Category: Digging Deeper

 

“So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another.”

2 Kings 4:5 (NLT)

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STEWARD THE BLESSING WITH GRATITUDE

After the widow gave Elisha a report on all the oil that God had provided, she received new instructions. Elisha told her what to do with it: pay off the debts, provide for her family, and use it wisely. The oil didn’t just solve her immediate crisis—it created a hopeful future for her and her sons.

The widow didn’t just receive a blessing; she stewarded it. That’s what gratitude looks like in action. Every blessing from God is a chance to demonstrate our trust in Him again. We’re not called to hoard what God gives us; we’re called to manage it in a way that honors Him and blesses others. We are blessed to be a blessing.

After receiving a large inheritance, a couple sat down and prayed before touching any of it. They didn’t rush to upgrade their lifestyle. Instead, they quietly helped cover the adoption fees for a family in their church, started a college fund for a niece, and generously gave to a ministry that had shaped their own marriage years before. They still took a vacation, but they saw the money not as a reward, but as a responsibility.

Has God recently provided for you in some way—whether financially, relationally, or spiritually? Take time today to ask how you can use that blessing to help others or advance His kingdom.

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

“So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another.”

2 Kings 4:5 (NLT)

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LET THE NEXT GENERATION WITNESS YOUR FAITH

This moment wasn’t just for the widow—it was for her sons. They didn’t hear about the miracle secondhand; they lived it. They helped collect the jars. They watched their mother obey and trust God in the middle of uncertainty. Their understanding of God was shaped by what they saw, not just what they heard.

Faith is never just about us. It leaves a trail for others to follow. When we live out our faith in front of others—especially our children and younger believers—we’re building their foundation as well as our own.

During the 2008 recession, a father of four unexpectedly lost his job. Instead of hiding his fear, he gathered his family each night and led simple prayers at the dinner table. He said, “We don’t know what’s coming, but we trust the God who’s already there.”

Months later, one of his teenage sons wrote him a note that said, “When I think about trusting God, I think about how you prayed even when we didn’t have enough.”

Who is learning from the way you respond to challenges? Let someone join you in your faith journey this week. Let them see your obedience, even when the outcome isn’t clear.

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

“Elisha said, ‘Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors… Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars…’”

2 Kings 4:3-4 (NLT)

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PREPARE IN FAITH FOR WHAT YOU CAN’T YET SEE

This was a test of obedience and faith for the widow. The oil hadn’t multiplied yet, but the prophet told her to collect jars as if it would. The miracle didn’t come until after she made space for it. That’s how faith works—it acts before the answer arrives. It moves forward confidently, even when there’s no visible reason to do so.

This widow’s story shows us that God often fills our jars of faith and obedience when we have no visible proof that He is working. We learn from her story that the oil would have stopped sooner if the widow had borrowed only a few jars. The size of her expectation shaped the size of the miracle.

A young woman dreamed of becoming a counselor but couldn’t afford graduate school. Still, she felt led to start the application process. She didn’t have the money or even a laptop. But she filled out every form by hand and prayed over each envelope before mailing it. She even cleared out a corner of her apartment and called it her “study space.”

Three weeks later, a scholarship offer arrived from a school she thought had already rejected her.

What jars do you need to gather in your own life? Where do you need to prepare even before you see the provision? Take one bold step today that says, “I believe God is going to move.”

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

“Elisha asked her, ‘What do you have in the house?’ ‘Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,’ she replied.”

2 Kings 4:2 (NLT)

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SURRENDER THE LITTLE YOU HAVE

We tend to think God needs something big from us to do something big. But all throughout Scripture, God starts with what looks like almost nothing—a boy’s lunch, a shepherd’s staff, a mustard seed.

The widow thought she had nothing. Then she remembered a single flask of oil. It wasn’t much, but it was something. That’s what God uses. It’s not about what we wish we had; it’s about what we’re willing to surrender. You don’t have to have a lot—you just have to give what you have. Miracles don’t begin with abundance; they begin with availability.

An older man named Ben had retired after decades in construction. He physically couldn’t get around like he used to. He lived on a fixed income, just enough to pay the bills and meet his basic needs. At church, he heard about a single mom who needed basic home repairs and had been quoted prices she couldn’t afford. Ben offered to help. He spent a few Saturdays fixing broken windows and repairing steps.

A few months later, that young mother gave her life to Christ. She said, “I had stopped believing people cared. But someone I didn’t even know showed up with a hammer and proved me wrong.”

Ask God today, “What do I have that I can surrender?” Offer it to Him and trust that He can use even your smallest gift for something greater than you imagine.

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead… and now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”

2 Kings 4:1 (NLT)

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WHEN YOU FEEL DESPERATE, CRY OUT

Desperation can be the very place where we meet God. It doesn’t feel holy in the moment. It feels like panic, grief, and pressure. Yet, desperation often clears away the noise and reveals the truth: we cannot fix this on our own.

The widow had nothing left. Her husband was gone, and her sons were about to be taken as slaves. And yet, she still had a voice. She used it to cry out. Crying out to God doesn’t mean you’re weak—it means you believe He is strong enough to help. Sometimes the most courageous prayer is the most honest one. This woman’s cry was not the end of her faith; it was the beginning of her miracle.

Late one night, a nurse sat alone in her car after a long shift. Her marriage was falling apart, her mother was sick, and her son had started acting out in school. She couldn’t hold it together anymore. She slammed her hands against the steering wheel and shouted, “God, I can’t do this!” It wasn’t rehearsed or reverent—it was real. She cried for fifteen minutes in the hospital parking lot. Later, she said, “That night changed me. Nothing outside me changed immediately, but something inside me shifted. I knew God was with me in the chaos.”

What have you been holding in that needs to be lifted up? Pray out loud today—honestly and simply. God meets us at our most vulnerable.

 

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Steve Roach serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Maturity at NorthStar Church. He and his wife, Amy, live in Acworth and have three girls, Olivia, Sydney, and Hayley and one son, Colton.  He enjoys watching sports and spending time with his family.

 

“When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses”

Exodus 14:31 (ESV)

 

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BE A HUMBLE SERVANT

 

The Israelites are safely on dry land, and the Egyptians lie dead on the shore. The story concludes with:

“When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses” (Ex. 14:31, NLT).

God heard their cries, and they were redeemed. Their faith in the Lord—and in Moses—was restored. Unfortunately, this faith did not last. Because of their sins, the current generation (including Moses) would not live to inhabit the Promised Land.

The phrases “fear the Lord,” “fear God,” and “stand in awe” occur more than fifty times in the Bible (ESV). We, who are His creation, should have a healthy fear of the One who is all-powerful and who spoke the world into existence. Oftentimes, the word “fear” in the Bible is rendered as “awe” or “reverence.” God should be held in awe, and we should be humbled by the chasm that exists between the God of the universe and our helpless selves. Fortunately, as we saw in Part 1 of this series, God provided a way to bridge that chasm through the person of Jesus Christ.

We should be in reverent fear and awe of our powerful God. In love and obedience, we should humbly serve Him. As the writer of Proverbs notes:

“The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor” (Prov. 15:33).

Jesus came in the flesh not only to provide a way to salvation and give us a glimpse of the character of God, but also to give us an example of a humble servant. As the apostle Mark wrote:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Webster’s Dictionary defines humble as:

1. not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive;

2. a spirit of deference or submission;

3. ranking low in a hierarchy or scale.

Do you know someone who thinks they are the humblest person they know? (For those of you who know me—no pointing fingers in my direction!) Humility is advanced Christianity. Humble servitude is post-graduate-level stuff. Paul reminds the church in Philippi:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3–4).

Moses is described in the Bible as a “humble” man, a great “prophet,” a “man of God,” and a “friend of God,” who spoke “face to face” with God.

Let the lessons from the life of Moses be:

1. God will equip you for the task He has at hand;

2. When God calls, do not waver;

3. Trust in God—He will provide a way;

4. Get off the bench and get in the game;

5. Humbly serve in the role that God has placed you in.

Digging Deeper (er):

John 4:34; 1 Samuel 12:24; Deuteronomy 10:12

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

“Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward” 

Exodus 14:15 (ESV)

 

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GET UP AND GO

 

The Israelites are surrounded on both sides. Going backward means slavery. Going forward means drowning—unless a miracle happens. They cry out to Moses to rescue them, and Moses assures them that God will fight for them (Ex. 14:14). God hears the cries of the people and asks Moses,

“Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward” (Ex. 14:15).

God is telling His people to trust in Him—and get up and go! The writer of Hebrews notes,

“By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27).

By faith in the “invisible,” Moses gathered the people and left, trusting God to provide a path.

Our faith in God must be active, and trusting Him should result in taking that first step. Faith believes that God is who He says He is. Trust believes that God acts in the ways He promises. You cannot have one without the other. James wrote, referring to Abraham,

“You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works” (Jas. 2:22).

Abraham knew enough about God to trust Him—even to the point of sacrificing his son and heir. Daniel reminds us,

“The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action” (Dan. 11:32b).

The book of James, though relatively short, contains some very powerful messages. My favorite part is the final section of chapter 2, titled “Faith Without Works Is Dead” (Jas. 2:14–26). James notes that faith without works is a “dead faith” (v. 17). When someone asks us about our faith, most of us can find the words to explain why we believe what we believe. However, James takes it a step further, stating,

“Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (v. 18b).

In other words, what good is faith if no action is taken on its behalf?

We all know the ending of the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. God protected them until they were safely on the opposite shore. Then He caused the waters to return, drowning their Egyptian pursuers (Ex. 14:21–29). The people trusted God to save them, and their trust was rewarded by a faithful God.

One final question: What is holding you back from moving forward?

I still remember a scene from the final film in the original Indiana Jones saga. Indy must cross a bottomless abyss with no visible bridge to provide a path. He takes a step of faith into the void—and discovers an invisible stone bridge spanning the chasm. Think about the times when God has been faithful to you during your own seasons of indecision. The trust built during those countless encounters should give you the confidence to take that next step of faith—whatever area of life is causing you to waver.

Digging Deeper (er):

Proverbs 16:3; Proverbs 21:5; 1 John 3:18

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord”

Exodus 14:13a (ESV)

 

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TRUST IN THE LORD

 

As we saw yesterday, the Israelites were frozen on the shores of the Red Sea. They did not trust Moses—and by proxy, God—and they wavered in their decision to enter the waters. We’ll leave that part of the story for a moment and step back to their days of captivity in Egypt.

Moses delivers God’s message to Pharaoh, but things have not gone as he expected. Moses addresses the Lord, saying,

“O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all” (Ex. 5:22b–23).

The people are still suffering at the hands of their Egyptian masters. The king of Egypt refuses to let them go—but he is about to learn a very tough lesson. God reassures Moses that He is in control. He tells him,

“Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country” (Ex. 6:1, NIV).

Ten plagues later, the people are freed from their bondage.

We now return to the edge of the Red Sea. Moses answers the people’s indecision with,

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.
For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Ex. 14:13b–14).

The deep waters of the Red Sea lie ahead, and the entire Egyptian army lies behind. And Moses instructs the people to “only be silent.” The Psalter reminds us that God is our “refuge and strength.” Though the seas may “roar and foam,” the “Lord of hosts is with us.”

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46).

I don’t know about you, but I struggle with the whole “be still and be silent” dynamic. I’m analytical, a problem-solver. Trusting in the abilities of others is sometimes a challenge for me. With God, however, it all comes down to trust. Before we can act, we must believe that God is trustworthy. As the writer of Proverbs notes,

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov. 3:5–6).

For the Israelites, their “straight path” to safety and freedom could only be traversed by putting their faith and trust in God. He alone had the power to separate the waters of the Red Sea.

It ultimately comes down to obedient faith. Obedient faith leads to action, which builds trust, which results in stronger faith and unwavering obedience—and the cycle continues. Ask yourself: Who do you trust when you’re facing obstacles on all sides? Are you “leaning on your own understanding,” or will you

“Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Ps. 34:8)?

Take heart—God is more than worthy of your trust. As we will discuss tomorrow, trusting in the Lord will get you “off the fence” and moving along the path He provides.

Digging Deeper (er):

Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 112:7; Psalm 143:8

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

^12 “Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness”

Exodus 14:12 (ESV)

 

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STOP WAVERING, DECIDE

 

We all have those moments in life when we must decide on a course of action. It may be a job change, a change of residence, a change in a relationship, or one of a myriad of other large (and not-so-large) decisions. William James, often called the father of American psychology, noted, “There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision.”

Are you a habitual “fence-sitter”? In my much younger days, I was an instructor pilot in the T-38—a high-speed Air Force trainer. When you’re moving at speeds approaching the speed of sound, making a quick and correct decision is vital. My best students were the ones who made timely decisions. Quite often, they made the wrong decision—that’s what I got paid to do: keep us safe and alive—but I was never upset with the decision they made. With time and experience, they learned how to make the right ones. The students who struggled most were the ones who froze. They were so afraid of making the wrong decision that they made no decision at all—not ideal when you’re doing 600 MPH. They wavered.

We pick up the story of the Israelites’ flight from Egypt in Exodus chapter 14. Moses is leading the people as they approach the shore of the Red Sea. The Egyptian army is closing fast on their heels, and the people cry to Moses:

“Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?
Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’?
For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness” (Ex. 14:11–12).

The people begin to waver, paralyzed by fear of the approaching army. They long for their days in captivity. Unable to decide to trust in the Lord and move forward, they contemplate making a terrible decision—to return to their former life of slavery.

Scripture is replete with the contrast between freedom and slavery. We are called to give up the yoke of slavery that sin entangles us with and to rest in the freedom that Jesus gave His life for (Eph. 5:1). As Peter notes, “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (1 Pet. 2:16). Paul reminds the church in Rome, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2).

What situation in your life is on hold because you cannot decide? Are you afraid of making the wrong decision? Welcome to the human race. But I challenge you—like my former students—to recognize that indecision is, itself, a wrong decision. I am not suggesting making a hasty decision just for the sake of acting. But if your current situation is untenable, choose freedom over slavery. Take it to God. Our faith is an active faith. God will show you the pathway, but you must decide to take the first step. Then stand in awe as God parts the troubled waters you’re in and leads you to the Promised Land!

Digging Deeper (er):

Psalm 118:5; Isaiah 30:21; Deuteronomy 30:19

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

²⁰ Now may the God of peace . . . ²¹ equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight

Hebrews 13:20a, 21a (ESV)

 

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GOD WILL EQUIP, GOD WILL SEND

 

In part one of the “Greatest Hits” series, Mike noted that the serpent twisted the words of God to implant doubt in the mind of Eve (Gen. 3:1–5). She began to doubt the word of God and acted out of her own self-interest. The fall from grace was the result, and humanity was forever tainted with the burden of sin.

Fast forward a few millennia to the arrival of Moses. Moses was a simple shepherd for his father-in-law when God called him—from a burning bush—to lead His people out of bondage and into the Promised Land (Ex. 3:7–9). God said, “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt” (Ex. 3:10, ESV). Did our future hero jump at the chance? You be the judge:

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Ex. 3:11).

Moses is no different from the rest of us. When God called him to this monumental task, his first thought was to doubt his qualifications for the job. Yet God would not be deterred—He is God, after all! God replies, “But I will be with you” (Ex. 3:12). One would think that if God promises to be with you, what argument can be made against Him? Moses, however, is not yet convinced.

As Exodus chapter 3 concludes, God explains to Moses who He is (“I AM WHO I AM”) and instructs him on what to say to the elders of the people and to Pharaoh. Moses, however, is not so anxious to “put his yes on the table.” He answers God, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’” (Ex. 4:1). God, as always, has an answer. He gives Moses two signs and tells him, “If they will not believe you . . . or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign” (Ex. 4:8).

Moses is still not convinced he is the man for the job. He tries a different argument, stating, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue” (Ex. 4:10). God once again deflects Moses’ argument, replying, “Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak” (Ex. 4:12).

Finally, Moses runs out of arguments. He simply pleads, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else” (Ex. 4:13). God has heard enough, and He is angry. He asks Moses, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well… You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do” (Ex. 4:14a, 15).

The writer of Hebrews reminds his audience that God will “equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight” (Heb. 13:21a). Paul tells the church at Ephesus, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10, NIV).

When God calls you to work for His kingdom, do not doubt. Your first thought may be, “I am not worthy enough or talented enough”—and you would be correct. Fortunately for us (and for those we encounter), God is all that is required. He has promised to equip you. Put your “yes on the table,” and go!

Digging Deeper (er):

2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:13; Joshua 1:9

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.