Blue Elevator Blog

A Merry Christmas Message

No matter where you go, there you are!

And for the Believer in Christ, no matter where you go, the LORD is already there!  Ready.  Waiting.  Able.

When Your Best Isn’t Good Enough

I don’t know about you, but there are times when I find myself up a creek without the proverbial paddle.  Or maybe for you, it’s been a case of a day late and a dollar short.  If that’s you, let me offer you some encouragement – even a question:  Is that the way it’s supposed to be?  Well, yes!

This has been the story of God and His people.  And, that’s why He sent Jesus.  Since we (and/or what we have) always fall short of God’s best, Jesus makes up the difference.  And so, if you haven’t yet trusted Christ for your salvation, that’s the best decision you will ever make:

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  – Romans 10:9

Blue Skies and Rainbows?

If you are a Believer in Christ, as you may know, it doesn’t mean that things are always going to go your way.  In fact, Jesus even said …

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Now, I will be the first to admit that life is not always a very comfortable existence.  And even if we have both belt and suspenders (something I have often tried as well), even the most robust of our own devices still come up short.  Think about it: the walls of Jericho still fell, the strong and powerful Egyptian army was annihilated, and the undefeatable Goliath was slain.  The best man can muster is still no match for God.  Even our abundance falls short.  You see, here’s the equation:

• Y0u + everything – the LORD = nothing.

• You + the LORD = everything.

And so it is with matters of faith.  For you mathematicians out there, if you isolate the variable (e.g., the LORD), you will see that if you don’t have the LORD, you have nothing.  But here’s the encouragement: the converse is also true.  If you do have the LORD, you have everything!

Whatever You Have, God Can Use It

God can use your “not good enough” to bring about anything.  Consider these examples:

1. Mark 6:35-44.  A crowd of five thousand plus hungry people and only fives loaves and two fish.  Jesus feeds them all – plus leftovers.
2. Mark 8:1-10.  A crowd of four thousand plus hungry people and only seven loaves and a few small fish.  Again, Jesus feeds them all – plus leftovers.
3. Luke 5:1-11.  Simon (Peter) and others fished all night without catching one fish.  Jesus said, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  The result was so many fish that their nets began to break.  They even had to recruit more help and an extra boat to help out with the catch.
4. John 21:1-14.  Peter, Thomas, and some other disciples had just returned from another night of fishing with no results.  Jesus said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”  The result: 153 large fish – the other miracle being that their net didn’t break.
5. 1 Kings 17:7-15.  There was a great drought.  A widow and her son had barely enough flour and oil for their last meal.  But, with a handful of flour and a little olive oil, The LORD fed the prophet Elijah, the widow, and her son until the long drought had ended.

And folks, those are just a few of the many examples from the Bible:

“Jesus did many other things as well.  If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” – John 21:25

A Merry Christmas Message – Practicing Faith

So you say, that was then – but this is now.  Or that was them, but what about me?  Be encouraged, my friends.  The story is still being written – and this includes you.  Every reader of this article finds themselves in a different circumstance.

Throughout the Bible, God’s Word, you will come upon story after story where man comes up short – but with the LORD – it is always enough.  So, here’s the encouragement:

1. Whatever you are facing, commit the matter to the LORD.  “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3.  God knows what you need.  He wants you to involve Him.
2. Step out in faith.  “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – James 2:17.  The boy gave up his five loaves and two fish.  The widow gave her handful of flour and oil. In the stories above, God’s people put what they had into play.  Notice, it was never enough – but they still put it into play.  In a sense, you have to have skin in the game.  Whether time, talent, or treasure, as CW Perry used to say, be encouraged to use what God has given you.  Putting what you have in play is an act of faith.

I believe that exercising faith is of two-fold benefit:

1. Exercising faith pleases God: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6
2. It is God’s pleasure to bless us: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” – Matthew 7:11

Think about it.  What you bring to the table doesn’t matter.  Don’t have anything to bring?  Bring yourself.  The size of your faith doesn’t even matter.  He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” – Luke 17:6

You say, “Well I don’t think I even have faith the size of a mustard seed.”  Do you believe in God?  He can even use that: Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24

Oh, and don’t think committing the matter obligates the LORD to some kind of instantaneous “genie in a bottle” performance.  But, I believe He will act on your behalf, in His way, and in His timing.  Just keep the faith!

I’m not handing out some secret formula for forcing God’s hand.  God is not constrained or reduced to some secret formula or incantation.  You see, there are no secret paths to God.  It’s simple, really.  There’s only one way.  There is but one way to God – and that is through His Son, Jesus.

There is no special set of experiential mechanisms where you go to find God.  God will not be constrained to some mechanism of man.  You can be ever-seeking, but never finding.

He is found by faith.  He is found in His Word.  May you be encouraged to commit both your self and your circumstances to the LORD today!  The LORD is already there!  Ready.  Waiting.  Able.  May you be encouraged by this Merry Christmas message!