Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 4; 2 Samuel 5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16
Scripture: Today's reading is full of rich truth! Read it all and enjoy the insights that the Spirit will bring to you. I will give a brief overview of the entire reading today.
Observation/Application:
2 Samuel 4 -- "Nothing succeeds like success." As David's success grows and his kingdom is established, some bad actors are attracted to him. Thinking that they can earn points with David, two evil men murder Saul's son Ish-Bosheth in his bed and bring his head to David. Of course, they are wrong and end up dead. Moral: Success will bring greater numbers of followers, but not all that follow the Godly are good. Evil people will attach themselves to successful works of God.
2 Samuel 5 -- David strengthens his hand. We see some of David's military genius. In conquering Jerusalem, he uses the underground water tunnels to gain access. He forms an alliance with King Hiram of Tyre who helps construct a palace for David. David unwisely takes more wives (see yesterday post regarding this subject). This chapter ends with an invasion by the Philistines. We see David's heart toward God as he seeks God's direction regarding a military response. God gives David not only a strategy, but sends an angelic army to fight for Israel! Chalk up another victory for David. Moral of this chapter: David's strengths and weaknesses are in full view. He is a good man with some significant problems. (One of the reasons I regard the Bible to be truthful and accurate is that we are given an unvarnished account of heroes like David. There is no idealized glorification of their lives -- no, we see them portrayed "warts and all" -- as real people with their struggles and battles, victories and defeats. The Bible is the honest to God word of God.)
Psalm 139 -- Some of the most beautiful poetry ever written! I love David's recitation of God's tender and overarching care and power for His children. Moral: God is intricately woven into the fabric of my life, beginning even before I came to be. I am in His care and in His thoughts. I want to think and be like Him.
Matthew 16 -- Jesus encounter with "The Religious" provides the backdrop for His interaction with His disciples. Religious rulers ask Him for a sign from heaven, and He talks to them about the weather and rebukes them for their spiritual insensitivity. He warns the Disciples to stay away from "the leaven of the Pharisees and Saducees" and they think He is talking about bread. Jesus can't believe how thick these guys are and He derides them for worrying about bread in light of their two experiences watching Jesus multiply bread to feed thousands! He elicits the great Confession of faith from Peter calling Him "the rock", and shortly thereafter, harshly rebukes Peter calling Him "Satan!" Moral: Even the original Disciples had a hard time understanding what was going on. Should we be surprised to see spiritual confusion around us or even within ourselves? No. Moral #2: People can do something very great one minute and something very bad the next. And just because a person has great insight on one truth doesn't mean he's got all truth figured out. Don't trust in people, trust in God.
Prayer: Lord, we do trust in You. We know You will never leave us nor forsake us. I thank You that You love me so much as we read this morning: "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17) May we abide and thrive in the center of Your love and power.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Title: The Seeds Of Sin / Topic: Compromise
Subtitle: How Many Wives Does One David Need?
[Today's post is on the long side. Sorry, but I couldn't figure a way to say it in fewer words.]
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15
Scripture: 2 Samuel 3:2-5, 13-16
2 Sons were born to David in Hebron:
His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam [1] of Jezreel;
3 his second, Kileab the son of Abigail [2] the widow of Nabal of Carmel;
the third, Absalom the son of Maacah [3] daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith [4];
the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital [5];
5 and the sixth, Ithream the son of David's wife Eglah [6].
These were born to David in Hebron...
13 "Good," said David. "I will make an agreement with you [Abner]. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me." 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins."
15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back.
Observation: This passage has always bothered me. David's stock is soaring -- Saul's is plummeting. Saul is dead and all but one of his sons are dead while David is adding sons like arrows to his quiver. David is taking over (as he should) as the remnants of Saul's failed kingship are fading away. Verses 2 through 5 (above) give a list of not only David's first six sons, but of the fact that each comes from one of six different wives. (Up until this point, we were only aware of two of David's wives. But now we learn of four more for a total of six.)
Now, Abner, Saul's Chief-of-Staff, has made an overture to come over to David, but David makes a demand of him that seems quite odd, especially in light of the immediate context. David demands another wife. He wants Michal, the daughter of Saul that was promised to him but later withdrawn and given to another man, even though David completed the quest required for her hand in marriage. Saul did David wrong in the situation with Michal.
But David has clearly moved on -- he has taken other wives, six to be exact, and Michal has moved on as well, having a husband, and with him looking forward to having children of her own.
But there it is: this odd and troubling request by David. "Bring me Michal!" The order is given and Michal is torn away from her husband, Paltiel, to be given to David. The clear implication in the text is that Michal is Paltiel's only wife and that he loved her dearly and is distraught as she is ripped from their home. It's a shame. Paltiel had done nothing wrong to David -- David's quarrel was with Saul. But David wants Michal. He certainly has some grounds to claim her, but even so, there are other grounds in favor of Paltiel's claim. And the fact that David already has six other wives, I mean... "How many wives does one David need?"
It is important to note also that the rivalries between David's sons - half-brothers as they were - brought many griefs to David later on. And as David takes Paltiel's wife, Michal, and we know that he already has another man's wife (Abigail, former wife of Nabal), we are reminded that David is heading toward future disaster when even all the wives he has aren't enough for him and he takes Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and eventually murders Uriah, to complete the deed. We are seeing the prelude to the fall of David.
Application: Sin is progressive. It starts with little seeds. Things that we can justify. But these tiny seeds of sin plant themselves in our lives and send down roots and grow bigger and bigger. David's practice of taking a wife from another man didn't seem like anything bad at all when it was the dead fool, Nabal, whose wife he took. And here with Michal, it does have some validity. But these are seeds of a besetting sin that will eventually grow to take over David's life and take down his kingdom. Watch out for the little seeds of sin. When you find yourself justifying something that deep down you know to be wrong, watch out! Get rid of it. Or it may get rid of you.
Prayer: Lord, make us aware of the little seeds of sin that we allow in our lives. Help us to always be cultivating the soil of our hearts to remove those seeds and the seedlings as they sprout. May we walk without compromise and with full integrity before You and others always.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
[Today's post is on the long side. Sorry, but I couldn't figure a way to say it in fewer words.]
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15
Scripture: 2 Samuel 3:2-5, 13-16
2 Sons were born to David in Hebron:
His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam [1] of Jezreel;
3 his second, Kileab the son of Abigail [2] the widow of Nabal of Carmel;
the third, Absalom the son of Maacah [3] daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith [4];
the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital [5];
5 and the sixth, Ithream the son of David's wife Eglah [6].
These were born to David in Hebron...
13 "Good," said David. "I will make an agreement with you [Abner]. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me." 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins."
15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back.
Observation: This passage has always bothered me. David's stock is soaring -- Saul's is plummeting. Saul is dead and all but one of his sons are dead while David is adding sons like arrows to his quiver. David is taking over (as he should) as the remnants of Saul's failed kingship are fading away. Verses 2 through 5 (above) give a list of not only David's first six sons, but of the fact that each comes from one of six different wives. (Up until this point, we were only aware of two of David's wives. But now we learn of four more for a total of six.)
Now, Abner, Saul's Chief-of-Staff, has made an overture to come over to David, but David makes a demand of him that seems quite odd, especially in light of the immediate context. David demands another wife. He wants Michal, the daughter of Saul that was promised to him but later withdrawn and given to another man, even though David completed the quest required for her hand in marriage. Saul did David wrong in the situation with Michal.
But David has clearly moved on -- he has taken other wives, six to be exact, and Michal has moved on as well, having a husband, and with him looking forward to having children of her own.
But there it is: this odd and troubling request by David. "Bring me Michal!" The order is given and Michal is torn away from her husband, Paltiel, to be given to David. The clear implication in the text is that Michal is Paltiel's only wife and that he loved her dearly and is distraught as she is ripped from their home. It's a shame. Paltiel had done nothing wrong to David -- David's quarrel was with Saul. But David wants Michal. He certainly has some grounds to claim her, but even so, there are other grounds in favor of Paltiel's claim. And the fact that David already has six other wives, I mean... "How many wives does one David need?"
It is important to note also that the rivalries between David's sons - half-brothers as they were - brought many griefs to David later on. And as David takes Paltiel's wife, Michal, and we know that he already has another man's wife (Abigail, former wife of Nabal), we are reminded that David is heading toward future disaster when even all the wives he has aren't enough for him and he takes Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and eventually murders Uriah, to complete the deed. We are seeing the prelude to the fall of David.
Application: Sin is progressive. It starts with little seeds. Things that we can justify. But these tiny seeds of sin plant themselves in our lives and send down roots and grow bigger and bigger. David's practice of taking a wife from another man didn't seem like anything bad at all when it was the dead fool, Nabal, whose wife he took. And here with Michal, it does have some validity. But these are seeds of a besetting sin that will eventually grow to take over David's life and take down his kingdom. Watch out for the little seeds of sin. When you find yourself justifying something that deep down you know to be wrong, watch out! Get rid of it. Or it may get rid of you.
Prayer: Lord, make us aware of the little seeds of sin that we allow in our lives. Help us to always be cultivating the soil of our hearts to remove those seeds and the seedlings as they sprout. May we walk without compromise and with full integrity before You and others always.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Title: From Misfit To Mighty / Topic: Leadership
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14
Scripture: 2 Samuel 2:11 this is the list of David's mighty men...
[and from an earlier reading] 1 Samuel 22:1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader...
Observation: Today's reading contains the list of David's mighty men and tells of their amazing exploits. These were like Israel's Knights of the Round Table. They were the Special Forces of their time. These men were dedicated, disciplined, highly skilled, and extremely loyal. But they did not start out that way. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 (above) tell us that when they first gathered to David, they were a rag tag bunch of misfits and outcasts. They were losers. What changed them? The powerful effect of great leadership. David led them with character and courage. He modeled high integrity and honor. And in the pressure cooker of their situation, David rubbed off on them.
Application: Great leaders make their followers great. But it takes time and consistent interaction, especially through difficult times. Think of what David and these men went through. They were hunted down like animals. They had to go into exile and operate covertly against Israel's enemies while living among them. Their lives where in danger from all sides. Great character, like a diamond, is forged in deep places of great heat and enormous pressure. David's mighty men became great in character like diamonds. May we be willing to be likewise formed.
Prayer: Lord, help us to welcome all who seek our comradeship. May we find the diamond within every individual, without regard to any person's original condition. Thank You, Lord, that You know how to bring the heat and pressure to bear upon us in such a way that we come forth better. And thank You for those who model greatness and excellence of leadership in our lives. Help us to become mighty men and women — people worthy of our great Champion and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 2:11 this is the list of David's mighty men...
[and from an earlier reading] 1 Samuel 22:1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader...
Observation: Today's reading contains the list of David's mighty men and tells of their amazing exploits. These were like Israel's Knights of the Round Table. They were the Special Forces of their time. These men were dedicated, disciplined, highly skilled, and extremely loyal. But they did not start out that way. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 (above) tell us that when they first gathered to David, they were a rag tag bunch of misfits and outcasts. They were losers. What changed them? The powerful effect of great leadership. David led them with character and courage. He modeled high integrity and honor. And in the pressure cooker of their situation, David rubbed off on them.
Application: Great leaders make their followers great. But it takes time and consistent interaction, especially through difficult times. Think of what David and these men went through. They were hunted down like animals. They had to go into exile and operate covertly against Israel's enemies while living among them. Their lives where in danger from all sides. Great character, like a diamond, is forged in deep places of great heat and enormous pressure. David's mighty men became great in character like diamonds. May we be willing to be likewise formed.
Prayer: Lord, help us to welcome all who seek our comradeship. May we find the diamond within every individual, without regard to any person's original condition. Thank You, Lord, that You know how to bring the heat and pressure to bear upon us in such a way that we come forth better. And thank You for those who model greatness and excellence of leadership in our lives. Help us to become mighty men and women — people worthy of our great Champion and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Title: The Root Problem / Topic: Character
Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13
Scripture: Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root...
20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
Observation: "No root." That is how Jesus described the problem of this soil. That phrase intrigues me. What does it mean to have "no root" or to be "unrooted"? Well, the opposite, the word rooted, is defined as "having been established so solidly or strongly as to make dislodgment or change extremely difficult" and has the following synonyms: "entrenched, embedded, fixed, ingrained, lodged, founded, grounded, implanted, confirmed, defined, established, settled, and strengthened." So "no root" would be the opposite of all these things. It would be characterized by a lack of solidness, substance, and stability. A person with "no root" is also "shallow" or lacking depth.
Application: There are many applications of this particular observation.
First, the fact that this person has instant positive response but no long term fruit is a lesson to not get too excited about the first response. It is important to follow up with those who respond to assist them to grow. If subsequent growth is stunted or withering occurs, perhaps we can help this person identify the "root problem" (pun intended) and do a little cultivating of the soil of their character, assisting them in getting some of the rocks out and building a little depth into their lives.
Second, we all should do a little self-examination to see how we follow through on the truth we receive. (Maybe all of us have room for improvement on this one.) Ask, "Do I really make new truth a part of my life long-term?" I think that I can probably benefit from some rock removal of my own. How about you?
There's more here but this is supposed to be a devotional and not a book. So I'll end in prayer.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be firmly established in You. I want to be rooted and grounded and deep. And I want to lead those within my sphere of influence into the same. Help us to identify and remove the rocks out of our lives. Lord, speak to us about that right now. And give us courage and determination to get them out. May we make room for You to set deep roots that will support lasting, beautiful, fruitful growth.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture: Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root...
20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
Observation: "No root." That is how Jesus described the problem of this soil. That phrase intrigues me. What does it mean to have "no root" or to be "unrooted"? Well, the opposite, the word rooted, is defined as "having been established so solidly or strongly as to make dislodgment or change extremely difficult" and has the following synonyms: "entrenched, embedded, fixed, ingrained, lodged, founded, grounded, implanted, confirmed, defined, established, settled, and strengthened." So "no root" would be the opposite of all these things. It would be characterized by a lack of solidness, substance, and stability. A person with "no root" is also "shallow" or lacking depth.
Application: There are many applications of this particular observation.
First, the fact that this person has instant positive response but no long term fruit is a lesson to not get too excited about the first response. It is important to follow up with those who respond to assist them to grow. If subsequent growth is stunted or withering occurs, perhaps we can help this person identify the "root problem" (pun intended) and do a little cultivating of the soil of their character, assisting them in getting some of the rocks out and building a little depth into their lives.
Second, we all should do a little self-examination to see how we follow through on the truth we receive. (Maybe all of us have room for improvement on this one.) Ask, "Do I really make new truth a part of my life long-term?" I think that I can probably benefit from some rock removal of my own. How about you?
There's more here but this is supposed to be a devotional and not a book. So I'll end in prayer.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be firmly established in You. I want to be rooted and grounded and deep. And I want to lead those within my sphere of influence into the same. Help us to identify and remove the rocks out of our lives. Lord, speak to us about that right now. And give us courage and determination to get them out. May we make room for You to set deep roots that will support lasting, beautiful, fruitful growth.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Title: The Perfection Police / Topic: Spirtual Blindness
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 30; 1 Samuel 31; 1 Chronicles 10; Matthew 12
Scripture: Matthew 12:13-14
13 Then [Jesus] said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Observation: The contrast here is vivid! Light vs. darkness, healing vs. murder, love vs. hate. Jesus healing of a man with a deformed hand was not welcomed by these religious leaders. No, they were angry that Jesus healed because it was Saturday. And Saturday was a day set apart for God. Of course everybody knows what that means: "ABSOLUTELY NO HEALINGS!" I find it so bizarre that the Pharisees could not realize that if someone was healed on the Sabbath, that God must have been OK with it because God was the one doing the healing. But these Pharisees had created substitutes for true Godliness and Jesus had just violated one of the biggies. So they wanted to murder Him.
Application: Watch out for what I call a religious spirit. It's primary symptom is spiritual blindness which is directly proportional to an inordinate concern over trivial matters. You can do really wonderful things, like Jesus did here - healing this man, but those with a religious spirit will pick at you and find fault with some small detail. And it's not just others we need to worry about. You can find yourself slipping into the fault-finding mode and becoming a critic of other Christians, ministries, or ministers. Watch out! God didn't call anybody to be the Perfection Police. The Bible says to keep a right spirit and to "watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." Look to see how people are getting healed, or blessed, or helped, or saved. Find the reason to rejoice and avoid the critical spirit.
Prayer: Lord, when I see Jesus doing such wonderful miracles and His critics attacking Him, I am always surprised. I know I shouldn't be because I have also encountered the same kind of spiritual blindness and controlling spirits. Help us to keep doing right, regardless of the opposition. And keep us focusing on Your approval and not looking to those who seem to be religious for theirs. I pray that we too may have the privilege and joy of being chastised for many unapproved miracles. May it come to pass.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture: Matthew 12:13-14
13 Then [Jesus] said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Observation: The contrast here is vivid! Light vs. darkness, healing vs. murder, love vs. hate. Jesus healing of a man with a deformed hand was not welcomed by these religious leaders. No, they were angry that Jesus healed because it was Saturday. And Saturday was a day set apart for God. Of course everybody knows what that means: "ABSOLUTELY NO HEALINGS!" I find it so bizarre that the Pharisees could not realize that if someone was healed on the Sabbath, that God must have been OK with it because God was the one doing the healing. But these Pharisees had created substitutes for true Godliness and Jesus had just violated one of the biggies. So they wanted to murder Him.
Application: Watch out for what I call a religious spirit. It's primary symptom is spiritual blindness which is directly proportional to an inordinate concern over trivial matters. You can do really wonderful things, like Jesus did here - healing this man, but those with a religious spirit will pick at you and find fault with some small detail. And it's not just others we need to worry about. You can find yourself slipping into the fault-finding mode and becoming a critic of other Christians, ministries, or ministers. Watch out! God didn't call anybody to be the Perfection Police. The Bible says to keep a right spirit and to "watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." Look to see how people are getting healed, or blessed, or helped, or saved. Find the reason to rejoice and avoid the critical spirit.
Prayer: Lord, when I see Jesus doing such wonderful miracles and His critics attacking Him, I am always surprised. I know I shouldn't be because I have also encountered the same kind of spiritual blindness and controlling spirits. Help us to keep doing right, regardless of the opposition. And keep us focusing on Your approval and not looking to those who seem to be religious for theirs. I pray that we too may have the privilege and joy of being chastised for many unapproved miracles. May it come to pass.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Title: Ghosts & Hauntings / Topic: The Spirit World
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 28; 1 Samuel 29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11
Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:8-19 (excerpts)
8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. "Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name."... 11 Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" "Bring up Samuel," he said. 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" 13 The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said, "I see a spirit coming up out of the ground." 14 "What does he look like?" he asked. "An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" "I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do." 16 Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17 The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors — to David. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. 19 The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines."
Observation: What a bizarre story. But what this story reminds me of is how little we really know about the afterlife. Here is the ghost of Samuel, being called up by a spiritist and speaking to King Saul. Samuel's ghost rebukes Saul and prophecies his death and the death of his sons as well as the defeat of the army of Israel. And everything came to pass as Samuel said. (Some teachers have said that this is not really Samuel's ghost but I see nothing in the text to indicate that.) The point is that we just have a lack of knowledge in the area of the spirit-world of the dead. I have disbelieved any talk of ghosts or hauntings, but I have heard from Christian missionaries and others of encounters with lingering spirits from areas where horrible killings had been committed, and these reports have made me reevaluate my position. I'm not saying that I swallow every ghost story, but I think that in light of this story in today's reading, we should realize that there is activity among the spirits of the dead that we know virtually nothing about.
Application: Serve Jesus. Believe in Him. Trust in God's word. And keep your mind and heart open to what is going on in our world today. The world is tuning in to matters of the spirit world and the Bible has the answers people are looking for. We need to prepare ourselves to give and answer to the questions people will ask. And we need to stay humble and admit that while God knows everything, "we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Prayer: Lord, we have so much to learn. Teach us and open us up to Your truth. Help us to apply the truth we have and show us more. I thank You that our lives are in Your hands and as we trust in You, we can be assured of a home in heaven with You. Lead us on the path to our eternal home.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:8-19 (excerpts)
8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. "Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name."... 11 Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" "Bring up Samuel," he said. 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" 13 The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said, "I see a spirit coming up out of the ground." 14 "What does he look like?" he asked. "An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" "I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do." 16 Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17 The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors — to David. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. 19 The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines."
Observation: What a bizarre story. But what this story reminds me of is how little we really know about the afterlife. Here is the ghost of Samuel, being called up by a spiritist and speaking to King Saul. Samuel's ghost rebukes Saul and prophecies his death and the death of his sons as well as the defeat of the army of Israel. And everything came to pass as Samuel said. (Some teachers have said that this is not really Samuel's ghost but I see nothing in the text to indicate that.) The point is that we just have a lack of knowledge in the area of the spirit-world of the dead. I have disbelieved any talk of ghosts or hauntings, but I have heard from Christian missionaries and others of encounters with lingering spirits from areas where horrible killings had been committed, and these reports have made me reevaluate my position. I'm not saying that I swallow every ghost story, but I think that in light of this story in today's reading, we should realize that there is activity among the spirits of the dead that we know virtually nothing about.
Application: Serve Jesus. Believe in Him. Trust in God's word. And keep your mind and heart open to what is going on in our world today. The world is tuning in to matters of the spirit world and the Bible has the answers people are looking for. We need to prepare ourselves to give and answer to the questions people will ask. And we need to stay humble and admit that while God knows everything, "we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror" (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Prayer: Lord, we have so much to learn. Teach us and open us up to Your truth. Help us to apply the truth we have and show us more. I thank You that our lives are in Your hands and as we trust in You, we can be assured of a home in heaven with You. Lead us on the path to our eternal home.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Title: Jesus Is No Beggar / Topic: The Call
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1 Chronicles 9; Matthew 10
Scripture: Matthew 10:37-39
37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Observation: These are powerful words. So often we present the opportunity to receive Christ to people as if Jesus is begging for supporters. Here Jesus is clearly not begging. He is setting a high standard that is challenging and He is telling His followers, "Listen, if you can't put me first then you don't deserve me!" Sounds kind of harsh and demanding, don't you think? Jesus did not mess around with soft-soaping the call to follow Him. Following Jesus meant death. Death to self and even, very likely, physical death.
Application: We need to rethink the low-threshold approach to evangelism that most of us use. It's as if we have been saying, "Please accept Jesus -- He's waiting on your approval to have the privilege to serve you." Am I overstating it? I don't think so. And we need to do something to change it. We must start by evaluating our own level of commitment to Jesus -- solidify that so it measures up to the demands of scripture, then call and challenge others to this highest and most noble of destinies: to be a servant of the Living God.
Prayer: Lord, may we live to please You. Forgive us for the lax way that we have given the call. Help us to get it right, with a high calling but with the winsome grace that You offer to draw even the wounded. We want to love You more than anyone or anything else. And we want to lead others in the same. With Your help we will succeed.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture: Matthew 10:37-39
37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Observation: These are powerful words. So often we present the opportunity to receive Christ to people as if Jesus is begging for supporters. Here Jesus is clearly not begging. He is setting a high standard that is challenging and He is telling His followers, "Listen, if you can't put me first then you don't deserve me!" Sounds kind of harsh and demanding, don't you think? Jesus did not mess around with soft-soaping the call to follow Him. Following Jesus meant death. Death to self and even, very likely, physical death.
Application: We need to rethink the low-threshold approach to evangelism that most of us use. It's as if we have been saying, "Please accept Jesus -- He's waiting on your approval to have the privilege to serve you." Am I overstating it? I don't think so. And we need to do something to change it. We must start by evaluating our own level of commitment to Jesus -- solidify that so it measures up to the demands of scripture, then call and challenge others to this highest and most noble of destinies: to be a servant of the Living God.
Prayer: Lord, may we live to please You. Forgive us for the lax way that we have given the call. Help us to get it right, with a high calling but with the winsome grace that You offer to draw even the wounded. We want to love You more than anyone or anything else. And we want to lead others in the same. With Your help we will succeed.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
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