APRIL 24, 2018

“God desires to reveal His heart to us and to build His heart into us as we seek His face.” 
― Bill Mills, Adequate: How God Empowers Ordinary People to Serve

2 SAMUEL 10-12

11The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

4“Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

5David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (12:1-9)

LUKE 19:29-48

41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Jesus at the Temple

45When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be a house of prayer’^c ; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’^d ”

47Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

JOURNAL 

As humans we are so blinded by our fears and our pride. To see David fall in this way is just heartbreaking. How could he be so blinded after struggling for so long and then having so many gifts and really anything he wanted. I guess the answer is that without God, nothing can ever satisfy. No matter how much or how great...the longing will only be for more. Yet with God, no matter how little, there will be joy and a sense of having enough. 

David had stopped seeking God, he had stopped "needing" him. As a result he misused his power and did something awful. He broke up a marriage and murdered one of his own men. By the way Nathan presented this scenario, David realized the awful nature of his actions.

I think this is the meaning behind Jesus words that "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-". Peace with God is found in seeking him in all things and God therefore makes every circumstance, one of purpose, meaning and joy. That is the promise and that is the Kingdom of Heaven. 

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9

APRIL 23, 2018

“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.” 
― Eric Liddell
“Hide not your talents, they for use were made,
What's a sundial in the shade?” 
― Benjamin Franklin

2 SAMUEL 7-9

18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!^c(7:18-19)

LUKE 19:1-28

20“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

22“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

24“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

JOURNAL 

It is interesting that Jesus tells this parable upon his declaration that salvation had now come to the house of Zacchaeus. Interesting that Zacchaeus was a terrible man, a tax collector and hated by most all in his community, yet he was passionate to see Jesus and when in his presence he gave back wealth to those he had wronged, plus half of his wealth to the poor. 

Jesus is again not concerned with the past but rather the present. The question to be asked is where is my heart and what have I done today with what he has given me. Passivity is not of God. Jesus never condoned it, in fact he abhorred it. From David to Zaccheaus, the heart of God is one that forgives wrong actions but is drawn to action, not passive double-mindedness. 

It does not matter what I haven't done or the wrongs I haven't committed. It does not matter that I have been a "good" person. That actually gets me nothing, that actually warrants nothing. Being benign is worthless...action is all that matters but not just action for actions' sake but rather action that is using the talents and blessings I am given. I cannot change my talent or the circumstances in which God has placed me...all I can do is be grateful for life and use what I have been given in joy and obedience to God. Using it to glorify God and his kingdom.

6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

2 TIMOTHY 1:7

APRIL 22, 2018

“Imagine how much a man's life would change if he trusted that he was loved by God.” 
― Donald Miller

2 SAMUEL 4-6

20When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

21David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. 22I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

23And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.(6:12-23)

LUKE 18:18-43

35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

38He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41“What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

JOURNAL 

Again I see David's  passion on display in his worship of God. David does not care about traditions or what is customary or proper. He worships with all his heart because he loves God with all his heart. He is persistent and dedicated to following and honoring all God has done, even when it comes to his enemies. Twice David executed Men who took, or claimed to take the life of those who God had put in power ( Saul and Ish Boseth - his son). It is not particularly David's actions but rather David's heart. 

David at this point is refusing to let anything come between him and his love for God. He does not care what is proper or that Michal is embarrassed of him. He does not care that he is not acting like a "king". David is being himself and doing and responding accordingly.

It is the same with the blind beggar...he cries out to Jesus and is rebuked for it. He persists still, and as a result Jesus heals him. The message in all of this to me is very clear...never seek to please man, for man is not God. Seek to honor God and God will redeem us, God will rescue us, God will provide a way to healing and success. 

I don't think this means that we are to not care about other people...rather the opposite...that we are to care so deeply about God and his love for us that it in turn spills over into every area of our lives.  That love of God and seeking him becomes more important than everything else...as a result we will love others in greater ways that we ever would have before. 

37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^c 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^d 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40

APRIL 21, 2018

But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing!” 
― John Wesley

2 SAMUEL 1-3

1The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker(3:1)

LUKE 18:1-27

1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ”

6And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

JOURNAL 

After Saul's death it would seem that things would get easier for David or maybe even that he would be handed the kingdom. However that's not the way it happened, in fact David had to engage in a long bloody war with Saul's decendents and the rest of Israel. Yet he continued to get stronger. For adversity did not weaken him but rather made him better and stronger. 

This is what Jesus speaks of when telling the parable of the widow. She never backed down and persisted and ultimately got what she needed and wanted. True dedication and persistence only happen when our hearts are undivided. Jesus tells this parable to remind us that we are to be dedicated and relentless in whatever endeavor God leads us. He promises that if we will persist undaunted he will reward us.

3Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

PSALM 37:3-4

APRIL 20, 2018

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.” 
― Thomas Paine

1 SAMUEL 30-31

3When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.(30:3-6)

LUKE 17:20-37

20Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”^c

JOURNAL 

David's strength does not come from his popularity or the devotion of his men. His strength comes from his trust in God. God is the only thing that sustains him in this moment. For he has just lost everything and now even the devotion of his men is in question. He is at another low point but God strengthens him. 

Again this story of David is so encouraging. After all that has happened he still finds strength in God...he doesn't panic, he doesn't waver he seeks God and finds strength. This is the Kingdom of God. The spiritual kingdom is transformative and it overcomes all doubts and adversity. It is God's gift, it is the treasure in the field, it is the embrace of the prodigal father, it is the diligent shepherd who refuses to leave us lost, it is the persistent savior who ultimately takes our place and redeems our sin. 

God gives us the keys to the kingdom, he gives us his spirit...why should I ever fear or doubt? Why would I ever back down from a challenge, why would I ever turn away from adversity and conflict. The living God of David, Abraham, Moses, Daniel, Joseph, Peter, Paul and all the apostles resides within me...yet even when I blow it and come crawling back, he forgives me, picks me up, dusts me off and is ready to walk with me into another day. What a God and what a life!

31What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”^j

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^k neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

ROMANS 8:31-39