Our Ugly Chapters

Moses had blood on his hands, Abraham was a bald faced liar, Elijah was at times a coward, Jacob was a liar and a cheat, Esther kept her faith a secret, Peter was a betrayer, and Paul was a murderer.

Yet God used them all. They chose to trust God with their futures and because they did, their pasts no longer had a hold on them. God is not put off by our ugly chapters and with his help, we can soon say what Paul came to say. But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ, Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

God never gives up on you.

Devotion by Max Lucado | The Almighty Jehovah | https://thealmightyJehovah.com

Untying Knots

Most of us had a hard time learning to tie our shoes. Tightening shoes by wrapping strings together? Nothing easy about that. Who came up with the idea of shoes anyway?

My friend Roy used to sit on a park bench watching kids gather and play at the bus stop. One day a little fellow struggled to board the bus, frantically trying to disentangle a knotted shoestring. He grew more anxious by the moment. All of a sudden it was too late. The bus door closed. With tear-filled eyes he looked at Roy on the bench and asked, “Do you untie knots?”

We never outgrow the urge to look up and say, “Help!” And when we do, who shows up? Jesus, our next-door Savior. Go ahead, ask him: “Do you untie knots?” “Yes,” he will say.

As We Behold Him

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “We all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness…” As we behold him, we become like him.

It’s a principle I experienced first-hand when an opera singer visited our church. He sat right behind me. He tried to contain himself, but how can a tuba hide in a room of piccolos? I was startled. Inspired. Emboldened by his volume. I lifted mine. Did I sing better? No. But did I try harder? No doubt. His power brought the best of me.

Could your world use a little music? If so, invite heaven’s baritone—Jesus Christ—to cut loose. Who knows? A few songs with him might change the way you sing!

Our Ugly Chapters