Faithful

Have you ever had an assignment from God that you were not crazy about…one you didn’t want to do? That’s what happened to Moses.

Sometimes, life’s windstorms hit us hard and knock us off our feet. One person likened the storms to a blizzard and wrote, “The blizzard of the world has crossed over the threshold, and it has overturned the order of the soul.” The blizzards outside make their way inside and disrupt the rhythm of our lives. That’s what happened to Job. As we have seen, he lost everything and still praised the Lord. But Satan was merciless in his attacks. He was convinced that Job was self-centered and would turn on God when he encountered personal illness.

She said, “Make a fist.” I did. She attached a tight bandage on my upper left arm. I let her. She swabbed my arm with brownish liquid. I watched. She was wearing a blue nurse-like jacket, nurse-like rubber gloves, and a name badge that looked official to me. I was there to give blood; she was there to take it. She said, “This is going to pinch and burn,” as she inserted the needle into a vein. She was right. Why wouldn’t I believe her? She had done this hundreds of times before (I hoped).

What if you were tempted in a way that you could not resist? What if the temptation was so strong that it pulled you into its grasp? What if you tried your hardest to resist Satan’s attacks, the pull of the world, and the desires of your flesh, but the combination of all three was too much for you to handle? Will God charge you with a sin that overpowered you? Paul answered that question for us in today’s passage.

Thanks for taking the time to join me as we engage in God’s Word together each day. If these devotionals are helpful, be sure to share them with a friend or have them subscribe at ronmoore.org/subscribe. Also, we are excited to resume our podcasts in September. We look forward to sharing many stories of how God works in real life. We have episodes featuring a former major league baseball player and his search for identity, a couple who struggled with a secret sin, two young adults sharing about their father’s lasting legacy, a moving story about a father’s unconditional love, and many more. I’ll let you know when the episodes are released.

Temptation is real, persuasive, and alluring; otherwise, it wouldn’t be called temptation. But you do not have to cross the line. If you choose to take that step, you do so because you want to, not because you have to.

Whether in marriage or parenting, whether in the workplace or in relationships with friends, the believer is committed to a higher standard. People of integrity always keep their word. 

When we place our faith in Jesus, there is no risk. Jesus is who he says he is. Everything Jesus says is true. What Jesus promises will always come to be.

On that final day, the faithful shepherds will hear, “Well done!” and receive the victor’s crown that will never fade. On that day, every sacrifice of leadership will be well worth it.