“²⁹The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” — Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV)

I am amazed each time that I learn something new. I do consider myself a lifelong learner and that means that I am always looking to enhance my knowledge of thing in general. There are things that I do not know and will openly admit that I don’t and that in and of itself is good for me and for those around me as I question to learn and others benefit from those questions as well.

There are things that the LORD has not revealed to me. Those same things may have been revealed to others, but not to me and therefor are not for me at this time. Those things belong to those that know, whether God, or those that He has entrusted those things.

I have been entrusted with the knowledge of things and bringing those to those around me are part of my work for the LORD. As noted in the verse above, “we may do all the word of this law”. I am responsible to not only know those things, but I am to spread them far and wide, throughout the sphere I am able to get them.

Even though there are things that have been revealed to me by the LORD, there are also those things that have not been revealed. Where those thing do not belong to me, but they do to God, I can and still should be seeking those things out. I may not know what they are and frankly, that is excepted and understood, but I should be seeking to learn and know everything I can that is or may be revealed by the LORD. Until then, I don’t know what I don’t know and only seek for it to be revealed. When it is time for me to know, the LORD will make sure that it is revealed to me. And with that reveal there comes the understanding that it now belongs to me and it is my duty to bring that to the world around me.

What is out there that you don’t know? Are you proceeding through life with the thought that you know everything you are to know? What if you continued to seek to know with the understanding that the LORD has not revealed all to you, yet?

What is it about this world that drives the idea of accumulating more and more? I am not a person that puts a lot of value in monetary things, but I find myself wanting to get that next thing and have more and more. But, why and even when I accumulate it “all”, does it really belong to me?

“¹⁴Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.” — Deuteronomy 10:14 (ESV)

It does not. Everything belongs to the LORD. Everything that I “have” is really on loan from Him and it is my duty simply to be a good steward. I have and will have nothing of my own. I am here on borrowed everything. This is not really my home. I am only renting this space as I work to bring glory to the LORD.

Everything belongs to the LORD. All of the possessions. All of the time. All of the people. All of the everything is His and I am only using it to bring glory to Him. I am to be bringing the gospel to everyone I come in contact and in that I am only here for a little while and cannot take anything with me to heaven which is my home.

I have to remember to keep being a steward of the things that are entrusted to me in this world. I have to remember what they are for and that I am simply borrowing them from the LORD to complete His work here in this world. I really own nothing as once I have left this world, I am not able to take it with me, and frankly even if I were able to do so, it would be of no value in heaven, as I will already have everything I need when I get there as Jesus said:

“²In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” — John 14:2 (ESV)

What have you or are you looking to accumulate in this world? Are you trying to gather more of that which is not really yours anyway? What if you were to approach everything that you have as only being on loan from the Father who it really belongs?

“¹²Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” — 1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV)

I am studying this morning in 1 Timothy and this verse is where I was led and to where I have some thoughts. I see this verse and at once think that yes, we are to “fight the good fight of the faith”. That makes total sense and what a rallying cry for us as Christians.

Then I look at the second part of the verse and am blown away at what I found. I am to be fighting the good fight for something that I have accepted as a part of my life. I accepted salvation that was freely given. I know the sacrifice that was endured for my salvation. I have professed in front of many and continue to do so my commitment to the faith. And I am to not just fight for it, but keep fighting for it.

I am under attack daily. I am challenged in my faith to stay within in the face of society that is lost. I do not accept the societal norms and that makes me the enemy to them. I am different and that is the reasons for the attacks. But, I don’t want to be the same as everyone else. I don’t want to be of the current societal norm.

The fight is worth every cut and scrape. I have to be willing to keep up the fight and take on the attitude of the fictional character Steve Rogers of the Marvel comics: “I can do this all day.” I have to be willing to put it out there and stand for what I have accepted. I have to defend the faith. I have to be bold and not back down. I have to keep up the fight.

What attacks are you under each day? Are you giving in to the enemy to avoid the fight? What if you were to keep up the fight for that which you accepted in front of everyone?

It seems like such a small and unneeded thing to ask for something that should be and really is given freely. The LORD will fight for me at every turn. That however does not mean that He does not want to hear from me and my requests for assistance.

“¹Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;

fight against those who fight against me!

²Take hold of shield and buckler

and rise for my help!

³Draw the spear and javelin

against my pursuers!

Say to my soul,

“I am your salvation!” — Psalm 35:1-3 (ESV)

I read this morning of David’s asking of the LORD to fight for him. Not only does he ask the LORD, but he asks for exactly what he knows the LORD can and will be able to do. I know that I do not always ask for the LORD to take action, and maybe I should.

I have recently been consistently asking (not that I was not asking before) for the LORD to take action in our lives as a family with regard to all that we have going on. I have not asked for exactly what I want (what details as relates) but I have asked for Him to make it known that the work He is doing is something that I have asked for, and He has delivered. I now need to continue that act of asking for things from the LORD and expecting that He will provide as He has always done.

Asking the LORD for things is one thing, but asking Him to fight for me is another. I am not a violent person, although I am competitive. I do not wish harm on anyone, however I do wish to be protected and cared for. I have to ask the LORD to provide and His fighting for me is a great part of that provision. I have to remember that the LORD only wants for me to complete the task of bringing glory to Him and the gospel to the world. I need Him to provide the way and clear the path. In that I will need Him to fight for me and what better way to receive His provision than to ask for it directly from Him.

What is getting in your way of doing the work for the LORD? Are you needing someone to clear the path for your work to be done? What if you asked the LORD to fight for you and clear that path?

As a follower of Christ, I have a duty to continue the work He has for me. In that continuing of the work, I have to also be always ready for the adversity that will come. I have to be ready to fight for the LORD and for the work. I have to continue the work all the while being prepared with my weapon by my side.

“¹⁷who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. ¹⁸And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.” — Nehemiah 4:17-18 (ESV)

Here is the example of what my being prepared should look like. Notice that the builders are guarded by others and that they also stay at the ready as they work. They are continuing the work of the LORD and still carry their weapons in case they are attacked.

In this world today, we are not generally put in a position where we have to physically defend ourselves, although it does happen. We are however tasked with carrying our sword with us, the Word of God. It may be inconvenient and cumbersome to walk around always with your bible, but just as in the days of Nehemiah, we should always be at the ready to fight for our God and defend against the enemy. In order for that to be in this world, having our sword with us always ensures that we are indeed ready for the fight.

I am one that believes in the physical bible to study God’s word. I like the feel of the pages in my hand. I like to idea of writing my notes and reminders in the margins. Yet, carrying the Word of God in any form is carrying the weapon to fight for the our God. I also believe that the Word of God is bigger than the pages and a great understanding and knowledge of it is the real weapon.

Carrying the bible with you so that others can see it does provide some protection as those who see it will think twice about attacking. But, the physical bible itself is of little danger to the attacker if the holder does not know how to use it. Yes, it can be used to physically hit someone, but without a strike in just the right spot, the single blow will likely only anger the attacker. It is in the knowledge and understanding of the Word of God that is the real weapon. When able to call on just the right scripture and access just the right passage that one is able to strike that defeating blow. So more than carrying the Word of God with me, I have to know the substance of it and carry that knowledge with me always.

It is the Word of God that is the weapon for fighting against the attackers of our LORD. I have to have it with me always and do the work with one hand while holding firm to the Word of God in the other. I must be at the ready always for the fight against the attackers of the faith.

What fights have you been in where you were not prepared? Are you always carrying the weapon needed to defend against the attacker? What if you carried the Word of God with you always as your weapon to do just that?

There is something to this past thing that I have to remember and carry into the now and future. You see, the LORD fought for me yesterday and I have to believe that He will indeed fight for me today and into tomorrow.

“³⁰The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, ³¹and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.” — Deuteronomy 1:30-31 (ESV)

Did the LORD not provide a way out of Egypt for the Israelite people. Did He not defeat Pharaoh and his men allowing the people to escape through the Red Sea. It is no wonder that the LORD was angry with them for not going into the land they were promised for fear. There was no trust in the LORD or even obedience in Him based on the past and His love and past protection of them.

There is a saying that if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it. The LORD has been consistent in all that He had done for the people to this point. He had rescued them from Egypt, provided for their escape from Pharaoh, provided for them in the wilderness, and yet they were still reluctant to follow Him. Seems to me that the people here are worried that the LORD is somehow broken and needs their fixing before moving forward.

“³²Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God, ³³who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go.” — Deuteronomy 1:32-33 (ESV)

How often have I tried to fix things when really they were not broken. God provides what we need and not necessarily what we want. I have to remember to look back at the past and see all that God has provided to know that He will continue to provide and all I have to do is obey and trust Him. I have to avoid fixing things for God, as He has already put together the perfect plan and I just need to trust that what lies ahead is in accordance with the way things were in the past.

What have you seen from God in the past? Are you trying to fix something that is not broken? What if you were to trust in the LORD that the past will be the now and future?

“¹⁴The Lord will fight for you, and you only have to be silent.” — Exodus 14:14 (ESV)

I read this verse this morning and thought, duh. I know that the LORD will fight for me and you as his people and for that I am grateful. But, how much do I trust that He will fight for me. I trust so much that I just sit in silence and go on about the work and just allow Him to work? Well that is what I am needed to do.

The people of Israel in this passage were escaping Pharaoh and the LORD had commanded that they stop, turn around and go to a very specific spot and wait. Get it, they backtracked, not to change course, but to stop and wait. How is it that the God that sent Moses to rescue them could tell them to stop escaping and wait?

“¹Then the LORD said to Moses, ²’Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.’” — Exodus 14:1-2 (ESV)

I look out in what I am doing in this world and feel like I am not doing enough or, need to keep going. What if I am to just stop, turn back, and find a place to wait on God? What if I am in that place and just need to keep waiting? I am always looking as to where I am and am I accomplishing the work that the LORD has for me. I seem to be forcing myself to do more and more and more. What if I am just supposed to sit and wait?

“¹⁹Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, ²⁰coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.” — Exodus 14:19-20 (ESV)

The Israelite people where waiting and Pharaoh caught up to them, no surprise there. And the LORD sent His angel to go between them along with a dense cloud to provide cover as the Israelite people moved forward. The LORD told the people to wait, so that He could set up His defenses. This again demonstrates the LORD fighting for His people. The LORD not only protected them, but He began the fight as the people moved forward through the Red Sea on dry land, all the while providing even more desire in the heart of Pharaoh to continue to pursue.

When the time was right, the LORD moved the people forward. I have to believe that He is doing the same with me. As He has me waiting, He is fighting, or setting up the fight, to propel me forward. The LORD will harden the hearts of those pursuing me and will provide the protections and means by which I will come out victorious on the other side. He will fight for me to protect me from the pursuers. At the appointed time, the LORD will provide the victory against those who persecute.

I have to remember that the LORD is the one running the show. I am here but to continue to do as He has me do. He will fight for me, and I am the one who must stop, listen, and wait. As a child of God, I am protected on all sides. Those who persecute will be dealt with, I only need to continue to listen to the LORD and allow Him to fight for me and the balance of His people.

What are you doing in this world to protect yourself from your pursuers? Are you continuing to run when other actions may be asked of you by God? What if you were to listen to Him, and just stop and wait for the LORD to set up His defenses for you and fight as He has promised to do?

I have studied the word “test” for the past couple of weeks and as a Christian, I have been reminded and will work to remember that the test is not a bad thing and that I should be asking for it along the way and be thankful when it is presented. This morning I am reading in 1 Peter and was reminded that I should also, not be surprised when the test is presented.

“¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” — 1 Peter 4:12 (ESV)

I know that surprises are just that, things that come up without warning and are presented just when we are not looking for them. Tests in life, where they come up, for us as Christians, they should not be unexpected. Knowing that I am doing the will of God, or at least striving to, I should be prepared for anything that may be presented to me and count it as part of the work.

I am tasked with doing the work of the LORD and I should be asking for the work to demonstrate my drive to bring glory to Him in all. Therefore I ask to be tested in the work and refined to the point of producing my steadfast dependence in Him.

All that is presented for me as a brother of Christ has already been counted. The result has been outlined. I do not know it all, but I do know that I am protected and provided for in all. I have the freedom to take action and decide what will be done and what will come next. The thing is that God is allowing me to choose and that choice is part of the work I have been tasked. I am to choose the work and then perform the work. Sometimes that choice will yield fast and easy outcomes and others will cause me to struggle and fight to get to the end, the thing is that I will achieve the outcome as determined by God.

I have been tasked with the work for the LORD. I should be asking for the tests. The LORD is faithful and will answer, so when I ask, I should not be surprised when it is given. I should then be thankful when they are presented and count myself blessed to be loved by Him.

What kind of tests in your life have you been surprised to be presented? Do you remember asking for that very thing from the LORD? What if you accepted that you asked and the LORD provided, and now you should be thankful for receiving?

“²Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness…¹²Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:2-3 & 12 (ESV)

This morning as I read and study, I was reminded of the value of the tests that we are subjected to. It is in the test and how we come out the other side that makes us who we are. Without the test, we tend to skate along and growth and meaning are not fully realized.

Notice in the verses above the result of the test is steadfastness. And that steadfastness results in blessings and reward. Without the test, the steadfastness would allude and by extension, the blessings and reward will be as well. The blessing and reward are the by products of the withstanding of the test and making it through.

I have to remember to be thankful for the test. I cannot look to them as though they are in some way bringing me down. I have been given the opportunity in the test to remain in the LORD and He will provide the strength and direction for overcoming and remaining in Him. I will come out the other side stronger in my faith and relationship with Him. I may not get the result that I envisioned in my mind for it is the will of God that determines the outcome, but I will overcome and be stronger in the faith for it.

What tests are you encountering in life? Are you apprehensive to the test and see them as somehow negative? What if you accepted and thanked God for the test in the anticipation of coming out the other side stronger in the faith?

How much out there in the world do we take someone’s word for it to be correct, right, and true? I know that it is a forgone conclusion that what we read in one area is thought to be correct. In fact it is not always true and there are a lot of things going on out there that are fake and there simply to influence you one way or another. I often say, tongue in cheek, that if you see it on the internet, then it must be true. Haha.

“²¹but test everything; hold fast what is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (ESV)

Dig deeper into all things. Whatever is heard, ask questions to find out more and the validity of that which is heard. Too often I have found myself on the wrong end of something because I listened to someone and accepted what I was told and then later found out that to be incorrect and I then had to completely backtrack and redo everything. This not only cost me frustrations, but time and credibility with others as I should have done my homework to ensure that my teachings or relaying of information was correct and not going to cause any additional challenges for the hearers.

I have learned to “trust but verify” in situations. I listen to what others tell me and then verify it to be correct (at least as much as I can find) and therefor I am in a better position to speak from a place of knowledge and truth than if I just accept and then find out it to be not fully truthful. I had a leader once that would come by and touch everything that I had done, not to ensure that it was done correctly, but so that he could speak with truth when asked if it had been done and say “yes, I saw it myself”. He trusted that I had indeed done the work, but verified the validity and truth so that he could speak to it truthfully himself.

I have to remember that what I hear or see, may only be there for the optics of something and in reality may not be true at all. I see too often the visuals of what is being presented, yet in the background everything is a complete mess and simply being masked to hide the mess. I liken it to throwing everything into the closet when visitors come to the house, to give the appearance of a well kept home, when in fact when you pull back the curtain, the mountain of stuff will fall on top of everything.

Test everything for its validity. “Trust but verify” everything. Ask the LORD for discernment in all situations to ensure that we are finding the truth.

What is there in your life that you have just accepted as true? Have you been fooled before? What if you were to “trust but verify” and test everything to ensure that you are indeed working with the facts of things and not just the optics?