CBN - Devotional

I will never forget a day several years ago when I was asked to take on a monumental new ministry task. I’ll spare you the details, but it was one of those jobs that made you think, “Why in the world would anyone agree to do this?” As I pondered the job to be done, my mind was flooded with thoughts. I wonder if Noah had a similar experience when he first received his assignment.  My first thought was, “What will people think? Surely if I agree to this, everyone will think I’ve taken leave of my senses.” Like Noah’s call to build the ark, sometimes the Lord calls us to do things that just don’t make much sense! Second, I began to count the cost of taking on this project, including long hours of preparation and execution. No, I wasn’t going to build an ark, but this task felt just as huge! Finally, I knew that saying “yes” meant agreeing to subject myself to endless criticism by people who would want me to do the project their way. When I sized up the situation, there were quite a few items in the negative column and only one in the positive—which was, “I think God is calling me to do this.” Like Noah, I had a sense that this was an assignment from God. While I was still considering my decision, a dear friend gave me a devotional book. When I opened it, my eyes fell to these words, “The safest path is dangerous if it is outside of God’s will. The most dangerous path is safe if He is calling you to walk that way.” Suddenly, I saw myself suspended high above the ground on a very narrow bridge. There was danger of falling on either side, but I knew I could cross safely. Then I saw myself walking on a smooth path, stumbling and tripping and injuring myself. A strange image, but it helped me realize what the Lord was trying to tell me: with obedience comes the promise of protection. Noah certainly experienced that truth. Because He obeyed the Lord, he was safe and secure when the floodwaters came. When I said “yes” to the Lord in taking on the new ministry project, I too found myself safe in His arms. It was not always easy. And I’m sure Noah didn’t always have a fun time living in the ark with a bunch of smelly animals. But, like Noah, I always knew I was safe in His care and would emerge from the venture unharmed.  I learned quite a lot from that experience, mostly about how much the Lord can be trusted. He always, always has our best interests at heart, even when the way is tough. "If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the LORD" (Leviticus 18:5 NLT). So, what is the Lord calling you to do today? And what obstacles make you want to say “no?” Is it fear of rejection or ridicule? Fear of failure? Fear of loss?  Whatever the concern, I challenge you to take that leap of faith—and know that you will find shelter and safety in the Lord’s loving arms. The deeper knowledge and trust of the Savior will bring you great joy and peace. And that gift is worth the difficulties you may face along the way. ~ Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Bases loaded. Two outs. Final inning of our softball playoff game. With a full count, I checked my swing on a ball in the dirt—or so I thought. The umpire decided otherwise and called strike three. Just like that, our season was over, and I blamed myself. Any other mistake, error, or missed opportunity that may have occurred during that game didn’t matter. I was sure that the only thing that would be remembered was my check swing on a clear ball four. I’d be the scapegoat. Thankfully, my strikeout wasn’t immortalized in sports history like many other well-known scapegoats—Bill Buckner, Scott Norwood, or Steve Bartman—but the shame I felt was still real. Have you ever felt like that? Like all the blame landed squarely on your shoulders, whether or not it was fair? It turns out that the role of the scapegoat is not a fun one to play. I was surprised to learn that the term scapegoat actually comes from the Bible’s description of the Jewish Day of Atonement: When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place and the Tabernacle and the altar, he must present the live goat. He will lay both of his hands on the goat’s head and confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of the people of Israel. In this way, he will transfer the people’s sins to the head of the goat. Then a man specifically chosen for the task will drive the goat into the wilderness. As the goat goes into the wilderness, it will carry all the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land. (Leviticus 16:20-22 NLT) Our modern use of scapegoat doesn’t come close to the original meaning. We might take the blame for a mistake, but that Old Testament goat was responsible for carrying every sin of the people of Israel into the wilderness. What a vivid picture! But the good news is that, thanks to Jesus, we never have to bear the weight of our sins—or anyone else’s—on our shoulders. Through His sacrifice, He became our ultimate and final scapegoat. As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:24: He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed. We’ve all sinned; we’re all guilty of the wickedness and rebellion mentioned in Leviticus 16 (Romans 3:23). And the ultimate cost of that sin is death (Romans 6:23). But Jesus already paid that price. Through His death and resurrection, our sins have been carried away—never to be counted against us again (Romans 5:1-2). Let’s take a moment today to confess our sins to God and praise Him that in Christ, they’ve been removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to be our ultimate and final scapegoat (John 3:16). Thank You that when we confess our sins to You, You remember them no more. Free us from shame and guilt, and help us walk confidently in the forgiveness and redemption we have in Jesus. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. ... For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:12, 14) ~ Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

And he went out and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:75 ESV) Peter wept. Here, we meet Peter at his lowest, all-is-lost moment. That night, he had just denied knowing Jesus—not once, not twice, but three times. His accusers weren’t even Roman officials. Two were servant girls—invisibles who held no voice in society—and the third was a simple bystander. None had even threatened to arrest Peter for being a committed follower. They simply asked, “Did you know Him?” Yet, Peter swore he didn’t and even cursed: “I do not know the man” (Matthew 26:72, 74). Just hours before, this same man raised his sword to defend his Savior against those who came to arrest Jesus (see John 18:10). He could not have been more committed. But darkness has a way of amplifying hidden fears. During the night, Peter’s world unraveled. He watched as Jesus was arrested, beaten, and hauled away. Instead of defending Jesus, Peter disappeared into the crowd. When the rooster crowed, he remembered Jesus’ words from the previous day—words he felt at the time were impossible: “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times” (Matthew 26:34). Peter didn’t just weep—he wept bitterly. When I first turned my life over to Christ, I cried—a lot. I grieved for the years lost by not following Him. Some tears fell from anger at the injustices I witnessed. Others even came from a place of joy—for what God had done in my life. But at times, like Peter, I failed. I struggled to break old habits, spoke harsh words, or failed to acknowledge Jesus. And I wept the same bitter tears as Peter. After knowing all Jesus had done for me, how could I grieve Him like that? And would He ever forgive me? The truth is, we have all failed God and stood in Peter’s shoes. Whether our tears were outward or hidden in the deep recesses of our hearts, we’ve grieved over our own failures and sin. We may have even wondered if God would forgive us—again and again. But that’s the beauty of the Gospel—through Jesus’ sacrifice, He does! Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5) In the darkest hours, joy may seem far, far away, but God sees what is hidden in the dark and brings it into the light. That’s when true healing begins. I can only imagine the questions plaguing Peter’s mind when he first saw Jesus after the resurrection. But Jesus lovingly restored him gently (read John 21:15-19). Peter no longer cried bitter tears. He had a new vision and purpose that he fulfilled with confidence. After my bitter weeping, God didn’t just restore me—He called me to ministry! He wanted to use me even after everything I had done. God offers each of us that same healing. Whatever we have done, He can meet us where we are and give us a fresh start—even after we have failed. When we release our failures and surrender our lives to Him, we can walk fully in the plan He has for us—with an even greater confidence! ~ Scripture is quoted from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.