2002-07-11 - Big and Small

Ex 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. ²² And the sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. (NAS)

I have a question for you. How big is your God? I'm not talking about physical measurement, but how potent, how able, and how deep a resource is He? Is He far away and distant or concerned with the details of our every day lives? Does He understand our hurts and sadness, or is that something beneath Him?

God is the God of creation. With a single word sourceless light was created, the planets and stars came into being and were set into motion - all from nothing. God is the God of the Red Sea. This is not 18 inches of water in the Reed Sea. The Army of Pharoah did not drown in 18 inches of water. God is the God of Gideon and a victory with 300 men against an army of thousands without a single arrow or spear. God is the God of Elijah who withstood the 450 prophets of the false god Baal. God controlled both defeat and victory at Ai as the children of Israel returned from the land of Egypt. God is the God who fed 5,000 men and their families from five loaves and two fishes from a small boy's lunch basket. He is the Lord who moved death aside and raised Lazarus for His own glory the Pharisees refused to see.

The hand of God moved history through empires of Babylon, Persia and Rome. And when the time was right, He sent His Son. From the Garden of Eden mankind lived in need of a Savior. The sinless life of Jesus of Nazareth and sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary and the power His resurrection crushed the power of death and sin. Eternal life with God in Heaven became available again to those who will humble themselves, admit their need and accept the grace and mercy of the God Who created us to have fellowship with for all time. The love of God for a sinful race caused Him to humble Himself to our form and die in our place to restore that fellowship. There is no way to pay for this salvation. The price has already been paid. There is nothing to add to it. It is complete.

Isa 55:1-3 "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. ² "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. ³ "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David. (NAS)

God is big enough to create the universe and everything in it with a single word. God is small enough to know and understand each heartbreak and loss we suffer. He knows how much we can take and will not allow more than we can cope with to pile on us without making a way out. The way may not be simple or smooth and well lit. It may be rocky and hard. But He will walk every step of the way with you. The path will provide the lessons you are ready to learn.

God is big enough to forgive anything in your life, and big enough to help you forgive anything. He is small enough to sit with you while you cry, and small enough to live in your heart - if you will ask Him.

http://www.billygraham.org/spiritualhelp/steps.asp

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. (NAS)

Lord Jesus - give men and women the courage to accept the salvation You offer today. We live in a world of tremendous technology, and yet the basic needs of the human heart have never changed. Touch hearts everywhere, and bring them to You. Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Mike

mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
http://www.billygraham.org/spiritualhelp/steps.asp