Not So Fast

1 Samuel 15

Have you ever patted yourself on the back and thought, “God must be really proud of me right now!?”

Like Saul, we tend to justify our actions when we really haven’t listened to what He said.  We take the framework of Christianity and loosely tailor God’s instructions to meet our needs.

Today’s reading from 1 Samuel seems harsh.  I’ve always struggled to reconcile the stern God of the Old Testament with the compassionate Christ of the New Testament.  But we need it all.  The story is not complete without both.

The takeaway for me today is that I need to really listen to the Lord.  I need to obey what he is saying, not my interpretation of it.  I need to avoid modifying or revising his Word when it doesn’t fit conveniently into my life.

God’s “inconveniences” are necessary for change.  I can try to soften the blow and make myself more comfortable, but that’s not what God wants.  He wants me to get comfortable with the uncomfortable and know He’s in charge.  This can feel like punishment and the God of the Old Testament is known for His punishments.  

But it’s the God of Samuel who will offer his Son and change the world.  Sometimes we need the story of Saul to make us sit up and take notice - to examine where we are and where we’re headed.  Are we following our own rules and patting ourselves on the back for a job well done when we really need to take another look and repent?

Father, thank you for the stories of the Old Testament that make me stop and listen.  It’s hard sometimes to see you in that light, but you are a God of infinite wisdom and power.  Make me obedient to your will and walk in your ways during both the struggles and the victories because it’s all for your glory.  Amen

God Is Calling

Genesis 12:1-9

He did as he was told.  I admire Abram for that.  He could have said, “No, I’m good,” but he didn’t.  He packed up and left.

Listen, Obey, Move and Pray was Abram’s motto.  God called; Abram listened and obeyed.  Why?  Because he knew God would fulfill His promise.  Was it easy?  No.  Could Abram have imagined the trials awaiting him?  No.  Did everything he do please God?  No.  Were there missteps along the way?  Yes, but through it all God’s plan was in place and he kept drawing Abram to Himself.

As I’m feeling pulled in a thousand directions and want to question just about everything that’s happening in my life, God is pulling me to Himself.  I look to Abram as an example.  God’s will for my life will be accomplished.

My personal devotion this past Wednesday was Hebrews 6:15, After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.  This fits nicely into what I’m writing for today because God knows what He’s doing every day of the week. 😊

Making hasty decisions and complaining is not the way to go.  God is calling me to be patient and surrender.  Previously I would have responded with, “Ugh! But it’s SO hard.”  Today, I’m realizing that waiting is a gift for which I want to be thankful.

Is it easy to wait?  No.  Are there trials ahead that I can’t see?  Yes.  Am I going to make super choices all the time?  Nope.  Am I going to take missteps?  Surely.  But I’ll keep reminding myself, like Abram, to Listen, Obey, Move and Pray and that will make all the difference.

Faith That Moves Mountains

By Tom Denegre

Do you trust God to have faith in His Word?

Today’s scripture reading states that faith comes from hearing the Word of God. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Romans 10:17 (NIV)

Perhaps it not as simple as this scripture states.  For example;

·         Lucifer knew the Word of God.  Look how he turned out. 

·         Billy Graham acknowledged that perhaps only 10-15% of the people who attended his crusades accepted Jesus.  They too heard the Word of God. 

·         When Jesus shared the parable of the sower of the seeds, he too acknowledged that only one out of four people will hear the word of God and have faith in him.

·         Today there are so many rebellious Christians who advocate the murder of unborn children while aggressively promoting sexual immorality.  Clearly, their actions and beliefs are contrary to the Word of God.

·       All share a similar pattern, their unbelief is focused on talking to themselves and not God. Being filled with pride and self-centeredness they are unteachable; a self-destructive virtue. Unwilling to hear and accept the Word of God.

I came across The Passion Translation, and this version states, “Faith, then, is birthed in a heart that responds to God’s anointed utterance of the Anointed One.” Romans 10:17 (TPT)

Well isn’t that a much different translation! Faith comes from hearing God’s Word while opening your heart to it. The reason Jesus scorned the Pharisees, is because intellectually they knew the Word of God, but it didn’t live in their hearts.  Or, another way of looking at it, the Pharisees acknowledged God from their soul (mind, emotions, will), but not from their spirit (Communion with God John 4:24, Intuition or spirit to spirit communications with God 1 Cor 2:11, and Conscience with God Hebrews 9;14).

I learned from experience that I must trust someone to believe in them.  Without trust I will have doubt and unbelief.  Equally important, to have a relationship with a person comes from the heart and not from the intellect. 

Therefore, by trusting completely in God’s Word I accept the large faith that God’s promises and provisions can be depended upon.  Jesus once said, “If you obey my commands, you’ll live in my love.” John 15:10.

To obey I must trust.

Knowing that I am radically loved by God, because he died for my sins, I can trust his word into my heart. By living in life union with Jesus I discovered that his love will nourish and empower my faith.  More so, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, will infuse the faith, knowledge, revelations, and love that I will need to believe in the unseen.  So, Jesus encourages all of us to open our hearts and our mind to accept and taste His Words.   Then we will have the faith to move mountains!

Father, Forgive Me

Luke 23: 32-47


“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” These are words I’ve prayed many times. I’ve prayed them for the world at large, for strangers, for friends and family members. But if I’m being honest, I usually pray them for myself. “Father, forgive ME, for I do not know what I am doing.”

How did I get here? How did this happen? Where should I be? How do I find my way? In the past, I’d look for answers in misguided places and chastise myself for not getting it right. As my relationship with Christ has matured, I’ve learned to seek His will. I guess that’s what they call spiritual growth. I still don’t have the answers, but it does help me sit with the questions a little longer. He’s helping me learn to wait and listen.

Today, we recall the Crucifixion. While Christ endured our pain, one of the criminals next to him said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

For the repentant sinner, those words of forgiveness removed a huge weight. “YOU will be with me in paradise.” How sweet the sound!

And as Jesus breathed his last, I want his words to be mine - “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” It’s not just a deathbed prayer, but one worthy of repeating each day, “Father, I place my life in your hands!”

He knows better what to do with it than I do, but I’m learning… waiting and listening.

Peace to you this Good Friday.

         

Listen to My Son

JANUARY 2                                                                                                 

Scripture Reading
Read Matthew 17:1-8 and reflect on the passage.

“And after six days…” Six days prior, Jesus told his disciples the unbelievable truth – that He would soon suffer, die and be raised from the dead. Peter had rebuked Jesus and Jesus had corrected him, in the strongest terms, saying that he was not setting his “mind on the things of God but on the things of man.”

Now Peter finds himself on a mountain where Jesus briefly allows His heavenly glory to shine through His earthly body while talking with the great prophets, Moses and Elijah. Peter must have thought that this was so much better than the conversations of six days ago! Maybe they could just stay on the mountaintop rather than heading to Jerusalem.

But God’s plan was not yet fulfilled – the sacrifice for our sins had not yet been offered and without it, we could not be saved. God interrupted, pointed to Jesus and told Peter to “listen to Him.” Peter was terrified, but Jesus touched him and told him to “have no fear.”

I’m struck by end of verse 8 – “they saw no one but Jesus only.” In circumstances that we don’t understand, it’s enough that we see Jesus and Him only.

QuestionsAre you facing scary or difficult circumstances?  Hear the voice of God, let Jesus touch you, then rise and have no fear.Take some time to be quiet and listen to Jesus through His Word and prayer. What is He saying to you?

Prayer

Jesus, touch me, take away my fear and let me see You only.

                                                                                                                        David Bowersox

Listening is Hospitality

If you are like me, there have been times when something is bothering you … really bothering you.

  It could be something that happened at work, or a misunderstanding with your spouse. Perhaps it had something to do with politics, or the recklessness of a driver in another car. Maybe, heaven forbid, it was something that happened at church.

Sometimes you have to take action to rectify the situation. Other times you merely need to vent. A reassuring ear can do wonders to get something off of your chest.

 Today’s reading is Matthew 22:34-40. Jesus is talking to the Sadducees (a Jewish sect that had merged many Greek ideas into their culture). He tells them to “Love the Lord your God with all your soul and all your mind” and to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 Loving your neighbor is not always easy. Let’s face it, we can’t always be pleasant. There are days when we wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Other days we are sure our neighbor woke up on the wrong side.

 Yet, we are to love them.

 Being hospitable to someone is a sign of Christian love. A smile and some kind words, the very basics, are a great start. But there are times when that is not enough.

 Your neighbor might have something that is bugging them.

 They are in no position to respond, or appreciate your hospitality. They have something else that needs to be dealt with.

 What do you do? If you are like me, you might want to walk away. But that wouldn’t show much love. Rather, you listen. Listen to what is bugging them. Let them get whatever it is off their chest. Maybe even give their emotion a name.

They will know you care, maybe even love them.

 Your hospitality and your love will be understood and appreciated.

Listen, listen; love, love.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.  The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.  What you have just said is quite true.” .... Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.  Could this be the Christ?”  John 4:17, 28-29

“Listen, listen; love, love.”

That’s the Kairos Prison Ministry motto.  Though had I heard it refrained many times during the weeks leading up to my first weekend inside the prison, nothing could have prepared me for the power of “listen, listen; love, love” in action.

Throughout my life as a believer, I had heard gospel truths shared with nonbelievers many times.  On the other hand, I had also seen humble and sincere acts of kindness offered with no mention of Christ at all.  But never had I experienced anything as explosive as the gospel shared in an atmosphere of unconditional acceptance, service and love.  Yet such was that Kairos weekend.

And what burst forth from that working of grace and truth was almost unfathomable.  Grudges dissolving.  Hurts healing.  New life birthing. Tears brimming.  Smiles appearing.  Hope restoring.  Friendships forming.

People need to be heard.  People need to be known.  It means everything to them, as I heard one inmate express to a Kairos volunteer, “In my 40 years, no man has ever listened to me like you do.”  It was a brave moment of vulnerability for the prisoner ... and a humbling feeling of unworthiness for the volunteer.

Listening is how we come to understand people.  It’s how we begin to see them as Jesus sees them.  It’s how we come to care about them and to love them ... I mean, truly love them.

And love opens imprisoned hearts, freeing them in truth, releasing them to hope in promises kept. Promises of healing and salvation and restoration.  Promises now and forever fulfilled in the Christ of God.

“Listen, listen; love, love.”  And as hearts open to receive him, “speak, speak” of Jesus.

Who needs for you to listen today?  Who needs your unconditional love?  Whose heart is ready and waiting for you to speak of Jesus?

[To see the daily reading in John 4:27-42, click here.]