Week of 11/26

Crusaders Devotional

11-26-12/ Monday

There were two old cowboys sitting on a horse corral fence, when the one wearing a bent and mudded Stetson hat said “I went riding today.” the second cowboy, skinny wearing a belt buckle the size of a Cadillac hub cap said “horseback?” Sure, said the first cowboy “she came back before me.” The horse dumbfounds him with plans of her own for the day. A buck here, a side kick there a just enough crow hop and into the sagebrush he goes. Now she’s heading back to the barn at Kentucky Derby speed and he’s out for a stroll instead of a ride. This story if not true ought to be. It reminds me of times when us Christens feel left alone on the trail by God.

In western culture and even in our churches we live with wealth, power and prestige. We can’t stand the thought of fear, weakness, failure and doubt. Life comes with these feelings, but our culture sees these traits of failure or worse lack of faith.

Think back to Jacob’s story (Genesis 32:24) his whole life was a struggle, but wrestling with an angel was a whole different matter. These two wrestled all night. Then the angel gave a crippling blow to Jacob that would last for the rest of Jacob’s life. It was only then did Jacob know what had happened. The angel was God himself.

“I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 32:30). It was not just any angel that night but the Lord himself. Jacob received a new name “Israel”, but what’s most important is God blessed him there. (Genesis 32:29).

What I feel is to be learned is that our lives are never meant to be easy, very true if we wrestle with God and his will for our lives.

As Christians we will have problems but God is always with us. His blessing will always follow the struggle. Most of the time it can get dirty and confusing, real mature growing experiences will for sure involve struggle and pain.

Just as when Jacobs wrestles with God at the Jabbok that night, sometimes we may fight God’s will. As believers in Jesus Christ we may wrestle with God through the night but as in the past, come morning his blessing will come to us in his unending love and understanding.

We as Christians must continue to fight not only the secular world, but sometimes the demons within ourselves. HAVE NO FEAR, The Lord calls us more than conquers; he will not leave us muddy, afoot and on the trail. The barn we head for is glory.

Remember: In rodeo there are no substitutions, no special teams and definitely no time outs. Just like in life when we wrestle with the angel. Our blessing will come in the morning as well, if our faith holds.

Go with God and may he protect you.

In the name of your savior Jesus Christ of the Nazarene.

Cowboy Pastor Ty Nazarenus