Today's passage: II Samuel 5
The Philistines were still not convinced that Israel's God is greater. When David (years ago by this point) killed their most ferocious warrior, they believed it to be one battle of many battles that Israel happened to win. I don't say this simply because they come up against now King David here in this chapter. I say this because of what I read in verse 21. After David prays and asks God if he should go up against the Philistines, which God approves, the Israelites are once again able to pummel the Philistines. One thing I wonder about here. In chapter 17, we don't see David asking God if he should go up against Goliath. These are the same Philistines, why would he ask here? I think in that instance, it was only him. He wasn't in charge of an army. He knew that Goliath had challenged God's power, and David was willing to sacrifice himself to take down anyone who defied the living God. In this case, he is now the commander-in-chief over hundreds of men. To simply assume God will be with them is not a risk David is willing to take with other lives involved. If it had only been him, he may have taken that chance. After all, just like Joshua and Ai, just because David's heart was right, didn't mean that the hearts of his soldiers were right, and a slaughter because there was "sin in the camp" would have significant consequences. David prays, God says yes, the Israelites destroy.
"And there they left their images, and David burned them." Why would the Philistines bring their idols with them? My guess is that they wanted to prove to Israel that their gods were far more powerful than Jehovah God. This was more than just a battle between two nations over territorial rights, over land disputes. This was a battle to find out whose God was Sovereign. And anytime that kind of battle takes place, God will always win. David uses them to build a bonfire. Perhaps when the remainder of the Philistines see a fire in the city, they assume their men have been successful, because a second regiment goes in against David's army
. This time, God tells David to wait. He tells him to send some troops in behind them and wait for the signal of the moving mulberry trees. God says He will go out before them, and He will destroy them. David follows God's instructions and the Philistines soon wish they had never challenged Israel's God. Again.
The Philistines may have thought that since so much time had passed, that since they brought their gods with them, that they would be able to conquer Israel. But Israel's God is constant. He is always powerful, not just when His people are faithful to Him. His power is not dependent on our submission. Their gods only performed for them, and they could never be sure when something they had or had not done might "change" their gods' minds. I'm grateful for a God who is unchanging, unaltered, unwavering in His love for me. I'm proud to serve a God I can rely on no matter how much time has passed. And I'm certain that David recognized that about his God as well.
Showing posts with label Victory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Victory. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Gold Medal Standard
Today's passage: I Corinthians 9:19-27
The Olympics. How I love to watch the Olympics. My husband dreads them because I will watch every event possible. Seriously. I think the first time I watched them was the summer they were in Los Angeles. I remember wanting to stay up every night to see women's volleyball, swimming, and of course gymnastics. I loved hearing the life stories of these athletes who had given up so much to train for their event, to train to represent our country, to train to win that gold medal. I love that they stagger the Winter and Summer Olympics so that one is viewable every two years. Now I only have to wait half as long to see an Olympics.
Last year, my son watched speed skating with me and we both rooted for Apollo Anton Ohno. He decided he wanted to take up speed skating and go to the Olympics to win a gold medal. I explained to him that it takes years of training. You don't just show up at the Olympics and participate. You have to become the best at your sport, which means school in a different way, not a lot of play time, hours and hours of drills and skating. I was not trying to discourage him, but I knew he had no idea what it would take to achieve that level of competition. After listening to the amount of dedication it would take to get to the Olympics, he decided maybe he would just watch it on TV.
I am astounded at the discipline these athletes exercise to vie for that gold medal, once, maybe twice in their lifetimes. It means pushing your body to unbelievable limits. It means dying to self in many facets of life. It means pushing through injuries and adversities. We glorify the athlete (I think disproportionately) because we know the effort it takes to subject our bodies to those physical demands. We know the difficulty of exercising such will power when chocolate cake is calling out to us, and think, well maybe just this once, when a trained athlete will say, not even this once. We know when we want to skip a workout because we have had a draining week, and the competitor says, I will workout twice today. There must be a drive in them that compels them to keep going. And we've seen it. Who can forget Keri Strug's memorable vault which secured a gymnastics team gold medal? After spraining her ankle to record a lukewarm score, she vaulted into the hearts of America by braving a second attempt. Furthermore, she sacrificed her chances at the All-Arounds with this endeavor. She took one for the team. Had she not pushed her ankle, giving it a chance to mend before the Individual events, she might have had opportunity to take more than one medal home.
How much am I willing to sacrifice to give out the gospel? Missionaries do it. They represent us in all parts of the world, giving up the daily comforts we take for granted. They eat foods we would not even taste, let alone eat. They learn difficult languages that require years of study. In some places, they travel dusty terrain to reach the outlying villages. They encounter incurable disease, unsanitary conditions, untamed wildlife, government regime changes, inflation that alters their financial support. These seem like big things, but they also deal with daily nuisances. Insects, electricity blackouts, water shortages, rodents, corrupt officials, homesickness and a host of other things. Paul gives quite a lengthy list in II Corinthians 11 about just a few of the things that had happened to him as a missionary. He wasn't complaining, he was just explaining that the missionary life is not always easy. He was willing to go through all that because he knew that people who die without Christ will go through a lot more.
Athletes punish their bodies to achieve a gold medal. Sure, it looks great on the mantelpiece, the gold reflecting in the homefires. Yes, it brings international fame and recognition at every breakfast table chowing down on Wheaties. Surely, there is satisfaction knowing that those years of intense training had been rewarded.
Missionaries leave previous (sometimes lucrative) occupations to go to an unfamiliar culture. They raise their children far away from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who deem them strangers when they return for furloughs. They make difficult decisions about how those children will be schooled, abroad or at home. They will not bring home a gold medal at the end of their tenure, but they will have something far more precious at the end of this life.
Is it a lot to ask for me to give a little time to pray for them? And not just a "Please bless the missionaries" but praying specifically for each family, for each field, for each need. Is it too much to give a little of my money to support missionaries? Maybe to even give a little more for special missionary projects? I'll admit it. I am embarrassed when I don't know who our missionaries are. I may not always recognize each face, because I don't have a missionary card for each of them, but I should at least recognize each name. Just yesterday, I was reading some of the missionary letters on the church bulletin board (something I should do far more often) and saw a name I did not recognize. Have I prayed for that family before? I didn't see it on our regular prayer sheet, so I'm not sure what the situation is, but now that I know it, I will do my best to pray for them regularly.
If athletes and missionaries can discipline themselves to give their all, can't I discipline myself to give just a little? In the Olympics, they are competing for a temporary reward, and I never see a one of them giving up even though the first three cross the finish line. Every competitor finishes that race, even it means pushing a broken luge across by foot. They do not want to let their country down. They want to finish their race with pride. Shouldn't I want to do the same for my God? I know I will never be Olympics material, but shouldn't I be a gold medalist on God's team? It might take a little work, and a little dedication, but a gold crown will last longer than a gold medal.
The Olympics. How I love to watch the Olympics. My husband dreads them because I will watch every event possible. Seriously. I think the first time I watched them was the summer they were in Los Angeles. I remember wanting to stay up every night to see women's volleyball, swimming, and of course gymnastics. I loved hearing the life stories of these athletes who had given up so much to train for their event, to train to represent our country, to train to win that gold medal. I love that they stagger the Winter and Summer Olympics so that one is viewable every two years. Now I only have to wait half as long to see an Olympics.
Last year, my son watched speed skating with me and we both rooted for Apollo Anton Ohno. He decided he wanted to take up speed skating and go to the Olympics to win a gold medal. I explained to him that it takes years of training. You don't just show up at the Olympics and participate. You have to become the best at your sport, which means school in a different way, not a lot of play time, hours and hours of drills and skating. I was not trying to discourage him, but I knew he had no idea what it would take to achieve that level of competition. After listening to the amount of dedication it would take to get to the Olympics, he decided maybe he would just watch it on TV.
I am astounded at the discipline these athletes exercise to vie for that gold medal, once, maybe twice in their lifetimes. It means pushing your body to unbelievable limits. It means dying to self in many facets of life. It means pushing through injuries and adversities. We glorify the athlete (I think disproportionately) because we know the effort it takes to subject our bodies to those physical demands. We know the difficulty of exercising such will power when chocolate cake is calling out to us, and think, well maybe just this once, when a trained athlete will say, not even this once. We know when we want to skip a workout because we have had a draining week, and the competitor says, I will workout twice today. There must be a drive in them that compels them to keep going. And we've seen it. Who can forget Keri Strug's memorable vault which secured a gymnastics team gold medal? After spraining her ankle to record a lukewarm score, she vaulted into the hearts of America by braving a second attempt. Furthermore, she sacrificed her chances at the All-Arounds with this endeavor. She took one for the team. Had she not pushed her ankle, giving it a chance to mend before the Individual events, she might have had opportunity to take more than one medal home.
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| Courtesy of--http://breadsite.org |
How much am I willing to sacrifice to give out the gospel? Missionaries do it. They represent us in all parts of the world, giving up the daily comforts we take for granted. They eat foods we would not even taste, let alone eat. They learn difficult languages that require years of study. In some places, they travel dusty terrain to reach the outlying villages. They encounter incurable disease, unsanitary conditions, untamed wildlife, government regime changes, inflation that alters their financial support. These seem like big things, but they also deal with daily nuisances. Insects, electricity blackouts, water shortages, rodents, corrupt officials, homesickness and a host of other things. Paul gives quite a lengthy list in II Corinthians 11 about just a few of the things that had happened to him as a missionary. He wasn't complaining, he was just explaining that the missionary life is not always easy. He was willing to go through all that because he knew that people who die without Christ will go through a lot more.
Athletes punish their bodies to achieve a gold medal. Sure, it looks great on the mantelpiece, the gold reflecting in the homefires. Yes, it brings international fame and recognition at every breakfast table chowing down on Wheaties. Surely, there is satisfaction knowing that those years of intense training had been rewarded.
Missionaries leave previous (sometimes lucrative) occupations to go to an unfamiliar culture. They raise their children far away from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who deem them strangers when they return for furloughs. They make difficult decisions about how those children will be schooled, abroad or at home. They will not bring home a gold medal at the end of their tenure, but they will have something far more precious at the end of this life.
Is it a lot to ask for me to give a little time to pray for them? And not just a "Please bless the missionaries" but praying specifically for each family, for each field, for each need. Is it too much to give a little of my money to support missionaries? Maybe to even give a little more for special missionary projects? I'll admit it. I am embarrassed when I don't know who our missionaries are. I may not always recognize each face, because I don't have a missionary card for each of them, but I should at least recognize each name. Just yesterday, I was reading some of the missionary letters on the church bulletin board (something I should do far more often) and saw a name I did not recognize. Have I prayed for that family before? I didn't see it on our regular prayer sheet, so I'm not sure what the situation is, but now that I know it, I will do my best to pray for them regularly.
If athletes and missionaries can discipline themselves to give their all, can't I discipline myself to give just a little? In the Olympics, they are competing for a temporary reward, and I never see a one of them giving up even though the first three cross the finish line. Every competitor finishes that race, even it means pushing a broken luge across by foot. They do not want to let their country down. They want to finish their race with pride. Shouldn't I want to do the same for my God? I know I will never be Olympics material, but shouldn't I be a gold medalist on God's team? It might take a little work, and a little dedication, but a gold crown will last longer than a gold medal.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Failing
Today's passage: John 21
"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
There have been days when I have wondered how Peter felt after denying our Lord. If he feels like I am feeling today, then he felt like there was no use trying to accomplish anything, because he would surely fail. The Lord knew I was going to need this chapter this morning. I didn't know it, but He did. He knew I was going to wake up feeling a little like Peter this morning. He knew that I would feel defeated because I failed Him in a particular area in my life for the umpteenth time. Before I started reading this morning, I told God I was certain I would probably not be blessed by His Word and I would understand why. Even though I had confessed my sin and asked Him for His help, I still felt that I would probably be of no use.
I'm reading about Peter's failure. Some people may think, well, I would never fail Jesus that poorly. That is the wrong view to take. We all fail Jesus that poorly any time we fail Him. But God has encouraged me this morning. Even though I've read these events numerous times, it feels fresh to me, because I feel like Peter did. Jesus was persistent in letting Peter know, he was still His chosen vessel. Just as Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus insists on him declaring his love for Him three times. And Christ gives Peter a job to do. I know Peter loved his Lord, even though for a few hours he wouldn't admit to it. I know Peter was ashamed of his treachery (the gospels tell us that he wept bitterly after the rooster crowed). I know Peter was certain that His Lord would not claim him as His disciple again. Aren't you glad that wasn't the case? Aren't you glad that when we have messed up, again, that God still welcomes us in His arms and allows us to serve Him? I am. I'm so thankful God is not done with me yet. I'm so grateful that He allows me to ask for His forgiveness and restores fellowship with me. I know that He can help me overcome areas in my life that I am still lacking. I know because I see areas in my past where He has given me victory. My pastor often says he knows that God is not finished with him yet. He knows this because he is still breathing. This is true for all of us. I've checked, and I am breathing today, so God is not done with me. I don't want to be done with Him. I want to serve Him today, better than I did yesterday. I want to look forward to the times in my life just like Peter had, when he proclaimed Christ to over three thousand people, when God used him to heal a lame man, when God delivered him from a prison cell. If Peter's story had ended in John 21, many of us would have given up a long time ago. Peter's failure shows me I will fail. Peter's humility shows me I will be humbled. Peter's discouragement shows me I will become discouraged. But Peter's victories shows me I can be victorious.
Father God, thank You so much for Your Word. Thank You that when I don't feel like reading it will accomplish anything because I have failed You so miserably, that You prove me wrong. Thank You for knowing exactly what I need to see everyday, and Lord, with Your help, I ask for Your guidance and ability to avoid failing You today. I know You still want to use me, just as You used Peter.
"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
There have been days when I have wondered how Peter felt after denying our Lord. If he feels like I am feeling today, then he felt like there was no use trying to accomplish anything, because he would surely fail. The Lord knew I was going to need this chapter this morning. I didn't know it, but He did. He knew I was going to wake up feeling a little like Peter this morning. He knew that I would feel defeated because I failed Him in a particular area in my life for the umpteenth time. Before I started reading this morning, I told God I was certain I would probably not be blessed by His Word and I would understand why. Even though I had confessed my sin and asked Him for His help, I still felt that I would probably be of no use.
I'm reading about Peter's failure. Some people may think, well, I would never fail Jesus that poorly. That is the wrong view to take. We all fail Jesus that poorly any time we fail Him. But God has encouraged me this morning. Even though I've read these events numerous times, it feels fresh to me, because I feel like Peter did. Jesus was persistent in letting Peter know, he was still His chosen vessel. Just as Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus insists on him declaring his love for Him three times. And Christ gives Peter a job to do. I know Peter loved his Lord, even though for a few hours he wouldn't admit to it. I know Peter was ashamed of his treachery (the gospels tell us that he wept bitterly after the rooster crowed). I know Peter was certain that His Lord would not claim him as His disciple again. Aren't you glad that wasn't the case? Aren't you glad that when we have messed up, again, that God still welcomes us in His arms and allows us to serve Him? I am. I'm so thankful God is not done with me yet. I'm so grateful that He allows me to ask for His forgiveness and restores fellowship with me. I know that He can help me overcome areas in my life that I am still lacking. I know because I see areas in my past where He has given me victory. My pastor often says he knows that God is not finished with him yet. He knows this because he is still breathing. This is true for all of us. I've checked, and I am breathing today, so God is not done with me. I don't want to be done with Him. I want to serve Him today, better than I did yesterday. I want to look forward to the times in my life just like Peter had, when he proclaimed Christ to over three thousand people, when God used him to heal a lame man, when God delivered him from a prison cell. If Peter's story had ended in John 21, many of us would have given up a long time ago. Peter's failure shows me I will fail. Peter's humility shows me I will be humbled. Peter's discouragement shows me I will become discouraged. But Peter's victories shows me I can be victorious.
Father God, thank You so much for Your Word. Thank You that when I don't feel like reading it will accomplish anything because I have failed You so miserably, that You prove me wrong. Thank You for knowing exactly what I need to see everyday, and Lord, with Your help, I ask for Your guidance and ability to avoid failing You today. I know You still want to use me, just as You used Peter.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Long Live King Jesus!
Today's passage: Isaiah 62/Ezekiel 21:24-27
Isaiah's message about Israel's future seemed outrageous. After Babylon had devastated their city, the years ahead of them looked bleak and grim. Watchmen on the walls? What walls? The walls had been destroyed by Nebudchadnezzar's army. Withholding corn and wine from their enemies? What corn and wine? With what could they plant? Any farming implements had been looted by the soldiers. It seemed incredible that Israel would ever rise again.
"Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God." Israel will one day be God's crown and diadem. I find it peculiar that both of these headpieces are in God's Hand, not on His Head. Why would God hold a crown in His Hand? A passage in Ezekiel 21 tells about one of the last kings in Israel (King Zedekiah) and how the crown and diadem will be stripped from him and will only be given "...until he come whose right it is..." King Jesus will have a crown and diadem awaiting Him when He comes back to rule. There will be no king for Israel until that time, and there will be no king of Israel after that time. God is holding onto Israel's crown until Christ comes again to wear it. Not that Christ needs a crown or a diadem. He is King without them. I think they are for us to see. How often does God give us a picture or symbol to help us understand? The crown symbolizes absolute authority. It is a picture of ownership. Satan had owned the earth up to this point. When Christ comes back with the crown on His head, it will signal to Satan that his line of succession has ceased and a new dynasty will take control. King Jesus will drive out the enemy and establish new borders. He will police the law-breakers and establish peace. He will sit on His rightful throne and reign with justice. God holds the crown and diadem in His Hand to place on the Son's Head. Israel will be that crown and diadem. She will rise again. She will be used to accomplish the Father's purpose, to show the world the magnificence of His Son.
Isaiah's message about Israel's future seemed outrageous. After Babylon had devastated their city, the years ahead of them looked bleak and grim. Watchmen on the walls? What walls? The walls had been destroyed by Nebudchadnezzar's army. Withholding corn and wine from their enemies? What corn and wine? With what could they plant? Any farming implements had been looted by the soldiers. It seemed incredible that Israel would ever rise again.
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| Ezekiel Prophesying--Source unknown Courtesy of lavistachurchofchrist.org |
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