Share
I Will
by Molly Fisher
As Dan said last week, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. ” This is a bold proclamation (not just a good quote on a plaque). It’s a decision and not one to be taken lightly. And it’s a challenge—what will you do?
To serve the Lord means to forsake all other gods – and other gods are plentiful. This isn’t complicated, but it is hard. It’s hard to let go of what others think about you—I love the Mark Twain (paraphrased) quote that you might if you realized how little they did. It’s hard not to prioritize having fun, doing what feels good, wanting health, protecting your family, and wanting prosperity or “just a little more.” The challenge to give, especially to give monetarily, is hard!
I don’t know why, but I recognize that I have a deep–seeded scarcity mindset. It is not natural for me to think everything will work out or to trust God with a future I have not prepared for. I’m a saver at my core, and though I will spend money and enjoy spending it (especially on travel), I am not the first to give it away—that’s hard for me. Thankfully, I’m married to someone for whom generosity comes naturally, and he pushes me, challenges me, to give beyond my comfort. My husband, Steve, also quickly and implicitly trusts God even with the future. Thank you, Jesus, that I have that balance in my life! I certainly would not do as well alone in my faith and trust as I do because of others God has put in my life. God gives us each different strengths for a reason.
In this series, We Will, I am convicted (in a good way) and challenged to consider how tightly I hold on to comfort, security, and other illusions of control. When I think I’m overcoming that scarcity mindset, it rears its ugly head. Time and again, I find that God needs to pry open my grip on things I only think I can hold on to. We will give more because giving it better prepares my heart and soul to trust God and receive the better, less tangible, but more important blessings God offers. Diane Chrislip put it well, “When you give, your eyes are open to all the things God has in store for you.” Mark and Diane’s story was inspiring.
Joshua is a book of 2nd chances (and I’ve needed even more), but God is there, always there, always with me, always near, waiting on me to realize that truth. He is near, even when I can’t sense him. He is not dependent on my feelings of proximity—he is near. He knows I/we will fall short and knows exactly where those places in my life will be, but promises, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” The book of Joshua is also about the faith of God’s people together and their struggles in challenging times. I’m thankful God’s work is more evident in the rearview mirror. I’ve witnessed him show up so many times when things seemed grim, and it gives me hope for the future, even as I struggle to trust fully. God meets me where I am and helps me build that trust in hope. He does that as I spend time in the Bible and prayer, and he does that through critical relationships with those who also love Jesus. Giving definitely grows my/our faith. Joshua asks God’s people, “Will you…” and they answer, “We will!”
The Book of Acts Reading Plan:
This Fall-Winter we will be diving into the Book of Acts. For context, check out these brief videos on the major themes in Acts from our friends at The Bible Project.
[Sunday, October 13]
Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5
Old and New Testament verses remind us that God will never leave or forsake us, but also that we can too easily follow other gods/idols—things get in the way of our commitment to “serve the Lord.” What gets in your way? How tightly do you hold on to money, status, family, or anything else that takes priority over God? What steps can you take to give instead of protect in a way that honors God?
[Monday, October 14]
Acts 20:22-38
In our Heartland series, “We Will,” we are talking about taking courageous steps of faith (not knowing the future, because that is something we cannot know.) In Acts 20, Paul is being compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. Paul’s future does not look good there, but he is going on faith, and warning those he is leaving to be wary of wolves among the sheep and seek truth. There is SO much in this passage to read and reread! Have you ever stepped out in faith like this? Do you think you would be willing to? How discerning are you about who you listen to and what is being said?
[Tuesday, October 15]
Acts 21:1-14
On his way to Jerusalem, Paul is visiting gentile churches, and they, too, are trying to dissuade him from going; it’s dangerous for Paul. Paul insists on following God’s lead and says, “I am ready…” Eventually, the others agree, “God’s will be done.” Do you have a community that will try to protect you, pray for you, and want the best for you but is also willing to support you should God have a call for you that may to everyone be counter-intuitive?
[Wednesday, October 16]
Acts 21:15-25
Things do not go well for Paul in Jerusalem, and primarily from other Jews and even Jewish Christians because of Paul’s affiliation with gentile churches. The lies gain momentum; few seek to dig deeper and even wonder if what they hear is true. This sounds eerily familiar today – the ability to take a lie, or partial truth, and create a story that riles people up, with few wondering if what they are hearing is even true. Thinking critically, questioning narratives, and seeking truth are challenging but essential. (Satan will lie to you, and it will often sound good/right.)
[Thursday, October 17]
Acts 21:26-36
Like with Jesus, the crowd was turned against Paul. Paul wasn’t wrong, wasn’t saying anything that was not true, and was being falsely accused, but the massive crowd had been fully turned against him. Again, the warnings ring true that there will be wolves among the sheep – people will distort the truth for their gain and to not turn to the left or the right. Do you find that you follow the crowd and would rather fit in than stand out? Are there areas in your life, and your beliefs where you feel like you may be compromising? Do your thoughts and beliefs align with the Bible or with the “crowds”?
[Friday, October 18]
Acts 21:37-22:10
When Paul does speak to the crowd, he tells his story… “I was a devout Jew (I was one of you) – God blinded me and spoke to me…” Jesus is the truth, and Paul was willing to die for that truth and not compromise. Thankfully, we are not in a position of being imprisoned or having to die for truth, though many around the world still are. We can face rejection though, be thought foolish or stupid for following Jesus and not idols of the world: prosperity, money, comfort. What is your story? Have you encountered Jesus? How has the intersection of your life and the person of Jesus changed you?
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
Please visit us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and share what you are learning, questioning or experiencing. We love conversations!
© 2024 Heartland Community Church