Dealing With Troublemakers...

When you pursue God daily, it’s easier to know how to deal with troublemakers. David’s example here in 1 Samuel chapter 30, helps us see how a heart in the right standing with God benefits others. Some of the men in David’s army were left behind to guard their supplies, mainly due to the fact they were faint and weak from lack of food and rest. David allowed them to stay behind and recover. After defeating the Amalekites, some of his fighting men didn’t want to share in the plunder. David put a stop to that immediately. He rewarded his loyal men who stayed behind, just as he rewarded those who fought in the trenches. We tend to fall into two categories of human beings when we compare ourselves with others. Those that lose sight of our purpose and responsibility to God, and those that know their place, without losing sight. The first type says, “we are better”, “we did more”, “they did nothing”, or “we deserve more”, and thus their attitudes breed dissension. What we forget is as believers we are one body serving Jesus. As Paul said (my paraphrase), “the eye can’t say to the foot, we spotted the treasure so we deserve more. We are more important.” Each body part serves a purpose, and without each, the body couldn’t function properly. The second type of person, who remembers God, and knows his place, responds like David did. Even though the group of men didn’t fight in the battle, they served a purpose, as David clearly stated, “who guard the equipment”. Each loyal member of his small army served a purpose, and David wasn’t going to allow a few greedy, selfish men, turn his group of loyal men into a divided, competitive, group of comparers, that we destroy the cohesiveness of the group. God gave David the wisdom, and infused Him with the right amount of humility, to be the leader he needed to be that would lead Israel into a kingdom God had planned for them. Do you always know how to handle troublemakers? If not, ask God today to give you the wisdom and humility it takes to lead into the kingdom that He has in store for them.

21 Then David returned to the brook Besor and met up with the 200  men who had been left behind because they were too exhausted to go with him. They went out to meet David and his men, and David greeted them joyfully. 22 But some evil troublemakers among David’s men said, “They didn’t go with us, so they can’t have any of the plunder we recovered. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.”23 But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. 24 Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike–those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” 25 From then on David made this a decree and regulation for Israel, and it is still followed today. 1 Samuel 30:21-25

A Changed Life....

No one can legitimately argue a changed life (spirit). It only comes from God, and cannot be explained. One more reason we put our trust in God, and not man (ourselves). A changed spirit is the greatest witness we can have, and sometimes it doesn’t involve words.

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8

Never Fully Trust Yourself...

Never fully trust yourself. Trust God instead. We are fallible, He isn’t. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in Him. 24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because He knew human nature. 25 No one needed to tell Him what mankind is really like. John 2:23-25

The Certainty of Truth....

One thing that always keeps me striving to pursue God is the fact that until God opens our eyes to the truth, we may never even grasp one of His truths, even though we think we do. It’s that certainty of truth that keeps me going. Nothing can alter that, except God Himself. That’s why I pursue Him, it’s the only way to know truth. And as Jesus said, it’s the only thing that can set me free.

13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area He saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; He also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, He told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning My Father’s house into a marketplace!”17 Then His disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume Me.”18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are You doing? If God gave You authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and You can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” He meant His own body. 22 After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered He had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said. John 2:13-22

What Perfect Love Is Able to Do....

This proverb truly shows the magnitude of God’s love for us. It also shows what perfect love is able to do. And it’s only through Jesus’ unfailing love and faithfulness, that atonement for our sin is possible. It’s our attitude towards God, and His amazing Grace, that allows us to avoid evil. When we emulate Jesus, love flows freely, releasing forgiveness out to rescue lost souls.

6 Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil. Proverbs 16:6

Suicide Is Not the Unpardonable Sin....

There’s a misinformed theory out there that has been accepted as fact, that needs to be brought into the light. It involves Suicide. Many people have believed the notion that suicide is part of the unpardonable sin. When someone takes their own life, they seal their destiny in Hell. I’ve done some research and found this false notion has been amplified by the Catholic Church. Thomas Aquinas promoted the notion that if you committed suicide, God would not forgive you. This meant that if you took your own life, you wouldn’t be able to ask God to forgive you. It was the unpardonable sin. If you look at this concept in light of the Gospel, you’ll clearly see this can’t be true. If Jesus died on the cross, rose after three days, and defeated death, that means that through faith in Him we are forgiven of our sin. That includes our past sin, our present sin, and even our future sin. It’s our faith in what Jesus did that saves us, not what we do. The unpardonable sin (that Jesus explained), is not believing in Him; not putting our faith in what He did on the cross. Think about that. How can God forgive our sin if we don’t do the very thing He requires us to do in order to be saved? How can we be covered by the blood of the Lamb if we never believe it happened. How can God forgive us if we don’t believe Him, that He provides a way for us to be forgiven. We can’t. And that’s the unpardonable sin. If someone commits suicide, that doesn’t equal not believing in God. It doesn’t mean they aren’t a believer. It just means that they had a lapse in judgement for a brief moment and did something outside of their faith. It doesn’t mean they didn’t have faith. Think about it: have you ever made a mistake, a bad decision? Did you do it because you don’t believe God exists? It was probably because you had a lapse in judgement, a selfish moment. It’s human nature to have these moments. Fortunately, most of us don’t go with our feelings to the extreme, and act on them. Now-a-days, with society basing everything on how it makes people feel, I see the suicide rate increasing. Again, not to send people to Hell, but just to end their life. Do you think Satan loves suicide? Of course He does. Why? Because it takes a believer out of this world. It’s one less person He has to fight against. Well, I’ve think I’ve made my point clear; suicide is not the unpardonable sin. God has, can, and will forgive believers who have taken their own life. Is it a sin? Yes, murder is a sin, but it’s one that is forgivable, just like lying, stealing, and adultery. Is God happy when it happens? Of course not. But it’s not an unforgivable sin. Now, in today’s passage we read about King Saul visiting the witch of Endor. He asks to call up the Spirit of Samuel (who had died). When he does, Samuel, responds by telling Saul that he will die tomorrow, and be where Samuel is. With that thought, this question arises: if Samuel was a prophet of God, the last of Israel’s Judges, and he lived his life pleasing God, how then would Saul, whom God abandoned, and was told that his kingdom would be given to a David, when he died that next day, be in the same place Samuel was? Interesting, isn’t it? Chew on that thought awhile....

17 The Lord has done just as He said He would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. 18 The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites. 19 What’s more, the Lord will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The Lord will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.” 1 Samuel 28:17-19

God Has Reasons....

God has reasons for everything. Sometimes He reveals them to us and sometimes He doesn’t. Our role in all of this is to trust that He knows what He’s doing, and live our lives aligned with His will. Faith is doing this very thing. Trusting God with our life even when we don’t see the outcome. Faith in God is knowing the outcome will be for our ultimate good, even if that means we have to suffer in accomplishing that good. True peace comes to every human being that understands this concept and makes the decision to trust God with the unknown. Everything serves a purpose in God’s will.

4 The Lord has made everything for His own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. Proverbs 16:4

Spitting Into the Wind....

When you face your problems or enemies without God’s help, you won’t succeed. It’s like spitting into the wind. You may clear your throat, but it’s at the expense of slobbering in your own face. Without God’s help, you won’t do mighty things.

11 Oh, please help us against our enemies,for all human help is useless.12 With God’s help we will do mighty things,for He will trample down our foes. Psalms 60:11-12

THY Will, Not My Will.....

God has His own rewards for those who do good and are loyal to Him. Throughout scripture we read of God honoring those that honor Him (2 Sam 2:30). Here we read of David sparing King Saul’s life for a second time. He tells Saul that when man has a scheme that’s not from God, he won’t succeed, and will eventually be cursed. If it’s from God, then there is no stopping it. Saul’s scheme to kill David was not of God, so David had confidence even in the midst of the distress he constantly felt while living in the wilderness. David knew one day God would reward him with the kingship that Samuel had anointed him for years earlier. David waited, and never took revenge on Saul, because he knew Saul was God’s anointed. He even told Abishai that Saul would eventually die in battle or of old age, and it wasn’t up to David to take matters into his own hands. Do you ever feel like taking matters into your own hands? What keeps you from doing it? Hopefully this principle that David displayed here will help you do the right thing in the future. The reward will far outweigh what you give up, if you remain loyal to God. His will be done, not mine.

19 But now let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up against me, then let Him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the Lord. For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the Lord’s people, and they have said, ‘Go, worship pagan gods.’ 20 Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?”21 Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.”22 “Here is your spear, O king,” David replied. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord gives His own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one. 24 Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May He rescue me from all my troubles.”25 And Saul said to David, “Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.” Then David went away, and Saul returned home. 1 Samuel 26:19-25

The Way to God...

There are so many references throughout scripture that proclaim Jesus to be the way to God. The only reason people don’t know this is because they don’t read their Bible. Back in Genesis, Jacob saw a pathway to Heaven in Chapter 28. Jesus told His disciples about it in John chapter 1. Numerous times throughout scripture, Jesus either proclaims Himself to be God, or others proclaim it for Him. Everyone knows John 14:6, Jesus answers Thomas’ question to show him the way, by telling him that He is the way, truth, and life. And that NO ONE comes to the Father but by Him. What’s the difference from that scripture verse and this one (see below)? If Jesus says He is the stairway between Heaven and earth, what confusion is left to keep someone from believing He is God? He either is correct, or He’s a pretender and a liar. What other religious figure in history, of the remaining world religions, claimed to be God? Which one ever said that they (meaning a person) are the only way to God. The reason Jesus says He’s the only way to God, is because He is God. He knows the way to Himself because He wrote the rules. He established the method to redeem mankind, and yet millions refuse to journey on that path. They make up excuses, or they purposely bad-mouth God and go out of their way to prevent others from coming to Him. All because they refuse to accept the Way, The Truth, and The Life. Not because it isn’t real, rather because they refuse to submit their pride for the sake of God’s love. Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord someday. I’m just so glad God opened my eyes and heart to the truth. I will gladly bow down and serve Him now. And I will have zero regrets when I meet Him face to face.

45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel–a man of complete integrity.”48 “How do You know about me?” Nathanael asked.Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God–the King of Israel!”50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then He said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the One who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” John 1:45-51

Just Imagine If We Truly Believed....

Just imagine if we truly believed this Proverb! How different our lives would be. It’s all starts with our hearts in the right place, faithful and obedient to God.

3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

Our heads vs Our Hearts.....

Not to make David out to be some perfect human being, but he did the right thing most of the time. His heart was in the right place, even when his head wasn’t. Here we read that David’s temper was about to lead him down the road of regret. He was so angry with Nabal, that he vowed to kill every man in his household. Providentially, Abigail prevented this from happening by bringing food and wine to David as a peace offering. Her graciousness and kind words helped soothe David’s wrath and prevented him from killing Nabal. Eventually, Nabal died, but not at the hands of David. Again, I don’t want to paint David as a perfect human being (for He was a poor husband and father), but his relationship with God was and is the standard in which God wants us all to follow. Emotions and feelings are legitimate, but often overrated. We must go with what we know to be true. Even when our heads tell us something, it’s our hearts that should direct our actions. Thank God for giving us new hearts. And people, like Abigail, to remind us when we need to listen to it instead of our heads.

26 “Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, since the Lord has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is. 27 And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men. 28 Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The Lord will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the Lord’s battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life.29 “Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling! 30 When the Lord has done all He promised and has made you leader of Israel, 31 don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!”32 David replied to Abigail, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! 33 Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands. 34 For I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would still be alive tomorrow morning.” 35 Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband.” 1 Samuel 25:26-35

When Our Lives Please The LORD....

Here’s a story that perfectly illustrates proverbs 16:7, “When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.” David could’ve easily killed King Saul while he was in the cave, but he knew that God had chosen Saul to be king. It wasn’t David’s place to play God by killing Saul to become king. It’s proven in the fact that David swore an oath not to destroy Saul’s descendants when he eventually became king. It also shows where David’s heart really was. He was running from Saul, scared and distraught, but he knew God was with him. This reverence for God, kept David from doing a regrettable thing. The story tells us that when he cut part of Saul’s robe that his conscience started bothering him. Wow!!! Here David was put in a situation that he could’ve taken control of his destiny and gained the kingdom all in one day by killing Saul. He chose not to take the advice of his men and he spared Saul’s life. Maybe he thought, “if I kill Saul as king, God’s anointed one, when I’m king, someone will do to me the very same thing?” David was living out the “golden rule” before it became “golden” (spoken by Jesus). Maybe this is what it means to be a “man after God’s own heart”. To submit ourselves to the will of God by restraining from taking matters into our own hands. David could’ve prayed and asked God if he should kill Saul. Maybe he already did and God answered him (we don’t know because it’s not mentioned). What we do know is that David did the right thing by refraining from killing Saul. He knew God would make him king, so he trusted God to make it happen. Isn’t that what God wants from all of us: our faith in Him played out in our obedient behavior? Ask God to help you live your life out in obedient faith today, even if you don’t know what the future holds. Be like David, submit your will to His will, and even your enemies will make peace with you.

1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. 2 So Saul chose 3 ,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’ ” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 6 “The Lord knows I shouldn’t have done that to my lord the king,” he said to his men. “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord Himself has chosen him.” 7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, 8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king–he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.12 “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. 14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and He will rescue me from your power!”16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. 17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. 18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. 19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today. 20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold. 1 Samuel 24

Humility Is the Channel....

Humility is the channel God uses to effectively witness to others. It’s the wrapping paper, so to speak (outward appearance), of the gift of the Gospel.

This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”“No,” he replied.“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”“No.”22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’ ” 24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is Someone you do not recognize. 27 Though His ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandal.” John 1:19c-27

Our Job as Christians....

Our job as Christians is to “witness to all about the light”(truth about Jesus). Simply put, it is to point others to God. We do this by preaching the Gospel, the Good News about what God did for us; to rescue us from our condemnation as a sinner. We are not the light or the Good News, but we are by-products, renewed souls because of it. The reason we live under Grace and not the law is to allow God to shine His light through us into the lives of others, so that they won’t have reason to not believe us, and to see our good works and praise Him for it. In essence, we are moonshiners. What does the moon do? It reflects the sun. And so should we, reflect the Son.

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. John 1:6-8

The Best Way To Know Ourselves....

Unless we connect with God, and agree with His ways, we will never truly know ourselves. For it is through Him, that we learn about ourselves. The better we know Him, the more we know ourselves. It’s that simple. And without Him, we may be pure in our own eyes, but we know deep down inside, we are only fooling ourselves. God knows us better than we know ourselves, and it’s not until we accept this truth that we are allowed to see the truth with clarity from His perspective. The best way to know yourself is getting to know the One Who made us.

2 People may be pure in their own eyes,but the Lord examines their motives. Proverbs 16:2

Hope In Time of Despair...

Hope in time of despair. God is our only true resort, and we usually find Him as our last resort.

9 You are my strength; I wait for You to rescue me,for You, O God, are my fortress.10 In His unfailing love, my God will stand with me.He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies. Psalms 59:9-10

16 But as for me, I will sing about Your power.Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love.For You have been my refuge,a place of safety when I am in distress.17 O my Strength, to You I sing praises,for You, O God, are my refuge,the God who shows me unfailing love. Psalms 59:16-17

”Ingrownus Eyeballous”...

King Saul’s problem wasn’t David, it was Himself. The reason King Saul didn’t last and gain God’s promise of a forever kingdom (like David received), was solely due to the disease he suffered from, “ingrownus eyeballous”. His focus was so set on himself, that he didn’t see, hear, or follow God. Selfishness, or pride as it’s called, doesn’t allow us to clearly follow God. It eventually leads to self-destruction, sometimes, as in this case, even jealousy and mental illness. I know this to be true. I’ve witnessed it in many, many lives. The difference between King Saul and David wasn’t that one was less of a sinner than the other, or even had fewer selfish moments. The difference was one man pursued God, repented when he sinned, and had a heart that was connected to the Almighty. There’s no doubt which man that was, while the other man reaped exactly what he sowed.

19 But now the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah and betrayed David to him. “We know where David is hiding,” they said. “He is in the strongholds of Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, which is in the southern part of Jeshimon. 20 Come down whenever you’re ready, O king, and we will catch him and hand him over to you!”21 “The Lord bless you,” Saul said. “At last someone is concerned about me! 1 Samuel 23:19-21

Opening and Closing Our Minds....

Here’s one truth that will always keep God above us. God has the ability to open and close our minds to His presence and truth. One more reason our dependence on Him is so vitally important. Staying connected keeps our vision spiritually sufficient. Pursuing God results in 20/20 spiritual insight.

35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized Him as He was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus Himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” He said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!38 “Why are you frightened?” He asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?39 Look at My hands. Look at My feet. You can see that it’s really Me. Touch Me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”40 As He spoke, He showed them His hands and His feet.41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and He ate it as they watched.44 Then He said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And He said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’48 You are witnesses of all these things.49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as My Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:35-49

The Proper View of God....

Wisdom, correction, discipline, honor, and humility, are all part of understanding. They all are necessary in the pursuit of God. It all starts with the proper view of God. The Bible calls it “the fear of the Lord”. You can’t expect to receive any of these attributes mentioned above, without having the proper perspective of God. And you can’t have the proper perspective of God, without having the right standing with God. It all begins with Jesus, and what He did on the cross. You can’t display what you don’t possess. Unless God gives us wisdom, the only thing that will develop in our lives is PRIDE, which is the opposite of humility. And instead of honor following humility (as it says here in Proverbs), what follows PRIDE is a great fall.

31 If you listen to constructive criticism,you will be at home among the wise. 32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself;but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. 33 Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom;humility precedes honor. Proverbs 15:31-33

The Condition of Your Heart....

The Christian life... is supposed to be one of perfect behavior, right? Here in just two short chapters we read of David making a vow of loyalty with Jonathan (King Saul’s son). David asks Jonathan to lie. And in the very next chapter, we read of David pretending to be insane, deceiving King Achish of Gath. How is this behavior worthy of the title God gave him, a “man after God’s own heart”? I don’t have the full explanation, but I do know that the perfection that most Christians believe in, can only be found in Jesus (not ourselves). And if you re-read the above title given to David, the emphasis is on “after God’s own heart”, which means that’s where his priorities are. God cares more about where our heart is (our priorities are), than with our sometimes outta-focus behavior. This is in no way emphasizing the freedom to sin, but rather living by Grace. For there is no law when it comes to God’s love and mercy. Look at examples throughout scripture: Rehab the prostitute, Ruth the Moabitess, the woman at the well, Peter’s denial of Jesus, Jonah’s journey away from Nineveh, and the woman caught in adultery, to name a few. The condition of our hearts trumps our behavior many times. Sometimes it takes behavior, that isn’t the best, to help contour our hearts into the shape God wants it. Life isn’t about perfection (behaving in a certain manner), more so than it is about those behaviors shaping us into the character God wants us to have. And that sometimes involves imperfect behavior to get us there.

4 “Tell me what I can do to help you,” Jonathan exclaimed.5 David replied, “Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. I’ve always eaten with the king on this occasion, but tomorrow I’ll hide in the field and stay there until the evening of the third day. 6 If your father asks where I am, tell him I asked permission to go home to Bethlehem for an annual family sacrifice. 7 If he says, ‘Fine!’ you will know all is well. But if he is angry and loses his temper, you will know he is determined to kill me. 8 Show me this loyalty as my sworn friend–for we made a solemn pact before the Lord–or kill me yourself if I have sinned against your father. But please don’t betray me to him!” 1 Samuel 20:4-8

12 David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. 13 So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.14 Finally, King Achish said to his men, “Must you bring me a madman? 15 We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?” 1 Samuel 21:12-15

God Moments....

As the disciples walked along the road to Emmaus their hearts burned inside. The reason was they were experiencing God and not realizing it. Whenever we have one of these “God moments” there’s no denying the overwhelming calm, peace, and heavy emotion we experience. Every single time I watch a Christian movie, I always get this feeling when it comes to Truth being revealed during the moving moments in the film. For instance, in the movie “Like Arrows”, when the father apologizes to his teenage daughter for not being there for her, or when the prodigal son returns home after 32 years of absence to celebrate his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, I feel this stirring in my heart. I find myself taking a deep breath. My eyes start to tear up. That my friend, is God’s presence. It’s His nearness to us that stirs our soul. It’s something you can’t predict, but when it happens, you never forget it. Can you remember a time when you were moved by God’s presence? A time when your heart burned within you? Thank God for those times. And ask Him to allow you to experience many more of them.

31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And at that moment He disappeared!32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:31-32

Another Reason to Pray....

Another reason to pray and stand firm against sin. If we want to be close to God, we can’t allow ourselves to drift away in the sea of sin.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,but He hears the prayers of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29

Avenging Injustice....

Here’s one thing all people everywhere can agree on and rejoice in; when injustice is avenged people rejoice; specifically, godly people. There’s something about justice being served that strikes a chord in people. It’s as if something inside of us is awoken, part of our created being coming alive. Or maybe it’s just God being God and allowing us to get a glimpse of His Majesty at work. Either way, it affects us in a way that’s unforgettable.

The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged. Psalms 58:10a

One Piece of Evidence....

The Gospel was meant to be proclaimed to all the ends of the earth. One piece of evidence of this is the sign that was placed on Jesus’ cross, “King of the Jews”. It was written in 3 languages. If you know any Jewish history, you know God was King of the Jews. God intended the people to read it, learn about it, and tell others. So should we.

38 A sign was fastened to the cross above Him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” Luke 23:38

Depression is Real...

This may not be the cause of all of Saul’s depression, but it definitely is the main reason for it. When Saul was disobedient with God, God decided to remove His Spirit from Him. Depression and fear took its place. This may not exactly happen to the believer today, for we have the Holy Spirit that resides in us (thanks to Jesus), but something has to happen in order for the believer to get depressed. It’s easy to diagnose the cause of the non-believer’s depression (no Spirit of God), but for the believer it seems more complicated. I don’t know exactly why this happens, but I do know it’s real and possible. You may be doing everything right, and yet, still go through bouts of depression. I know this because of first-hand experience. I don’t have the answer, but the Bible does give us a way to battle it. Surround yourself with believers. Their presence will definitely help. Why? Because the Holy Sprit is with them, and thus near you. David played music to help Saul cope with his depression. I can’t say it was the actual music, but the fact that God’s Spirit was with David, was the determining factor. This is a real dilemma that needs to be addressed. Ask God to help you in times of stress. He just might send you a believer to play music that soothes your soul.

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. 1 Samuel 16:14

23 And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away. 1 Samuel 16:23

Emphasis On Physical Appearance....

With all the emphasis on physical appearance these days, it’s no wonder people have a hard time seeing people for who they really are as a person. Look at all the racism the media tries to magnify in our daily news casts. Everything is based on external appearance. It’s so refreshing and secure to know that God doesn’t make His judgements based on our appearance. He evaluates our hearts. The only way to get right with God, is for us to align our heart with His. It’s only then we will be able to see spiritually. And that prescription is 20/20.

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Integrity Only Comes From One Place....

Doing the right thing involves integrity and resolve. Both come from God. It doesn’t matter if the decision is popular or not, Right is Right regardless. And it doesn’t matter how you “feel” about it. Truth trumps feelings every time. It’s just a matter of knowing the truth. Unless you get it from God (and you must ask), you’ll have none to give. We see a clear example here of a man who feared the people more than he feared God, and thus failed the test. Pilate could’ve easily set Jesus free, but his lust for power and his love for his position and the lifestyle it brought with it, caused him to crumble when tested to do the right thing. Plus, and here’s the deeper insight, God uses Pilate to carry out His plan of redemption because He knew Pilate had no integrity. How does that concept sit with you? Have you ever failed the integrity test? How did it affect your life? Did you learn from it? Or are you still failing the tests? Maybe it’s time to ask God for a little more resolve when you’re tested to stand up and do the right thing.

23 But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. 25 As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished. Luke 23:23-25

When God is the Center....

When God is the center of your life, and everything rotates around Him, we find peace, experience security, and know our place. Our purpose should Be God first..... everything else is second.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!I look to You for protection.I will hide beneath the shadow of Your wingsuntil the danger passes by.2 I cry out to God Most High,to God who will fulfill His purpose for me.3 He will send help from heaven to rescue me,disgracing those who hound me. Psalms 57:1-3a

Do You Ever Think God Is Sorry.....

Do you think you’ve ever made God sorry that He made a decision about you? Here in 1 Samuel chapter 15 we read of God’s sorrow over Saul’s kingship. Saul was impulsive, arrogant (the opposite of the humility God desires), and most of all proud. When Saul made a vow, he made certain to carry it out (which is a good thing), but unfortunately his decisions in making the vows weren’t very thought out in advance. The biggest downfall of King Saul is the same fault most all of us have. Saul’s biggest downfall was his disobedience to God’s commands. Here, and numerous other times, Saul’s decision making in carrying out God’s commands were altered. Like Saul, we all tend to do this. The reason we do is because we tend to step into the role of God and make decisions that only He is entitled to make. Saul was given specific instructions to completely destroy the Amalekites. That meant all living things (yes, babies and animals too). Saul took it upon himself to spare the king, and the best of all the animals. Saul thought he would use the best of the animals as sacrifices to God. I totally understand his thinking, but God later chastises him for it. Why? Because of his disobedience. If you read the entire chapter you find God telling Samuel that It was time to settle the accounts with the Amalekites; they had opposed the Israelites when they had come out of Egypt. God was angry with them. The Amalekites had no reason to be nasty and treat the Israelites the way they did, so God decided it was time to carry out His judgement on them by destroying all of them. Saul took it upon himself to play the role of God, and did not completely destroy them (like he was ordered to do). How often do you step into the role of God and act in disobedience towards Him, thinking you are doing good? We find out what God thinks about this type of behavior when He tells Samuel to relay the message to Saul. Saul’s kingdom will be torn away from him and given to someone else (we know it was given to David). He tells Saul that it’s not sacrifices that God wants, but rather our obedience. When we make the mistake of altering our thinking away from obedience towards doing things that we think will please God, we will always find ourselves in Saul’s shoes. This is because when we do this, we are actually stepping into the role of God, which is not for us to do. Our duty to God is first loyalty, and we carry it out in acts of obedience. The sacrifice God wants from us is the sacrifice of self. When we do this, we don’t have to worry about acting like Saul because when we submit ourselves to God, we go to Him in prayer, and that prevents us from “playing God”. I mean how can you “play God” when you go to Him in prayer? It’s not our place to step into His role. Humility keeps us from this kind of sin. When you are close to God, and know Who He is, there’s not much room for promoting yourself. The times we get into trouble by playing God, is when we fail to be obedient because we want to promote ourselves. Self-sacrificial service (LOVE) is what the Bible is all about. When God is the center and source of that love, we will always do what pleases Him.

2 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. 3 Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation–men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” 1 Samuel 15:2-3

9 Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs–everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. 1 Samuel 15:9

10 Then the Lord said to Samuel, 11 “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to Me and has refused to obey My command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night.12 Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.”13 When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!”14 “Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.15 “It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. We have destroyed everything else.” 1 Samuel 15:10-15

20 “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission He gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. 21 Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord:your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice?Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,and stubbornness as bad as worshiping Jan idols.So because you have rejected the command of the Lord,He has rejected you as king.” 1 Samuel 15:20-23

24 Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. 25 But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord.”26 But Samuel replied, “I will not go back with you! Since you have rejected the Lord’s command, He has rejected you as king of Israel.” 1 Samuel 15:24-26

Honesty and Your Response....

You’ve heard me talk about God’s goodness and love numerous times, but if you take the time to actually read the Bible and pray to the God of this book, you’ll come to realize He is so much more than anyone (good or bad) has ever described Him to be. You hear the non-believers and the haters constantly talk about how tyrannical and controlling God is. You hear them misquote a verse in scripture to help portray God as unkind and unloving. You’ll even hear people speak blasphemous language contradicting the true character of God. Here is Psalm 56 we read of David’s distress. We hear him cry out to God for rescue. We see the ultimate trust he has in God. And most importantly, we see that David truly knows God intimately. We see David acknowledge God’s compassion and mercy. Just reading this passage makes me wonder what a God-hater would say if I read Him this passage and asked what they thought it meant. I’d love to hear their answer. It would probably be a distorted and twisted view that makes God look bad. It would have to be something derogatory because by admitting the truth, they would have to admit their sin and come clean. It’s for that reason why people stay away from God and deny Him. If they were honest in their response to this passage, they would have to admit that the God David is addressing in this passage is loving, compassionate, and wanting to help not hurt.

8 You keep track of all my sorrows.You have collected all my tears in Your bottle.You have recorded each one in Your book. 9 My enemies will retreat when I call to You for help.This I know: God is on my side! Psalms 56:8-9