“The women sang as they played, and said,
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.’
Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’ Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand. Saul hurled the spear for he thought, ‘I will pin David to the wall.’ But David escaped from his presence twice.”
1 Samuel 18:7-11
“David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him. When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.” 1 Samuel 18:14-16
After an astounding personal victory, David’s popularity unleashes in King Saul a deadly resentment and jealousy. And although David “had it all,” unlike his own son Absalom some years later, he never attempted to use his position to subvert the rule of King Saul. David lived an exemplary life with such wisdom that the whole nation was drawn to him.
You’ve finally taken an unyielding stand for Christ on the job. People know what you believe. Is there a co-worker or a boss who doesn’t “appreciate” your viewpoint? Is there someone who is mentally or verbally “throwing a javelin” at you? How are you responding? Are you defending your rights? Defending your opinion? Are you becoming angry and resentful?
Take David’s quiet example to heart. Behave wisely in all your ways. This statement portrays David with a sense of confidence (not pride), a deep respect for his superiors, and a mindset which led him to take care of his given responsibilities, faithfully. Don’t miss the underlying theme of David’s life - “and the Lord was with Him.”
Watch for misplaced confidence. Who you trust, when, and for what.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
Facing Your Giants
“The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine also said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.’ Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.’” 1 Samuel 17:43-47
When the name David is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is his confrontation with the giant Goliath. Unfortunately, we tend to look at David’s unprecedented victory as an isolated, “once-upon-a-time,” never-to-be-repeated event. BUT there are giants roaming our 21st century world - giants who are intimidating the people of God.
Crime, pornography, abortion, government-approved gambling, drugs, and the use of alcohol, godless philosophies and religious cults - these are giants. They say, “Your God has no power.” Far too many of use have responded in fear and retreated to the safety of a self-satisfying life-style. There are some “Davids” out there who are fully confronting these “Goliaths.” They do battle against a seemingly unbeatable foe.
David’s response to Goliath can be modernized. Today’s “David” can say, “You come to me with your list of ‘rights,’ the cry for political correctness, the threat of lawsuits. But I come to you in the name of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ Whom you have defiled. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand.” Now that’s conquering faith for facing life’s foes.
“...for the battle is the Lord’s...” 1 Sam. 17:47
When the name David is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is his confrontation with the giant Goliath. Unfortunately, we tend to look at David’s unprecedented victory as an isolated, “once-upon-a-time,” never-to-be-repeated event. BUT there are giants roaming our 21st century world - giants who are intimidating the people of God.
Crime, pornography, abortion, government-approved gambling, drugs, and the use of alcohol, godless philosophies and religious cults - these are giants. They say, “Your God has no power.” Far too many of use have responded in fear and retreated to the safety of a self-satisfying life-style. There are some “Davids” out there who are fully confronting these “Goliaths.” They do battle against a seemingly unbeatable foe.
David’s response to Goliath can be modernized. Today’s “David” can say, “You come to me with your list of ‘rights,’ the cry for political correctness, the threat of lawsuits. But I come to you in the name of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ Whom you have defiled. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand.” Now that’s conquering faith for facing life’s foes.
“...for the battle is the Lord’s...” 1 Sam. 17:47
Sunday, January 6, 2013
When God Chooses a Man
“Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” 1 Samuel 16:1
“So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, ‘Do you come in peace?’ He said, ‘In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.’ He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”
1 Samuel 16:4-7
How many times have you caught yourself playing the role of “the cross-eyed usher” (James 2:1-4)? It seems it is our nature to prefer those who have and avoided those who have not. Yet it’s plain from the Scriptures that God has a different code of ethics which He intends for His children to follow. Christ’s teachings to the multitudes and to the select twelve often clashed with the accepted thought of that day. His teaching was hard to understand - and harder to follow.
God sees deeper into a man or woman than those around them can or do. Can you tell just by looking at their outward appearance which one out of a hundred will compose a piece like Handel’s Messiah or play the piano like Dino or discover so many practical uses for the common peanut as George Washington Carver or invest their productive years helping people in a third world country to better their lives and draw them to the love of Jesus?
Seek to look beyond the mask others wear and, by God’s help, discover the potential which may hide there. Who knows? You may make a wonderful discovery when looking at the heart.
“What you see is what you get”? Not necessarily.
“So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, ‘Do you come in peace?’ He said, ‘In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.’ He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”
1 Samuel 16:4-7
How many times have you caught yourself playing the role of “the cross-eyed usher” (James 2:1-4)? It seems it is our nature to prefer those who have and avoided those who have not. Yet it’s plain from the Scriptures that God has a different code of ethics which He intends for His children to follow. Christ’s teachings to the multitudes and to the select twelve often clashed with the accepted thought of that day. His teaching was hard to understand - and harder to follow.
God sees deeper into a man or woman than those around them can or do. Can you tell just by looking at their outward appearance which one out of a hundred will compose a piece like Handel’s Messiah or play the piano like Dino or discover so many practical uses for the common peanut as George Washington Carver or invest their productive years helping people in a third world country to better their lives and draw them to the love of Jesus?
Seek to look beyond the mask others wear and, by God’s help, discover the potential which may hide there. Who knows? You may make a wonderful discovery when looking at the heart.
“What you see is what you get”? Not necessarily.
Friday, January 4, 2013
The Tragic End to a Promising Beginning
“Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I did obey the voice of the Lord, and went on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.’ Samuel said, ‘Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.’”
1 Samuel 15:20-23
King Saul’s downfall was due to the fact that logic and self took the place of simple obedience to the revealed will of God. Lest we find ourselves too eager to criticize this great man, remember that he was chosen by God, and as anointed king of Israel, he was uniquely touched by God’s Spirit to the point that he even joined the prophets and prophesied. He led the nation to many victories. He was a success in everybody’s eyes. Yet one area of Saul’s life remained unyielded even to God’s control. Saul never really learned to completely trust God.
Does your life look good to everyone on the outside? Are you considered a “success”? Do you seem to have it all together? Friend, it’s not impossible that even now you sense that the outside view is just a show. The inside is empty and shallow, full of fear and worry and doubt.
You don’t have to choose Saul’s route. His life is a sad example of the tragic end to a promising beginning. Saul’s downfall was disobedience. And in this day of grace, don’t underestimate the importance of complete and immediate obedience to God.
There’s the outside where people see what you want them to see. And there’s...
1 Samuel 15:20-23
King Saul’s downfall was due to the fact that logic and self took the place of simple obedience to the revealed will of God. Lest we find ourselves too eager to criticize this great man, remember that he was chosen by God, and as anointed king of Israel, he was uniquely touched by God’s Spirit to the point that he even joined the prophets and prophesied. He led the nation to many victories. He was a success in everybody’s eyes. Yet one area of Saul’s life remained unyielded even to God’s control. Saul never really learned to completely trust God.
Does your life look good to everyone on the outside? Are you considered a “success”? Do you seem to have it all together? Friend, it’s not impossible that even now you sense that the outside view is just a show. The inside is empty and shallow, full of fear and worry and doubt.
You don’t have to choose Saul’s route. His life is a sad example of the tragic end to a promising beginning. Saul’s downfall was disobedience. And in this day of grace, don’t underestimate the importance of complete and immediate obedience to God.
There’s the outside where people see what you want them to see. And there’s...
Thursday, January 3, 2013
A Promising Beginning
“Then all the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king.’ Samuel said to the people, ‘Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile. For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.’”
1 Samuel 12:19-24
A study of the Old Testament historical books is incomplete without a recognition of God’s unique work through the reigning judge or prophet. These rugged individuals were instrumental in keeping a nation on course in time when they were drawn (and sometimes driven) by neighboring nations. One of the great prophets was a man who was on the scene as the people of Israel made their fateful decision that they would be like other nations and have a king.
A cursory reading of 1 Samuel 3-12 will give you an appreciation for this unique man of God who stood as a special link between Israel and God. He was a man of deep conviction regarding the need to follow God as an individual and as a nation. He was a source of calm strength when all around was cause for concern (if not outright panic).
In every generation God is looking for those who will emulate Samuel’s spirit. How our homes, our churches, our communities need Samuels - men (and women) whose presence brings a sense of godly peace and assurance that God is in control.
Godly calm and assurance are possible even when others panic.
1 Samuel 12:19-24
A study of the Old Testament historical books is incomplete without a recognition of God’s unique work through the reigning judge or prophet. These rugged individuals were instrumental in keeping a nation on course in time when they were drawn (and sometimes driven) by neighboring nations. One of the great prophets was a man who was on the scene as the people of Israel made their fateful decision that they would be like other nations and have a king.
A cursory reading of 1 Samuel 3-12 will give you an appreciation for this unique man of God who stood as a special link between Israel and God. He was a man of deep conviction regarding the need to follow God as an individual and as a nation. He was a source of calm strength when all around was cause for concern (if not outright panic).
In every generation God is looking for those who will emulate Samuel’s spirit. How our homes, our churches, our communities need Samuels - men (and women) whose presence brings a sense of godly peace and assurance that God is in control.
Godly calm and assurance are possible even when others panic.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Living Above Our Circumstances, Part 2
“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39
The words “living above our circumstances” bring to mind a tape recording in which a 21-year-old man talked to his family about what he was having to deal with in life. His words reflected a deep desire to share the gospel with some of the toughest men he’d ever known. In past months, his life had taken a drastic turn from that of Bible college student to a member of the 101st Airborne Division stationed in Vietnam.
Where once the most pressing concern centered on tomorrow’s biology exam, now death was an everyday occurrence. Many men crumbled under the pressure. But this young man’s faith soared, encouraging those around him because in those life and death struggles, he made the wonderful discovery of how to live above his circumstances.
Read for yourself the letters which the Apostle Paul wrote to the New Testament church (the epistles). They are filled with affirmations of God’s presence in and through every situation faced in life. From temptation to trail to persecution, God has made the provision for us to be living above our circumstances!
Find the evidence of God’s presence in Paul’s New Testament letters.
The words “living above our circumstances” bring to mind a tape recording in which a 21-year-old man talked to his family about what he was having to deal with in life. His words reflected a deep desire to share the gospel with some of the toughest men he’d ever known. In past months, his life had taken a drastic turn from that of Bible college student to a member of the 101st Airborne Division stationed in Vietnam.
Where once the most pressing concern centered on tomorrow’s biology exam, now death was an everyday occurrence. Many men crumbled under the pressure. But this young man’s faith soared, encouraging those around him because in those life and death struggles, he made the wonderful discovery of how to live above his circumstances.
Read for yourself the letters which the Apostle Paul wrote to the New Testament church (the epistles). They are filled with affirmations of God’s presence in and through every situation faced in life. From temptation to trail to persecution, God has made the provision for us to be living above our circumstances!
Find the evidence of God’s presence in Paul’s New Testament letters.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Living Above Our Circumstances
“Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:12-21
Many look at a new calendar year and see a clean sheet before them, a time to set new objectives or reinforce past choices. On the other hand, there are many who see the new year as just one more bleak day-to-day existence through which they are forced to suffer and endure. Both outlooks need to face life’s circumstances with hope and faith. But where does one draw upon such resources?
Let’s set a standard for today, this year, the rest of our lives. Let’s accept the truth that God has revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and through His Word, the Bible - and to His children, He reveals Himself through the presence of His Spirit. Now those are resources! Face life with those resources at hand. You’ll find that even when you are confronted with difficult circumstances, you have the ability to live above them.
How can such a confident statement be made? Go back to our standard - God’s Word. You’ll see in the epistles how the Apostle Paul faced trial after trial. He was greatly persecuted, yet he was always triumphant because he learned the secret which we can learn - that of living above our circumstances.
“For to me, to live is Christ...” Phil. 1:21
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:12-21
Many look at a new calendar year and see a clean sheet before them, a time to set new objectives or reinforce past choices. On the other hand, there are many who see the new year as just one more bleak day-to-day existence through which they are forced to suffer and endure. Both outlooks need to face life’s circumstances with hope and faith. But where does one draw upon such resources?
Let’s set a standard for today, this year, the rest of our lives. Let’s accept the truth that God has revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and through His Word, the Bible - and to His children, He reveals Himself through the presence of His Spirit. Now those are resources! Face life with those resources at hand. You’ll find that even when you are confronted with difficult circumstances, you have the ability to live above them.
How can such a confident statement be made? Go back to our standard - God’s Word. You’ll see in the epistles how the Apostle Paul faced trial after trial. He was greatly persecuted, yet he was always triumphant because he learned the secret which we can learn - that of living above our circumstances.
“For to me, to live is Christ...” Phil. 1:21
Happy New Year!
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