Do You Believe?
Brought out of slavery in Egypt. Saved from lions. Victorious in battle. The Word of God is full of stories of deliverance, full of accounts of God showing Himself strong as the Deliverer of His people. He hears His people's cry. He delivers them from their distress. We see it again and again.
But, do you believe it?
Do you truly believe God rescued an entire community from slavery and delivered them from a pursuing army by creating a pathway through the sea? Do you believe He’s the same God you can speak to right now?
Do you believe Jesus gave sight to a man who was born blind? Do you believe He is still able to perform miracles?
Do you believe a man who plotted murder against God’s people could suddenly, miraculously have a change of heart and become one of His greatest advocates? God did that with Saul who became Paul. When you think of the most wicked people in the world today, do you believe God could save and change them in the same way?
The God who is with you right now is the same God who delivered in every one of those circumstances. He can deliver you, too!
Beauty that Lasts
In God’s infinite wisdom and creativity, He has crafted magnificent things: watercolor sunsets, awe-inspiring mountains, turquoise oceans, and beautiful people.
Proverbs 31 is a well-known chapter in the Bible about a God-fearing, hard-working, generosity-driven woman.
Interestingly, Proverbs 31 was written by a man—specifically, King Lemuel, although it’s technically advice from his mother that he shared when he was king.
Something that’s not obvious in non-Hebrew languages is that verses 10-31 actually make up an acrostic poem—each verse beginning with one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, successively working their way from aleph to tau (from beginning to end).
Toward the climax of the poem, the author writes:
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Deep down we know this to be true, don’t we?
No matter how charming or beautiful a woman...