Let God Do What Seems Best….

Do you trust God? I mean really trust Him with your life? David did. As the coup Absalom was attempting to make had driven David out of Jerusalem, David’s faith in God never wavered. His confidence in himself may have diminished, but not his trust in God. One reason why David’s faith was so secure is the fact that he knew God is always devising ways to bring us back when we have been separated. This love and concern God has for us can never be extinguished. He will never leave us or forsake us. David knew this; it’s why he trusted God with his life. Do you have this kind of trust in Him? Do you want it? What do you think you have to do to develop it into the kind of faith David had?

14 All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him. 2 Samuel 14:14

25 Then the king instructed Zadok to take the Ark of God back into the city. “If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “He will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. 26 But if He is through with me, then let Him do what seems best to Him.” 2 Samuel 15:25-26

Falls Short On “Delivering The Goods”….

This is a classic example of how sin affects human beings. This response to sinful behavior is why God warns us. If we take it to it’s ultimate conclusion, unrepentant sin leads to our destruction. It severs relationships, and ultimates destroys us from the inside out. It keeps us from ever reaching our potential. It starts with an idea, the idea gives birth to planning an action, the action turns into reality, reality has an outcome, and the outcome opens the eyes of the implementer. When our eyes are opened we realize that what we thought this desire was going to do falls short on “delivering the goods”. This inevitably brings about guilt and shame. How we deal with this guilt and shame then determines another behavior. We either repent (which is rare), or we fight and try to surpress these feelings by escape, denial, or trying to convince ourselves we’ve done nothing wrong. Through it all, we hurt others with our behavior. Sin has a way of severing relationships, especially when it’s responded to with denial or justification. God never intended it to be this way. He is forgiving. He wants us to go to Him all the time. Yet sin has a way of making us run from Him. It’s just the way it is. It’s why He hates sin so much. God is the exact opposite of sin; He is Holy. If we could only understand this relationship between sin and God, how it severs our connection with Him. If God wants the best for us. If He wants a close connection with us. If His ways are designed for our best, then why do we cherish sin? Why to we want to run and dive right into it? Why do we continue to keep going back when we know it destroys us in the process? I think the reason we do it is because we do not have the ability to comprehend God’s great love for us. We get small glimpses of it when we repent and draw closer to God. Yet we have such short memories, we forget how that closeness makes us feel. I personally believe that if we could truly experience God’s love for us, fully realizing its magnitude, sin wouldn’t be an after-thought, it’s what Adam experienced in the Garden. But I don’t think it’s fully possible here on earth, while we live in our sinful, fleshly bodies. It’s purposed for us to have the choice to sin because true love always gives us a choice. And by choosing to sin or refraining from sinning, our response shows our understanding and gratitude to God for being the recipients of that choice. It reveals our love back to God. I’m not saying, sinning is something we need to do. I’m saying when we do it, it reveals the love of God to us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. And that God loved us before we could love Him. Amnon’s example here in 2 Samuel chapter 13 clearly points out one response to this dilemma. The typical denial or justification of our sinful behavior, not only hurts others, but it ultimately destroys us from the inside out. The temptation to sin will always seems far greater a reward than it ever will deliver. Seeing this is half the battle. Knowing it separates us from God is the real issue. We will never experience joy and peace without God, and sin will always keep us from ever experiencing it without the right response to it. Thanks be to God for knowing us better than we know ourselves, and loving us beyond our comprehension.

1 Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her. 2 Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her.3 But Amnon had a very crafty friend–his cousin Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimea. 4 One day Jonadab said to Amnon, “What’s the trouble? Why should the son of a king look so dejected morning after morning?”So Amnon told him, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”5 “Well,” Jonadab said, “I’ll tell you what to do. Go back to bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, ask him to let Tamar come and prepare some food for you. Tell him you’ll feel better if she prepares it as you watch and feeds you with her own hands.”6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon asked him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and cook my favorite dish as I watch. Then I can eat it from her own hands.” 7 So David agreed and sent Tamar to Amnon’s house to prepare some food for him.8 When Tamar arrived at Amnon’s house, she went to the place where he was lying down so he could watch her mix some dough. Then she baked his favorite dish for him. 9 But when she set the serving tray before him, he refused to eat. “Everyone get out of here,” Amnon told his servants. So they all left.10 Then he said to Tamar, “Now bring the food into my bedroom and feed it to me here.” So Tamar took his favorite dish to him. 11 But as she was feeding him, he grabbed her and demanded, “Come to bed with me, my darling sister.”12 “No, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t be foolish! Don’t do this to me! Such wicked things aren’t done in Israel. 13 Where could I go in my shame? And you would be called one of the greatest fools in Israel. Please, just speak to the king about it, and he will let you marry me.”14 But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her, and since he was stronger than she was, he raped her. 15 Then suddenly Amnon’s love turned to hate, and he hated her even more than he had loved her. “Get out of here!” he snarled at her.16 “No, no!” Tamar cried. “Sending me away now is worse than what you’ve already done to me.”But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her. 17 He shouted for his servant and demanded, “Throw this woman out, and lock the door behind her!”18 So the servant put her out and locked the door behind her. She was wearing a long, beautiful robe, as was the custom in those days for the king’s virgin daughters. 19 But now Tamar tore her robe and put ashes on her head. And then, with her face in her hands, she went away crying.20 Her brother Absalom saw her and asked, “Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet for now, since he’s your brother. Don’t you worry about it.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in her brother Absalom’s house.21 When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry. 22 And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister. 2 Samuel 13:1-22

Nourish Your Soul With Daily Bread….

Jesus is the Bread of life. Here in John chapter 6, we read of Jesus telling the crowd about Him being the Bread of life. There are so many points to make here, but I will only mention a few. First, Jesus tells the crowd not to be concerned with perishable (earthly/transient) things. Devote your time, energy, and thoughts on eternal things, i.e. people and God. This sets your mind on things not yet received. It gives us hope, something to look forward to. Something that will last, not wasting our time and efforts on things that are insignificant. Secondly, Jesus tells the crowd the only thing God wants from them (us) is to believe in Jesus; to trust Him with our lives. You can’t do anything physically to win God’s favor. Nothing can be done that can “earn” our salvation. It’s all based on our faith, trusting God to do what He says He’ll do. The results are gratitude, hope, peace, purpose, and security. Again this makes us all equal, and sets our priority on that which will never fade away. There is no need to compare, or to take things personally, because we know where our significance comes from. And no one can take that away from us. Third, Jesus tells the crowd that they are wrong about Moses. He didn’t give them the manna to eat while they were in the desert, it was God Who provided. Just as God provided bread to eat to the Jews, He also provides Jesus, the Bread of life, to sustain us, here in our lives. This sets our gratitude on the only Thing worthy of receiving it. It helps us to not get caught up in the now, to see the bigger picture. It helps us prioritize our lives, and not waste time, squandering it away on frivolous stuff. Fourth, and most important, this “Bread of life” feeds our spiritual souls; it sustains us in times of trouble, conflict, and in good times as well. If we do not feed our spirits with this Spiritual food, our spirit starves. We can’t expect to see spiritually, walk with God, and grow in our faith in Jesus if we starve ourselves, by not being in His Word daily. It’s like eating lettuce and expecting it to energize and nourish our physical bodies. It may fill our stomachs, but it won’t sustain our spirit. We need real, solid, calorie rich food. You’ve heard the saying, “starve a fever, and feed a cold”, well if you starve your spirit, it will never grow, because lack of food, kills the spirit. Starving your spirit leads to death of spiritual sight. And lastly, we must always remember, it is God Who draws us closer to Him, not me closer to God. We cannot grow close to God without Him first opening the door. We can’t open the door ourselves. We are not the ones in control. When that door opens, we must enter it before it closes. If we don’t, it may never open again, and we miss the opportunity God has provided. So we depend on God for our salvation. That dependence we all need, starts in prayer, asking Him to reveal Himself to you. Our faith in Jesus’ work on the cross is what saves us. Getting connected with God, sustains our spirit by feeding it daily. The combination of both of these is what living out our salvation is all about. Learning to be independently dependent upon God. Seek Him out today, ask to be fed with Jesus, the Bread of Life. It will sustain you and help you continue to grow in your faith. Starve it by allowing your priorities to be focused on transient, worldly things, and you will develop spiritual blindness, which will lead you around life stumbling everywhere. The moral to today’s insight is this: feed your soul by cultivating your relationship with Jesus. Get into His Word. Talk to Him. You’ll find the peace and joy that people talk about only in Him. Fill yourself up with Jesus. It’s easier to handle life on a full spiritual stomach. When we please God, we please with ourselves as well. It only works in that order.

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for Him. 25 They found Him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with Me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given Me the seal of His approval.”28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the One He has sent.”30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if You want us to believe in You. What can You do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. 36 But you haven’t believed in Me even though you have seen Me.37 However, those the Father has given Me will come to Me, and I will never reject them.38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent Me, not to do My own will.39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given Me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.40 For it is My Father’s will that all who see His Son and believe in Him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”41 Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know His father and mother. How can He say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”43 But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said. 44 For no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them to Me, and at the last day I will raise them up.45 As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to Me.46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen Him.)47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.48 Yes, I am the bread of life!49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died.50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die.51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is My flesh.”52 Then the people began arguing with each other about what He meant. “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” they asked.53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 54 But anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.56 Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.57 I live because of the living Father who sent Me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on Me will live because of Me.58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” John 6:22-58

Doing The Opposite Of Our Nature….

Have you ever entertained the thought of God wanting us to come to Him when we sin? Neither had I until I realized it the only rightful response we have. Sure, the popular response is to run from God; hide out like Adam did in the garden after he ate from the banned tree. It’s what our sinful nature tells us to do. But it’s not what God wants. It’s why He hates sin. Sin drives us away from God, distancing us from Him, and weakening our bond with Him. David understood this. He may not have always acted accordingly, but he knew the proper response to sin. We are to always go to God with our problems. We are to go to Him in our joys as well. It’s that daily communication, that daily union with our Creator that deepens our faith and resolve. Are you getting this? We are to run to God, at all times, not from Him. The more we do this the less we see how wrong it is to run away. The more we grow intimate with Him. Stop running. Stop listening to your feelings. Stop trusting the wrong information Satan is putting in your head. You’ve got to go with what you know to be true. That truth is Jesus is our refuge. He is our redeemer. He is the answer to our problem. The more we continue to run away from Him, the more complex, the more painful, and the more time it will take until we realize He should be the destination of our fleeing. Get over your pride, throw out common sense, and stop listening to your feelings. Run to Him today. Trust me on this one.

What mighty praise, O God,belongs to You in Zion.We will fulfill our vows to You,2 for You answer our prayers.All of us must come to You.3 Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,You forgive them all.4 What joy for those You choose to bring near,those who live in Your holy courts.What festivities await usinside Your holy Temple. 5 You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,O God our savior.You are the hope of everyone on earth,even those who sail on distant seas.6 You formed the mountains by Your powerand armed Yourself with mighty strength.7 You quieted the raging oceanswith their pounding wavesand silenced the shouting of the nations.8 Those who live at the ends of the earthstand in awe of Your wonders.From where the sun rises to where it sets,You inspire shouts of joy. Psalms 65:1-8

It All Starts And Ends With Jesus….

For those who take “being religious” as their form of earning salvation, read today’s verses. Every commandment, every word of scripture, every principle in the Bible points us to Jesus. If your witness, your life, your pursuit of God, doesn’t point to Jesus, you’re missing the whole point. Never get away from Jesus. He is what Christianity is all about. Whenever you get into a debate or discuss the Bible, don’t allow yourself to drift, to go down a tangent “rabbit hole”. Always come back to the one question everyone will have to answer: “Who do you say I Am?” Your answer determines everything. It sets the stage for every answer to all questions concerning the Christian faith. It always starts and ends with Jesus, the Alpha and Omega.

39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me!40 Yet you refuse to come to Me to receive this life.41 “Your approval means nothing to Me,42 because I know you don’t have God’s love within you.43 For I have come to you in My Father’s name, and you have rejected Me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them.44 No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the One who alone is God.45 “Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes.46 If you really believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.47 But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” 2 Samuel 7:39-47

You Become A New Creature….

When you believe God, trust Him, and repent and allow room for Him in your life, His Message comes to live in your heart. You become a new creature. Your witness becomes alive and affects all around you. Now that’s exciting news.

37 And the Father who sent Me has testified about Me Himself. You have never heard His voice or seen Him face to face,38 and you do not have His message in your hearts, because you do not believe Me–the One He sent to you. John 5:37-38

The Answer to “Don’t Judge”…..

Do you ever have an answer to those who tell you not to judge? Here it is. For believers, we use God’s standard. It is just. It comes from an All-knowing, Sovereign God. He has all the facts, all the evidence, and all the different point of views. With perfect knowledge comes perfect judgement. I’m not saying we can condemn someone, they already are if they don’t repent and trust in Jesus. I’m saying the standard we use to make judgements comes from the Ultimate Source of Perfect knowledge. Without Jesus, we all fall short. With Jesus, we can make good, solid judgements because He is the Source of the wisdom. Make sense?

26 The Father has life in Himself, and He has granted that same life-giving power to His Son. 27 And He has given Him authority to judge everyone because He is the Son of Man. 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son,29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.30 I can do nothing on My own. I judge as God tells Me. Therefore, My judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the One who sent Me, not My own will. John 5:26-30

If God’s Way Is The Best Way….

Just imagine if we could be honest with ourselves enough to except God‘s will for our lives. If we could just except whatever He has planned for us; believing it is for our best. How much better the world would be. We will except things as they are. We would treat others with greater respect, because we know it’s the right thing to do. And most importantly, worry, anxiety, stress, disease, and illnesses would be fewer and fewer because our lifestyles would reflect the respect that God deserves in the way we live. If God’s way is the best way, and we trust Him with our lives, why would we want to do it our own way, accepting 33rd best? King David expressed this point of view in his attitude when he spoke this prayer. This shows why he was know as a man after God’s own heart. I want to be able to pray this prayer, do you?

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?[c] 20 “What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord. 21 Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant. 22 “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! 23 What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way.[d] 24 You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. 25 “And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. 26 And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever. 27 “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ 28 For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!” 2 Samuel 7:18-29

Until You Empty Yourself….

The Bible constantly, and consistently throughout both the OT and the NT, talks about pride and haughtiness. God opposes the proud. He humbles those who have a haughty spirit. Here in Proverbs chapter 16, we find a verse that summarizes the consequences of pride. Whenever someone is prideful, it’s just a matter of time before some kind of destruction will follow. Pride destroys. It destroys good attitudes, relationships, and attitudes of those around them. Self-centeredness is the root of all evil. Selfishness is the opposite of love. How can someone be promoting the love of God, by loving their neighbor, when their pride is opposing the very thing we are supposed to be giving? Arrogance, pride, and haughtiness will rob a man of his joy. They will steal his peace. Why? Because love and pride cannot co-exist together at the same time. One will overtake the other, and in the process you cannot promote one while the other is present. Like oil and water, pride and love cannot mix. Until we understand this relationship, our relationship with God cannot grow. Save yourself some pain and frustration, ask God to help you with this. Until you empty yourself of pride, there’s no room for God to fill you up with the love that changes people.

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud. Proverbs 16:18-19

If Sin Is Left Out Of The Gospel….

There are so many times Jesus talked about repenting. Here is one more example. Today in America we hear, “don’t judge, live and let live, etc...”, but is this what Jesus did? Proof is in His words. We don’t need to continue to be influenced by the lies people who never read the Bible. Or worse yet, people who hate God and try to deceive others into believing the false Jesus they preach. When Jesus tells a healed cripple man to “stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you”, I don’t need an interpreter to figure it out. If sin is left out of the Gospel, it isn’t Good News, for what are we saved from? And why was it necessary for Jesus to be sacrificed on the cross (for what reason)? The Jesus of the Bible and the Jesus preached by the world isn’t the same person. See for yourself. It’s exactly what God wants from you. Make it your own. It’s personal.

13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 15 Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him. John 5:13-15

Who Are You Listening To…..

When the world tells us one thing, and God tells us another, who do we listen to? God of course. Why? Because He made the world, and everything in it. We have a choice. I know I’d rather be hated by the world and honored by God. There’s no comparison. You’ll either serve God and break some man-made rules, or serve the world and suffer an eternal fate. Who are you listening to? How’s it working out?

8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”11 But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” John 5:8-11

A Nourished Soul Has No Rival…

Just imagine all of us are either planters or harvesters. We either plant the seed of truth of God’s word in the hearts of others, or we get to experience the power of that seed when it sprouts bounty in the lives of others. Without the harvest, they are no seeds to plant. Harvesting and planting go hand in hand. This shows us that life isn’t about personal gain. It’s about God’s glory. When we seek His glory first, we reap a harvest of satisfaction; peace, joy, and the contentment of knowing we are fulfilling what we were created to do. There is no greater joy than knowing we are pleasing God. It’s as simple as that. Are you planting seeds or are you harvesting the bounty? The cycle repeats. And the bounty will be a satisfied and fulfilled life, and an eternity of knowing you gave your best. There’s no bigger priority in life than this. A nourished soul has no rival.

34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent Me, and from finishing His work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true.38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” John 4:34-38

The Biggest Distractor In Life…

We all struggle with the pull of this world for towards money. It appeals to us because we think it gives us more power, more options, or the ability to be self-sufficient. In reality, it does none of those. Money is the biggest distractor in life. It takes up so much of our thought life. It dictates so much of our priorities that we lose sight of what’s really of value in this life: time and people. Wisdom and knowledge are free, well, not exactly. Wisdom and knowledge come at a cost, not a financial one, but one of a time, relationships, and adversity. What costs us these turning points are the very things that open our eyes to truth. Knowledge will only take you so far, and without God, it takes you in the wrong direction (pride). Look at education for example. If education solves the world’s problems, why do we still have the same problems? Wisdom is when experience marries knowledge. It forms a bond, that with God’s help, transforms you. It proves to us that gold and silver have their place, but not at the center of our lives. Pursuing God restores the spiritual insight we lose through our selfish pursuit of transient, worldly things. This knowledge and wisdom helps us help others in this life. It comes through time, trials, and tribulations. Treat it as gold, and you’ll find yourself valuing “mammon” less and less. It will lead you away from evil, and keep you safe. It’s only possible through seeking God with your whole heart.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! 17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe. Proverbs 16:16-17

There’s Always More To The Story….

I’ve always been intrigued by the story of Uzzah and the Ark. When King David was bringing it up to Jerusalem he never thought a man would die in the process. This joyous occasion was soon halted by Uzzah’s death. Why would God allow a man to die for trying to prevent the Ark from falling to the ground? Here’s the answer. First, the Ark was to be carried on poles, not on a cart pulled by oxen. Huge mistake. Secondly, no one was to touch the Ark for it was Holy. Only after being ritually cleansed was the one person appointed to care for the ark ever to come in contact with it. Thirdly, Who was Uzzah to think that dirt was far worse touching the Ark than his sinful hands. It’s as if he stepped into the role of God, determining the importance of his actions. God made dirt and He made human beings from that dirt. Human beings rebelled, the dirt didn’t. When we think for God, and prioritize our lives around our own thinking and priorities, we tred on Holy ground. It’s not our place, our right, or our priority to make those types of decisions. The end result for King David was a reverent fear that overcame him and humility followed. He left the Ark in a nearby town, until he figured out what he did wrong and what was necessary to make it right. When he eventually brought it into Jerusalem, he sacrificed an animal every few steps. This shows his change of attitude in handling something Holy. And by the way, when he brought it into his city, they were carrying it on the poles in which God told them is the only way to transport it. Doing things God’s way, with humility and a reverential respect, pleases God. It shows Him you know and accept your place in His grand scheme of things. There’s always more to the story than we perceive. And it’s not until we ask God for insight that we ever understand strange stories in His Word.

1 Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30 ,000 in all. 2 He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. 3 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart as it left the house, 4 carrying the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark. 5 David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments–lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.6 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God. 7 Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.8 David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.9 David was now afraid of the Lord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into my care?” 10 So David decided not to move the Ark of the Lord into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. 11 The Ark of the Lord remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.12 Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration. 13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. 15 So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns. 2 Samuel 6:1-15

Our Job Is To Point Others To Him….

The woman at the well is a perfect example of someone who set aside their pride, accepted the truth about Jesus, and pointed others to Him. Once we receive Jesus as our Savior, and make Him Lord in our lives, our job is to point others to Him with our words and actions. This Samaritan woman did just that. How often do you point others to God by speaking the truth?

25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming–the One who is called Christ. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.”26 Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!”27 Just then His disciples came back. They were shocked to find Him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do You want with her?” or “Why are You talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could He possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see Him. John 4:25-30

What Can Jesus Offer Me That’s Worth…..

Pride is what keeps us from God. It’s the only thing that keeps us from Him. We think, “what can Jesus offer me?”, or “I don’t need Jesus, I’m fine”. Some even think there’s so much more the world offers that Jesus can’t. Here in John chapter 4 we read of the Samaritan women at the well. There’s so many points in this story, but I will only make this one. “What can Jesus offer me that’s worth following Him?” Many think it doesn’t compare to the enormous opportunities the world has to offer. It’s Satan’s lies and deception, and the appeal of our pride that blinds people and makes them believe these lies. The woman is a perfect example of this. She asks Jesus, “do you think you are greater than our ancestor Jacob?” This proves her prideful beliefs. When Jesus tells her about “living water”, her pride is tested. Her worldview now has to be weighed against reality; her daily trek to the well at noon, so she won’t have to mingle with others. The inconvenience of her “heat of the day” journey to collect water is less appealing than never having to go there again. It’s only when we compare the truth to a lie that we realize how off our views really are. Pride keeps us from going there most of the time, so it’s necessary to look in the “mirror of truth” daily (the importance of daily Bible reading). Believing there’s better out there than Jesus just feeds our pride. It keeps us from drinking “living water”. If you’ve ever read scripture, in the pursuit of God, then you know what He thinks about pride. Be honest with yourself, honest enough to swallow your pride and see why Jesus is the only remedy to our sinful nature. The woman at the well learned this, and it forever changed her. Take heed.

9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are You asking me for a drink?”10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask Me, and I would give you living water.”11 “But sir, You don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would You get this living water? 12 And besides, do You think You’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can You offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” John 4:9-15

God Determines The Rules…

The one thing we must always remember is that it’s God Who determines the rules of fairness, not us. The basis is always built on justice. If God is just, and we are not, then how can we base our fairness on anything else? Basing our decision-making on “feelings” isn’t wise, yet we continue to do it. We are not God, so we are not qualified to step into His role and make rules based on our own inadequacies? Senseless and perpetual disappointment lead to zero positive results. We have to accept God’s sovereignty. You can’t out run His omnipresence, so why try?

11 The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; He sets the standards for fairness. 12 A king detests wrongdoing, for his rule is built on justice. Proverbs 16:11-12

One Benefit Of Pleasing God….

When we live to please God, even our enemies see us in a way that promotes peace. This goes to show us God’s way is the only way to peace. He honors those that honor Him.

7 When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them. Proverbs 16:7

I Deserve This…..

One of the problems that comes along with accomplishment is pride. When you’ve finished the job, won the award, been granted the promotion, the first thing we think is, “I deserve this”. The second you start to think it, selfish thoughts flood in like a raging river after a storm. These selfish thoughts trump common sense, common courtesy, and keep us in a state of mind that’s not beneficial to others. There’s a reason why God hates pride, and today’s scripture shows us why. When David’s men came back from raiding and rescuing their families, they had more plunder than they originally had before. They immediately didn’t want to share it with the 200 men who stayed behind to guard the equipment. They told the 200 that they could have their wives and children back, but would get no share of the plunder. David put an end to this selfish behavior by establishing a decree that would last in his kingdom throughout the reign of the kings. Sharing the spoils of battle with those left behind (for whatever reason) was now the norm. As David said, “don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us”. It’s just one more way we are to behave out of gratitude towards God. When selfish thoughts creep in, remember, God never intended for us to keep His blessings to ourselves. Selfishness guarantees just that. Let’s put a stop to this abuse of what we know to be right, by putting into action what David did even before he reigned as king. The spoils of war spoil those who think “it’s all mine”. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

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

People Don’t Want To Be Judged….

We live in a society that wants one thing, but lives contradictory to its desires. People don’t want to be judged. Yet every day people judge and condemn. People want security, yet live a lifestyle that promotes insecurity. Here in John chapter 3, Jesus tells us that there is no judgement against anyone who places their faith and trust in Him (v18). He’s talking about the ultimate condemning judgement God will have for all unredeemed guilty sinners (which we all are). Imagine living your life without knowing there is a solution to this “sin problem”. Not knowing there is another way to live. Imagine hearing about the solution (remedy), and yet not taking it’s guaranteed healing? Nicodemus is hearing what Jesus is telling him, but he doesn’t understand. Jesus explains it to Him, and I believe, he finally gets it. I think he and Joseph of Arimathea were some of the few Jewish synagogue leaders who either didn’t vote for Jesus’ death, were purposely absent during His trial, or voted for, but later regretted their “go along with the crowd” vote to end His life. Either way, you can see Nicodemus’ honesty and willingness to weigh the facts about Jesus, clearly in these verses. The point I’m trying to make here is there will come a point in your life where you will have to make a decision, “to go” or “get off the pot”. When that time comes, I pray you make a well-informed, highly self-researched, soul-searching decision. The outcome will determines everything. I mean it will make or break you, depending on how willing you are to accept the truth. And after you make it, everyday you’ll have to choose Whom you will serve.

1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent You to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with You.”3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”4 “What do You mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”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.”9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, We tell you what We know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe Our testimony.12 But if you don’t believe Me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15 so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.16 “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.17 God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:1-21

Avoiding Evil Starts With Fear….

Do you want to avoid evil? Do you want to atone for your sin? Then love unfailingly, be faithful, and fear the Lord. It’s the remedy for life. Travel this road and you’ll see your attitude change focus from “me” to “HIM”. You’ll find yourself less selfish, more accountable for your behavior, more trustworthy of God, and less worrisome of life. It won’t take the difficulty of life away, but it will makes dealing with the pain easier to bear. 6 Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil. Proverbs 16:6

Reason To Trust Jesus….

If you need a reason to trust Jesus with your life, aside from the obvious one for salvation; trust Him because He knows you better than you’ll ever know yourself, and He’s the only One that will never let you down.

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

Stairway Between Heaven And Earth…..

Regardless of what people say, society believes, or how we “feel”, the Bible is crystal clear on Who Jesus is, and how we get to Heaven. Jesus is the stairway between Heaven and Earth.

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 1:50-51

Everything For His Own Purposes….

God knows everything. We know nothing compared to Him. When we try to figure things out, we must ask Him for wisdom, otherwise it will just frustrate us in our failed attempts. God has answers for everything He does. We may never know the “why” behind things when they happen, but we do know that we can trust the One behind the scenes running the show. Everything happens for reasons, and when we learn to trust God in His sovereignty, we accept the truth of the matter. And that truth is: God is trustworthy. He knows what He’s doing. He is worthy of our trust. His ways are the best ways. His ways are just. Peace, significance, and confidence can all be found in trusting God’s will. It’s that simple. We just need to get out of the way sometimes and hop on the train of faith, and allow it to take us where it wants us to go.

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

After God’s Own Heart….

There’s a reason David was known as a “man after God’s own heart”. He aligned his heart with God’s heart. If you read through 1 Samuel chapter 26, you can clearly see David was a typical man full of testosterone. He taunted Abner when he stood on the hilltop with Saul’s spear and water jug. What was different about David was the Holy Spirit’s power in Him. David submitted to God’s will. When he sinned, he repented. He was willing to be punished by God when he did wrong. He accepted God’s reign in his life. He was willing to accept whatever God had in mind for him. How is your attitude? Do you have the same mentality that David did when it comes to accepting God’s providence and authority in your life? When things don’t go your way do you complain and allow certain feelings to dictate your mood? Or do you realize God’s Hand in it, and act accordingly? God is in control, even when you think you are, and when you are out of control. Your life will go exactly as it should, so why shouldn’t your attitude stray away from the path in which God has made for you? Use David’s example of faith to be the pattern in which you follow. He was a known as “man after God’s own heart”, a label we should all strive to be known for. The same Spirit in David is in all who believe, nurture it, pray for more of it, and most importantly, strive for it to be the priority in your life. When you place God First in your life, His Spirit works in you in ways you could never imagine.

Saul recognized David’s voice and called out, “Is that you, my son David?”And David replied, “Yes, my lord the king. 18 Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime? 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 26:17-25

Commit Your Actions….

There is God’s way, and every other way. When we choose God’s way our plans succeed. It shouldn’t be hard to know why this is, should it?

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

Listening To Our Conscience….

How often do we respond immediately to our conscience when we are doing something we know we shouldn’t be doing? David did just that. His men told him that God has placed King Saul in his hands in order to kill him. Then he would become king just as Samuel told him. But David knew that murdering a man was wrong, but even worse would’ve been murdering King Saul, God’s anointed one. If God put Saul in charge, then David wasn’t going to take matters into his own hands in order to be king. How often do we see this type of behavior here in America? Do the leaders of our country get this type of respect? Do we even see the leaders of our country as God’s anointed? The Bible tells us that all government authorities are placed there by God and we are to respect their positions. It’s a shame that some people’s disrespect has to ruin it for others. The key to this is listening to your conscience. Better yet, putting into action what you know to be true. Our conscience is our ally. It’s One way God communicates with us. I once heard a man say, “be glad when your conscience warns you about your sinful behavior, and be worried when it doesn’t.” We all need to take this lesson to heart, and follow David’s example. He wasn’t perfect, but he was known as a “man after God’s own heart”. If we ever want to grow closer to our Lord, listening to our conscience and taking heed to what it tells us, is a sure way to start. God wouldn’t have given us a conscience, if He didn’t plan on us not using it, would He?

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 24:1-22

He Chooses Us: An Adoption Story….

What is the end result of our belief in and acceptance of Jesus? We are REBORN and ADOPTED into the family of God. Our faith in Jesus ushers in our becoming a family member of our Heavenly Father. Think about it, one if the greatest acts of love we can ever experience here on earth is the process of adoption. Choosing to love someone based on heart-felt concern for the well-being of another human being not on merit or favor, is true love. God’s love for us is in the same manner. He chooses us, not because we deserve it or earn it, but because He just chooses to do it. We are grafted into the tree of life. What’s even more amazing is the end result: we get to experience God now and forever.

10 He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. 11 He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. 12 But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn–not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.14 So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:10-14

Never Cease To Exist….

Never lose sight of this fact: the truth exposes evil, and regardless of how much you want to suppress it because it doesn’t suit your lifestyle, it will never cease to exist.

In the beginning the Word already existed.The Word was with God,and the Word was God.2 He existed in the beginning with God.3 God created everything through Him,and nothing was created except through Him.4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,and His life brought light to everyone.5 The light shines in the darkness,and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:1-5a

God Knows You Better…

Regardless of how you got there, or why things happen, God is in control. And no matter how much you want to take credit for your progress, God knows you better than you know yourself. Trust Him, it certainly beats the alternative.

1 We can make our own plans,but the Lord gives the right answer. 2 People may be pure in their own eyes,but the Lord examines their motives. Proverbs 16:1-2