God helps us through the wilderness - Hope 103.2

God helps us through the wilderness

Morning Devotions is for those curious about the Christian faith and who want to explore Christian issues that relate to their daily life.

By Chris WittsFriday 29 Nov 2013Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes

Transcript:

Maybe you’ve seen the very popular movie Castaway starring Tom Hanks. It was quite a good movie I thought,about a FedEx employee who was lost in a plane crash,stranding him on a desert island for years. There was a TV commercial based on the story,that showed a man looking like Tom Hanks,knocking on a door to deliver his parcel.  When the lady comes to the door,he explains that he survived 5 years on a deserted island,and during that whole time he kept this package in order to deliver it to her. She gives a simple,”Thank you.” But he is curious about what is in the package that he has been protecting for years. He says,”If I may ask,what was in that package after all?” She opens it and shows him the contents,saying,”Oh,nothing really. Just a satellite telephone,a GPS,   a compass,a water purifier,and some seeds.”. I think it was a clever commercial and funny one at that. Life is a bit like that – we can lose our way when all the time God offers us a way to find fulfilment and purpose.

You may remember the American singer Barry Maguire with his hit song “Eve of Destruction”. He visited Australia for the musical “Hair” back in the 60’s and was interviewed by Mike Willesse. Back in the US he did the usual thing – partying,drinking and drug taking. But one night he noticed a small book on a coffee table in a hotel room called “Good news for Modern man”. He picked it up “I’m a modern man. I could sure do with some good news”. So he borrowed the book only to find it was a New Testament. He was astonished,and in 1971 gave his life to Jesus Christ. He became a born again Christian. Years later he returned to Australia and was again interviewed by Mike Willisee. “Well,Barry,I believe you are now on the Jesus wagon”. And Maguire said “I’ve discovered it’s the only wagon going anywhere. There are some people up and out,others who are down and out,but wherever they are,they are out,and the only way in is through Jesus Christ”.  From that day on,Barry Maguire has devoted his life to spread the news of Jesus through his singing. Many people have found a new way back from the wilderness of life.

King David says in Psalm 25:8-9,The Lord is good and glad to teach the proper path to all who go astray; he will teach the ways that are right and best to those who humbly turn to him. — (The Living Bible)

Corrie ten Boom was a courageous Dutch woman who was interned in a Nazi prison camp during World War II because her family helped to hide Jewish people from the Gestapo. During her imprisonment,Corrie endured some of the worst degradation a person can experience. Her sister,Betsy,died in the camps. But through all her suffering,Corrie never lost her faith in God. She defined faith as:

F antastic
A dventuring
I n
T rusting
H im

Having faith in Jesus Christ …Billy Graham noted,”Faith is the avenue of salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a mustard seed,so small you can hardly see it. But if you will put that little faith in the person of Jesus,your life will be changed. He will come with supernatural power into your heart. It can happen to you.”

God’s promise in Psalm 25:12 is true – David prayed “You (God) will show the right path to all who worship You”

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