December 6
David was a king whose reign over his people was absolute. If he called a man to be in his service, he came; if he desired a woman to be added to his harem, she was his. Yet in spite of his great power, he maintained a sense of humility before God. He considered himself to be a servant of the one true and living God.
Much of David’s rule over God’s people Israel was spent in on-going battle with the surrounding people who had made themselves enemies of Jehovah—primarily because they were worshipers of false gods. In Psalm 143:11, 12 David says, “Quicken me, O Lord, for the honor of Your name, because of Your righteousness, deliver me from trouble. Let Your mercy dispel my enemies; destroy all those who afflict me because I am Your servant.”
David didn’t base his warfare upon the animus of a ruler or a kingdom against himself but upon their disdain of the God he loved and served. David fought for the truth and integrity of the Living God of Heaven and Earth, and because that was his driving motivation, he anticipated that the God of Heaven and Earth would favor his exploits.
In Psalm 119:63, David states his affiliation in a more positive framework. He says, “I am a friend to everyone who fears You, to anyone who obeys Your laws and Your precepts.” David based the entirety of his person-hood, his thoughts, his actions, upon God’s law. David was a “man God sought who was after God’s heart,” I Samuel 13:14.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Declare the Precious Truth
December 5
Paul evangelized the Philippians and indeed, he reached out with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ even to his jailers. In his letter to the Philippians, he posed some questions that he may have asked of those who held him bound in chains.
In Philippians 2:1, 2, he asks, “Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does His love comfort you? Do we share together in His Spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness? If so, make me very happy and delight your Lord by having the same thoughts, mind, purpose, and love that HE has.”
Paul goes on to admonish against strife with others or pride within oneself. He declares that it is far better to esteem others above self. He is wise enough to know that we will not as quickly defame or disregard those who we see in a good light. As he continues his discourse, Paul pens some of the most amazing words ever written. In Philippians 2:5-7, he says, “Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, although He was in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be considered equal to God, took on Himself the form of a servant. He became a humble man…”
All this emptying of Himself was done to accomplish our salvation. Paul knew that this one singular event is transformative to the men who will embrace it, and he would have all men to claim it. Paul knew that in the pouring out of Jesus, sinners are delivered from the emptiness of their sin-laden lives to the fullness of the presence and power of the Son of God resident within them. Paul knew that it was his mission to share this precious truth with every man he encountered so he declared it even to his jailors. Paul declares it today—even to you and to me.
Paul evangelized the Philippians and indeed, he reached out with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ even to his jailers. In his letter to the Philippians, he posed some questions that he may have asked of those who held him bound in chains.
In Philippians 2:1, 2, he asks, “Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does His love comfort you? Do we share together in His Spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness? If so, make me very happy and delight your Lord by having the same thoughts, mind, purpose, and love that HE has.”
Paul goes on to admonish against strife with others or pride within oneself. He declares that it is far better to esteem others above self. He is wise enough to know that we will not as quickly defame or disregard those who we see in a good light. As he continues his discourse, Paul pens some of the most amazing words ever written. In Philippians 2:5-7, he says, “Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, although He was in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be considered equal to God, took on Himself the form of a servant. He became a humble man…”
All this emptying of Himself was done to accomplish our salvation. Paul knew that this one singular event is transformative to the men who will embrace it, and he would have all men to claim it. Paul knew that in the pouring out of Jesus, sinners are delivered from the emptiness of their sin-laden lives to the fullness of the presence and power of the Son of God resident within them. Paul knew that it was his mission to share this precious truth with every man he encountered so he declared it even to his jailors. Paul declares it today—even to you and to me.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Lives of Spiritual Power
December 4
Leaving our ‘first love’ happens with great regularity. Puppy love in middle school or high school fades fairly quickly and new interests capture the imaginations of the once-smitten love birds. Marriages, contractual agreements entered into by presumably more mature individuals, fare little better than their juvenile counterparts. Spouses cheat. When trust is broken, irreparable damage is done and divorce papers are signed.
Though it’s probably best that early love interests are abandoned simply because teens are not ready for life-long commitments, the trend established in these early flirtations should be replaced by more stability in future relationships as those who enter into them grow up. But it doesn’t seem to happen. Instead, a pattern is developed that results in an endless search for romantic adventure.
We have lost the fine art of abiding. We have discarded the vow we took at the altar to remain together, for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; until death do us part. We see the same pattern of abandonment that we employ in romantic relationships in our religious experience also. Jesus said in John 15:4-5, 7, “Remain in Me and I will remain in you…as a branch cannot produce fruit if plucked but must remain on the vine…
“…In the same way, you cannot produce spiritual fruit without Me…if we remain together, we shall produce much fruit. Stay close to Me. Follow My teachings and you will have great power in your prayers. What you ask will be given to you.” Jesus here sets before His people the great advantage of abiding. He counsels that they not pull up stakes and leave if they desire to live fruitful lives of spiritual power.
Leaving our ‘first love’ happens with great regularity. Puppy love in middle school or high school fades fairly quickly and new interests capture the imaginations of the once-smitten love birds. Marriages, contractual agreements entered into by presumably more mature individuals, fare little better than their juvenile counterparts. Spouses cheat. When trust is broken, irreparable damage is done and divorce papers are signed.
Though it’s probably best that early love interests are abandoned simply because teens are not ready for life-long commitments, the trend established in these early flirtations should be replaced by more stability in future relationships as those who enter into them grow up. But it doesn’t seem to happen. Instead, a pattern is developed that results in an endless search for romantic adventure.
We have lost the fine art of abiding. We have discarded the vow we took at the altar to remain together, for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; until death do us part. We see the same pattern of abandonment that we employ in romantic relationships in our religious experience also. Jesus said in John 15:4-5, 7, “Remain in Me and I will remain in you…as a branch cannot produce fruit if plucked but must remain on the vine…
“…In the same way, you cannot produce spiritual fruit without Me…if we remain together, we shall produce much fruit. Stay close to Me. Follow My teachings and you will have great power in your prayers. What you ask will be given to you.” Jesus here sets before His people the great advantage of abiding. He counsels that they not pull up stakes and leave if they desire to live fruitful lives of spiritual power.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Formulae For Successful Prayer
December 3
Some of our prayers seem to be of none effect. Even when we pray in that name that is above all names, we do not always realize the object of our petition. Even when we pray in the name of Jesus, we can be disappointed in our expectation.
The Bible does give us some guidelines on how to pray in power. We are told that we must have our sins absolved if our prayers are to reach the ear of God (see Mark 11:25). We know a primary hindrance to our prayers is unforgiveness in our hearts.
In Luke 6:37 Jesus says, “…forgive and you shall be forgiven.” He is quite clear in the matter of our willingness to forgive others being central to our own cleansing from sin, yet standing clean before God is not the only requirement for our success in obtaining the things for which we supplicate. We must also pray in accordance with His will.
Our God will not grant to us anything that is contrary to His own Spirit within us. Further, He tells us in Matthew 18:20, “…if two or more gather together in My name, I will be there in the midst of them.” If Jesus is Himself part of the prayer group, those who are united in their petitions before Him may be assured He will respond.
Some of our prayers seem to be of none effect. Even when we pray in that name that is above all names, we do not always realize the object of our petition. Even when we pray in the name of Jesus, we can be disappointed in our expectation.
The Bible does give us some guidelines on how to pray in power. We are told that we must have our sins absolved if our prayers are to reach the ear of God (see Mark 11:25). We know a primary hindrance to our prayers is unforgiveness in our hearts.
In Luke 6:37 Jesus says, “…forgive and you shall be forgiven.” He is quite clear in the matter of our willingness to forgive others being central to our own cleansing from sin, yet standing clean before God is not the only requirement for our success in obtaining the things for which we supplicate. We must also pray in accordance with His will.
Our God will not grant to us anything that is contrary to His own Spirit within us. Further, He tells us in Matthew 18:20, “…if two or more gather together in My name, I will be there in the midst of them.” If Jesus is Himself part of the prayer group, those who are united in their petitions before Him may be assured He will respond.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Because They Fail To Understand
December 2
Love enables us to see things in others that are not readily discernible by those who do not know them intimately. The recalcitrant student at school is perceived by his teacher as a distraction to her classroom, while to his loving mother, he is seen as her delight.
A hard-driving executive is perceived as demanding and unflinching by his employees, but to the wife and children he loves, he is adored. Love establishes a distinction that nothing else can when it comes to interacting with people. Jesus stated the same thing to His followers in His words to them in John 14:21.
“Those who know My commands and obey them are the ones who love Me, and my Father will love those who love Me. I will love them and will show Myself to them.” If we love Jesus, we will desire to please Him by adhering to His commandments. Our love for Him will manifest itself to those around us. But, those who do not know Him, do not love Him, will not be compelled to obey His word; they won’t understand our blessing.
In fact, they will disdain the commandments of God. They will continue to endeavor to achieve the pinnacle of aggrandizement in their professional and personal lives, they will continue to strive to maintain the ‘upper hand.’ Because they fail to understand that there is a great dichotomy between raw power and abiding love they will continue to pursue the former. They will fail to see that one affords a temporary high; the other gives everlasting joy.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
II Timothy 1:7
"God has not given you a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love, and of a sound mind."
but of power and of love, and of a sound mind."
Jesus Never Fails
December 1
Here we are, at the threshold of the last month of the year of 2012. Many people enter this month with fear and trepidation because an ancient Mayan calendar concludes on what would be the 22nd day of this month. Many people stand in anxious anticipation of an onslaught by a rogue nation that is on the verge of achieving its nuclear ambitions. Connecting the ancient augur of doom to the modern threat of nuclear annihilation causes much anxiety. So, how do we differ from all people in all times and in all places?
Not much. Imagine the fear of those in the path of the mighty Roman Army with its highly trained soldiers whose skill at wreaking death and leaving destruction in their wake were notorious. How do we differ from those who feared being over-run by the Mongolian hordes or devastated by the Nazi war machine?
Fear has always been a profound factor in the human psyche. Man has always wrestled with the sum of his anxious dread. Whether fear of drought or disease or diabolical oppressors who come to rape and kill and steal and conquer—man has always had to overcome his dread of tomorrow in order to live for today. We who espouse Christianity, however, have a hope that can assuage our natural fear of the unknown.
We have the promise of the angels who announced that Jesus would return as He left after His resurrection (see Acts 1:11). We have the assurance of Zechariah 2:10 which says, “Shout and be glad, O Jerusalem, for I am coming and I will live among you, says the Lord.” The God we serve is a God of love and hope and joy and truth. “What He has promised, He is able to perform,” Romans 4:21. Jesus NEVER fails, so the heart that trusts Him need not fail with fear.
Here we are, at the threshold of the last month of the year of 2012. Many people enter this month with fear and trepidation because an ancient Mayan calendar concludes on what would be the 22nd day of this month. Many people stand in anxious anticipation of an onslaught by a rogue nation that is on the verge of achieving its nuclear ambitions. Connecting the ancient augur of doom to the modern threat of nuclear annihilation causes much anxiety. So, how do we differ from all people in all times and in all places?
Not much. Imagine the fear of those in the path of the mighty Roman Army with its highly trained soldiers whose skill at wreaking death and leaving destruction in their wake were notorious. How do we differ from those who feared being over-run by the Mongolian hordes or devastated by the Nazi war machine?
Fear has always been a profound factor in the human psyche. Man has always wrestled with the sum of his anxious dread. Whether fear of drought or disease or diabolical oppressors who come to rape and kill and steal and conquer—man has always had to overcome his dread of tomorrow in order to live for today. We who espouse Christianity, however, have a hope that can assuage our natural fear of the unknown.
We have the promise of the angels who announced that Jesus would return as He left after His resurrection (see Acts 1:11). We have the assurance of Zechariah 2:10 which says, “Shout and be glad, O Jerusalem, for I am coming and I will live among you, says the Lord.” The God we serve is a God of love and hope and joy and truth. “What He has promised, He is able to perform,” Romans 4:21. Jesus NEVER fails, so the heart that trusts Him need not fail with fear.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)