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Heaven Rules

Challenge Central: a CBC devotional

By: Rebecca Feere

Over the past few weeks, I have talked to several people dealing with complicated and heavy circumstances. It is easy to question where God is and why He would allow such pain for His children. Does He see? Does He care? Daniel and the Hebrews, who were taken to Babylon as captives, must have had some of the same questions. Where are you, God? How long is this going to last? They knew their circumstances were bleak; they could not understand God’s actions. Their stories, recorded in Scripture, remind us that God is always at work behind the scenes, even in life’s most devastating moments. Think about the stories found in the book of Daniel – the three men thrown into the fiery furnace (chap. 3) and Daniel being thrown into the lion’s den (chap. 6). Those moments looked bleak; it seemed there was no hope of survival. But, of course, we know from reading the book of Daniel that God delivered the three men from the fire, and God preserved Daniel from the hungry lions. 

So, what does this have to do with us today? It is doubtful any of us will be thrown into a den of lions or cast into a fiery furnace. But, in other ways, God may be placing you in the “fire” or positioning you among people who seem to be out to destroy you. Perhaps your “lions” are negative thoughts leading to discouragement and despair. I challenge you to read through the book of Daniel, looking to see how God was at work (God’s actions) behind the scenes. Look for such phrases as “God granted Daniel…” (Dan. 1:9) and “God gave them…” (Dan. 1:17). These are just a few, and I promise if you read the rest of the book, you will find plenty more! It is exciting and encouraging to notice all the things God was doing while, on the surface, it looked like the kings of Babylon were in control; we see that God had never forgotten or abandoned His people – even in Babylon.

We may think Daniel and his friends were “super Christians.” How did these men face these things and not succumb to fear and intimidation, run, or just jump ship and give up on their faith in God? It sure seems that would have been easier, considering the consequences of their obedience. Well, the characters in the book of Daniel were humans, just like you and me. They were sinful people made in the image of God for His glory. As you read through Daniel, you see Daniel and his friends doing two things – praying and praising (Dan. 2:17-18 and Dan. 2:19-23 is just one example). It would have been easy to focus on the problems at hand. But these men knew Who their God was. They had no doubt that He would deliver them (Dan. 3:17). They had pre-decided to be faithful to God’s Word regardless of the cost, even if it meant their very lives.

Like Daniel and his friends, we need a right-sized view of God. In the face of much danger and destruction, and even in the presence of the most powerful kings of their day, these men remembered that their God was in control. Daniel boldly declared to King Nebuchadnezzar that God would restore his kingdom to him when he (King N.) recognized that Heaven rules (Dan. 4:26). They lived with complete confidence that God was in control of all things. Their actions were evidence of their faith in the God of Heaven! Here are a few names of God found in the book. I encourage you to read the entire book to find more.  

  • The God of Heaven (Dan. 2:44)
  • The Great God (Dan. 2:45)
  • The Most High God (Dan. 4:32,34)
  • The God who holds our life breath (Dan. 5:23)
  • The Living God (Dan. 6:20,26)
  • The Highest One (Dan. 7:18)

They were clinging to what they knew to be true of their God. Even how they often spoke of God in personal, relational terms is exemplary! Earthly kingdoms come and go, but we see in Daniel’s account of Hebrew history (and in recent news) that no earthly ruler or circumstance is ultimate or eternal. But God is! If we truly believe Heaven Rules, there is freedom from anxiety and worry. There is freedom to live in obedience to God and with joy without allowing fear to hold us back!

Tether yourself to the goodness of God, the greatness of God, the glory of God, the promises of God and the Word of Truth. We cannot comprehend His ways, His purposes, and His plans, but we can choose to place our hope in God and His Word. 

Lord, help us to believe that You, The God of Heaven, Rule!

Be Still

Challenge Central: a CBC devotional

By: Lindsey Lyons

I love this time of year: cooler weather, fall colours, and cozy holidays. I look forward to Christmas with so much anticipation and, in the past few years, some dread. I get so excited; I make all my lists and plans, and then there’s so much to accomplish that I end up being exhausted and not enjoying our events and traditions as much as I had hoped. I have mostly myself to blame. I put so many expectations on myself of what we need to send, give, decorate, participate in, etc. that I end up overwhelmed and tired, feeling rushed for time and annoyed.

I have been thinking about it as we get close to that season again, and the same phrase keeps coming to mind: “be still.” I want to be still this season in many ways:

Be still and remember why we celebrate Christmas, not the rush of checking things off lists, writing cards, cooking, baking, going to bed late, and repeating it for the month. “The reason for the season” is a well-known saying because we forget all too easily.

Be still and be in the moment with my kids. Watch the whole movie, leave my phone in another room, and bake with them instead of shooing them away from the kitchen. Enjoy countless special moments with them (especially at these ages) without watching the clock.

Be still in my mind. I want to give myself the freedom not to be worried about checking tasks off, mail deadlines, and sticking to our Christmas budget – any of the concerns and busyness that add to the anxiety of the season. To help accomplish this I talked through all the things we typically do/give/participate in with Charlie, and we scaled it back so the holiday is more focused and enjoyable.

“Be still and know that He is God.” (Psalm 46:10) Am I glorifying God in my busyness? At the end of the holidays, have I shown others what it means to celebrate Christmas as a Christian, or is it indistinguishable from anyone else? What example am I setting for my kids by rushing around, being so tired I inevitably get a cold, or giving into frustration and taking it out on them by being grouchy or rude? I need to be an example to them in each decision we make about this time of year. Showing rather than just telling that Christmas is more than getting gifts, showing that experiences and time spent together will be better memories than more presents under the tree. I want to instill in them how to celebrate Christmas by being thankful for the reason we celebrate in the first place.

Maybe Christmas is similar for you, or maybe it’s the most relaxing time of your year. Perhaps you don’t even think about it until two weeks out! If that’s the case, where can you make a change in your life to be still? Is there an area of your life that feels out of control, where the car is driving you instead of the other way around? I pray you can be still today.

House…LORD…let’s go!

Challenge Central: a CBC devotional

By: Lars Janssen

Where do you want to be right now?

If asked this question at any given moment of the day, many of us might answer that we would want to be somewhere other than where we are. But where? What place did you think of?

Over the past weekend, our church family was encouraged and challenged by Dr. David Schmidt as he preached at our Anniversary Bible Conference. On Saturday night he made us laugh and reminded us how good it is to be with God’s family! He told us that the last line in Psalm 122:1, which is translated, “Let us go to the house of the LORD,” is actually just three words in Hebrew: “House…LORD…let’s go!” Here is a rallying cry on the way out of our homes when we go to see our church family, whether it’s on a Sunday morning for a worship service or another time for a committee meeting, Growth Group, or a church family party.

However, we can come to dread seeing our church family for various reasons. Perhaps we’re struggling with sin we don’t want anyone to see, or maybe we’re exhausted and we don’t think we could force out a smile if we tried, or we don’t want to face that person who said that unpleasant thing we can’t push out of our minds. Things like these may keep us away, but these reasons are exactly why we should resolve to never stay away from our church family.

Dr. Schmidt reminded us on Sunday morning that our “help comes from the LORD” (Psalm 121:2). Because this is true, we can remind each other that God is our helper, protector, defender, and preserver. And think about it, how would we ever survive in this confusing world without church family members who will remind us of reality in Jesus? Let me remind you of how this reality works out in a few ways:

  1. The Father sent Jesus to conquer our sin, “nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14), so we don’t have to hide our struggles with sin from our church family. Every Christian in our church family has admitted inadequacy in the face of sin and a desperate need for Jesus!
  2. Our exhaustion is real, but we persevere through the Holy Spirit’s “energy that he powerfully works within” us (Colossians 1:29), so we don’t have to pretend we’re not tired. We need our church family the most when we are so exhausted that we come to the end of ourselves.
  3. When we are hurt and repelled by someone in our church family, we can forgive “as the Lord has forgiven” us (Colossians 3:13), so we must fight that self-righteous urge to stay away and become bitter. We are forgiven so much that we can see friction within the church family as an opportunity to forgive others like Jesus forgives—to become more like Jesus.

The next time you come to see your church family, think of it in the reality that Jesus makes known. Think of the hope, the joy, and the great comfort of being with your church family. Maybe even say it out loud on your way out of your home:

“House…LORD…let’s go!”

Lowly and Gentle

Challenge Central: a CBC devotional

By: Laurie Korstanje

I was at a local thrift store, taking my time browsing for just the right items. A volunteer warmly greeted me when I walked in. There were a handful of people in the store. I started looking through the section I was sure held my treasures when I heard the lady behind the counter greet a customer by name. She said it was nice to see him; it had been a while. Then she asked what he was going to do with the items he was buying. Seeing him for the first time made me look out of curiosity. He was an elderly, disheveled and rather thin man. His clothing was well-worn. He told her where the various items he had collected would go, naming each friend and what they would get. As I continued to browse, I heard the volunteer exchange pleasantries with each customer, treating them as if they were special. It got busier by the time I was ready to check out. There was a man at the counter who was again greeted by name. He had a pull-cart with many things, including a stack of records. He, too, was older. As she pulled each item out, adding up as she went, he said he only had ten dollars. She said he had shopped very enthusiastically for having only ten dollars. As I watched their exchange, it was evident he had some limitations. She was very gentle with him and so patient. Three people were lined up behind him, but she didn’t rush him. Instead, she deftly bargained with him to donate the music CDs back to the store when he was finished listening to them. He thought that was a good idea. As he left the store, dignity fully intact, the clerk helping her bag the goods said to the lady next in line, “we help in many ways.”

I was very impressed that day by the kindness that many people have for one another. In this world, the poor and vulnerable aren’t always treated with the respect they deserve. In other retail stores, they may have been asked to return items to stay within the money they have with them. I recognize that it may be easier to accommodate in a store with donated items, but the kindness the staff had for those individuals spread to the customers standing in line. You could see it on their faces, smiles, not inpatient sighs, with being made to wait a few extra minutes.

A few years back, while standing in a line at the grocery store, I observed a cashier who was clearly not having the best day. She seemed distracted and talkative to the point of maybe being annoying. A couple left her line-up; others soldiered through. No one seemed to be showing much patience. When it was my turn, I remember looking at her and smiling. I asked her how she was and how her day was going. To my great surprise, the woman broke down and began to weep. I remember a co-worker walked up, rolled her eyes and kept walking. The cashier talked to me for the next five minutes about her three-year-old grandchild, who had recently died because of neglect. She said it was her only grandchild and likely to be her only grandchild. She thanked me for listening. Most people saw a woman they perceived as annoying, not as someone whose heart was broken and desperately needed a friendly smile from a stranger.

Colossians 3:12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…

So let’s be kind to one another.