Have you considered the danger of misplaced curiosity?

 14 Jan 26

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One

Readings:

Genesis 33

Genesis 34

Genesis 35

Matthew 11

Now Dinah the daughter of Leah…went out to see the daughters of the land (Genesis 34:1). 

Have you considered the danger of misplaced curiosity?

Jacob’s daughter Dinah strays from home and becomes a victim of rape. Her brothers exacerbate the already bad situation by murdering the local male inhabitants. Poor Dinah is scarred for life, and the outcome of her unwise exploration among unbelievers culminates in mass murder. Sadly, Jacob and Leah didn’t provide the protection and security Dinah needed. Jesus’ generation also is not content with God’s provision for them. He graciously sends them John the Baptist, and then later on He ministers to them. Instead of receiving the unified message of this dynamic duo, they complain that John is demon-possessed and leads an ascetic life (Matthew 11:18) while Jesus parties too much (Matthew 11:19). All generations need to receive Paul’s following advice: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). 

Employment Point: Be content with Jesus, who alone gives rest to the soul.

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Reflections

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What stands out from today’s reading is the verse above. When I first read this verse, the very first understanding I got was that when I am tired, cannot make it any more, He will give me rest. I don’t know how He can but He will. 

However, I realised the verses after that carries even more weight. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

My own learning point was that my ways will not work. I need to learn His ways so that everything will be easy and light. No more feet dragging anywhere but by me leaning on Him and just trusting Him, He brought about revelations after revelations, grace after grace. He made me realised that it is totally possible to take His yoke and learn from Him and also find rest for my soul. Nothing needs to be rushed and everything will be on time. If it is not, then it is just His will so there’s nothing to fret. These verses had helped me to realise full surrender is possible. And we can only prove it if we do it His way.

It is through His teachings that He allows us to learn that He is enough. And all that we have, is all enough. We have no lack for our shepherd cares much and loves us much. Thank You Lord.

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Called by God

BY OSWALD CHAMBERS

January 14

I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” —Isaiah 6:8

God didn’t call Isaiah by name; he called for anyone willing to go. Isaiah simply heard and answered.

The call of God isn’t reserved for a special few; it’s for everyone. Whether or not we hear it depends on us. Are our ears open? Is our temperament in line with Christ’s? “For many are invited, but few are chosen,” Jesus said (Matthew 22:14). He meant that few prove themselves chosen. Chosen ones are those who, through Jesus Christ, have come into a relationship with God that has changed their temperament and opened their ears. All the time, they hear God asking, “Whom shall I send?”

God’s call leaves us free to answer or not to answer. When Isaiah answered the call, it wasn’t because God commanded him to. Isaiah was in God’s presence and, when the call came, realized that there was nothing for him to do but to answer, consciously and freely, “Send me.”

We have to get rid of the idea that if God really wants us to do something, he will come at us with force or pleading. When Jesus called the disciples, there was no irresistible compulsion from the outside. Instead, Jesus came with a quiet, passionate insistence, speaking to men who were wide awake, with all their powers and faculties intact. If we let the Spirit bring us face-to-face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard—“Whom shall I send?”—and we will say, in perfect freedom, “Here am I. Send me.”

Genesis 33-35; Matthew 10:1-20

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

Jesus Christ can afford to be misunderstood; we cannot. Our weakness lies in always wanting to vindicate ourselves.

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Reflections

This devotional reminds me of how I felt the Lord speak to me even before I become a believer. And I realised one of the ways He speaks to me is through songs. 

While I was singing “Here I am Lord”, I felt like God asking me if I really meant it when I sing “I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart” and in my heart, I said yes to Him that very day. This was just one of the times He spoke to me. 

And it felt as I began to know Him more, the lesser He spoke to me. It gets more and more simplified or direct as time passes. In the past, He would have to explain and repeat Himself as I somehow cannot wrap my head around what He is trying to tell me. I wasn’t sure about a lot of things. I have so much doubts and a lot of things probably don’t even make sense. Nowadays, He speaks more clearly but does not necessarily tell me what I will expect. I felt my tests are getting harder, which I guess it ought to be if I want to eat solid food.

However on the other hand, there is a strange of part of me that felt it is much more doable now than in the past, something which I cannot understand. But I just want to thank God for holding me close and for guiding me on my paths. I am very sure I can’t do it without Him and definitely not something I can if it were me like 3 years ago. So indeed, thank You Lord. 

Search me God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen 🙏🏻