NEBUCHADNEZZAR – DANGEROUS SELFIES

Pride is a two-edged sword. It can be a feeling of satisfaction that what you’ve done is good – taking pride in your work – or it can easily tip over to a feeling of superiority and arrogance that makes you feel better than anyone else. It’s a fine line between the two.

Get God in

Nebuchadnezzar could have been satisfied with all his achievements, and he had many, but instead he became superior and delusional. He’d forgotten who to give thanks to and took too many selfies, leaving God out of the picture.

It’s good to feel that you have done a good job, that you have given your very best, that no one could ask any more of you, but if that turns into arrogance, smugness and self-importance then we have become god and forgotten who really deserves that title.

Get God into the picture and keep him there. Whether it’s a DIY project at home, a project at work or a reward for what you have achieved. Remember who to give thanks to, who deserves the highest praise. When you do that you keep your mind clear.

Remember that a Pride is a group of lions. Dangerous and destructive. ‘Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack.’ (1 Peter 5:8) Don’t let pride cause you to fall.

DANIEL - STAY AWAY FROM THE LINE

The Bible contains many warnings but also many encouragements and examples. Daniel has to be one of the best examples of how to stay true to what you believe. No wavy line for his faith, he knew he mustn’t get near to the line, let alone step over it, in fact, the further away from the line the better. He stayed on God’s line.

He didn’t compromise eating, drinking, faith, praying or morals, he stayed well away from any attempt to make him eat food offered to idols or to stop him from praying. Castration, well okay, (a line I’d want to stay well away from) but that’s it, no more!

Don't cross the line!

It’s so tempting to get as close to the line as possible, but the closer you get the smaller the step is to cross it, so stay well away.

Daniel understood what was at stake here. There were consequences for him, but they were nothing compared to keeping his faith in God and walking the line towards Him in every aspect of his life.

‘Win. lose or draw, God is God and He is good.’ (Carl Beech)

NEHEMIAH – WALL BUILDING FOR DUMMIES

Have you ever been inspired to do something that is beyond you and not done it because it is beyond you?

One brick at a time

When Nehemiah heard about the broken down walls around Jerusalem he must have realised that the rebuilding task was beyond him. But he started where he needed to start so he could finish where he needed to finish. The wine-taster became the wall-builder because his heart was stirred and no matter that he had probably not built a wall before, he knew this was his God-given task. So he set about doing it, one brick at a time.

Considered, careful, collaborative construction that began with prayer and ended with a massive celebration because God had given them strength and the people had carried out the work with determination and courage.

Walls get built on brick at a time, the Kingdom gets built one life at a time. Pray and act, be determined and courageous, roll up your sleeves, keep going through the blisters, and together we can finish the task, no matter how broken it seems at the moment. Whether the life of someone you care about, an injustice you can’t stand by and allow, an issue that needs fighting for, a relationship that needs mending.

Time to pray more and ‘get off our backsides more!’

HEZEKIAH - LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

The end of Hezekiah’s life could have been so different but he failed to see beyond himself or his achievements and successes. A full storehouse and armoury may make you feel proud and secure in that moment, but that is not the point of life, the one who gets the most toys doesn’t win.

Imagine what he could have left if he had realised that building a life is more important than building a bigger barn. A life impacts other lives for today and tomorrow.

As I look back in my life I can remember many people who have left a legacy in me. Teachers, church leaders, parents, faithful followers, and I remember each one for the time they gave me, the words they spoke to me, the ‘Jesus’ they showed me, the encouragement they left with me. None of them were perfect, they would all have had a blind spot, but it didn’t distract them from living life with a purpose beyond themselves.

Craig Groeschel says, ‘If you’re not dead, you’re not done!’ It’s not too late to rewrite the will and leave something that will ensure that the next generation continue the work of building the Kingdom of God one life at a time.

ELISHA - BALD AND BOLD

The story is told that when the Romans invaded Britain, once they had landed, they burnt their boats on the beach, there was no way back. Elisha, burns his boats, well his oxen and ploughing equipment, and gives his past life away. His call to follow Elijah was total from the moment he got the cloak – you’re hired!

And so the adventure begins. Yet despite all his success, he was still made fun of – they shouldn’t have done that – but he didn’t back down, intent on his call to reveal God’s power to Kings and widows, Commanders and dead sons. 

Whether you have hair or not, have you had a time when the ridicule has started and you want to stop and call out the bears? It might be over something quite personal or an outright attack on your faith. Whatever it is, God has mighty things for you to do in his name, don’t let anything stop you from doing it.

There are tears to cry, words to speak, prayers to pray, love to give, challenges to make. You are called. ‘Don’t be sugar; be salt.’ (Carl Beech)