Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death."
The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) David asked the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the Lord's inheritance?"
The Gibeonites answered him, "We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death."
"What do you want me to do for you?" David asked.
They answered the king, "As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord 's chosen one."
So the king said, "I will give them to you."
The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, [a] whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.
Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night. When David was told what Aiah's daughter Rizpah, Saul's concubine, had done, he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
2 Samuel 21:1-14
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Have you ever been at a place in life where you felt dried up…thirsty…in need of relief? Life’s problems can make us feel that way, especially when we are persevering through difficulty. As much as we try to sustain our faith, we still find ourselves sometimes slowly losing it as the searing rays of hardship beat down on our souls and evaporate our hope away…leaving us yearning for help and rescue.
Well, as Chapter 21 of 2nd Samuel opens, we find Israel experiencing a drought…literally. This drought bought about a deep famine that lasted “three successive years” which led King David to seek “the face of the Lord” for relief and rescue.
And as David inquired as to why the drought was so severe and ongoing, the Lord had an answer for him saying, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death."
Now you’ll recall that Saul wasn’t always very good at honoring and obeying God’s word and will. The case of the Gibeonites was just another example of that. For Joshua and the “leaders of the assembly” had made an oath and treaty of peace before the Lord to allow the Gibeonites to live (Joshua 9:15, 18) but Saul decided to ignore that oath and instead attacked and killed the people of Gibeon. Thus his actions had led to consequences for Israel in David’s time.
Armed with the reason for the drought from the Lord, David took positive steps to try and correct the problem and end Israel’s famine. We read where he “summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them” asking, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the Lord's inheritance?" David’s question shows us that the ball was clearly in the court of the Gibeonites with no limiting conditions applied.
And so the Gibeonites answered David’s questions by telling him what they would accept as compensation for Saul’s wrongs. They told him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death…but "as for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord 's chosen one."
Note here that the Gibeonites don’t ask for anything that isn’t connected to Saul, the one who had committed the war crimes against them. And David vows to honor their request by giving the Gibeonites seven of Saul’s male descendants…two sons that Saul had with his concubine Rizpah (Armoni and Mephibosheth…not Jonathan’s crippled son who David had vowed to watch over) as well as the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab. The seven men were “handed…over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the Lord…during the first days of the harvest just as the barley harvest was beginning”. The restitution had been made and after David ensured the slain men were given a proper burial along with the bones of Saul and Jonathan in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father, scripture tells us that “God answered prayer in behalf of the land” and ended the drought and famine.
Through David’s actions, we see where we need only inquire from the Lord as to what He requires and then do it, in order to find our way out of difficulties in our own lives. For the answers to life’s questions are all found in Him…the Fount of all wisdom and knowledge…the Author of our salvation…the Maker, Keeper and Sustainer of our souls. The Lord and the Lord alone brings rain down onto our dryness when we go through tough times and ends our personal droughts, breaking our respective famines and bringing release and relief.
Consider these words from prophet Jeremiah:
Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in You, for You are the One who does all this. Jeremiah 14:22
Satan is good about getting God’s people to seek for help in times of trouble from anything or anyone else but the Lord…and all too often, we fall into that trap. But friends, God’s word is truth and the truth is that we can’t find rain to moisten our dried out souls and reinvigorate our hope from anywhere else except from the Lord…the One who does this and so much more…the One we need to always keep our hope in.
And when we do, the Lord promises to break the drought in our lives and restore us, just as He did David and Israel. I’ll close with these words of God from Isaiah:
“You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the Lord, have created it.” Isaiah 45:8
Let us pray this day and ever more that the Lord rain down on us when we are going through trouble…that He break the droughts that will come in our life by sending showers of righteousness upon us to “let salvation spring up” anew…just like the sprouting of the plants that broke Israel’s famine.
God is ready, able and willing to help us in difficult times. He IS our ever present help in times of trouble...the only One through which we have hope…the only One who can break the droughts of life and restore us over and over again. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
LIVING THROUGH LENT
NOTE: To my readers…I apologize for not posting yesterday. I had a very long training day in body armor (5AM to 8PM) and I fell asleep before I could get this message fully written. Please bear with me as I deal with the hours and still try and get my writings in daily. In Christ, Mark
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Psalm 51
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Today (Wednesday) is Ash Wednesday, the traditional start to the Lenten season. The Lenten season (simply called Lent) is a 40 day period which will always lead to the last week in the life of Jesus sometime referred to as the Passion Week.
Lent is intended to be a 40 day period of personal inner reflection and repentance as we prepare for the great sacrifice that Jesus makes on Calvary’s cross through His crucifixion, bearing the weight of our sins to save us. Some people enter into a daily prayer regimen, based on repentance and a concerted effort to address the sins of their lives. Additionally, some people will engage in a fast of some sort, personally sacrificing something from their life for the 40 day period to honor and respect the sacrifice that Jesus made as well as show their dependence on Him to sustain them, particularly when the fast involves a change in diet.
So how do we approach this Lenten season exactly? Does God offer us some word on this to give us a hand?
Well, of course He does. And in the case of this devotion, it comes from the very lips of David who we have been studying.
You’ll remember that David was doing pretty well in his life as God’s selected and anointed king before he set his eyes on Bathsheba…and allowed sinful lust to enter in and consume his heart. For he couldn’t stop himself from sleeping with her even though she was married and after she became pregnant, he took his sinfulness even further by deceitfully trying to pin the pregnancy on her husband, Uriah, before plotting to just have him killed in battle…which is just what happened to him.
Well, David didn’t get away with this, did he? He didn’t because although no one else was onto what he was doing…God was. And you’ll remember that God sent the prophet Nathan with a message for David…one that would let David know that God was definitely aware of his sinful actions and that there would be consequences David would have to pay for it.
And so David, in the midst of his shame over the sin he committed, wrote the words of the 51st Psalm…and in doing so, gave us great guidance in how we can approach Lent, not just this year but any year. Let’s look at some specific steps we should take:
1. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion… Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
The first step we need to take is acknowledging God and His power…a power that can destroy anything including us.
We know God hates sin and we are sinners and yet He loves us…but He doesn’t like the sin within us. And so, we need His mercy and His love and His compassion to survive. God doesn’t need to allow us to live…and yet He does by His mercy. We need to first acknowledge that and enter into an attitude of humbleness before we can proceed any further in personal reflection and repentance.
So how do we deal with the sins we struggle with?
Let’s look at point 2:
2. …blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin…Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Now that we have refocused on God being almighty and in charge, we can see that only He can help us in the midst of our sin struggle. Like David, we need to show our reliance on Him, asking Him to help us to blot out our transgressions, wash away our iniquities and cleanse us from our sins…making us white as snow which God did by washing us with the precious blood of His Son Jesus, the Lamb of God sacrificed and slain to cover all our sins.
3. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart…
As we acknowledge God’s almighty power and His ability to rid us of our sins, we also realize that we need to adopt an attitude of change for God to be able to do His wondrous work within us. This requires that we humbly turn to Him with a broken spirit in need of repair and a contrite heart that is truly sorry for allowing sin to enter in and get a foothold. One thing is certain…we won’t be able to fully begin to recover from our sin addiction unless we first admit we have a problem.
So what happens when we do surrender ourselves to God’s control and allow Him to begin to change us from the inside out?
We find ourselves with a pure heart and a renewed, steadfast spirit.
4. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me… Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me…
When we allow God to purge sin from the inside out, then we open ourselves to Him creating a pure heart within us…and experience renewal in spirit that is willing and steadfast because He is willing and steadfast first. And as we gain a renewed and willing spirit, we find the joy of salvation restored to us because we refocus on the source of that salvation, Jesus…who paid the price for our sins on the cross and was resurrected so we could have an opportunity to do the same. For No one comes to the Father, except by Jesus (John 14:6).
So we have reaffirmed God’s power to do all things including the riddance of our sins which comes as result of His cleansing through the blood of Jesus. And as we allow Him to purify us, we gain a pure heart and renewed spirit that draws us back to the joy and source of our salvation, Jesus.
And this should bring us to a place of celebration.
5. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice… Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
For as we turn once again to the joy and source of our salvation, Jesus Christ, we can’t help but be drawn into gladness and constant rejoicing…we can’t help but sing of His righteousness and praise Him with our lips. For God, our Father, gave Him for us to save us from our bloodguilt…so that through Jesus, we are set free now and forever if we only believe in Him and trust Him as our Lord and Savior.
And so this Lenten season, we can stay properly tuned to what God expects from us in the pay of personal reflection and repentance if we just hold to the words of this Psalm. My prayer is that this 40 day journey will be a blessing for all Christians this year as we again journey with Jesus toward the greatest display of love ever witnessed…the love Jesus showed all creation on the cross of Calvary. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Psalm 51
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Today (Wednesday) is Ash Wednesday, the traditional start to the Lenten season. The Lenten season (simply called Lent) is a 40 day period which will always lead to the last week in the life of Jesus sometime referred to as the Passion Week.
Lent is intended to be a 40 day period of personal inner reflection and repentance as we prepare for the great sacrifice that Jesus makes on Calvary’s cross through His crucifixion, bearing the weight of our sins to save us. Some people enter into a daily prayer regimen, based on repentance and a concerted effort to address the sins of their lives. Additionally, some people will engage in a fast of some sort, personally sacrificing something from their life for the 40 day period to honor and respect the sacrifice that Jesus made as well as show their dependence on Him to sustain them, particularly when the fast involves a change in diet.
So how do we approach this Lenten season exactly? Does God offer us some word on this to give us a hand?
Well, of course He does. And in the case of this devotion, it comes from the very lips of David who we have been studying.
You’ll remember that David was doing pretty well in his life as God’s selected and anointed king before he set his eyes on Bathsheba…and allowed sinful lust to enter in and consume his heart. For he couldn’t stop himself from sleeping with her even though she was married and after she became pregnant, he took his sinfulness even further by deceitfully trying to pin the pregnancy on her husband, Uriah, before plotting to just have him killed in battle…which is just what happened to him.
Well, David didn’t get away with this, did he? He didn’t because although no one else was onto what he was doing…God was. And you’ll remember that God sent the prophet Nathan with a message for David…one that would let David know that God was definitely aware of his sinful actions and that there would be consequences David would have to pay for it.
And so David, in the midst of his shame over the sin he committed, wrote the words of the 51st Psalm…and in doing so, gave us great guidance in how we can approach Lent, not just this year but any year. Let’s look at some specific steps we should take:
1. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion… Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
The first step we need to take is acknowledging God and His power…a power that can destroy anything including us.
We know God hates sin and we are sinners and yet He loves us…but He doesn’t like the sin within us. And so, we need His mercy and His love and His compassion to survive. God doesn’t need to allow us to live…and yet He does by His mercy. We need to first acknowledge that and enter into an attitude of humbleness before we can proceed any further in personal reflection and repentance.
So how do we deal with the sins we struggle with?
Let’s look at point 2:
2. …blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin…Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Now that we have refocused on God being almighty and in charge, we can see that only He can help us in the midst of our sin struggle. Like David, we need to show our reliance on Him, asking Him to help us to blot out our transgressions, wash away our iniquities and cleanse us from our sins…making us white as snow which God did by washing us with the precious blood of His Son Jesus, the Lamb of God sacrificed and slain to cover all our sins.
3. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart…
As we acknowledge God’s almighty power and His ability to rid us of our sins, we also realize that we need to adopt an attitude of change for God to be able to do His wondrous work within us. This requires that we humbly turn to Him with a broken spirit in need of repair and a contrite heart that is truly sorry for allowing sin to enter in and get a foothold. One thing is certain…we won’t be able to fully begin to recover from our sin addiction unless we first admit we have a problem.
So what happens when we do surrender ourselves to God’s control and allow Him to begin to change us from the inside out?
We find ourselves with a pure heart and a renewed, steadfast spirit.
4. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me… Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me…
When we allow God to purge sin from the inside out, then we open ourselves to Him creating a pure heart within us…and experience renewal in spirit that is willing and steadfast because He is willing and steadfast first. And as we gain a renewed and willing spirit, we find the joy of salvation restored to us because we refocus on the source of that salvation, Jesus…who paid the price for our sins on the cross and was resurrected so we could have an opportunity to do the same. For No one comes to the Father, except by Jesus (John 14:6).
So we have reaffirmed God’s power to do all things including the riddance of our sins which comes as result of His cleansing through the blood of Jesus. And as we allow Him to purify us, we gain a pure heart and renewed spirit that draws us back to the joy and source of our salvation, Jesus.
And this should bring us to a place of celebration.
5. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice… Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
For as we turn once again to the joy and source of our salvation, Jesus Christ, we can’t help but be drawn into gladness and constant rejoicing…we can’t help but sing of His righteousness and praise Him with our lips. For God, our Father, gave Him for us to save us from our bloodguilt…so that through Jesus, we are set free now and forever if we only believe in Him and trust Him as our Lord and Savior.
And so this Lenten season, we can stay properly tuned to what God expects from us in the pay of personal reflection and repentance if we just hold to the words of this Psalm. My prayer is that this 40 day journey will be a blessing for all Christians this year as we again journey with Jesus toward the greatest display of love ever witnessed…the love Jesus showed all creation on the cross of Calvary. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
THE VOICE OF REASON
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him. All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him." He went toward her, and she asked, "Are you Joab?"
"I am," he answered.
She said, "Listen to what your servant has to say."
"I'm listening," he said.
She continued, "Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord's inheritance?"
"Far be it from me!" Joab replied, "Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bicri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I'll withdraw from the city."
The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you from the wall."
Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
Joab was over Israel's entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; Adoniram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; and Ira the Jairite was David's priest.
2 Samuel 20:14-26
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were about to make a really bad decision only to be saved by someone who became a voice of reason and prevented you from really messing up?
I know I have…and in fact, it happens all the time. More on that later.
In today’s scripture passage, we see Chapter 20 of 2nd Samuel end with Joab in pursuit of Sheba. You’ll recall that David had sent all of Joab’s men out after Sheba with Abishai in charge after Amasa, his appointed commander, was late returning as ordered. And as they pursued Sheba, Joab proceeded to kill Amasa who joined up with the army after they had departed. Joab’s actions, technically left Abishai as the commander if the Israelites would have followed David’s guidance but instead it was Joab who ended up back in charge of the army after the men chose to follow him. Of course, David was unaware of any of this.
Well, Sheba, needing a place to escape from the approaching Israelite army, “passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites”, finally gaining some men for his side when the Berites “gathered together and followed him”. Once Sheba was inside the fortress walls of Abel Beth Maacah, “all the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba” in the city. Seeking to gain access, Joab had his men build a “siege ramp up to the city”, standing it “against the outer fortifications” and “battering the wall to bring it down”.
Now you’ll remember that Joab had shown his ruthless nature before this. His reputation definitely proceeded him.
And so as he had his men batter their way into the city, Joab had no real concern for the city or its people within…even if they were fellow Israelites and the city was part of God’s promised land. He would do whatever it would take to capture and kill Sheba…unless of course, he received a voice of reason.
Scripture tells us that this came in the way of a “wise woman called from the city” who called down to Joab’s men as they battered away saying, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him." And as Joab turned toward the woman, she asked him to “Listen to what your servant has to say” and he agreed to hear her out.
So with communications lines opened, the woman went on to question Joab, almost querying him to see if he had really though about what he was doing saying:
"Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord's inheritance?"
In other words, the wise woman was essentially asking Joab, “Have you lost your mind? Why in the world would you want to destroy a peaceful people and destroy a blessed city in Israel, thus swallowing up people and property that belonged to God?”
The voice of reason had spoken…and as we see, it got immediate results.
For Joab quickly responds to the woman’s assertions basically letting her know that he was not as interested in swallowing up and destroying the city as he was in capturing Sheba who had “lifted up his hand against the king, against David”.
And so Joab asked for just one thing from the woman…that she hand over Sheba…and if she did this, he would “withdraw from the city” to which the woman replied, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall." We next read where she made good on her promise for after she “went to all the people with her wise advice”, they “cut off the head of Sheba” and “threw it to Joab”.
And with that, Joab “sounded the trumpet” and “his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home” while “Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem”. Needless loss of life and destruction had been averted…all because of a voice of reason.
Now…back to my opening remarks. For I am consistently receiving the voice of reason and, in turn, I am consistently kept out of trouble. The only difference between the voice of reason I receive from the one Joab did is that mine comes from the Master to His servant…where Joab received his reasoning from a woman who acknowledged she was his servant.
Indeed, the Lord is always speaking to us through the Holy Spirit, which consistently brings reason and wisdom to our lives. And if we follow that reasoning, then and only then can be assured we’ll stay out of trouble and avoid making major mistakes…just as Joab was diverted from needlessly destroying a city and its people to capture just one man.
David’s son, Solomon, would write important words to validate this truth as he said, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6) And given this, we would be well served to stop relying on our own reason, instead allowing the Lord’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding to be ours.
And what is the pay off?
How about happiness as one knows they are walking obediently in the ways of the Lord? For don’t we all wish to be consistently happy?
We can if we listen to the Lord’s voice of wisdom…for Solomon also wrote “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding…” (Proverbs 3:13)
I don’t know about you but I like being blessed by the Lord. I can’t get enough of it. And so I am always going to strive to listen to his voice of reason…for I know it will always lead me in the right way…to the way He wants me to live and to do the things He wants me to do.
Won’t you join me if you aren’t doing so already? Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him. All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him." He went toward her, and she asked, "Are you Joab?"
"I am," he answered.
She said, "Listen to what your servant has to say."
"I'm listening," he said.
She continued, "Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord's inheritance?"
"Far be it from me!" Joab replied, "Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bicri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I'll withdraw from the city."
The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you from the wall."
Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
Joab was over Israel's entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; Adoniram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; and Ira the Jairite was David's priest.
2 Samuel 20:14-26
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were about to make a really bad decision only to be saved by someone who became a voice of reason and prevented you from really messing up?
I know I have…and in fact, it happens all the time. More on that later.
In today’s scripture passage, we see Chapter 20 of 2nd Samuel end with Joab in pursuit of Sheba. You’ll recall that David had sent all of Joab’s men out after Sheba with Abishai in charge after Amasa, his appointed commander, was late returning as ordered. And as they pursued Sheba, Joab proceeded to kill Amasa who joined up with the army after they had departed. Joab’s actions, technically left Abishai as the commander if the Israelites would have followed David’s guidance but instead it was Joab who ended up back in charge of the army after the men chose to follow him. Of course, David was unaware of any of this.
Well, Sheba, needing a place to escape from the approaching Israelite army, “passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites”, finally gaining some men for his side when the Berites “gathered together and followed him”. Once Sheba was inside the fortress walls of Abel Beth Maacah, “all the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba” in the city. Seeking to gain access, Joab had his men build a “siege ramp up to the city”, standing it “against the outer fortifications” and “battering the wall to bring it down”.
Now you’ll remember that Joab had shown his ruthless nature before this. His reputation definitely proceeded him.
And so as he had his men batter their way into the city, Joab had no real concern for the city or its people within…even if they were fellow Israelites and the city was part of God’s promised land. He would do whatever it would take to capture and kill Sheba…unless of course, he received a voice of reason.
Scripture tells us that this came in the way of a “wise woman called from the city” who called down to Joab’s men as they battered away saying, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him." And as Joab turned toward the woman, she asked him to “Listen to what your servant has to say” and he agreed to hear her out.
So with communications lines opened, the woman went on to question Joab, almost querying him to see if he had really though about what he was doing saying:
"Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord's inheritance?"
In other words, the wise woman was essentially asking Joab, “Have you lost your mind? Why in the world would you want to destroy a peaceful people and destroy a blessed city in Israel, thus swallowing up people and property that belonged to God?”
The voice of reason had spoken…and as we see, it got immediate results.
For Joab quickly responds to the woman’s assertions basically letting her know that he was not as interested in swallowing up and destroying the city as he was in capturing Sheba who had “lifted up his hand against the king, against David”.
And so Joab asked for just one thing from the woman…that she hand over Sheba…and if she did this, he would “withdraw from the city” to which the woman replied, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall." We next read where she made good on her promise for after she “went to all the people with her wise advice”, they “cut off the head of Sheba” and “threw it to Joab”.
And with that, Joab “sounded the trumpet” and “his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home” while “Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem”. Needless loss of life and destruction had been averted…all because of a voice of reason.
Now…back to my opening remarks. For I am consistently receiving the voice of reason and, in turn, I am consistently kept out of trouble. The only difference between the voice of reason I receive from the one Joab did is that mine comes from the Master to His servant…where Joab received his reasoning from a woman who acknowledged she was his servant.
Indeed, the Lord is always speaking to us through the Holy Spirit, which consistently brings reason and wisdom to our lives. And if we follow that reasoning, then and only then can be assured we’ll stay out of trouble and avoid making major mistakes…just as Joab was diverted from needlessly destroying a city and its people to capture just one man.
David’s son, Solomon, would write important words to validate this truth as he said, “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6) And given this, we would be well served to stop relying on our own reason, instead allowing the Lord’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding to be ours.
And what is the pay off?
How about happiness as one knows they are walking obediently in the ways of the Lord? For don’t we all wish to be consistently happy?
We can if we listen to the Lord’s voice of wisdom…for Solomon also wrote “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding…” (Proverbs 3:13)
I don’t know about you but I like being blessed by the Lord. I can’t get enough of it. And so I am always going to strive to listen to his voice of reason…for I know it will always lead me in the right way…to the way He wants me to live and to do the things He wants me to do.
Won’t you join me if you aren’t doing so already? Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Monday, February 23, 2009
CELEBRATING AMAZING GRACE
NOTE: As all of my readers know, there are times when I take a break from the walk through the scriptures to share something else that is on my heart. Today is one of those days. Tomorrow, I will resume my writings from 2nd Samuel.
_______________________________________________________________
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
Around 17 years ago, I was walking in a lot of darkness. I was about three years on the other side of a divorce after nearly 10 years of marriage…a marriage fouled by my wife’s infidelity. Being in my early 30’s and a non-drinker, I wasn’t sure how I might even meet another mate to share life together with.
Well, I went through a series of dating disasters (maybe some of you can relate to this) and was about to just give up but something awesome happened that revealed to me the awesome nature of grace. For as I went to the Norfolk VA elementary school that I was volunteering at as a tutor (I was working weekly with two third grade classes), I met a wonderful lady who would change my life forever…a lady who only the Lord could bring.
We had met a few times before that day in January 1992 but never spoke about anything except our professions. In fact, I only knew her by her last name. But something was different on that one special day. For as she was talking to me, she said she was going to the movies that weekend…and I then mustered up enough courage to ask her if she was going by herself. Much to my immediate disappointment, she said she had a date and then added, “But he doesn’t know what direction he wants to go in”. And with that, she was called away over the intercom and I was left wondering what she meant.
Well, as I left the building that day, I felt the conviction to try and ask this assistant principal out on a date. I was stationed on a ship then and was about to go to sea for six weeks. I would only be in the school one more day before that so my window of opportunity was narrow. Still, I was determined to try and so I sent flowers to her and wrote the card so she would know it was from me…and I asked her to go to dinner with me the night before I sailed.
The next week, I went into the school, anxiously anticipating whether my invitation would be accepted. I went to the classes, did my tutoring and never saw the assistant principal. I assumed it just wasn’t to be and so as I finished up my volunteer work, I walked down the hallway and was on my way home when around the corner walked the assistant principal. She stopped, looked down the hallway and then looked at me and said with a big smile on her face, “I loved the flowers you sent me” before adding…”And the answer is yes”.
And so that evening, we went to dinner at a wonderful little restaurant in Virginia Beach and there was no doubt that we were meant for each other. We just sat and talked for so long that the waitress had to insist that we order. It was a magical night…sealed by a wonderful time with a wonderful woman.
Well as we began to talk about beginning our relationship, there was a little bump in the road. After all, any good story has a little drama.
Mine came when I was with this new wonderful woman in my life and let a word of profanity come out of my mouth. That was a bad idea on my part and something that I need to elaborate on.
You see, going through the outcome of a divorce wasn’t the only darkness I was walking through. For I had not walked with the Lord in my life for around 11 years and everything about me showed it…including the words that came out of my mouth. I was living the same false existence that so many people in the world live in. I thought I was a good person and everything was just fine with me. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
And so on that day that I let a curse word fly in the presence of this wonderful woman I had just met, I remember her looking at me in a way that I’ll never forget…a look that told me I should never do that again. She reinforced that look by saying, “Those words are just not acceptable to me.” She then added this and changed my life forever saying, “If we’re going to have a relationship, the Lord has to be first in everything.” I just remember looking at her and saying “OK” when inside I became a raging ball of anxiety.
You see, Satan was already trying to attack me when the name of the Lord was imparted on me. I stood there and was wondering the following thoughts:
“What does the Lord feel about me? After all, I have been away from Him so long?”
“Will I know anything about the bible? I grew up learning about it but it has been a long time. Will I remember the Old from the New Testaments?”
Yes, Satan was trying hard to regain control of me. But it was too late. For the Father was waiting all along for His prodigal to return…and He wrapped His loving arms around me, not in the spirit of condemnation but rather in the spirit of celebration. For I, His son, had been lost but now I was found…and He found me by working toward this magical, wonderful woman He brought into my life.
OK…I know you’ve been waiting for the name of this woman…this incredible blessing that the Lord brought to me and used to snatch me from the grips of sinfulness and bring me to this place seventeen years later…a place that has found the Lord using me in such awesome amazing ways to try and change the lives of others…just as the Lord changed mine back when I met my wife…my amazing Grace.
Why am I writing this today?
Because it is Grace’s birthday…the day when it’s natural to give thanks for the day that God brought he into His creation…but an additional celebration for me to honor the woman who allowed the Lord to use her to save a wretch like me…to help this man who was lost to become found.
Indeed, grace is amazing and my prayer is that everyone experiences it as fully as I have been able to. If this devotion touched you in a special way, why don’t you share your own testimony about God’s amazing grace in your life. Leave a post and bless others with your story.
I pray you have a blessed night in the Lord.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: If you would like to send Grace a Happy Birthday message, her e-mail is GODS4ALL@aol.com.
PS #2: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
_______________________________________________________________
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
Around 17 years ago, I was walking in a lot of darkness. I was about three years on the other side of a divorce after nearly 10 years of marriage…a marriage fouled by my wife’s infidelity. Being in my early 30’s and a non-drinker, I wasn’t sure how I might even meet another mate to share life together with.
Well, I went through a series of dating disasters (maybe some of you can relate to this) and was about to just give up but something awesome happened that revealed to me the awesome nature of grace. For as I went to the Norfolk VA elementary school that I was volunteering at as a tutor (I was working weekly with two third grade classes), I met a wonderful lady who would change my life forever…a lady who only the Lord could bring.
We had met a few times before that day in January 1992 but never spoke about anything except our professions. In fact, I only knew her by her last name. But something was different on that one special day. For as she was talking to me, she said she was going to the movies that weekend…and I then mustered up enough courage to ask her if she was going by herself. Much to my immediate disappointment, she said she had a date and then added, “But he doesn’t know what direction he wants to go in”. And with that, she was called away over the intercom and I was left wondering what she meant.
Well, as I left the building that day, I felt the conviction to try and ask this assistant principal out on a date. I was stationed on a ship then and was about to go to sea for six weeks. I would only be in the school one more day before that so my window of opportunity was narrow. Still, I was determined to try and so I sent flowers to her and wrote the card so she would know it was from me…and I asked her to go to dinner with me the night before I sailed.
The next week, I went into the school, anxiously anticipating whether my invitation would be accepted. I went to the classes, did my tutoring and never saw the assistant principal. I assumed it just wasn’t to be and so as I finished up my volunteer work, I walked down the hallway and was on my way home when around the corner walked the assistant principal. She stopped, looked down the hallway and then looked at me and said with a big smile on her face, “I loved the flowers you sent me” before adding…”And the answer is yes”.
And so that evening, we went to dinner at a wonderful little restaurant in Virginia Beach and there was no doubt that we were meant for each other. We just sat and talked for so long that the waitress had to insist that we order. It was a magical night…sealed by a wonderful time with a wonderful woman.
Well as we began to talk about beginning our relationship, there was a little bump in the road. After all, any good story has a little drama.
Mine came when I was with this new wonderful woman in my life and let a word of profanity come out of my mouth. That was a bad idea on my part and something that I need to elaborate on.
You see, going through the outcome of a divorce wasn’t the only darkness I was walking through. For I had not walked with the Lord in my life for around 11 years and everything about me showed it…including the words that came out of my mouth. I was living the same false existence that so many people in the world live in. I thought I was a good person and everything was just fine with me. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
And so on that day that I let a curse word fly in the presence of this wonderful woman I had just met, I remember her looking at me in a way that I’ll never forget…a look that told me I should never do that again. She reinforced that look by saying, “Those words are just not acceptable to me.” She then added this and changed my life forever saying, “If we’re going to have a relationship, the Lord has to be first in everything.” I just remember looking at her and saying “OK” when inside I became a raging ball of anxiety.
You see, Satan was already trying to attack me when the name of the Lord was imparted on me. I stood there and was wondering the following thoughts:
“What does the Lord feel about me? After all, I have been away from Him so long?”
“Will I know anything about the bible? I grew up learning about it but it has been a long time. Will I remember the Old from the New Testaments?”
Yes, Satan was trying hard to regain control of me. But it was too late. For the Father was waiting all along for His prodigal to return…and He wrapped His loving arms around me, not in the spirit of condemnation but rather in the spirit of celebration. For I, His son, had been lost but now I was found…and He found me by working toward this magical, wonderful woman He brought into my life.
OK…I know you’ve been waiting for the name of this woman…this incredible blessing that the Lord brought to me and used to snatch me from the grips of sinfulness and bring me to this place seventeen years later…a place that has found the Lord using me in such awesome amazing ways to try and change the lives of others…just as the Lord changed mine back when I met my wife…my amazing Grace.
Why am I writing this today?
Because it is Grace’s birthday…the day when it’s natural to give thanks for the day that God brought he into His creation…but an additional celebration for me to honor the woman who allowed the Lord to use her to save a wretch like me…to help this man who was lost to become found.
Indeed, grace is amazing and my prayer is that everyone experiences it as fully as I have been able to. If this devotion touched you in a special way, why don’t you share your own testimony about God’s amazing grace in your life. Leave a post and bless others with your story.
I pray you have a blessed night in the Lord.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: If you would like to send Grace a Happy Birthday message, her e-mail is GODS4ALL@aol.com.
PS #2: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Sunday, February 22, 2009
DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but did not lie with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.
Then the king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself." But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.
David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bicri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us." So Joab's men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.
While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.
Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri.
One of Joab's men stood beside Amasa and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!" Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. After Amasa had been removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.
2 Samuel 20:3-13
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Have you ever known of anyone who was so desperate for something that they were willing to do whatever it took to get it, even if it meant killing someone?
I hate to have to say this but it does happen…and not just once a day but many times over throughout this world we live in...a world created by and watched by God.
Unfortunately those who are so blinded by their own selfish ambitions that they disregard anyone or anything that gets in their way fail to see that God is watching every single thing they do…and taking notes. And in our scripture today, I can’t help but think he was filling up His holy notebook after observing the actions of Joab, David’s deposed army commander.
You’ll remember that it was Joab who had disregarded David’s plea to be gentle with his son Absalom, instead choosing to kill him with three javelins as Absalom was trapped and hanging by his hair in the branches of a large oak tree. (2 Samuel 18:9-15) This would lead to David losing confidence in Joab’s leadership and appointing Amasa, Absalom’s former army commander, in his place. (2 Samuel 17:25, 19:13)
Well, as Chapter 20 opens, we see where David seeks to send his army after Sheba who had caused a disruption in the midst of David’s people by calling the Israelites to follow him instead of David. (2 Samuel 20:1-2) We read where David said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself." And so Amasa did as David requested and “went to summon Judah”.
After three days, Amasa had not returned and was taking “longer than the time the king had set for him”. And so David turned to Abishai and said, "Now Sheba son of Bicri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us." David felt he could wait no longer for Amasa to come at the risk of losing his opportunity to capture Sheba but note he decided not to turn to Joab but instead turned “Joab's men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors” over to the “command of Abishai”. And Abishai marched the forces “out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba”.
Now, these turn of events had to have rankled Joab as he saw an army that was once his placed under yet another man’s leadership, even if it was his brother. But we see where Joab didn’t stay behind and not go to battle. Instead, he was in the midst of the forces when they arrived at a “great rock in Gibeon” when “Amasa came to meet them”.
Scripture tells us that “Joab was wearing his military tunic” with a “belt with a dagger in its sheath” which was strapped on his waist. And as Joab stepped forward to greet Amasa, his dagger “dropped out of its sheath”. It seemed innocent enough but there was definitely evil intent behind the drop.
For as Joab greeted Amasa as his brother and took him by the beard with his right had as if to kiss him, he took his dagger and “plunged it into his belly”, killing him while causing his intestines to spill out on the ground. And that’s where Joab and his brother left Amasa as they moved forward to pursue Sheba.
So would Joab get what he wanted? Did he achieve his goal of regaining command by murdering his competition?
Well, scripture shows us he was successful. For as Joab and Abishai moved forward, we read where “one of Joab's men stood beside Amasa” and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!" And with that, Joab regained control of the army, unbeknownst to David.
Meanwhile, the body of Amasa still was in the “middle of the road” and “wallowing in his blood”. This was causing a distraction for the advancing forces who stopped as they reached him to see what had happened. So Joab’s man dragged Amasa “from the road into a field and threw a garment over him”. And with his body off the road, “all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba”.
In Joab, we see the sinful approach to doing whatever it takes. For all he wished to do was do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
Thank goodness that as Christians, we are given a different approach to the “whatever it takes” principle.
For we have Jesus Christ, the One through which we are to have our identity as Christians. For to truly be a Christian, we must strive to be Christ-like…and as we do, we find that doing whatever it takes assumes a whole new meaning.
For in Jesus, we saw One who was willing to do whatever it takes, not for His own gain, but for the gain of all mankind. He came to teach and to heal and to guide…but most of all to save and to love…a love that knew no boundaries…a love that would lead Him to die for all our sins on Calvary’s cross and thus pay our debts with His shed blood.
Why did Jesus do this?
Because He was willing to do whatever it took to save a dying world in need…and He fully expects us to do the same. This is why He gave us the clearest instruction possible before He ascended into Heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand saying:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20
Indeed, as Jesus departed this world and left us here to carry on His work until He returns again, He gave us words of action that fully reflect His selfless attitude. For He called us to go forth to serve others…to make disciples and baptize and teach obedience to what He commanded. And we have a great comfort and assurance in knowing we don’t go alone for He promised us that He would be with us until the end of the age.
Yes, Jesus called us to go forth and to serve…just as He served…and as we do, He walks along with us…to lead us…to guide us…and to help us do whatever it takes to ensure His will be done.
Thanks be to God for sending us His Son…our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but did not lie with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.
Then the king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself." But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.
David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bicri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us." So Joab's men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.
While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.
Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri.
One of Joab's men stood beside Amasa and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!" Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. After Amasa had been removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.
2 Samuel 20:3-13
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Have you ever known of anyone who was so desperate for something that they were willing to do whatever it took to get it, even if it meant killing someone?
I hate to have to say this but it does happen…and not just once a day but many times over throughout this world we live in...a world created by and watched by God.
Unfortunately those who are so blinded by their own selfish ambitions that they disregard anyone or anything that gets in their way fail to see that God is watching every single thing they do…and taking notes. And in our scripture today, I can’t help but think he was filling up His holy notebook after observing the actions of Joab, David’s deposed army commander.
You’ll remember that it was Joab who had disregarded David’s plea to be gentle with his son Absalom, instead choosing to kill him with three javelins as Absalom was trapped and hanging by his hair in the branches of a large oak tree. (2 Samuel 18:9-15) This would lead to David losing confidence in Joab’s leadership and appointing Amasa, Absalom’s former army commander, in his place. (2 Samuel 17:25, 19:13)
Well, as Chapter 20 opens, we see where David seeks to send his army after Sheba who had caused a disruption in the midst of David’s people by calling the Israelites to follow him instead of David. (2 Samuel 20:1-2) We read where David said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself." And so Amasa did as David requested and “went to summon Judah”.
After three days, Amasa had not returned and was taking “longer than the time the king had set for him”. And so David turned to Abishai and said, "Now Sheba son of Bicri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us." David felt he could wait no longer for Amasa to come at the risk of losing his opportunity to capture Sheba but note he decided not to turn to Joab but instead turned “Joab's men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors” over to the “command of Abishai”. And Abishai marched the forces “out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba”.
Now, these turn of events had to have rankled Joab as he saw an army that was once his placed under yet another man’s leadership, even if it was his brother. But we see where Joab didn’t stay behind and not go to battle. Instead, he was in the midst of the forces when they arrived at a “great rock in Gibeon” when “Amasa came to meet them”.
Scripture tells us that “Joab was wearing his military tunic” with a “belt with a dagger in its sheath” which was strapped on his waist. And as Joab stepped forward to greet Amasa, his dagger “dropped out of its sheath”. It seemed innocent enough but there was definitely evil intent behind the drop.
For as Joab greeted Amasa as his brother and took him by the beard with his right had as if to kiss him, he took his dagger and “plunged it into his belly”, killing him while causing his intestines to spill out on the ground. And that’s where Joab and his brother left Amasa as they moved forward to pursue Sheba.
So would Joab get what he wanted? Did he achieve his goal of regaining command by murdering his competition?
Well, scripture shows us he was successful. For as Joab and Abishai moved forward, we read where “one of Joab's men stood beside Amasa” and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!" And with that, Joab regained control of the army, unbeknownst to David.
Meanwhile, the body of Amasa still was in the “middle of the road” and “wallowing in his blood”. This was causing a distraction for the advancing forces who stopped as they reached him to see what had happened. So Joab’s man dragged Amasa “from the road into a field and threw a garment over him”. And with his body off the road, “all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba”.
In Joab, we see the sinful approach to doing whatever it takes. For all he wished to do was do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
Thank goodness that as Christians, we are given a different approach to the “whatever it takes” principle.
For we have Jesus Christ, the One through which we are to have our identity as Christians. For to truly be a Christian, we must strive to be Christ-like…and as we do, we find that doing whatever it takes assumes a whole new meaning.
For in Jesus, we saw One who was willing to do whatever it takes, not for His own gain, but for the gain of all mankind. He came to teach and to heal and to guide…but most of all to save and to love…a love that knew no boundaries…a love that would lead Him to die for all our sins on Calvary’s cross and thus pay our debts with His shed blood.
Why did Jesus do this?
Because He was willing to do whatever it took to save a dying world in need…and He fully expects us to do the same. This is why He gave us the clearest instruction possible before He ascended into Heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand saying:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20
Indeed, as Jesus departed this world and left us here to carry on His work until He returns again, He gave us words of action that fully reflect His selfless attitude. For He called us to go forth to serve others…to make disciples and baptize and teach obedience to what He commanded. And we have a great comfort and assurance in knowing we don’t go alone for He promised us that He would be with us until the end of the age.
Yes, Jesus called us to go forth and to serve…just as He served…and as we do, He walks along with us…to lead us…to guide us…and to help us do whatever it takes to ensure His will be done.
Thanks be to God for sending us His Son…our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Saturday, February 21, 2009
THE DANGER OF DIVISIVENESS
NOTE: It was a long bus ride but I finally made it to my training site in South Carolina. Thanks for all your prayers as Grace and I begin what will be our last deployment separation from one another. We have had seven prior.
As I stated yesterday, I will continue to write while in training and on deployment but my post times might be erratic. Please bear with me and I pray all of you have a very blessed week.
In Christ, Mark.
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men
All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”
Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we have a greater claim on David than you have. So why do you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?”
But the men of Judah responded even more harshly than the men of Israel.
Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 19:41-43, 20:1-2
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
David was finally making his way back to Jerusalem after his brief exile from Absalom, a time of unrest and disruption for him and his people. No doubt, David was looking forward to getting things back to normal and experiencing a little peace. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for yet another conflict to arise. For as Chapter 19 closes, we see the men of Israel coming to David with a complaint.
The root of the complaint was anchored in David’s return to Jerusalem. As you’ll remember, the men of Judah went to David and were there when he crossed over before following him back home. This led to jealous feelings in the hearts and minds of the Israelites who came before David and accused the men of Judah of “stealing the king away” and “bringing him and his household across the Jordan together with all his men”.
Well, this accusation didn’t sit well with the men of Judah who responded to the Israelietes saying, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”
Indeed, why were the Israelites angry about it? The men of Judah wished to see David home and so they did. They received no special favor or gain through their actions. And yet, the Israelites felt they had been violated…and, in doing so, allowed their envious attitude to escalate the discord at hand.
For the Israelites could have accepted the words of the men of Judah and dropped the whole matter right there but they didn’t.
Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever had someone start an argument with you about something petty and despite your best efforts to defend yourself and diffuse the situation, your adversary only tried to keep throwing more wood on the fire?
I know I have.
Well, this is what happens between Israel and Judah for Israel’s refuses to let the squabble end. Instead, they move from jealousy and envy to selfishness…another emotion that leads to divisiveness.
For we read where the Israelites suggest that they have a greater claim on the king than the men of Judah…like David was a piece of the Promised Land…as they said:
Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we have a greater claim on David than you have. So why do you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?”
Because the Israelites were composed of all tribes except for Judah and Simeon, they felt this gave them a greater share and more rights when it came to dealings with the king. And because of this the Israelites felt that the men of Judah should grant them what they thought was rightfully theirs. But since that didn’t happen, then the Israelites saw Judah as treating them with contempt.
So how did the men of Judah respond to the selfish, king-possessive attitude of the Israelites?
Well, as you might have predicted and God’s word confirms, they “responded even more harshly than the men of Israel”. And this led the contention to a breaking point. All that was needed was something or someone to cause the break to occur…and this happened in the way of a man named Sheba.
Do you think Satan uses people and circumstances to bring about conflict between people?
You bet he does. For Satan wants nothing more than to destroy every good and perfect thing that God puts together, especially relationships…and he’s willing to use anyone or anything to make that happen, exploiting the sin and weakness within people to breed strife and disrupt what God is trying to do in His kingdom here on earth.
Back to the scriptures where we’re introduced to a Benjamite named Sheba who is described in God’s word by one word…troublemaker. And trouble he certainly brings. For we read where he sounded a trumpet and shouted to his fellow Israelites, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!” And that was all that was needed to throw conflict into chaos.
Because we see where “all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba” while “the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem”. A split had occurred and the kingdom of Israel…a kingdom that God designed to be united became instead separated. And we see first hand the dangerous nature of divisiveness.
Friends, do we not see divisiveness all around us? In our local, state, federal and world governments? In our communities? In our relationships? And in our churches?
Truly, Satan is gaining more than his share of victories every day amongst the people of God and causing great disruption in His plans through divisiveness.
So what are we to do as a people of the Lord?
Don’t allow yourself to be a part of the problem.
In other words, recognize that Satan is ever seeking to breed divisiveness and is willing to use you at any time to play his game. Don’t allow him to do it. Instead, always turn to the One source of unity…the One through which we all can stand on common ground…the One who which would call us to peace and love and purpose…none of which one can gain from divisiveness.
Friends, it’s time we focused fully on the One thing that bonds us all together…the One who is constant and never changing…the One who will never leave us nor forsake us.
Scripture reminds us that the Lord Jesus…the Prince of Peace…is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) And when Christians truly decide to surrender their hearts, minds and lives to Him, then and only then, will they become like Him and join together in perfect unity…making divisiveness a thing of the past. Let’s make this our daily prayer for this world we live in…God’s world. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
As I stated yesterday, I will continue to write while in training and on deployment but my post times might be erratic. Please bear with me and I pray all of you have a very blessed week.
In Christ, Mark.
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men
All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”
Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we have a greater claim on David than you have. So why do you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?”
But the men of Judah responded even more harshly than the men of Israel.
Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 19:41-43, 20:1-2
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
David was finally making his way back to Jerusalem after his brief exile from Absalom, a time of unrest and disruption for him and his people. No doubt, David was looking forward to getting things back to normal and experiencing a little peace. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for yet another conflict to arise. For as Chapter 19 closes, we see the men of Israel coming to David with a complaint.
The root of the complaint was anchored in David’s return to Jerusalem. As you’ll remember, the men of Judah went to David and were there when he crossed over before following him back home. This led to jealous feelings in the hearts and minds of the Israelites who came before David and accused the men of Judah of “stealing the king away” and “bringing him and his household across the Jordan together with all his men”.
Well, this accusation didn’t sit well with the men of Judah who responded to the Israelietes saying, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”
Indeed, why were the Israelites angry about it? The men of Judah wished to see David home and so they did. They received no special favor or gain through their actions. And yet, the Israelites felt they had been violated…and, in doing so, allowed their envious attitude to escalate the discord at hand.
For the Israelites could have accepted the words of the men of Judah and dropped the whole matter right there but they didn’t.
Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever had someone start an argument with you about something petty and despite your best efforts to defend yourself and diffuse the situation, your adversary only tried to keep throwing more wood on the fire?
I know I have.
Well, this is what happens between Israel and Judah for Israel’s refuses to let the squabble end. Instead, they move from jealousy and envy to selfishness…another emotion that leads to divisiveness.
For we read where the Israelites suggest that they have a greater claim on the king than the men of Judah…like David was a piece of the Promised Land…as they said:
Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we have a greater claim on David than you have. So why do you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?”
Because the Israelites were composed of all tribes except for Judah and Simeon, they felt this gave them a greater share and more rights when it came to dealings with the king. And because of this the Israelites felt that the men of Judah should grant them what they thought was rightfully theirs. But since that didn’t happen, then the Israelites saw Judah as treating them with contempt.
So how did the men of Judah respond to the selfish, king-possessive attitude of the Israelites?
Well, as you might have predicted and God’s word confirms, they “responded even more harshly than the men of Israel”. And this led the contention to a breaking point. All that was needed was something or someone to cause the break to occur…and this happened in the way of a man named Sheba.
Do you think Satan uses people and circumstances to bring about conflict between people?
You bet he does. For Satan wants nothing more than to destroy every good and perfect thing that God puts together, especially relationships…and he’s willing to use anyone or anything to make that happen, exploiting the sin and weakness within people to breed strife and disrupt what God is trying to do in His kingdom here on earth.
Back to the scriptures where we’re introduced to a Benjamite named Sheba who is described in God’s word by one word…troublemaker. And trouble he certainly brings. For we read where he sounded a trumpet and shouted to his fellow Israelites, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!” And that was all that was needed to throw conflict into chaos.
Because we see where “all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba” while “the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem”. A split had occurred and the kingdom of Israel…a kingdom that God designed to be united became instead separated. And we see first hand the dangerous nature of divisiveness.
Friends, do we not see divisiveness all around us? In our local, state, federal and world governments? In our communities? In our relationships? And in our churches?
Truly, Satan is gaining more than his share of victories every day amongst the people of God and causing great disruption in His plans through divisiveness.
So what are we to do as a people of the Lord?
Don’t allow yourself to be a part of the problem.
In other words, recognize that Satan is ever seeking to breed divisiveness and is willing to use you at any time to play his game. Don’t allow him to do it. Instead, always turn to the One source of unity…the One through which we all can stand on common ground…the One who which would call us to peace and love and purpose…none of which one can gain from divisiveness.
Friends, it’s time we focused fully on the One thing that bonds us all together…the One who is constant and never changing…the One who will never leave us nor forsake us.
Scripture reminds us that the Lord Jesus…the Prince of Peace…is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) And when Christians truly decide to surrender their hearts, minds and lives to Him, then and only then, will they become like Him and join together in perfect unity…making divisiveness a thing of the past. Let’s make this our daily prayer for this world we live in…God’s world. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Friday, February 20, 2009
THE BEAUTY OF SELFLESSNESS
*** NOTE: Tomorrow (Saturday), I am departing for some training in South Carolina before heading to my next Navy assignment in Djibouti Africa where I will be for one year. I do intend on continuing to write daily but my post times might be a little off at times, especially after I get overseas, so please bear with me. It continues to be a pleasure to partner with the Lord in ministry to you and I ask that you please keep Grace and I in prayer as we endure what will be our last separation before I retire. God bless you all and I look forward to our continued fellowship as we journey with Christ Jesus through Spirit and the Word. In Christ, Mark
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you."
But Barzillai answered the king, "How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you."
The king said, "Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever pleases you. And anything you desire from me I will do for you."
So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing, and Barzillai returned to his home.
When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.
2 Samuel 19:31-40
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As David began his return to Jerusalem in Chapter 19, we have seen him run into some people from his past.
First, he encountered Shimei who had cursed him and his men as they fled Jerusalem but as they reunited threw himself at David’s feet and asked for mercy which David granted.
Then, David encountered Mephibosheth who had not went with David when he fled because he was crippled. You’ll recall that Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son and so Saul would have been his grandfather. David sought to show God’s kindness to Mephibosheth and did so by granting him all the land that had belonged to Saul and allowing him to dine at the royal table. Additionally, David appointed a special steward for Mephibosheth named Ziba and you’ll remember Ziba giving David a false account as to why Mephibosheth had not joined him as he fled Jerusalem, causing David to give Ziba all he had given Mephibosheth. You’ll also recall that as David reencountered Mephibosheth on his return, he learned the real truth as to why Mephibosheth had not come along and thus restored half of the original land of Saul back to him.
Finally, we see in our passage today that David meets “Barzillai the Gileadite” who had come down from “Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and…send him on his way from there.
As with the first two men David met, Barzillai was not a stranger. For as David and his people fled and became hungry, thirsty and tired, they came to the town of Mahanaim where they were provided “bedding and bowls and articles of pottery” as well as “wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk” by three men, one of which being Barzillai.
Now scripture tells us that Barzillai was a “very old man, eighty years of age” and was also “a very wealthy man”. David, remembering the great hospitality that Barzillai had shown him and the people in Mahanaim, asked him to "Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you."
This was quite an offer because not many people were granted an audience with the king let alone become provided for by him. The request had to be pretty enticing for a man who was up in years and could use easy accommodation as he continued to grow older.
But in Barzillai, we see something special…an attitude of selflessness.
For we see Barzillai answer David’s offer by saying:
“How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you."
Well after Barzillai’s reply, David honored his request, allowing the servant Kinham to cross over the Jordan with him and promising to do whatever pleases him. And David wouldn’t allow Barzillai to go completely free from his gratitude because he further promised to do anything that Barzillai desired from him.
And with that, “all the people crossed the Jordan” followed by David. And as he crossed over, David “kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing” before “Barzillai returned to his home” while Kinham crossed with David to Gilgal, richly blessed beyond his dreams because of the selfless actions of Barzillai…actions that allowed Kinham to be with his king.
I couldn’t help but think about Jesus when I read this scripture. For He had secured His audience with the King already…because He was the King’s Son. Jesus was set and could have just looked out for Himself. I mean, who did He have to fear? Who was greater or more powerful than Him?
And yet, Jesus, like Barzillai, showed us the beauty of selflessness when He decided to put Himself aside so that we all could have an audience with the King too. Consider the following passage:
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals — one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let Him save himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. They offered Him wine vinegar and said, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." Luke 23:33-37
“Let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
“If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
The challenges echoed to the ears of Jesus as He hung bleeding, suffering and dying on the cross. Little did those who mocked Him realize that He COULD have saved Himself and struck all of them dead in a moment’s notice. Jesus didn’t have to die for these ungracious people…but He did…and He did so with an added measure of forgiveness as He says to His Father, the King:
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
And so He died a criminal’s death on that cross…this Almighty, Loving, Powerful Savior…and in doing so decided that saving all of us was a far greater and noble act than saving Himself.
Friends, in Christ Jesus, we see the beauty of selflessness fully revealed…a beauty that He expects us to model in our own lives. For through His actions, we see that what’s most important in life is not what we do for ourselves but rather what we do for one another. And this attitude is what led Paul to write the following Christ-inspired words to the Romans:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3
Let us live out this verse in our every day lives, thinking of ourselves with sober judgment and not considering ourselves to be higher than we are. For when we do this, we will reflect the very Spirit of Jesus…who taught us the full beauty of selflessness by revealing it first in Himself. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you."
But Barzillai answered the king, "How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you."
The king said, "Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever pleases you. And anything you desire from me I will do for you."
So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing, and Barzillai returned to his home.
When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.
2 Samuel 19:31-40
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As David began his return to Jerusalem in Chapter 19, we have seen him run into some people from his past.
First, he encountered Shimei who had cursed him and his men as they fled Jerusalem but as they reunited threw himself at David’s feet and asked for mercy which David granted.
Then, David encountered Mephibosheth who had not went with David when he fled because he was crippled. You’ll recall that Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son and so Saul would have been his grandfather. David sought to show God’s kindness to Mephibosheth and did so by granting him all the land that had belonged to Saul and allowing him to dine at the royal table. Additionally, David appointed a special steward for Mephibosheth named Ziba and you’ll remember Ziba giving David a false account as to why Mephibosheth had not joined him as he fled Jerusalem, causing David to give Ziba all he had given Mephibosheth. You’ll also recall that as David reencountered Mephibosheth on his return, he learned the real truth as to why Mephibosheth had not come along and thus restored half of the original land of Saul back to him.
Finally, we see in our passage today that David meets “Barzillai the Gileadite” who had come down from “Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and…send him on his way from there.
As with the first two men David met, Barzillai was not a stranger. For as David and his people fled and became hungry, thirsty and tired, they came to the town of Mahanaim where they were provided “bedding and bowls and articles of pottery” as well as “wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk” by three men, one of which being Barzillai.
Now scripture tells us that Barzillai was a “very old man, eighty years of age” and was also “a very wealthy man”. David, remembering the great hospitality that Barzillai had shown him and the people in Mahanaim, asked him to "Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you."
This was quite an offer because not many people were granted an audience with the king let alone become provided for by him. The request had to be pretty enticing for a man who was up in years and could use easy accommodation as he continued to grow older.
But in Barzillai, we see something special…an attitude of selflessness.
For we see Barzillai answer David’s offer by saying:
“How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you."
Well after Barzillai’s reply, David honored his request, allowing the servant Kinham to cross over the Jordan with him and promising to do whatever pleases him. And David wouldn’t allow Barzillai to go completely free from his gratitude because he further promised to do anything that Barzillai desired from him.
And with that, “all the people crossed the Jordan” followed by David. And as he crossed over, David “kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing” before “Barzillai returned to his home” while Kinham crossed with David to Gilgal, richly blessed beyond his dreams because of the selfless actions of Barzillai…actions that allowed Kinham to be with his king.
I couldn’t help but think about Jesus when I read this scripture. For He had secured His audience with the King already…because He was the King’s Son. Jesus was set and could have just looked out for Himself. I mean, who did He have to fear? Who was greater or more powerful than Him?
And yet, Jesus, like Barzillai, showed us the beauty of selflessness when He decided to put Himself aside so that we all could have an audience with the King too. Consider the following passage:
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals — one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let Him save himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. They offered Him wine vinegar and said, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." Luke 23:33-37
“Let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
“If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
The challenges echoed to the ears of Jesus as He hung bleeding, suffering and dying on the cross. Little did those who mocked Him realize that He COULD have saved Himself and struck all of them dead in a moment’s notice. Jesus didn’t have to die for these ungracious people…but He did…and He did so with an added measure of forgiveness as He says to His Father, the King:
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
And so He died a criminal’s death on that cross…this Almighty, Loving, Powerful Savior…and in doing so decided that saving all of us was a far greater and noble act than saving Himself.
Friends, in Christ Jesus, we see the beauty of selflessness fully revealed…a beauty that He expects us to model in our own lives. For through His actions, we see that what’s most important in life is not what we do for ourselves but rather what we do for one another. And this attitude is what led Paul to write the following Christ-inspired words to the Romans:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3
Let us live out this verse in our every day lives, thinking of ourselves with sober judgment and not considering ourselves to be higher than we are. For when we do this, we will reflect the very Spirit of Jesus…who taught us the full beauty of selflessness by revealing it first in Himself. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Thursday, February 19, 2009
NOT GUILTY
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes. Throughout the tribes of Israel, the people were all arguing with each other, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country because of Absalom; and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"
King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: "Ask the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?' And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab.' "
He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. They sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your men." Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan.
Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul's household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. They crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished.
When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king and said to him, "May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king."
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord's anointed."
David replied, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? This day you have become my adversaries! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?" So the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king promised him on oath.
2 Samuel 19:8B-23
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
In the first part of chapter 19, we saw where Joab had to jostle David out of his attitude of mourning to show gratitude to the men who had fought so valiantly on his behalf in the battle against Absalom and the Israelites. And so David followed Joab’s guidance and reestablished himself in a place where he could be in the presence of his people.
Well after Absalom’s death, the Israelites who were with him “fled to their homes” and arguments began to arise “throughout the tribes of Israel”. Those tribes were saying to one another:
“The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country because of Absalom; and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"
While this argument was occurring, scripture tells us that David decided to send a message to the elders of Judah through his priests Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. They were told to:
"Ask the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?' And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab.' "
Note here two parts of David’s appeal.
First, he was seeking to have the elders of Judah bring him back to Jerusalem as king now that Absalom was dead, fortifying his request by reminding the elders that they were David’s “own flesh and blood”.
And secondly, David also approved Amasa, his blood relative and Absalom’s army commander, to assume duties as David’s army commander replacing Joab.
Now we’re not told that David was angry at Joab for killing his son against his orders but his actions sure send a message that Joab had fallen out of favor with the king. Unfortunately, we will soon see where Joab once again will take authority into his own hand which will lead to Amasa’s demise.
Back to the scriptures where we see that David’s words were effective as he “won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man” and they sent the following word to David saying, "Return, you and all your men"…words that led David to begin his return, going as far as the Jordan.
Meanwhile, “the men of Judah” went to Gilgal so they could “meet the king and bring him across the Jordan” and they were joined by “Shimei…the Benjamite from Bahurim” who “hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David” along with “a thousand Benjamites”. “Ziba, the steward of Saul's household” was along as well with “his fifteen sons and twenty servants”.
What a sight this must have been as David approached the Jordan to cross over and head back to Jerusalem! Truly, it was a king’s welcome as the crowd “rushed to the Jordan” and “crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished”.
Scripture tells us that as “Shimei…crossed the Jordan”, he “fell prostrate before the king” saying to him:
"May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king."
Flashback to chapter 16. You’ll recall that as David fled Jerusalem with his people, he encountered a man named Shimei as he approached Bahurim. You’ll recall that Shimei, a man from the same clan as Saul, came out and cursed David and his men, pelting them with rocks and showering them with dirt. Abishai wanted to kill Shimei for his actions but David chastised his recommendation feeling the Lord had a reason for him to be cursed. And so he let Shimei continue his actions as he walked away from him and Bahurim. (2 Samuel 16:5-14)
Well, once again we see where Abishai isn’t feeling too much love toward Shimei even though he was throwing himself at David’s mercy. After all, any other king wouldn’t hesitate to slay a man who cursed him let alone throw rocks and dirt as well.
But Abishai forgot one thing. David wasn’t just any king. He was a king after God’s own heart…a God who was defined by mercy and forgiveness and grace.
And so David once again rejected Abishai’s recommendation, sparing Shimei’s life with an oath and essentially telling Abishai that they have become adversaries and have nothing in common. And his actions sent a loud message to Shimei and a world that would say he deserved death.
That message?
I find him not guilty.
In David’s presence, a sinner bowed before him asking for grace and mercy and a new lease on life. And through a man after God’s own heart, Shimei received just that…pardon from his sins.
Now fast forward to us today. For we all stand guilty of sin before God our King. We all deserve death because of that sin and one day will be at the point of judgment when we will have to give account for our lives…a point after death where our afterlife hangs in the balance between heaven and hell. We, like Shimei, will be bowed before the King and asking for forgiveness and mercy and grace…and whether or not we receive a pardon from our King…like Shimei received from David…all depends on one thing.
Whether or not we know Jesus.
For Jesus and Jesus alone is the One who can stand with us at the point of judgment and tell the Father, “This man or woman is not guilty…for their debts have been paid in full by Me on the cross at Calvary. Their names can be found in the Book of Life.”
And with that, that person’s passage to eternal life has been sealed…all through the atoning blood of the precious Lamb of God…our Savior Jesus Christ...the only One through which we can come to the Father (John 14:6).
And what about those who don’t know Jesus?
Their eternal hope dies with death because they failed to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. And with no relationship with Him, He will not know them and their names will not be found in the Book of Life. Instead of eternal life, they will reap eternal damnation… and any plea for mercy will be met with a verdict of guilty.
Friends, do you know anyone who isn’t in Christ Jesus?
The answer should not be “no” because there are millions in the world today who are teetering on the edge of hell because they either haven’t heard the gospel before or have heard it and decided to reject it allowing their future after death to hand in a precarious balance.
For we simply cannot rest…and Jesus would not allow us to do so…until every man and woman in creation stands before the King at life’s end and is declared “not guilty”. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes. Throughout the tribes of Israel, the people were all arguing with each other, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country because of Absalom; and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"
King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: "Ask the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?' And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab.' "
He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. They sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your men." Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan.
Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul's household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. They crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished.
When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king and said to him, "May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king."
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord's anointed."
David replied, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? This day you have become my adversaries! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?" So the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king promised him on oath.
2 Samuel 19:8B-23
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
In the first part of chapter 19, we saw where Joab had to jostle David out of his attitude of mourning to show gratitude to the men who had fought so valiantly on his behalf in the battle against Absalom and the Israelites. And so David followed Joab’s guidance and reestablished himself in a place where he could be in the presence of his people.
Well after Absalom’s death, the Israelites who were with him “fled to their homes” and arguments began to arise “throughout the tribes of Israel”. Those tribes were saying to one another:
“The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country because of Absalom; and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"
While this argument was occurring, scripture tells us that David decided to send a message to the elders of Judah through his priests Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. They were told to:
"Ask the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?' And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab.' "
Note here two parts of David’s appeal.
First, he was seeking to have the elders of Judah bring him back to Jerusalem as king now that Absalom was dead, fortifying his request by reminding the elders that they were David’s “own flesh and blood”.
And secondly, David also approved Amasa, his blood relative and Absalom’s army commander, to assume duties as David’s army commander replacing Joab.
Now we’re not told that David was angry at Joab for killing his son against his orders but his actions sure send a message that Joab had fallen out of favor with the king. Unfortunately, we will soon see where Joab once again will take authority into his own hand which will lead to Amasa’s demise.
Back to the scriptures where we see that David’s words were effective as he “won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man” and they sent the following word to David saying, "Return, you and all your men"…words that led David to begin his return, going as far as the Jordan.
Meanwhile, “the men of Judah” went to Gilgal so they could “meet the king and bring him across the Jordan” and they were joined by “Shimei…the Benjamite from Bahurim” who “hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David” along with “a thousand Benjamites”. “Ziba, the steward of Saul's household” was along as well with “his fifteen sons and twenty servants”.
What a sight this must have been as David approached the Jordan to cross over and head back to Jerusalem! Truly, it was a king’s welcome as the crowd “rushed to the Jordan” and “crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished”.
Scripture tells us that as “Shimei…crossed the Jordan”, he “fell prostrate before the king” saying to him:
"May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king."
Flashback to chapter 16. You’ll recall that as David fled Jerusalem with his people, he encountered a man named Shimei as he approached Bahurim. You’ll recall that Shimei, a man from the same clan as Saul, came out and cursed David and his men, pelting them with rocks and showering them with dirt. Abishai wanted to kill Shimei for his actions but David chastised his recommendation feeling the Lord had a reason for him to be cursed. And so he let Shimei continue his actions as he walked away from him and Bahurim. (2 Samuel 16:5-14)
Well, once again we see where Abishai isn’t feeling too much love toward Shimei even though he was throwing himself at David’s mercy. After all, any other king wouldn’t hesitate to slay a man who cursed him let alone throw rocks and dirt as well.
But Abishai forgot one thing. David wasn’t just any king. He was a king after God’s own heart…a God who was defined by mercy and forgiveness and grace.
And so David once again rejected Abishai’s recommendation, sparing Shimei’s life with an oath and essentially telling Abishai that they have become adversaries and have nothing in common. And his actions sent a loud message to Shimei and a world that would say he deserved death.
That message?
I find him not guilty.
In David’s presence, a sinner bowed before him asking for grace and mercy and a new lease on life. And through a man after God’s own heart, Shimei received just that…pardon from his sins.
Now fast forward to us today. For we all stand guilty of sin before God our King. We all deserve death because of that sin and one day will be at the point of judgment when we will have to give account for our lives…a point after death where our afterlife hangs in the balance between heaven and hell. We, like Shimei, will be bowed before the King and asking for forgiveness and mercy and grace…and whether or not we receive a pardon from our King…like Shimei received from David…all depends on one thing.
Whether or not we know Jesus.
For Jesus and Jesus alone is the One who can stand with us at the point of judgment and tell the Father, “This man or woman is not guilty…for their debts have been paid in full by Me on the cross at Calvary. Their names can be found in the Book of Life.”
And with that, that person’s passage to eternal life has been sealed…all through the atoning blood of the precious Lamb of God…our Savior Jesus Christ...the only One through which we can come to the Father (John 14:6).
And what about those who don’t know Jesus?
Their eternal hope dies with death because they failed to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. And with no relationship with Him, He will not know them and their names will not be found in the Book of Life. Instead of eternal life, they will reap eternal damnation… and any plea for mercy will be met with a verdict of guilty.
Friends, do you know anyone who isn’t in Christ Jesus?
The answer should not be “no” because there are millions in the world today who are teetering on the edge of hell because they either haven’t heard the gospel before or have heard it and decided to reject it allowing their future after death to hand in a precarious balance.
For we simply cannot rest…and Jesus would not allow us to do so…until every man and woman in creation stands before the King at life’s end and is declared “not guilty”. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Saturday, February 14, 2009
WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO NEED TO KNOW THEY’RE LOVED?
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
Valentine’s Day is here once again, a day we focus on love. The Love we have for each other. And the love we have for God the Father and His Son Jesus who He sent to truly show us what love was all about…that love sometimes requires the deepest kind of sacrifice imaginable.
And because He loved us so very much, we know how we are to love one another…because He IS love.
So this week, I’m getting prepared for the day.
Dozen roses. Check.
Love themed jewelry. Check.
Card that expressed my love feelings for my beautiful wife. Check.
I seemed to have everything together to make the day special.
But then, I received a mailing from World Vision, one of the four organizations that Grace and I sponsor children through. The flyer spelled out the reason for the mailing…and changed my perspective for this Valentine’s Day…to include this message.
What did the flyer say?
“Crisis in the Horn of Africa. Urgent: 3 million children face starvation.”
My heart that was buoyed up so much from all my Valentine’s Day celebration sunk.
3 million children facing starvation.
Those words ate away at me and I felt so much sadness because in the midst of celebrating love and using the blessing of the Lord’s abundance to lavish gifts on my spouse, I was reminded that there are so many others who won’t be celebrating this day…so many who aren’t feeling so loved. In fact, many this day are feeling pretty lost…abandoned…alone…hopeless.
Are we thinking about them as we celebrate the blessings of love in our own lives?
And those who are feeling less than loved this day don’t just include the hungry. For many have lost loved ones since last Valentine’s Day. Still many others have suffered relationship break ups, children have become orphaned or abandoned or abused and neglected.
Yes, not all are necessarily feeling loved this Valentine’s Day. So what do we do about it?
I would encourage all of us to take a moment today to pray for those who are in the midst of any hardship that makes them feel less than loved. Let us pray that they might be able to feel the arms of their Father in Heaven wrap around them to comfort and console them…arms that will never leave them alone…arms that will always love them.
I also would encourage you to consider to make a donation for the cause of any organization that is making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Many are doing God’s work in underprivileged nations and although we maybe can’t go to these countries and help physically, we can make a difference through the money that the Lord has blessed us with. And what better investment can you make than to help save a life…for 3 million children are starving this very day just in the Horn of Africa. How many other millions are suffering likewise?
If you are interested in child sponsorship, I highly recommend giving it a try. We’ve done it for 16 years now and have been so richly blessed in knowing we are making a special difference in the life of a child in need. What a better world we would live in if we all invested in just one child who was in need. We could defeat this problem of world hunger and improve the health of all of God’s children…one child at a time.
And so I invite you to take a look at World Vision (www.wvi.org), Children International (children.org), Compassion International (www.compassion.com) or Food for the Hungry (www.fh.org) as well as Steven Curtis Chapman’s adoption ministry, Shaohannah’s Hope (members.shaohannahshope.org). Any or all of these organizations are doing the Lord’s work and I’ve been richly blessed in my affiliation with them.
Jesus, in His parable of “The Sheep and the Goats” said:
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.
Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?”
The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”
Matthew 25:35-40
Today, as we celebrate love and, in doing so, celebrate the One, Jesus, who taught us the definition of love, let us honor Him and the love sacrifice He made for us by sacrificing a little for those who are the least...those who are in need of love.
And never let us rest until we ensure that every man, woman and child in this world know that they are loved. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Valentine’s Day is here once again, a day we focus on love. The Love we have for each other. And the love we have for God the Father and His Son Jesus who He sent to truly show us what love was all about…that love sometimes requires the deepest kind of sacrifice imaginable.
And because He loved us so very much, we know how we are to love one another…because He IS love.
So this week, I’m getting prepared for the day.
Dozen roses. Check.
Love themed jewelry. Check.
Card that expressed my love feelings for my beautiful wife. Check.
I seemed to have everything together to make the day special.
But then, I received a mailing from World Vision, one of the four organizations that Grace and I sponsor children through. The flyer spelled out the reason for the mailing…and changed my perspective for this Valentine’s Day…to include this message.
What did the flyer say?
“Crisis in the Horn of Africa. Urgent: 3 million children face starvation.”
My heart that was buoyed up so much from all my Valentine’s Day celebration sunk.
3 million children facing starvation.
Those words ate away at me and I felt so much sadness because in the midst of celebrating love and using the blessing of the Lord’s abundance to lavish gifts on my spouse, I was reminded that there are so many others who won’t be celebrating this day…so many who aren’t feeling so loved. In fact, many this day are feeling pretty lost…abandoned…alone…hopeless.
Are we thinking about them as we celebrate the blessings of love in our own lives?
And those who are feeling less than loved this day don’t just include the hungry. For many have lost loved ones since last Valentine’s Day. Still many others have suffered relationship break ups, children have become orphaned or abandoned or abused and neglected.
Yes, not all are necessarily feeling loved this Valentine’s Day. So what do we do about it?
I would encourage all of us to take a moment today to pray for those who are in the midst of any hardship that makes them feel less than loved. Let us pray that they might be able to feel the arms of their Father in Heaven wrap around them to comfort and console them…arms that will never leave them alone…arms that will always love them.
I also would encourage you to consider to make a donation for the cause of any organization that is making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Many are doing God’s work in underprivileged nations and although we maybe can’t go to these countries and help physically, we can make a difference through the money that the Lord has blessed us with. And what better investment can you make than to help save a life…for 3 million children are starving this very day just in the Horn of Africa. How many other millions are suffering likewise?
If you are interested in child sponsorship, I highly recommend giving it a try. We’ve done it for 16 years now and have been so richly blessed in knowing we are making a special difference in the life of a child in need. What a better world we would live in if we all invested in just one child who was in need. We could defeat this problem of world hunger and improve the health of all of God’s children…one child at a time.
And so I invite you to take a look at World Vision (www.wvi.org), Children International (children.org), Compassion International (www.compassion.com) or Food for the Hungry (www.fh.org) as well as Steven Curtis Chapman’s adoption ministry, Shaohannah’s Hope (members.shaohannahshope.org). Any or all of these organizations are doing the Lord’s work and I’ve been richly blessed in my affiliation with them.
Jesus, in His parable of “The Sheep and the Goats” said:
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.
Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?”
The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”
Matthew 25:35-40
Today, as we celebrate love and, in doing so, celebrate the One, Jesus, who taught us the definition of love, let us honor Him and the love sacrifice He made for us by sacrificing a little for those who are the least...those who are in need of love.
And never let us rest until we ensure that every man, woman and child in this world know that they are loved. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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