Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: "Seeing Things Clearly"

Today's devotion comes from Numbers 13:25-33.

Click here to read the passage.

"We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

Numbers 13:33

So often, we find ourselves doing the same thing these spies were doing...seeing things "in our own eyes."

The blessing of the Lord was right in front of them. The land was filled with milk and honey!

But the battle seemed too much. All they saw was a land that devoured its inhabitants and a people too great for them to conquer.

In the spies minds, the people of the land even thought of the Israelites as grasshoppers. But in reality, the Canaanites were terrified of them because of who they followed. In Joshua 2:11, Rahab tells Joshua's spies what the other nations really thought about Israel:

"When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."

The Canaanites knew the power of the God of the Israelites and were afraid. But the Israelites themselves, God's chosen people, had lost sight of it.

And they would end up spending the next 40 years wandering in the desert until they could see things clearly. Until they could take their eyes off of how big the circumstances appeared to be and set their eyes on how big their God is.

Someone once said that the eye that shifts its focus off of God and onto the world will lack the stability to take confident steps in victory.

What are your eyes focused on today?

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: July 22

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain, and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it."

Zechariah 4:6b-7

Do you need some encouragement today?

Two thousand five hundred years ago, Zerubbabel was given the task of building the temple, and he had hit some roadblocks along the way. He needed some encouragement. And isn't it just like our God to provide exactly what he needed?

Zerubbabel saw the obstacles as mountains standing in the way of completing his task.

But as God speaks through the angel, He reminds Zerubbabel that it is "not by might nor by power" but by God's Spirit that he will see results. By God's grace--God's provision for our every need when we need it--Zerubbabel would see the mountain become a plain.

What are your mountains today?

God is ready and able to level those peaks if we just depend upon His Spirit to do it! In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Whatever your obstacle, whatever your mountain, take it to Jesus.

Let me know how I can pray for you...

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: July 15

The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care.

Acts 27:3

Not very often in the book of Acts do we see others treating Paul with consideration. Most of the time, Paul was treated to stones, whips, accusations, and chains.

What made this man Julius treat Paul like he did?

Was it Paul's attitude towards his shipmates or maybe the way he did not complain about being chained or unjustly punished? It could have been his servant's attitude or maybe is was just his reputation.

Whatever it was, it made Julius look at Paul in a different light.

In Colossians 4:5-6, Paul would write, "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."

Sounds like great wisdom to me. And it's from a reliable source.

Paul certainly knew firsthand the value of putting this advice into action.

We never know who is watching us or listening to the things we say, but our actions and words influence the way others see us, and more importantly, how they see Christ.

What are your words and actions saying to others today?

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: July 8, 2009

Last night while I was watching the news on tv, the only thing being reported on was the death of one of our greatest entertainers. Whether or not you like the music and dancing of Michael Jackson, you have to admit that he captured the hearts of millions of people all over the world. As the "King of Pop" he became the idol of many.

This morning I opened my Bible and read from Habakkuk 2 about the emptiness of idolatry. Entertainment has become one of many American idols, and how sad our God must feel when we place those gods before Him.

Habakkuk ends the chapter by stating, "But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him."

My prayer for us as believers is that we "be silent before Him" because He "is in His holy temple."

And He wants our undivided attention.

Let's put aside any idol that would keep us from being continually in His presence.

Le me know if I can pray for you as we pursue the truth..."Holiness = Happiness!"

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: July 1

Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."

Acts 26:28

I don't know if King Agrippa ever became a Christian, but Paul certainly gave it his best shot. Some have said that Paul was not a great speaker. How many of us can relate to that?

But even though he lacked ability in that area, he had the only two things someone needs to persuade someone to become a Christian--a heart like Christ and the truth.

The desire of Jesus' heart is to see none perish, but all to come to repentance, and that was Paul's heart too.

The second thing Paul had was the truth.

In Acts 26, Paul's conversation with King Agrippa was simple. The resurrection is true. Life after death is real. And Jesus is the one that proves it.

Paul didn't use big theological arguments. He just shared his testimony.

So often I forget that this is the best way to share the gospel. I try so hard to persuade people with nice illustrations or some great insight instead of just keeping with the plain and simple truth. Paul knew how to keep it simple.

In verse 20, Paul tells King Agrippa that his message from the beginning was that men "should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance."

Sounds simple enough.

If you've ever found yourself doubting whether you have what it takes to persuade someone to become a Christian, just remember that all you need is a heart for the lost and the plain & simple truth.

I pray today that you will get a chance to share the simple truth of Christ with someone.