How to Move an Obstacle

SCRIPTURE:  We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 2 Cor. 6:3-10

THOUGHT: Obstacles to faith lurk around in my own life, let alone the lives of those who’ve outright dismissed or rejected God. Skeptics and believers alike are watching as they ponder the claims of God on their lives. They’re not likely to tell you, they’re just going to watch.

There are those I count leaders in my faith journey and I learn from them how to navigate my own obstacles. Sometimes it has nothing to do with what they say and everything to do with how they handle the health crisis, weather the financial storm, emerge from the fiery trials, love the unlovely, and face the future – all with a modicum of joy.

As I watch those ahead of me, I am many times embarrassed by my own stumbles. But that’s not why I’m writing this morning. I’m writing to say look at this list! Look at the things required of us as servants of God who seek to remove obstacles to faith for others:

• Patient endurance through trouble and hardship and calamity.
• Physical pain at the hands of others, prison, angry mobs, long exhausting days, sleepless nights, and little food.
• Commitment to unwavering purity, understanding, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit within us, and sincere love.
• Staying faithful to the truth, come what may.
• Relying on God’s power working in us through the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and left hand.
• Serving God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us.
• Being honest even if people call us impostors.
• Being content when ignored because God knows and sees.
• Living close to death without letting it make us afraid to live.
• Acknowledging that, on this side of heaven, really living means our hearts will ache, but we will also always have reasons for the hope and joy we offer.
• Treating our possessions or lack thereof lightly. We have for ourselves and offer to others spiritual riches. Even if we own nothing, we have everything that’s necessary to real, eternal life.

As I read through the list, I think, impossible! And yet, those I follow in the faith are very close to living these things out. I thank God for them as they embody the life Christ has given them in a way that removes obstacles to faith for others!

PRAYER: Oh God, your power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) and we are grateful because to trump all this up on our own would be impossible. But as Jesus once put it: with you, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Hallelujah!