Saturday, April 14, 2007

Title: Fake Obedience / Topic: Self Will vs. God's Will

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 15; 1 Samuel 16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:8-9
8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

Observation: Saul had been instructed to completely annihilate the Amalekites -- not sparing or taking anything at all. (Today we cringe at such a thought, but let's just focus on the story.) They attacked and destroyed them, but notice that they did not carry out the full destruction that God had specifically instructed. Instead, they used their own personal preferences to determine what to destroy and what to keep. And notice that the things that they considered "despised and weak", these things they "totally destroyed." So I hear the tinge of them carrying out their own hatred or bigotry or prejudice here. Things they despised they destroyed. Not as an agent of God's judgment, but at their own personal wrecking crews.

Application: I find today that people can here what God has instructed and then rationalize their way out of full obedience into a kind of self-directed facsimile of obedience. From the outside, it looks very much like following God, but on the inside, it is borne of the person's own will, modifying and molding God's principles in a way that suits them.

Bottom line: I must hear and obey. It is not my place to argue with God or change His explicit instruction to suit my tastes or desires. He is Lord. I am servant.

Prayer: Lord, we need more people who understand their place before You. Help me to be a leader who follows You with such careful and joyful obedience that others will see and want to follow my example. I want to do Your will and not my own. Help me Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Title: Compelling Conviction / Topic: Faith

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 14; 1 Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13

Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

Observation: I love Jonathan. His statement of the conviction of his heart concerning God is great! Notice that he does not presume to claim that God will act for them no matter what. He says "perhaps." (In the verses following this one, he proposes two options -- one where God will help them.) And he knows one thing for sure: "Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few."

Application: I want to let this inspire me. Jonathan was facing ridiculously overwhelming odds. But he saw God as so much bigger than any enemy he could face. Think about that. It is truly remarkable that Jonathan is able to disregard the obviously-visible overwhelming, threatening force of the Philistines with their chariots, swords, spears, and large numbers, and to see his invisible God as more powerful, more reliable, and he is willing to lay his life on the line with this invisible God against the powerful army standing before him. How much must I choose to trust in God for my every need and against my every obstacle? I must with every fiber of my being.

Prayer: Lord, You are great. Forgive me for my lack of faith. Thank You for Jonathan and his great example for me. Inspire me to greater and greater faith. I know You will be there for me as I act with conviction and trust in You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Title: Let's Do Something / Topic: Leadership

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 13; 1 Chronicles 2; 1 Chronicles 3; 2 Corinthians 12

Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:11-12
11 "What have you done?" asked Samuel.
Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, 12 I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."

Observation: Saul is hard pressed as he and his army are vastly outnumbered and the enemy has chariots, swords, spears, and shields while Saul's army has no weapons, only agricultural implements like shovels, rakes, and hoes! And to make matters worse, Samuel is late in arriving. His men are melting away in fear. Saul has to do something! And he makes a fateful decision: he decides to take matters into his own hands by performing the burnt offering himself -- something that only the priest was supposed to do.

Application: This is a common tendency for leaders, particularly young leaders. "Nothing seems to be happening. Let's do something! Let's make something happen." Saul had self-limited his options. "Either wait for Samuel to offer the sacrifice, or do it myself." He viewed the sacrifice as the thing -- a kind of gimmick event to hold his troops together. In reality, the sacrifice is not an event, it is worship of God expressing dependence upon Him. When Saul took it upon himself to do the sacrifice, he expressed self-dependence and violated the very spirit of the sacrifice. It is hard for young leaders to wait on the Lord -- to be patient and wait and have faith that He will do what needs to be done in His time. (At no time did Saul simply ask God for guidance or help or confirmation.)

Bottom Line: Resist the temptation to act for action's sake. Wait patiently on the Lord. When there are road blocks, seek Him first. Granted, there are times for bold action (as when Jonathan attacked the Philistines), but we must submit everything before God. In our leadership, we must not get ahead of God.

Prayer: Lord, following You is the essence of what I want my life to be about. Thinking Your thoughts, walking in Your ways, doing what You do, saying what You say. Help me to do these things consistently. I believe in You. I have trust in You.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Title: Aggressively Protective / Topic: Responsible Leadership

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 11; 1 Samuel 12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

Observation: Paul is on a tear. He is taking on outsiders who have come into the Corinthian church, presenting themselves as "apostles," even using the term "super apostles." Paul considers them dangerous interlopers and does everything he can to convince the church not to follow these impostors. What I notice is how aggressive Paul is. He doesn't shade his words -- it's black and white to him.

Application: This is encouraging to me. I have had situations in my leadership where some have come in or risen up to rival my leadership in the lives of people who are under my care. My first response is to be defensive of the sheep -- not of myself or my position. Sometimes I have been attacked for this. But Paul, who did the exact same thing and even more, tells me that I am right on.

Bottom Line: Spiritual leadership must be aggressively protective for their people because subversive religious-appearing fakes will always appear to do damage to a church. The pastor must be vigilant and aggressive in neutralizing those who come in with less-than-holy motivations. (Some of these people may be unaware of their bad motivations.)

Prayer: Lord, help me to have discernment as I lead. Give me strength and wisdom to protect those whom You have given me the privilege to care for.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Title: The Zap Of God / Topic: Life Change

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 8; 1 Samuel 9; 1 Samuel 10; 2 Corinthians 10

Scripture: 1 Samuel 10:6 The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.

Observation: Samuel is prophesying to Saul about the immediate future. Among all the details of lost donkeys, and goats, and bread, and wine, and musicians is this amazing verse. What I particularly love about this is that it affirms the fact that a person can undergo a radical life change in an instant by God's power. Typically we tend to think that change can only happen over time with prayer, sweat, counseling, 12 steps, accountability, support, etc. (And of course, this is the way that change generally happens.)

Application: Be open to God's power to change you. He has the power to do in an instant what an army of psychiatrists cannot do over years. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't get help or make effort to do the things that will support the changes we seek. But I'd rather have God zap me than spend three years in counseling!

Prayer: Lord, please work Your supernatural change in my life. I know You have already and I look for more to come. Make me over in You image.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Title: Rich In Every Way / Topic: God's Blessings

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 6; 1 Samuel 7; Psalm 72; 2 Corinthians 9

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Observation: This is a great scripture about the principle of sowing and reaping and the place of faith in prosperity. God is the ultimate source -- Paul uses the phrases "he who supplies seed to the sower and bread and food" -- a great description of Jehovah Jireh. Relying upon God as the source results in one thing: richness! Look how Paul pours it on: "Supply and increase," "enlarge the harvest," "rich in every way." But this is not just about money -- no, it is also about character: "righteousness" and "generosity" are also hugely prominent in these verses. It is quite clear that the person who submits to God in trust and faith not only will be blessed in finances, but also in character and as Paul says, "rich in every way."

Application: These are incentives enough for anyone to serve the Lord. But when you add the fact of God's great love and the desperate need of humans for redemption from our own brokenness, why would anyone not lay it all down for God?

Prayer: Lord, You are great. May I serve You in such a way that I am blessed and "rich in every way."
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Title: A Pastor's Fantasy / Topic: Great Giving

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 3; 1 Samuel 4; 1 Samuel 5; Psalm 77; 2 Corinthians 8

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:2-5
2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

Observation: Paul is writing about the Macedonian churches. He describes their amazingly great giving. These Christians literally begged to give, considering it a privilege! (Unfortunately, this attitude is almost unseen today.) And their giving came from hearts of submission to God, with a priority on pleasing Him first and allowing their giving to be guided by God's will for them. The result was giving beyond a level that Paul even thought possible of them.

Application: I have entitled this post A Pastor's Fantasy because the attitude of these Macedonian Christians is what any pastor would love to have in the people he leads. Not just the generosity in the area of finance (although that would be mightily refreshing), but the giving of themselves first to the Lord. What a blessing to have a group people who have made God the first priority in their lives not just in word, but in deed as well.

[Disclaimer: I want to make it clear that I, like every pastor, have some people in my flock that are like these Macedonians. What makes this group A Pastor's Fantasy, is the fact that the entire church was characterized by this wonderful commitment. That is unheard of among pastors I have met or churches I know of.]

Prayer: Lord, I pray that there would be more and more of Your people who are like these Macedonian believers. Guide me so that I can inspire people to greater and greater levels of intimacy and commitment to You as the #1 thing in their lives.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.