing my dream."

In a "reach for the stars, be anything you can be" culture, the idea that pursuing any dream could ruin my life seems foreign. The more I think about it, though, the more I see that living outside God's will – even if it is for a "good reason" – is a recipe for failure.

Yet, when we give up our dreams for something greater - for Someone greater than ourselves - we begin to see we can trust God no matter what. We find solace in the incredible peace that comes with knowing that even if life here includes sorrow or dreams unfulfilled, there is a God that transcends not only all that's missing in this life, but also all the good this life has to offer.

Intersecting Faith & Life: This week, do something for God without expecting any reward or blessing in return.

Further Reading

John 16: 33
Author Debunks Prosperity Gospel Myth