Excuse Me God, I Have a Question....

Do you shy away from asking God questions? Do you feel your faith and trust in Him should keep you from questioning what He does or doesn't do? Habakkuk was a little-known prophet with difficult questions and He wasn't afraid to ask them.

Looking at the dying world around him and observing that wickedness seemed to be winning, he boldly and confidently approached God by asking, "Why?" "Why do you allow so much evil in the world?" "Why does it seem to go unpunished?" "Why do I sense you're not hearing me." Have you ever wanted to ask questions like these, but have not dared?

God responds to Habakkuk with an answer he did not expect..."Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told" (Hab. 1:5). Instead of reprimanding Habakkuk, God gave him a glimpse into what would eventually happen to the wicked.

Habakkuk had a problem I think many of us do as well....He did not understand God's ways. And the great thing about God, is that He understands! We're reminded of this in Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

God still wants us to come to Him with our concerns and questions and then listen for His response. I wanted to share a great devotion with you today from one of my favorite books, Heaven Calling. God tells us - "Ask me your questions, beloved one. The small questions that rustle in your mind. The big ones that keep you awake at night. The deep ones with hurt and pain attached that cause you to doubt me. I promise to hear every concern.

My servant Habakkuk didn't understand my ways, so he asked his questions and then waited for my answers. And I gave them. He still didn't completely understand, but he knew he could trust me. He understand that all of eternity is in my hands. One day, you will understand completely. One day I will make myself fully known. Until then, ask away. I will answer as much as you can understand."

Did you read that last statement? - "I will answer as much as you can understand." Maybe there are some things we will never get answers to because, like Habakkuk, we wouldn't believe it even if we were told!

BLOG COMMENT: Do you have a burning question you want to ask God? What's holding you back?

Are We the Next Nineveh?

Nineveh's time has come! Though they had once avoided God's judgment by taking Jonah's message to heart and repenting, now, more than a one hundred years later, the wicked city will experience the full consequences of its sins.

Nineveh is marked by murder, cruelty, idolatry and social injustice. Nineveh is the capital city of the Assyrian Empire, now the most powerful nation in the world and seemingly the most invincible. But as we see in the book of Nahum, no one can stand against God, as this proud and powerful nation will be utterly destroyed because of their wickedness and rebellion against God.

I can't help but see the similarities between this ancient power of Nineveh and our own present day nation, the United States of America. Are we really any different from the wicked pagans of Nahum's day? We don't have to look far to see the truth....

1) Murder - I literally don't have to look far to see the effects of murder. Flint, Michigan (30 miles from where I live) has been named the murder capital of the United States. "Last year in Flint, population 102,000, there were 66 documented murders. The murder rate here is worse than those in Newark and St. Louis and New Orleans. It’s even worse than Baghdad’s" (Business Insider, April 16, 2011).

2) Cruelty - We can be a cruel group of people. All you have to do is watch a few minutes of one of the many "reality" shows to see that people are mean and have no problem with it. They will do whatever, to whomever, to get what they want. Better yet, you don't have to watch television to witness cruelty, spend some time with kids on a playground, teenagers in a school hallway or adults involved in a bitter divorce, etc.

3) Idolatry - We are a nation in love with our idols: our singing idols, dancing idols, acting idols, magical fiction idols, food idols, car idols, house idols, teen idols, people we will never meet but have to follow their every move idols......I think you get the idea. By definition, anything that takes our time and focus off of God and receives it instead, is an idol. Don't you think the Enemy celebrates as he watches our nation become consumed with our idol worship.

4) Social Injustice - The United States is a generous nation when it comes to supporting human rights, especially outside our boundaries. We are always the first to come to the aid of a hurting country...but what about those being treated unjustly in our own back yard?

I have recently become more aware of the horrendous injustice of human trafficking..."the illegal trade in human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labour, or a modern-day form of slavery (Wikipedia.com). This is not just happening in far away, foreign countries, this is a rapidly growing, money making industry in our own country!

Not long ago, I read an eye-opening book, The Slave Across the Street by Theresa Flores, which tells of a young girl who becomes enslaved into the dangerous world of sex trafficking - all while living at home with unsuspecting parents in an upper-class suburb of Detroit - 30 minutes from where I live! To learn more of Theresa Flores' story and her life today, visit her website www.traffickfree.com.

Nahum's book focuses on God's characteristics - patience, power, holiness and justice. As with the city of Nineveh, God shows these characteristics still today. In Nahum 1:3, we're told, The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. We can have hope that the God who judged evil in Nahum's day is the same God who judges evil today. We can believe that God will show His perfect timing, power, holiness and goodness and the wicked will not be overlooked.

So what can we do while we wait for God's judgment? First remember, The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7). Pray for our nation and its leaders ~ whether we agree with the way things are done in Washington, DC, it is our responsibility. Third, get involved! You may not be able to fix and change the entire problem, but you can help to change one life at a time.

BLOG COMMENT: Do you see other similarities between us and the people of Nineveh? What suggestions do you have to start making a difference in other people's lives?

What Am I To Do?

The age old question, asked by every believer, "What do you want me to do God?" The people in Micah's audience were asking the same thing. They had been warned of coming judgment and wanted to know how to win God's favor.

In Micah 6:6-7, the people suggest ways that they may please God - sacrifices, offerings, good works, etc, but in verse 8, Micah gives three things God is looking for. Three simple things? Not necessarily. God had made His wishes clear to the people of Israel and they are just as pertinent to us today!

He has showed you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? Three things......

1) To act justly. The people in Micah's day were guilty of abusing the poor and comitting grave injustice toward the needy and God wanted it to stop. The word, just, defined as: conforming to a standard of correctness; righteous, describes God's character. And isn't that what we're suppose to be striving for? This should not have been new news to these people or to us either. Back in Ezekiel 18:27, God reminds the people then, But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life Would you consider yourself a just person; one who conforms to a standard of correctness - God's character of righteousness?

2) To love mercy. Mercy is defined as: compassionate, forgiving. Look, more characteristics of God! A little more challenging characteristics for us perhaps. Remember, I didn't say these were 3 easy steps! In a world of tough people, tough times, tough breaks and tough situations, we must do the right thing and show love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. Micah 7:18-19 are great verses that describe these characteristics in God - Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? (Israel) You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl (not toss or throw!) all our inquities into the depths of the sea.

3) To walk humbly with your God. Notice God didn't leave it at "walk humbly"? In a world of pride and self-sufficiency, we must learn to walk with God..not in front of Him or behind Him, but with Him. Humbly walking with God means doing so without arrogance or self-righteousness. Psalm 25:9, tells us what God will do - He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. Do we want to know what is just and right? Humbly walk with God. Do you want to learn His way of love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness? Humbly walk with God.

These three steps, not necessarily easy steps, are what God requires of us. They are not some great mystery only made known to the super-spiritual. They are not impossible requests from God. He is not waiting to see how often we will fail - He is wanting to see how often we will attempt. Progress, not perfection is God's motto!! Only when we start living according to God's way, not our own way, will we begin to affect our home, our society and our world!

Freedom of Choice

Today we celebrate our nation's freedom - something we don't take for granted as we remember those who have sacrificed their lives for it. But there's another kind of freedom that's available to us as well. One that doesn't require a physical sacrifice, but a personal one; our freedom of choice.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he decided to run away from God instead of obeying His command to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and warn them of their coming destruction. Jonah had grown up hating the people of Nineveh and in his mind, they deserved to be destroyed and he chose to have no part in their salvation.....first mistake.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he offered himself as a sacrifice to calm a raging storm. Jonah had settled in on the ship headed 2000 miles opposite of the city of Nineveh when God "caught up with him!" This chose demonstrated how hatred for the people of Nineveh had warped his perspective. He was willing to die so the sailors could live but he was unwilling to obey God and take His message of life to the Ninevites....second mistake.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he reconsidered his actions after spending 3 days and nights in the belly of a great fish. In Jonah 2, we see his prayer is one of thanksgiving; thankful for not having drowned, not a prayer of repentance. Jonah acknowledged the vow he made when he became a prophet of God and was now choosing to fulfill it - even if it meant doing something he didn't want to do.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when given a second chance, he responded to God with obedience, and went to Nineveh. His short, 8-word message, "40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown" spoke directly to the heart of the people. They confessed, turned from their wickedness and in God's love and mercy, He spared the city of 600,000!

Jonah must have been thrilled! Afterall, he's just been a part of the largest revival in Bible history. You'd think he'd be celebrating God's goodness and thanking God for choosing him to be the one to deliver His message. In chapter 4, we see this isn't the case. Jonah is extremely angry and greatly displeased with God....third mistake.

The question to ask here is WHO needed the most transformation? Was it the hateful Ninevites or the hate-filled Jonah? Proverbs 27:19 says "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Jonah's response to what God had chosen to do relected what was in his heart. And based on his actions, it was a heart full of self-centeredness, selfishness, self-pity and a lack of self-control.

God used His freedom of choice and responded to Jonah's moaning with a call for an attitude adjustment. God needed Jonah to see that his perspective and priorites were way off-base. He needed Jonah to realize, although he had the freedom of choice, God was in ultimate control. This is where the book of Jonah ends. God chooses not to tell us if Jonah ever gets the message and has a change of heart. But you have a choice - don't let your story end like this!

Are you using your freedom of choice to run away from God? Are there nasty attitudes in your life that you're choosing to ignore? Are there negative emotions that are controlling your actions? Today on Twitter, Rick Warren asked - The truth sets u free, BUT it makes you miserable until you face it. What are u pretending isnt a problem in your life?

I want to invite you to join us this month as we look at gaining FREEDOM from your hurts, habits and hangups. If you haven't signed up for my weekly e-newsletter, (delivered to your email every Weds.) use your freedom of choice and do so today! You'll receive a special thank-you bonus from me as well :) Simply go to http://www.pathfinderministries.org/purpose.html