Friday, August 30, 2019
The Power of Our Words
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 24:7, So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.
It was one thing for David to show restraint in killing Saul, but it was another to convince a group of men to show restraint who were probably just as tired from running and hiding as David was. The words he spoke, God used to restrain the men who followed David. Many of us probably give very little thought to how the words we speak affect others and affect daily situations and circumstances. James 3:6 warns us, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” The words we speak will either encourage peace or they will set a situation on fire. Our words can bring peace in the midst of conflict or can instigate war. I have often seen well-meaning Christians rebuke someone who has sinned, but used a tone of anger rather than a tone of sorrow and compassion. The result has not been healing and restoration, but discouragement and bitterness, driving others away from the Lord rather than bringing them to a place of repentance. This is the reason for God’s warning in James 1:19-20, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” As born again followers of Jesus, we must be extremely careful about how we use our words. In 1 Peter 3:10 we are told, “For ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.’” Colossians 4:5-6 also tells us, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Note a very important point in verse 5, “toward those who are outside”. Far too often, as Christians, we put on a show for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ when we gather together at the local church or some Christian event. We are on our best behavior and we are careful about what we say. However, once we get out into the world we become careless with our words. We cuss and tell inappropriate jokes or make inappropriate remarks, then want to tell people about Jesus or rebuke people with our self-righteous attitudes when they do something that offends us. God, once again, reminds us in James 3:8-10, “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” Our aim, as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, is to glorify Him in our lives. One way that we do this is by the power of the words we use. What we speak can be used by the Lord to bless and comfort others, or our words can bring a blemish to Christianity and the Name of Jesus. David could have used his words to encourage someone else within his group of men to kill Saul and then tell himself that it was justified since he was not the one who did it. Instead, he used his words to encourage them not to sin against God by harming the man God put on the throne for the time being. As men and women of God, our words should be words that encourage others. The best way I can express what I am trying to communicate here is to let God’s Word do it. I will leave you with the words of Ephesians 4:29-31, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Be Vigilant Always
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 24:1-2, Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
When will our troubles end? When will the attacks cease and the peace we long for finally come to be realized? When will the struggle with sin finally come to its conclusion? Well, the answer to that question is…when we are finally home with Jesus. Until then, we must be vigilant always. 1 Peter 5:8-9 warns and advises, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” The fact of the matter is that until we go home to be with the Lord, or He comes back, we will always have to be ready to defend ourselves against the devil’s attacks. God has provided us the necessary armor in Christ, as we know from Ephesians 6. I am sure that David felt some relief whenever God delivered him from Saul’s hands; but how exhausting it must have been physically, emotionally, and spiritually, every time David found that Saul was pursuing him once again. Well, for every single one of us who knows Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have a “Saul” who pursues us, and desires our destruction and death. His name is Lucifer and he has an army of devils that look to trip us up every chance they get. Satan’s desire is to draw us, and our worship, away from God, and his and his demons’ attacks to accomplish this are relentless. However, 1 John 4:4 reminds us that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. The Apostle Peter tells us to first be sober, or self-controlled. Sometimes our own lack of self control gives way for the attacks that come. We are to be vigilant, or watchful; yet we often allow the world to draw our focus away from the Lord and put it on ourselves and our selfish wants and desires. In spite of Saul’s attempts to capture David, God prevented it from happening, as God had plans for David’s life. Note that just because God had plans for David, and although He always made a way for David’s escape, He did not prevent Saul from pursuing David until Saul’s demise in battle against the Philistines many years later. Although God does not always thwart the devils’ attacks against us, He is always watching and always setting the boundaries. (Job 1 & 2). I want to remind us all that when the enemies launch their attacks, the best place to be is under the protection of the Lord. Verse 3 tells us, “So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)” When I read this, I could not help but think of Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Some of us have a great desire to serve the Lord, but it seems like we face opposition on every side. The more we try to serve and be faithful, the more attacks that seem to come our way. Our best defense for these attacks, this relentless pursuit, is found in James 4:7-8, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” David’s greatest protection and greatest source of encouragement in this race for his life was the Lord. So it is, and will continue to be, in our lives until that grand day when we will see the Lord face to face. Until then, let us do all we can to stay focused on, and dedicated to, the One who is our Strength, Shelter, and Protector in those times when the enemy comes ever so close to robbing us of our peace and joy, and tries to destroy our life and relationship with Christ. In the end, we will sing the song that David sang when God delivered him from all his enemies in Psalm 18:1-3, “I will love You, O Lord, my strength. 2 The LORD is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Shield and the Horn of my salvation, my Stronghold. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and
Sunday, August 25, 2019
The Choice Between Vengeance and Faith
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 24:6, And he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.”
What an incredible example of restraint on the part of David. How could he ever resist taking vengeance on Saul at such a vulnerable and advantageous moment? He could have easily ended the turmoil in his life and had the complete backing of his men. A decision to strike down Saul would have been a popular one with the men who were following him and he could have begun his reign as king. What would have been so wrong with that? After all, did not God already have him anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 16)? Was that not proof right there that God delivered Saul into David’s hand? Was that not proof of God’s will? How could he not take full advantage of “all the star being aligned” at that very moment? Well, it was a simple answer. David was truly a man after God’s own heart and this act of restraint demonstrated how great David’s faith and trust was in the LORD. Many of us would have to admit that we would have not hesitated to finally take revenge against a person who had caused us as much misery as Saul did to David. Many of us would even hang our hat on the fact that God brought our enemy right to us and that it was part of His will and plan for us to take out our enemy. Yet, there are those times when God delivers our enemy into our hands, not so much for us to take vengeance, but for us to show them the love of Jesus and demonstrate how much faith we have in Him. Yes, this might be a very tough pill to swallow, but the truth of the matter is that we can never go wrong by showing those who torment us the love of Jesus. As I read David’s reaction to what happened I could not help but think of a number of verses that apply to this situation. Matthew 5:44-45, clearly commands, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Romans 12:17-21 also commands us, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. 20 Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” When we are struggling against those who choose to make us their enemies, or those who choose to torment us because of who we are or what we believe, it is not very difficult to allow the desire to do them wrong or see them fall to grow within us. It is even easier to see opportunities as David had as opportunities from God to end our misery. However, not every opportunity for us to take vengeance is really an opportunity from God to take revenge. More often than not, it is an opportunity, from God, for us to show Him how much we truly trust Him and how much faith we have in Him and His Word. Before we decide that certain circumstances are opportunities from God to act out the desires of our hearts, we need to step back and ask, “LORD is this an opportunity for me to trust You and show You how much I love You and have faith in You?” The fact of the matter is that we may not know the answer right away, but I will always try to go with what my pastor once told me, “We can never go wrong if we err on the side of grace.” After all, did not God forgive us and show us much grace, for much worse, for Jesus’ sake? (Ephesians 4:32) The line between vengeance and faith is a very thin one. However, we will do what is pleasing to the LORD if we first begin with faith (Hebrew 11:6).
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Friday, August 23, 2019
The Wonder of God's Providence
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:27-28, But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!” 28 Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape.
When I read these verses all I can think of is Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” David probably thought he would be safe amongst his own people in Ziph. Yet, it turned out that they were more interested in finding favor with King Saul than they were in helping David. Sadly, we will find in this life that people are more interested in their own self gain than they are in helping us in our time of need. However, in spite of their feeble attempts to betray David for their own gain, God’s providence prevailed. One important note about what was happening here is found in Psalm 54. This is the Psalm that David penned while hiding in the wilderness of Ziph. It reads, “Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength, 2 hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 Strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life; they have not set God before them. Selah 4 Behold, God is my helper; the LORD is with those who uphold my life. 5 He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth. 6 I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your Name, O LORD, for it is good. 7 For He has delivered me out of trouble; and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.” God’s providence was at work, but we must not overlook that fact that David was also in prayer. The fact of the matter is that God may choose to answer our prayers for deliverance from the evil attempts of others by His providence. If we recall, Saul was not very responsive to the people’s cry in Keilah when the Philistines were attacking them (23:1). It was David who came to their rescue. By Saul’s response to the news that the Philistines had invaded the land, it would appear that there was some personal loss at stake if he continued to pursue after David. God used Saul’s own selfishness and greed, along with the Philistines’ hatred of Israel, to deliver David from Saul and his men. Let us keep in mind that the Philistines we not friends of David. They were his enemy also. Nonetheless, God used the actions of his enemies to deliver him from a situation that many of us would consider “too close for comfort”. After David and his men fled to the Wilderness of Maon, we read this in verse 26, “Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them.” How often have we found ourselves in situations that seemed to be closing in on us? Did we faint or did we pray? Did we give up or did we seek, more fervently, after the only One who could deliver us? We know from Psalm 54 that David continued more fervently in prayer. The result of such trust and faith was that God’s answer came by way of His providence. No matter how hopeless our circumstances might seem to us, they are nothing for our LORD. He simply used the actions of David’s enemies and Saul’s own selfishness and greed to deliver David out of the hands of the one who should have appreciated David’s service to him, but instead was neglecting his duties as king to pursue one who was not his enemy. God’s justice and providence will always prevail against those who make themselves our enemies, and seek our hurt, simply because we choose to follow after and serve our Lord and Savior.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Monday, August 19, 2019
Closer than a Brother
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:16, Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.
One of the best friendships we can enjoy are those that are centered in Christ. We know that there were moments when David was distressed from being pursued by Saul. When we read the Psalms, we know that David often lamented, but always found comfort in the Lord. Here we see Jonathan, once again, risking his own life to be with David and remind him of his faithfulness to their friendship. However, note Jonathan’s approach in encouraging David. Although he states that he will stand with David on the day that the Lord makes him king in verse 17, his primary approach in encouraging David was to remind him that God was with him. As Christian friends, we must remember that in our well-meaning intentions we may want to encourage others by telling them that we will be there for them in the future, but the fact of the matter is that we just do not know that for sure. As we read the story of David’s life, we know that this was Jonathan’s and David’s last meeting, as Jonathan later died in battle (1 Samuel 31). The greatest comfort and encouragement we can offer one another is to remind each other of God’s faithfulness. Jonathan reminded David in verse 17, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.” In other words, God is protecting you and will not fail you. God made a promise to make you king and will not go back on His promise, because God is faithful. When it comes to pass, I will not oppose God’s will for you, as I am the rightful heir, but I will stand with you as your loyal friend and servant. What a beautiful friendship! Can any of us claim to be this kind of selfless friend? Can any of us truly behave with such genuineness and be free of jealousy toward those we love when we see God advancing them, even if it means loss for us? 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us, “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” Ephesians 4:29, also commands, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” The bottom line is that as Christian friends, we must encourage one another by reminding each other of God’s faithfulness and reminding each other that He will keep all His promises to us as His children. We must be willing to do whatever it takes to be there for one another, being more concerned about the needs of others, as God will be sure to take care of ours. Jonathan risked his life to be there for David, and to encourage him in his greatest time of need. He put his own life at stake to make sure that his beloved David was not going to give up or be discouraged by his current circumstances. Ultimately, the greatest reminder we can give each other is that we have a Friend who sticks closer to us than a brother, and that Friend is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Proverbs 18:24).
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Only If God Allows It
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:14, And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.
What a wonderful reminder we find here. What reminder you ask? The reminder that God is in control. Yes, even though there may be time when it seems like life is out of control, we can be assured that God is ALWAYS in control. The best example I can think of was recorded for us in the Book of Job. On the surface, the story of Job seems like one of tragedy, but in reality it is a story of God’s glory. Although Job suffered much loss, there was never a moment, not even a second, when God was not fully aware of what was happening or in complete control of the circumstances. Even Satan would not dare cross the boundaries that God set during Job’s ordeal (Job 1:12; 2:6). The greatest comfort we have as born again believers is the fact that God is always with us and will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Not only is He always with us, but He is always in control and works all our circumstances, trials, and tribulations for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28-29). No matter how much Saul attempted to trap David and his men, his efforts proved to be fruitless and a waste of time. Saul’s responsibility was supposed to be to carry out his duties as king over Israel, as this was the purpose God set him on the throne for. Instead, because of his pride and jealousy, Saul sought after his own plans of trying to capture and kill David. God was having none of it. Proverbs 19:21 clearly states, “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.” This should serve as a warning to us and to those who seek our harm. Nothing, absolutely nothing, will be accomplished in all our planning and scheming, unless the Lord allows it. This should also bring those of us who are born again children of God much peace. It should comfort us in knowing that nothing will touch us that must first meet God’s approval, and if it does, it means that God is allowing it for a reason and will see us through it. Ultimately, whatever He does allow He will use to teach us something about Him and our relationship with Him. He may be teaching us something about our faith and our walk with Jesus that needs to change, or He may be preparing us and strengthening us for future service to Him. The bottom line is that no matter what happens in our lives, we can be assured of one thing, the things that happen will happen only if God allows them. When those difficult times come knocking on our door, remember what God recorded for us in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Friday, August 16, 2019
Wilderness Blessings
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:14, And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.
What a contrast from David’s early years as a shepherd boy. His days in the fields, caring for his father’s sheep, God used to sharpen David’s skills as a musician and poet. He taught him humility and how to be faithful in carrying out the lowliest of duties. As a young man, David became a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). God allowed David to face certain challenges while in the fields, such as wrestling a bear and a lion, which prepared David for his battle against Goliath, putting him on the path to notoriety amongst the people of Israel (1 Samuel 17:36, 41-52). David, the man after God’s own heart, later found himself running for his life, living and hiding out in the Wilderness of Ziph. This was a place that was not an easy place to live in. It was a stark contrast from the fields David spent many years in, tending to his father’s sheep. What David went through flies in the face of all the “name it claim it” preaching we hear today. It contradicts the whole, “God only wants success and prosperity for you, so claim it and go get it.” However, David’s time in the wilderness was actually a time of wonderful blessings; not the world’s idea of blessings. David received the kind of blessings that we need to appreciate today. God was the One who led David and his men to this wilderness. Nonetheless, note the great blessing that we read in this verse, “God did not deliver him into his hand.” I am not sure how many of you reading this have ever experienced this, but I can personally testify that some of the greatest times of fellowship with the Lord have taken place in the midst of some of the greatest trials that He has allowed in my life. We do not often think of wilderness moments as times of blessings, but those are the times when God teaches us the greatest lessons and prepares us for the greatest service. In this case, He was preparing David to serve Him as king of Israel. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 reminds us, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” It is in the wilderness that we learn to lean on God’s strength and not our own. The Apostle Paul knew this personally. He said this in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Rather than complain and get upset when God allows trying times, we need to remember James 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” If we want to experience true peace and joy in the midst of hard times, we need to change our mindset about what God’s blessings look like. We must look to, and apply in Christ, verses such as Philippians 4:4-6, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The bottom line is that God’s blessings come in all forms, and quite often the greatest blessings are the “wilderness blessings” because those are the ones that draw us closest to our Lord.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Sunday, August 11, 2019
He Always Know What We Do Not
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:12, Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will deliver you.”
Yesterday I said that there were two things we could see in this verse and discussed one of the two. Today, I would like us to examine the second perspective. David, in not knowing what would happen now that he was informed that Saul and his men were on the way to Keilah, immediately turned to the Lord for answers. While the fact that the men of Keilah were going to betray David is a fact that stands out in this verse, what is an even greater observation is that God already knew what was in the hearts of those men. While they might not have wanted to really hand David over to Saul, the fact of the matter was that Saul turned into a cruel king, which we already observed when he ordered the death of Ahimelech and the people, upon believing that they had aided David and his men. The men of Keilah may have thought that they would stand with David, but fear has a way of gripping our hearts and changing our minds, especially if there is a threat of death. Peter proclaimed boldly that he would stand with Jesus, no matter what, but Jesus knew that Peter would cave under the fear he would experience once Jesus was falsely imprisoned. Matthew 26:33-35 recounts for us, “Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.’ 34 Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ 35 Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ And so said all the disciples.” This proved to be true later according to Matthew 26:74-75, “Then he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly.” Far too often we make decisions based on our false sense that we know someone. However, the fact is that none of us can know another person’s heart. We may see hints of what is there, but we just do not know the heart like God knows the heart. Jeremiah 17:9-10 reminds us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Only God knows the heart. David, based on the fact that he and his men delivered the people of Keilah from the Philistines, could have easily convinced himself that he was safe among them should Saul and his men show up. He took the wisest step he could possibly take in going to the LORD and inquiring. There is great wisdom in going to God when we want to know what to do next, especially when it comes to relationships. The people we trust the most, based on what we may have done for them and how they might respond at the moment, are the same people who may decide to turn their backs on us later because the circumstances have changed and they may feel that they do not need us now that they are self-sufficient. This is the reason why we, as we discussed yesterday, need to do what we do for others, not because we are looking for gratitude or anything else in return, but simply because Jesus led us to do it. Whatever the outcome and whatever the response from them, we know that God is in control, God knows their hearts, and we must always use godly wisdom in dealing with others and making decisions involving relationships with others. Ultimately, this is about who God is and the fact that only He is omniscient. When uncertainty begins to preoccupy our minds about decisions that affect our future, we need to go to the only One who already knows the future, and knows the hearts of every single human being alive. This is our Jesus. This is our God. The same one who sees beyond the facades we put on display for others to see (1 Samuel 16:7). The bottom line is that He always know what we do not.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Do It For God Not Man
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:12, Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will deliver you.”
There are two things that stand out about what God has communicated to David. I will deal with one of the two today, and address the other in the next devotional. We recall that David went to Keilah, per God’s direction, to deliver them from the hands of the Philistines. Now, after God gave David and his men victory over the Philistines, Saul was informed and was on his way to capture David. When David inquired about whether he would be betrayed if he remained at Keilah, God informed him that he would in fact be turned over to Saul. Many of us, if we are honest, would be greatly bothered by this and would most likely become angry and bitter against someone for whom we went out of our way to help, and was later betrayed by that very person. David was not only about to be betrayed by one person, but by a whole group of people. How would the Lord want us to react to these people? If we knew ahead of time that someone was going to do this to us, would we still be willing to help them out? Would we still be willing to risk our life for them? As we read this chapter, we do not read anywhere that David regretted delivering these people or that he became bitter toward them. How could he not become angry and bitter? David’s faith in the Lord was such that he did not question God’s direction that led him to a place where now the people he risked his life for would then turn around and betray him to Saul and his men. How many of us would immediately begin to think that this was a big mistake on our part if it happened to us? How many of us would question whether or not it was really God’s voice that we were following? Well, the fact of the matter is that we are called to be a blessing to others, even if for whatever reason the situation appears to backfire on us. The whole point of serving others is not about receiving anything back from the people we serve. It is all about serving the Lord, obeying his leading, and trusting Him for the reward that will come later when we stand before Him. When we are serving others, we must ask ourselves, “Who are we doing this for?” The answer to that question will determine what our attitude will be if it turns out that the people we served proved to be ungrateful backstabbers. The greatest example to follow in this is Jesus Himself. Just this morning I read this, which is exactly what I am pointing out here: “He healed the one who arrested Him (Luke 22:51), served the one who betrayed Him (John 13:1-17), and loved the world that crucified Him (Matthew 27:32-56). That’s my Jesus.” This same Jesus, in Luke 6:34-36 said, “And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” Stop and consider for just a moment. What if Jesus decided that He would only go to the Cross if people would appreciate and love Him for what He was about to do? How many of us, before ever calling upon His Name, actually rejected Him? I did numerous times before I finally realized who it was I was rejecting. How many people continue to reject His love today? If our acceptance of His sacrifice and love were a condition of Him laying down His life for us, humanity would be doomed. How often, even as born again Christians, have we betrayed Him? How often have we denied Him, not only with our lips, but with our actions, attitudes, and deeds? Yet, He still blesses us, forgives us, restores us, and loves us. This is our Jesus, and this is who He wants us to be as His servants. We are to do what we do, not for what we will get in return, not for what man expect, but simply because God calls us to do it.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Where Do We Seek Answers?
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:9-10, When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.
The one thing that David was good with, during those moments when he was right with the Lord, was turning to Him for direction and answers. He was apparently told about Saul’s plan to pursue him at Keilah. Knowing that Abiathar had the ephod with him, he immediately inquired with the Lord, rather than just assume what his next move should be. Note how he addressed God, “O LORD God of Israel”. He not only inquired of the LORD, but he addressed Him with reverence, and also acknowledged himself as God’s servant. I am afraid that today we are far too nonchalant about how we approach our Lord and Savior. We have allowed the familiarity we have with people creep into our attitude about, and approach to, God. Not only that, but we have a tendency to simply make decisions about what our next move will be in respect to situations that we should really be going to the Lord to first. We may not have a priest and ephod, but we have God’s Word and we, in Christ, are a priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:5-9) who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. God has provided us with His Spirit to teach us and guide us. He has given us His Word, which the Holy Spirit uses to teach us, change us, and guide us. The problem we run into is that far too many Christians are neglecting the Word of God and not relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in what we are deciding in our lives. We are more concerned with serving our own needs than we are with serving the LORD. God’s Word is inspired by Him (God-breathed) and is one of the greatest treasures we possess. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” In other words, God’s Word is profitable, first and foremost because it comes from Him and is the best way to get to know Him and who He is. It transforms our thinking by renewing our mind with His truth (Romans 12:1-2). It teaches us what we should believe as Christians so that we can live a life that honors the LORD. It convicts us and corrects us when we stray from the truth and from doing what is right. It puts us back on the right path and teaches us how to stay on that path. If we use it as we are supposed to, we will get to know our LORD intimately, mature in our walk with Jesus and become more like Him in our words, attitude, and actions. With that said, this should also encourage us to be more like David in how we address our God. He is not, and I repeat, HE IS NOT our Big Buddy in the sky! He is not the Big Guy or the Man Upstairs. He is LORD God. He is Savior and LORD. He is God Almighty. He is our Heavenly Father. When we approach Him, He deserves the respect and honor of being addressed for who He is. We must count it a privilege to be called His son or daughter, and even His friend. However, this does not minimize our responsibility to approach Him with reverence. We are encouraged to go to Him boldly when we need mercy and grace in our time of need in Hebrews 4:16, but this does not mean forgetting who it is we are approaching. We can go with confidence, knowing we are acceptable in His presence, but we must NEVER forget that we are acceptable before Him only in Christ Jesus. So, I must ask this simple question. Where do we go when we need answers to life and are seeking direction? Who do we seek in those times? I pray that our answer is Jesus and His Word.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Avoid Delusional Conclusions
Verse
of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:7-8, And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul
said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by
entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go
down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
How sad it is to be in such a state of
sinfulness and separation from God that we not even realize how far off our
thinking is when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. Saul had convinced
himself that somehow God had overlooked all his wickedness and that He had
finally delivered David and his men into his hands. This is not to say that God
would not have forgiven Saul and remained with him throughout his reign. The
problem was that Saul refused to repent and confess his sins and continued to
move further and further away from the Lord. His pathetic state of being had
convinced him that God’s favor was now shining down upon him and that he would
finally trap David. These delusional conclusions are not uncommon today. There
are far too many of God’s people venturing out to do things that God has not
sent them out to do or accomplish, but because of greed, self-indulgence, and
selfishness, many Christians have convinced themselves that God has given them permission
to chase after the things of this world without consequence. Sadly, many of
these same Christians end up getting upset with God, as if He were depriving
them of some blessing they think they deserve, when all any of us deserve is
eternal condemnation. We must be careful that we not attempt to use the Lord’s
Name like some lucky charm when we pray for that which we desire, that is not a
need or that does not line up with God’s will. James 4:1-4 cannot be any clearer,
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come
from your desires for pleasure that
war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and
cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do
not ask. 3 You ask and
do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship
with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend
of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” To make matters worse, Saul
did not just invite others to participate in his wicked ways, he ordered them.
One of the dangers that exists when we stray from the Lord and venture out to
do things that are not only not part of God’s will, but also against God’s
will, is that we invite others to participate in our wayward, delusional plans.
Saul made the people participants in an act that was not God’s will and that
put them against the man God called to be their future king. If we definitely
want to set ourselves up for failure in our walk with God, all we have to do is
hold on to unconfessed sin, and then allow ourselves to be convinced that somehow
we are in favor with God. The next time any one of us thinks that we are doing
what is God’s will and plan for us, let us first take a moment to examine our
lives. Ask God to examine our hearts and show us what is there (Psalm
139:23-24). Then compare what we are saying is God’s will with His Word. If it contradicts
God’s truth, then it is not God’s voice we are hearing. Let us also be
extremely careful that we not lead others down a path that will draw them further
away from God, simply to fulfill our own foolish desires. I will leave you with
the words of Jesus Himself in Matthew 18:6-7, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who
believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung
around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the
world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free
gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by
faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not
put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today
(Rom 10:13).
Friday, August 2, 2019
Swimming Against the Tide
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:3-4, But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the Lord once again. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
What David experienced in that moment is what many of us have experienced, are experiencing, or will experience at some point in our walk with the Lord. How do I know? Well, I know because if we are truly obeying the Lord’s leading, then a time will come when others will either call us crazy, or vehemently disagree with our approach to a situation because it will not line up with their way of thinking or the world’s way of doing things. Because of this, we will often find ourselves “swimming against the tide”. The truth of the matter is that what God calls us to do does not always line up with our version of “logical thinking”. The solution that David chose, which is the same one we should always choose is defined for us in Proverbs 3:5-8, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.” When God called Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, I am sure it did not make sense to anyone he may have told. Yet, he obeyed God and received the greater reward (Genesis 22). When God called Gideon to fight against the enemies of Israel with only 300 men, I’m sure that did not make sense to any of those men (Judges 7). Yet, God led them to a great victory that brought Him much glory. The bottom line today is that when we set out to faithfully follow the LORD, we will definitely have times in our walk when we will have to choose to either obey God or obey men. As much as this becomes a struggle for some of us, the truth is that having to choose one or the other should really be a “no brainer”. One of the best examples we have of this is in Acts 5. After the Apostles were put in prison for preaching in the Name of Jesus, they were miraculously freed from prison by the Lord and they returned to preaching. They were later approached by the guards and brought back to trial for the same offense and questioned. When asked in verse 28, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this Name?” Peter and the Apostle responded in verse 29, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” This resulted in a plot to have them killed. Yet, they stood their ground and continued to do what they were called to do by the LORD. When David chose to go ahead to Keilah to help them against the Philistines, he stood the chance that these men would choose to not follow him any longer. However, when God truly calls us to something, He will also prepare the hearts of those He has chosen to serve Him and follow us as we serve Him. For those of us who are struggling with whether or not we should go in the direction God is leading us to go in, I will make the decision easy for us. Just follow the Lord, even if it means “swimming against the tide” of naysayers by ourselves, because when it is all said and done, we will not be alone; for the LORD is always with us.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Thursday, August 1, 2019
God's Purposes
Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:1-2, Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
Here is a perfect example of what happens when we are obedient to God’s direction, even though it may seem contrary to our own logical way of thinking. If we recall in the previous chapter, God had directed David out of his stronghold and told him to go to the Land of Judah (22:5). This would put him back in the direction of Saul, who David was running from in the first place. Now, David is called upon to help the people of Keilah, as the Philistines have taken advantage of the fact that King Saul has neglected his duties as king in protecting his people, and instead has chosen to pursue David. Although David is not yet king, the people have turned to him as if he were the king. David makes a very wise decision by not allowing his pride to decide whether he would help the people or not. When he turns to the Lord, we see the Lord direct him to attack the Philistines. Think about this for a moment. What was going on in David’s life at that time? He was on the run. He had to find a place of refuge for himself and his parents. He was joined by a group of men who came with their own set of issues, whom he is now leading. God has called him to run toward Saul, rather than away from him. Now, he is called upon to make more enemies for himself of the Philistines. After the Lord gave him His stamp of approval in attacking the Philistines, his decision was questioned by the men who had chosen to follow him, in verse 3. Any one of us, if we were honest, would ask ourselves, or even ask God, “What in the world is going on here? I don’t know if I can handle all of this!” David had many problems of his own to concern himself with, but now he is being called to mind the things of others and stand up for the sake of others. When we think this through, we realize that this is really not about David, even though he makes the right decisions in going to God first, and then being obedient to God’s leading and commands. This is not about how overwhelmed David might have felt. This is about God’s purposes. When the Lord directed David to Judah, He already knew that the Philistines would attack Keilah. God’s Spirit had already forsaken Saul and God knew that he would be useless in protecting the people he was called to lead as king. God also knew that there was one after His own heart who would step up and carry out the duties of a king, even though he was not yet officially the people’s king. Quite often, when God directs us somewhere that does not make sense to us, we can be sure that God has a plan. He may not reveal it right away, but He always has a plan for why He leads us in certain directions. It is also during the toughest of time, in our own lives, that God desires to use us to be a blessing in someone else’s life. Philippians 2:3-4 reminds us, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Galatians 6:2 also tells us, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The stumbling block we run into is that God often calls us to look out for the interest of others, and help someone else carry a burden, at exactly the same time we are trying to deal with our own challenges and tribulations. However, this is a true test of whether we really trust the Lord. We are told in 1 Peter 5:6-7, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” David, even though he was burdened with his own challenges, persecutions, and tribulations, concerned himself more so with the wellbeing of the people. How was he able to do this? He was able to do this because he put his complete trust in the Lord. We see this when the men question his decision and he immediately went to the Lord. This time the Lord not only confirmed what He commanded the first time, but He also made him a promise in verse 4 that He would deliver the Philistines into David’s hands. In all that took place, the ultimate lesson is that God has a purpose for why He does things the way He does them. He leads us and directs us in ways that may not always make sense to us, but if we trust Him and follow Him faithfully, He will eventually show us what the purpose was in sending us wherever it is He is sending us. Sadly, not many of us find out God’s purpose for our lives because we spend far too much time second guessing Him and choosing what makes sense to us, rather than simply obeying God’s Word and direction. God ultimately fulfilled His promise and delivered the Philistines. This put David one step closer to becoming the king God needed Him to be in accordance to the Lord’s will, plan, and purpose for David’s life and God’s glory.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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