Tuesday, 4/21/2015

“Humility is, in a sense, admitting how egotistical you are.” ~ Kris Jami

2 SAMUEL 1-3

David shows humility...

11Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. 12They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

2So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

LUKE 18:1-17

Jesus exposes the arrogance of sin...

9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

JOURNAL

Humility: The quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people.  

It is a requirement for salvation...it is the first step in coming to terms with sin.  Jesus gives this parable to illustrate that good deeds and right living are not the way...only humility and recognition of our own sin.  The reality is that all of us are fully capable of the worst evil...our base nature is to acquire and selfishly get everything that we want.  This means that if push comes to shove...we will push and shove to get the love, recognition, peace, joy, honor that we feel we deserve.

The life of Christ exposes this despicable fatal disease for all that it is...evil.  One of the worst sins is to to be soo consumed with self and our own justification that we manipulate the Bible and God and modify our behavior in order to project righteousness.   This is taking and using God and in essence blaspheming his name.

I am overcome this morning by the sin in my heart.  I realize that the greatest threat is not external...it is internal...it is the evil and selfishness in my own heart.   

6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

8Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”^d While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.(Genesis 4:6-8)

Monday, 4/20/2015

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”  ~ Dr. Seuss

1 SAMUEL 30-31

David sets a statute for battle that does not discriminate...Saul takes his own life.

23David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. 24Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” 25David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this....

4Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. 6So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.

LUKE 17:20-37

The people question Jesus on the end times...

30“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32Remember Lot’s wife! 33Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. 34I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” [36]^e

JOURNAL

Life is fragile and is but a mist...here today, gone tomorrow.  I can clearly remember days when I thought certain things were so important.  I remember clinging to hopes and dreams and fearing outcomes that never should have been feared.  It is often so hard to remember to focus on today...not tomorrow. Today and this moment are all I am promised...as I read through the Bible...I turn a page and a life ends, I turn a page and a life begins.  

Yet with God I am promised that nothing takes him by surprise.  God knows the number of hairs on my head, he knows the minutes and second I have remaining.  The joy of living is the greatest reward of this life...that joy is only found in Christ.

4“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:4-7)

Sunday, 4/19/2015

“I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?”  ~ C.S. Lewis

1 SAMUEL 27-29

David follows the advice of Abigail and then honors her making her his wife...David also shows his obedience to God in honoring Saul even when he has an opportunity to kill him...

10When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah” or “Against the Negev of Jerahmeel” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.” 11He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’ ” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. 12Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.”...

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 19The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

20Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words.

LUKE 17:1-19

Jesus tells parable of the shrewd manager in order to show that worldly wealth is not the ultimate objective...

1Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3So watch yourselves.

“If your brother or sister^a sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

JOURNAL

David has gone into Philistine territory and is now fighting for the the King Achish.  This seems strange except that God is not a God that is defined by a certain Kingdom or people.  David's obedience to God has led him into some very strange circumstances but it is all part of God's plan.  

This is the point of Jesus warning about those that cause men to stumble...interfering in the plans and purposes of God only just puts us in the path of being contrary to God.  Obedience to God is never a clear, well-defined path.  It is usually full of questions and uncertainty.  It is in these moments that I realize that this is the point of it all.  The questions and uncertainty require me to lean deeper into God, his word and trust in his love.

5Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;6in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.^a(Proverbs 3: 5-6)

Saturday, 4/18/2015

“If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, "He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.”  ~ Epictus

1 SAMUEL 25-26

David follows the advice of Abigail and then honors her making her his wife...David also shows his obedience to God in honoring Saul even when he has an opportunity to kill him...

39When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.”

Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. 40His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, “David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.”....

7So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

8Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

9But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”....

22“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”

25Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

LUKE 16:19-31

Jesus tells parable of the shrewd manager in order to show that worldly wealth is not the ultimate objective...

19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

JOURNAL

David's humility is shown by his willingness to listen to Abigail and his refusal to kill Saul.  Jesus again affirms that worldly position and honor is not the path to righteousness.  It is found in being surrendered to God in obedience.  

The parable of the beggar does not mean that being a beggar is the purpose of a great life...David was not a beggar and neither was Jesus.  I think the point of this story is to highlight that worldly success is not the indicator of great faith.  

 Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^b Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:19-23)

Friday, 4/17/2015

“A great man is always willing to be little.”  ~ Ralph Waldo Emmerson

1 SAMUEL 22-24

Upon Saul's pursuit and hatred of him...David flees and succumbs to fear...

1David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him...

20But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David. 21He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. 23Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”....

But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

4Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.” 5So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. 6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

LUKE 16:1-18

Jesus tells parable of the shrewd manager in order to show that worldly wealth is not the ultimate objective...

8“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

10“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

JOURNAL

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is " 2All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander." .  I love that God used David's weakness to bring him those who could identify with failure and their own sin.  Here again God's message is never about how you can make a great life for yourself...but rather how he will bring redemption to our hearts and this therefore becomes our greatest treasure.

28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28-30)