Newsletter
Tim Scott
Evidence

Evidence: Tracing the Exodus in Saudi Arabia

In recent decades, the landscape of biblical archaeology has shifted in remarkable ways. Over the last thirty years, a surge of discovery has brought new light to the ancient stories of the Exodus, pointing with increasing clarity to the rugged mountains and valleys of northwest Saudi Arabia as the true backdrop of these events. Much of this renewed attention began with the archaeological journeys of Ron Wyatt in the 1970s and 80s, who, following in the footsteps of Charles Beke, John Philby, and Alois Musil, suggested Arabia as the real site of the Exodus. Through Wyatt’s expeditions, sites such as Jabal Maqla and the region of ancient Midian—now known as Al Bad’a and its surroundings—have come into focus as the likely locations of the Red Sea crossing, the mountain of God, and the wilderness wanderings. What once seemed lost to history is now being revealed, stone by stone, spring by spring, altar by altar. The evidence is mounting, and it is compelling. Even the Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, anchors this truth for us: “Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia...” (Galatians 4:25). With this scriptural foundation and a growing consensus among explorers and scholars, we step forward to recount our journey—site by site—through the land where the echoes of Exodus still ring, and where God’s faithfulness is etched into the very earth.

Evidence
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Legacy

In the grand tapestry of eternity, our earthly lives represent but a single thread - yet what a profound thread it can be when woven with eternal purpose. The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 3:14. True Christian living demands that we set our sights beyond the temporal horizons of our own existence and consider the eternal impact of our choices, our investments, and our influence. Legacy, in the biblical sense, isn't about monuments carved in stone or achievements recorded in history books - it's about the spiritual inheritance we leave behind, the faith we transfer, and the kingdom work that continues long after we've been called home. When we live with eternity's values in view, every relationship becomes a discipleship opportunity, every season of life becomes a chance to mentor, and every blessing becomes a stewardship responsibility. The question that should awaken and inspire every believer is this: when our race is finished and our course is complete, who will carry the torch forward? This is the sacred calling of legacy - to live not just for our own spiritual advancement, but for the advancement of God's kingdom through those who will follow in our footsteps.

Legacy
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Fight

Scripture reminds us that “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” — Ephesians 6:12. The enemy’s greatest weapon is deception. He whispers lies of inadequacy, fear, and compromise, hoping that we will surrender the ground Christ has already won for us. He tempts us to give in to discouragement, to accept defeat, to believe that our struggles are pointless or that our prayers go unheard. But the truth is this: the enemy has already been defeated at the cross. Jesus declared, “It is finished,” and in that moment, every scheme of the devil was rendered powerless for those who are in Christ. Still, the battle continues, not for victory, but from victory. The enemy’s only hope is that we will forget who we are and to whom we belong.

Fight
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Staying the Course

In our walk as Christians we often encounter challenges that test our resolve and shake our confidence. Yet, as believers, we are called to persevere, to stay the course even when the path seems uncertain or the odds appear stacked against us. This steadfastness is not about stubbornness or blind faith, but rather about trusting in God's wisdom and timing, even when our limited understanding fails us.

Embracing Uncertainty with Faith

Life is full of uncertainties, and we often make decisions based on incomplete information, leading to unexpected outcomes. However, this uncertainty should not paralyze us or cause us to doubt God's plan. Instead, it should draw us closer to Him, seeking His guidance and wisdom. As Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." This scripture emphasizes that while our understanding is limited, God's wisdom is infinite. By embracing uncertainty with faith, we open ourselves to God's guidance and allow Him to direct our paths.

Staying the Course
Newsletter
Tim Scott
Adventure in Missions

The Call to Adventure: Hans Egede’s Mission to Greenland

In the early 18th century, a young Norwegian Lutheran minister named Hans Egede became captivated by a haunting mystery. While serving in Lofoten, he heard tales of the lost Norse settlements in Greenland, communities that had vanished into silence after flourishing for nearly 500 years. These Norse settlers, who had first arrived under Erik the Red’s leadership in 985 AD, had established a significant presence with over 620 farms across three settlements, supporting a population that may have reached several thousand. The mystery of their fate stirred Egede’s heart. By 1711, driven by concern for their spiritual welfare, he began petitioning King Frederick IV of Denmark-Norway for permission to mount a mission. His primary goal was clear — to find these lost Norse Christians who, he feared, had either remained Catholic after the Reformation or completely lost their faith. In 1721, after securing funding from Bergen merchants and royal support, Egede set sail aboard the vessel Haabet (“The Hope”) with his family and forty colonists. However, upon reaching Greenland’s shores, his carefully laid plans encountered an unexpected reality. Instead of finding Norse settlements, he discovered only ruins and a thriving Inuit population. This moment of revelation showcases the true spirit of Christian adventure — the ability to adapt when God’s plans differ from our own. Rather than abandoning his mission, Egede demonstrated remarkable resilience and flexibility. He established Hope Colony on Kangeq Island and redirected his efforts toward learning the Kalaallit language and sharing the gospel with the Inuit people.

Adventure in Missions

. . . our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin —Romans 6:6

Co-Crucifixion. Have you made the following decision about sin—that it must be completely killed in you? It takes a long time to come to the point of making this complete and effective decision about sin. It is, however, the greatest moment in your life once you decide that sin must die in you-not simply be restrained, suppressed, or counteracted, but crucified—just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world. No one can bring anyone else to this decision. We may be mentally and spiritually convinced, but what we need to do is actually make the decision that Paul urged us to do in this passage. Pull yourself up, take some time alone with God, and make this important decision, saying, “Lord, identify me with Your death until I know that sin is dead in me.” Make the moral decision that sin in you must be put to death.

This was not some divine future expectation on the part of Paul, but was a very radical and definite experience in his life. Are you prepared to let the Spirit of God search you until you know what the level and nature of sin is in your life— to see the very things that struggle against God’s Spirit in you? If so, will you then agree with God’s verdict on the nature of sin— that it should be identified with the death of Jesus? You cannot “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin” (Romans 6:11) unless you have radically dealt with the issue of your will before God.

Have you entered into the glorious privilege of being crucified with Christ, until all that remains in your flesh and blood is His life? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . .” (Galatians 2:20).

After that, He appeared in another form to two of them . . . —Mark 16:12

Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same thing. Many people who have never seen Jesus have received and share in God’s grace. But once you have seen Him, you can never be the same. Other things will not have the appeal they did before. You should always recognize the difference between what you see Jesus to be and what He has done for you. If you see only what He has done for you, your God is not big enough. But if you have had a vision, seeing Jesus as He really is, experiences can come and go, yet you will endure “as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). The man who was blind from birth did not know who Jesus was until Christ appeared and revealed Himself to him (see John 9). Jesus appears to those for whom He has done something, but we cannot order or predict when He will come. He may appear suddenly, at any turn. Then you can exclaim, “Now I see Him!” (see John 9:25).

Jesus must appear to you and to your friend individually; no one can see Jesus with your eyes. And division takes place when one has seen Him and the other has not. You cannot bring your friend to the point of seeing; God must do it. Have you seen Jesus? If so, you will want others to see Him too. “And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either” (Mark 16:13). When you see Him, you must tell, even if they don’t believe.

O could I tell, you surely would believe it! O could I only say what I have seen! How should I tell or how can you receive it, How, till He bringeth you where I have been?

Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? —Luke 24:26

Our Lord’s Cross is the gateway into His life. His resurrection means that He has the power to convey His life to me. When I was born again, I received the very life of the risen Lord from Jesus Himself. Christ’s resurrection destiny— His foreordained purpose— was to bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). The fulfilling of His destiny gives Him the right to make us sons and daughters of God. We never have exactly the same relationship to God that the Son of God has, but we are brought by the Son into the relation of sonship. When our Lord rose from the dead, He rose to an absolutely new life— a life He had never lived before He was God Incarnate. He rose to a life that had never been before. And what His resurrection means for us is that we are raised to His risen life, not to our old life. One day we will have a body like His glorious body, but we can know here and now the power and effectiveness of His resurrection and can “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Paul’s determined purpose was to “know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Philippians 3:10).

Jesus prayed, “. . . as You have given Him authority over all flesh that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him” (John 17:2 . The term Holy Spirit is actually another name for the experience of eternal life working in human beings here and now. The Holy Spirit is the deity of God who continues to apply the power of the atonement by the Cross of Christ to our lives. Thank God for the glorious and majestic truth that His Spirit can work the very nature of Jesus into us, if we will only obey Him.

 

He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead —Mark 9:9

As the disciples were commanded, you should also say nothing until the Son of Man has risen in you— until the life of the risen Christ so dominates you that you truly understand what He taught while here on earth. When you grow and develop the right condition inwardly, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you did not grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the proper spiritual condition to deal with them. Our Lord doesn’t hide these things from us, but we are not prepared to receive them until we are in the right condition in our spiritual life. Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). We must have a oneness with His risen life before we are prepared to bear any particular truth from Him. Do we really know anything about the indwelling of the risen life of Jesus? The evidence that we do is that His Word is becoming understandable to us. God cannot reveal anything to us if we don’t have His Spirit. And our own unyielding and headstrong opinions will effectively prevent God from revealing anything to us. But our insensible thinking will end immediately once His resurrection life has its way with us.

“. . . tell no one . . . .” But so many people do tell what they saw on the Mount of Transfiguration— their mountaintop experience. They have seen a vision and they testify to it, but there is no connection between what they say and how they live. Their lives don’t add up because the Son of Man has not yet risen in them. How long will it be before His resurrection life is formed and evident in you and in me?

. . . who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree . . . —1 Peter 2:24

The Cross of Christ is the revealed truth of God’s judgment on sin. Never associate the idea of martyrdom with the Cross of Christ. It was the supreme triumph, and it shook the very foundations of hell. There is nothing in time or eternity more absolutely certain and irrefutable than what Jesus Christ accomplished on the Cross— He made it possible for the entire human race to be brought back into a right-standing relationship with God. He made redemption the foundation of human life; that is, He made a way for every person to have fellowship with God. The Cross was not something that happened to Jesus— He came to die; the Cross was His purpose in coming. He is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). The incarnation of Christ would have no meaning without the Cross. Beware of separating “God was manifested in the flesh. . .” from “. . . He made Him. . . to be sin for us. . .” (1 Timothy 3:16 ; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The purpose of the incarnation was redemption. God came in the flesh to take sin away, not to accomplish something for Himself. The Cross is the central event in time and eternity, and the answer to all the problems of both.

The Cross is not the cross of a man, but the Cross of God, and it can never be fully comprehended through human experience. The Cross is God exhibiting His nature. It is the gate through which any and every individual can enter into oneness with God. But it is not a gate we pass right through; it is one where we abide in the life that is found there.

The heart of salvation is the Cross of Christ. The reason salvation is so easy to obtain is that it cost God so much. The Cross was the place where God and sinful man merged with a tremendous collision and where the way to life was opened. But all the cost and pain of the collision was absorbed by the heart of God.

Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples . . . . ’Stay here and watch with Me’ —Matthew 26:36, 38

We can never fully comprehend Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, but at least we don’t have to misunderstand it. It is the agony of God and man in one Person, coming face to face with sin. We cannot learn about Gethsemane through personal experience. Gethsemane and Calvary represent something totally unique— they are the gateway into life for us. It was not death on the cross that Jesus agonized over in Gethsemane. In fact, He stated very emphatically that He came with the purpose of dying. His concern here was that He might not get through this struggle as the Son of Man. He was confident of getting through it as the Son of God— Satan could not touch Him there. But Satan’s assault was that our Lord would come through for us on His own solely as the Son of Man. If Jesus had done that, He could not have been our Savior (see Hebrews 9:11-15). Read the record of His agony in Gethsemane in light of His earlier wilderness temptation— “. . . the devil . . . departed from Him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). In Gethsemane, Satan came back and was overthrown again. Satan’s final assault against our Lord as the Son of Man was in Gethsemane.

The agony in Gethsemane was the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Savior of the world. The veil is pulled back here to reveal all that it cost Him to make it possible for us to become sons of God. His agony was the basis for the simplicity of our salvation. The Cross of Christ was a triumph for the Son of Man. It was not only a sign that our Lord had triumphed, but that He had triumphed to save the human race. Because of what the Son of Man went through, every human being has been provided with a way of access into the very presence of God.

Indeed the hour is coming . . . that you will be scattered . . . —John 16:32

Jesus was not rebuking the disciples in this passage. Their faith was real, but it was disordered and unfocused, and was not at work in the important realities of life. The disciples were scattered to their own concerns and they had interests apart from Jesus Christ. After we have the perfect relationship with God, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, our faith must be exercised in the realities of everyday life. We will be scattered, not into service but into the emptiness of our lives where we will see ruin and barrenness, to know what internal death to God’s blessings means. Are we prepared for this? It is certainly not of our own choosing, but God engineers our circumstances to take us there. Until we have been through that experience, our faith is sustained only by feelings and by blessings. But once we get there, no matter where God may place us or what inner emptiness we experience, we can praise God that all is well. That is what is meant by faith being exercised in the realities of life. “. . . you . . . will leave Me alone.” Have we been scattered and have we left Jesus alone by not seeing His providential care for us? Do we not see God at work in our circumstances? Dark times are allowed and come to us through the sovereignty of God. Are we prepared to let God do what He wants with us? Are we prepared to be separated from the outward, evident blessings of God? Until Jesus Christ is truly our Lord, we each have goals of our own which we serve. Our faith is real, but it is not yet permanent. And God is never in a hurry. If we are willing to wait, we will see God pointing out that we have been interested only in His blessings, instead of in God Himself. The sense of God’s blessings is fundamental

“. . . be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Unyielding spiritual fortitude is what we need.

If you had known . . . in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes —Luke 19:42

Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly and the city was stirred to its very foundations, but a strange god was there-the pride of the Pharisees. It was a god that seemed religious and upright, but Jesus compared it to “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). What is it that blinds you to the peace of God “in this your day”? Do you have a strange god-not a disgusting monster but perhaps an unholy nature that controls your life? More than once God has brought me face to face with a strange god in my life, and I knew that I should have given it up, but I didn’t do it. I got through the crisis “by the skin of my teeth,” only to find myself still under the control of that strange god. I am blind to the very things that make for my own peace. It is a shocking thing that we can be in the exact place where the Spirit of God should be having His completely unhindered way with us, and yet we only make matters worse, increasing our blame in God’s eyes.

“If you had known . . . .” God’s words here cut directly to the heart, with the tears of Jesus behind them. These words imply responsibility for our own faults. God holds us accountable for what we refuse to see or are unable to see because of our sin. And “now they are hidden from your eyes” because you have never completely yielded your nature to Him. Oh, the deep, unending sadness for what might have been! God never again opens the doors that have been closed. He opens other doors, but He reminds us that there are doors which we have shut-doors which had no need to be shut. Never be afraid when God brings back your past. Let your memory have its way with you. It is a minister of God bringing its rebuke and sorrow to you. God will turn what might have been into a wonderful lesson of growth for the future.

. . . the Lord Jesus . . . has sent me that you may receive your sight . . . —Acts 9:17

When Paul received his sight, he also received spiritual insight into the Person of Jesus Christ. His entire life and preaching from that point on were totally consumed with nothing but Jesus Christ— “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul never again allowed anything to attract and hold the attention of his mind and soul except the face of Jesus Christ. We must learn to maintain a strong degree of character in our lives, even to the level that has been revealed in our vision of Jesus Christ.

The lasting characteristic of a spiritual man is the ability to understand correctly the meaning of the Lord Jesus Christ in his life, and the ability to explain the purposes of God to others. The overruling passion of his life is Jesus Christ. Whenever you see this quality in a person, you get the feeling that he is truly a man after God’s own heart (see Acts 13:22).

Never allow anything to divert you from your insight into Jesus Christ. It is the true test of whether you are spiritual or not. To be unspiritual means that other things have a growing fascination for you. Since mine eyes have looked on Jesus, I’ve lost sight of all beside, So enchained my spirit’s vision, Gazing on the Crucified.

It is Christ . . . who also makes intercession for us. . . . the Spirit . . . makes intercession for the saints . . . —Romans 8:34, 27

Do we need any more arguments than these to become intercessors-that Christ “always lives to make intercession” (Hebrews 7:25), and that the Holy Spirit “makes intercession for the saints”? Are we living in such a relationship with others that we do the work of intercession as a result of being the children of God who are taught by His Spirit? We should take a look at our current circumstances. Do crises which affect us or others in our home, business, country, or elsewhere, seem to be crushing in on us? Are we being pushed out of the presence of God and left with no time for worship? If so, we must put a stop to such distractions and get into such a living relationship with God that our relationship with others is maintained through the work of intercession, where God works His miracles. Beware of getting ahead of God by your very desire to do His will. We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, becoming so burdened with people and problems that we don’t worship God, and we fail to intercede. If a burden and its resulting pressure come upon us while we are not in an attitude of worship, it will only produce a hardness toward God and despair in our own souls. God continually introduces us to people in whom we have no interest, and unless we are worshiping God the natural tendency is to be heartless toward them. We give them a quick verse of Scripture, like jabbing them with a spear, or leave them with a hurried, uncaring word of counsel before we go. A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.

Are our lives in the proper place so that we may participate in the intercession of our Lord and the Holy Spirit?

Looking Back: The Journey to Papua New Guinea

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The constant travel of missionary life can make things seem like you are running in every direction, but in this episodes Tim and Will run in reverse. From Papua New Guinea to Thailand this unqiue show will take you through a month long journey...backwards!

March 2011 Newsletter

Dear Friends, Greetings in the Lord.  We hope and pray that each of you is well and that the Lord is blessing you in every way.  We cherish your prayers and support and are so blessed to have a partner like you.

This month we would like to discuss the unusual activity of the global situations occurring and what it means for us as believers.  In Japan the death toll is in the thousands after the 8.9 earthquake and violent tsunamis devastated the nation.  Failed nuclear plants and public shock have left Japan in their worst state since WWII.  The Middle East and North Africa are in total rebellion as citizens rise against dictators.  Scores of protesters are killed and radical elements now position themselves to take control in the vacuum of power.  These events have all seemed to happened either overnight, or over the course of one short month.  It is amazing how quickly things can change and how uncertain and insecure our world really is.

The fragility of life and the possibility of dramatic changes on a global scale is something we are witnessing now.  In these situations most of us have not been directly affected, but as we witness these unfolding events, it begs the question, “Where do we put our trust?”  Or better yet, “Where do we put our faith?”

Oswald Chambers once said, “we all have faith in good principles, in good management, in good common sense, but who amongst us has faith in Jesus Christ? Physical courage is grand, moral courage is grander, but the man who trusts Jesus Christ in the face of the terrific problems of life is worth a whole crowd of heroes.”

It isn’t enough to put our faith in God when the going is good, because one day you will certainly face a situation where life is turned upside down.  This doesn’t mean we should live in fear, but it does mean we should know and examine where our true security is.  When we have the word of God as truth in our hearts, we know that we are over-comers in Him (John 15:7).

When we are over-comers, we perform legendary acts for the Lord because our faith and trust is in Him.  We aren’t bogged down by the fears of this world, but transcend the normalcy of thought and move into a realm of pure faith.  This means selfish desire and fears of loss are no longer part of the equation.

So how do we get to the point where our true security and trust is in Christ?  “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17.  If you build yourself up on the holy word of God, it will become truth inside of you and you will know exactly where your securities are—In Christ.

Here are a few quotes to keep in mind:

-Worry is a total waste of time.  It doesn't change anything.  All it does is taint your mind and steals your joy.

-You can't have joy without peace, and there is no peace without God.

-Those who have faith need no explanation, for those who have no faith, no explanation is possible.

-The antidote to frustration is a calm faith, not in your own cleverness, or in hard toil, but in God's guidance.

-No God, No Peace.  Know God, Know Peace.

At Travel the Road we see the fast changing events of the world and look to make a difference.  Thousands die daily without the word of God, and it is important to be on the front-lines delivering the message of the gospel to all mankind.  Your support in prayers and finances allow us to achieve this.  Not only are we able to go to the ends of the earth and to countries in need, but we are able to show the life changing message of the gospel in action through the Travel the Road television series.  With each episode that airs we hear the testimonies of how it has impacted viewers, and it is because of your support that we are able to broadcast and create new episodes.  Your partnership is needed more than ever as we set out to do more gospel expeditions and broadcast season 4.  We look forward to receiving your letters of support and prayers of encouragement.  We love you dearly.  Peace be with you.

In Him,

Tim and Will

TRAVEL THE ROAD

PO BOX 3330

Monument, CO 80132

Face of Terror: South-East Asia

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From Bangladesh the guys travel to Cambodia and visit the infamous Killing Fields. Tim and Will refelect upon the devastating impact made by the vicious dictator Pol Pot and tell the story of prison S-21. After a few days in the capital city they head to the countryside to minister the gospel.

To The Limits: India Part Three

[blip.tv ?posts_id=4645535&dest=84960]

Tim and Will venture to the northern regions of India where they encounter high altitude climates and a different aspect of India culture, but back at one of their churches they helped to build trouble brews.
Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), MPEG-4 Video (.m4v)
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By this we believe . . . .’ Jesus answered them, ’Do you now believe?’ —John 16:30-31

Now we believe. . . .” But Jesus asks, “Do you . . . ? Indeed the hour is coming . . . that you . . . will leave Me alone” (John 16:31-32). Many Christian workers have left Jesus Christ alone and yet tried to serve Him out of a sense of duty, or because they sense a need as a result of their own discernment. The reason for this is actually the absence of the resurrection life of Jesus. Our soul has gotten out of intimate contact with God by leaning on our own religious understanding (see Proverbs 3:5-6). This is not deliberate sin and there is no punishment attached to it. But once a person realizes how he has hindered his understanding of Jesus Christ, and caused uncertainties, sorrows, and difficulties for himself, it is with shame and remorse that he has to return.

We need to rely on the resurrection life of Jesus on a much deeper level than we do now. We should get in the habit of continually seeking His counsel on everything, instead of making our own commonsense decisions and then asking Him to bless them. He cannot bless them; it is not in His realm to do so, and those decisions are severed from reality. If we do something simply out of a sense of duty, we are trying to live up to a standard that competes with Jesus Christ. We become a prideful, arrogant person, thinking we know what to do in every situation. We have put our sense of duty on the throne of our life, instead of enthroning the resurrection life of Jesus. We are not told to “walk in the light” of our conscience or in the light of a sense of duty, but to “walk in the light asHe is in the light. . .” (1 John 1:7). When we do something out of a sense of duty, it is easy to explain the reasons for our actions to others. But when we do something out of obedience to the Lord, there can be no other explanation-just obedience. That is why a saint can be so easily ridiculed and misunderstood.

Where then do You get that living water? —John 4:11

“The well is deep”— and even a great deal deeper than the Samaritan woman knew! (John 4:11). Think of the depths of human nature and human life; think of the depth of the “wells” in you. Have you been limiting, or impoverishing, the ministry of Jesus to the point that He is unable to work in your life? Suppose that you have a deep “well” of hurt and trouble inside your heart, and Jesus comes and says to you, “Let not your heart be troubled . . .” (John 14:1). Would your response be to shrug your shoulders and say, “But, Lord, the well is too deep, and even You can’t draw up quietness and comfort out of it.” Actually, that is correct. Jesus doesn’t bring anything up from the wells of human nature— He brings them down from above. We limit the Holy One of Israel by remembering only what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past, and also by saying, “Of course, I cannot expect God to do this particular thing.” The thing that approaches the very limits of His power is the very thing we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do. We impoverish and weaken His ministry in us the moment we forget He is almighty. The impoverishment is in us, not in Him. We will come to Jesus for Him to be our comforter or our sympathizer, but we refrain from approaching Him as our Almighty God.

The reason some of us are such poor examples of Christianity is that we have failed to recognize that Christ is almighty. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment or surrender to Jesus Christ. When we get into difficult circumstances, we impoverish His ministry by saying, “Of course, He can’t do anything about this.” We struggle to reach the bottom of our own well, trying to get water for ourselves. Beware of sitting back, and saying, “It can’t be done.” You will know it can be done if you will look to Jesus. The well of your incompleteness runs deep, but make the effort to look away from yourself and to look toward Him.

The woman said to Him, ’Sir, You have nothing to draw [water] with, and the well is deep’ —John 4:11

Have you ever said to yourself, “I am impressed with the wonderful truths of God’s Word, but He can’t really expect me to live up to that and work all those details into my life!” When it comes to confronting Jesus Christ on the basis of His qualities and abilities, our attitudes reflect religious superiority. We think His ideals are lofty and they impress us, but we believe He is not in touch with reality— that what He says cannot actually be done. Each of us thinks this about Jesus in one area of our life or another. These doubts or misgivings about Jesus begin as we consider questions that divert our focus away from God. While we talk of our dealings with Him, others ask us, “Where are you going to get enough money to live? How will you live and who will take care of you?” Or our misgivings begin within ourselves when we tell Jesus that our circumstances are just a little too difficult for Him. We say, “It’s easy to say, ’Trust in the Lord,’ but a person has to live; and besides, Jesus has nothing with which to draw water— no means to be able to give us these things.” And beware of exhibiting religious deceit by saying, “Oh, I have no misgivings about Jesus, only misgivings about myself.” If we are honest, we will admit that we never have misgivings or doubts about ourselves, because we know exactly what we are capable or incapable of doing. But we do have misgivings about Jesus. And our pride is hurt even at the thought that He can do what we can’t.

My misgivings arise from the fact that I search within to find how He will do what He says. My doubts spring from the depths of my own inferiority. If I detect these misgivings in myself, I should bring them into the light and confess them openly— “Lord, I have had misgivings about You. I have not believed in Your abilities, but only my own. And I have not believed in Your almighty power apart from my finite understanding of it.”