Third Day

“Let Down. Look Up.”

“Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket” (Acts 9:25).

The greatest day of Paul’s life, beside his salvation, was the day he realized that God’s plan for him was far better than his plan for his own life.

The chance of being let down by someone or something is 1 in 1.

Paul wanted to preach to his own people, the Jews, and went to them but they rejected him because of his new found message of grace in Christ Jesus. He had to be let down in a basket through a window over a wall to escape the bounty which was upon his head.

Paul wanted to go to the Jews but God said, “My plan is for you to go to the Gentiles, Paul.”

‘But my heart–‘protested Paul.

‘To the Gentiles, Paul,’ answered the Lord.

‘But my background—‘
‘To the Gentiles, Paul.’

‘But my training–‘
‘To the Gentiles, Paul.’

‘But, Lord–‘
‘To the Gentiles, Paul.’

‘But–‘
‘To the Gentiles, Paul.’

‘OK, Lord.’

Some of you will make this decision today. You’ll finally choose to say, ‘OK, Lord.’ And when you do, you’ll at last will find rest in your soul.

“By faith, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures of Egypt” (Hebrews 11:24-26).

How did Moses make it? He led a rebellious people through hot, dry, deserted, desert land. The people did not like him (3 million of them), even raised up with rocks in their hands to cast him down. He left Egypt with all of its pleasures and treasures, why?…for suffering, reproach, turmoil, constant troubles, hot and dry; is this why?

He endured because he saw Him who is invisible (Hebrews 11:27). That’s the key to endurance. You see Him who is invisible. In other words, he saw God’s hand in everything and in every situation.

We have a choice. In whatever we are going through, we can either shrivel up, pull in, fall down, and fade away or we can endure, seeing Him who is invisible, seeing His hand in everything and everything in His hand. The nail pierced hand of Christ, the visible God come down, has your world in His hand. Trust Him to frame it according to His Word.

“The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to
go forward” (Exodus 14:15, ESV).

The children of Israel were facing a dilemma. The army of Pharaoh behind
them and the Red Sea in front of them. The mountains flanked them. What
would they do?

God said to Moses to take the children of Israel forward. “Go forward” the
Lord God said. Moses did not choose to be nostalgic about the past to what
God has already done.  He could have prayed and not listened to God. After
whining Moses could have said, “You are on your own.” Moses could have
disobeyed God.

Moses led the children of Israel forward into a massive sea. In that moment
of crisis he led them forward. This is a Red Sea Rule. Quit marinating on
the ups and downs of your life. Fix your gaze on the present and look to the
future and go forward. Do what God has said to do.

Solomon says, “Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be
established. Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away
from evil” (Proverbs 4:25-27).

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 2:5a).

Think of how the Lord Jesus let go of all–status, position, respect. He
gave up his rights to be respected, waited on, and adored.

Jesus walked and lived in “Glory Town.” He gave up the praise of angels, who
prostrated themselves and covered their faces with their wings when he
walked by, and they sang harmoniously that reached the furtherest star when
they found him near. Jesus humbled himself and became small for us.

Dress yourself in modesty. Fall off the pedestal others and maybe you have
placed yourself upon. There are a lot more important things to think of than
to think of yourself subconsciously.

Look at others. Look at the poverty around you–not just financial poverty,
but also marital poverty–broken families and families abused. Dress for
success by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. Even next to you in church
there are hurts and pains. Do you see them?

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that you may become
blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved
generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out
the word of life” (Philippians 2:14-16).

J.B. Philipps translates this verse: “Do all you have to do without
grumbling or arguing.” Don’t be a whiner. Kim and I went to the library
years ago and found a video entitled “Wendy the Whiner.” We showed it to our
oldest and every time she felt like whining we would remind her of the cloud
that came from Wendy’s mouth when she whined.

It is not fair to ask others to do something that you and I would not do by
ourself. If it is leading a family, a Sunday School class, a youth group, a
group of deacons, a small group, or in any situation or group, the one who
leads will lead out front without grumbling. This is not to show off or to
pour on guilt, but it is to grow oneself for the glory of God personally and
socially.

It has been said that most of the significant things done in the world were
done by persons who were either too busy or too sick. There are few ideal
and leisurely settings for the disciplines of growth. Unity and harmony in
the home and the church home is paramount to the glory of God!