Can you get satisfaction with pride?

Haman definitely had an issue with pride. He boasted to his wife of his great wealth, how many sons he had, the king had just granted and funded his request to annihilate Mordecai and the Jews, and he believed that Esther was honoring him with a banquet. The core belief of pride is “You exist to serve and give to me.” Could the opposite, humility, mean “I exist to serve and help others.” Esther was willing to give her own life to save her people. She submitted to the king’s eunuch and found favor with him. He helped her become queen. Her humility won the respect of the king. When she appeared to him in the courts, he was willing to give her up to half of the kingdom. On the other hand, Haman’s pride led to his destruction. In Chapter 5:13 he says “But all this (the things he boasts about) gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.” He prepared to hang Mordecai because Mordecai would not fear nor worship him. Pride always leads to destruction. Haman ended up honoring Mordecai and hanging from the gallows that he built.

The Psalm for today sums it up well. Psalm 37:1-2 . . . concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God (Me: he has pride) before his eyes. For in his own eyes he flatters himself (Boasts) too much to detect or hate his sin. Verse 4: “Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.” What do you see in your life? Is there any area that you were not able to detect, but that was exposed today?

My prayer today is that God will open my eyes to fear him. Show me the areas I am sinning and teach me to hate it. Help me to have a heart like Esther. Help me to give and improve the lives of others.

Got Wisdom?

Solomon is granted the ultimate question from God “What do you want? Ask anything and I will give it to you.” How did Solomon become the beneficiary of such a wonderful thing? He made a huge sacrifice (1000 burnt offerings. This is an offering of great cost to Solomon and he will not directly benefit from the offering. Other ‘offerings’ could be eaten and enjoyed). What does it communicate when you make a sacrifice for someone? When is the last time someone made a large sacrifice for you? Do feel valued and important? I’m sure that when Solomon offered the largest sacrifice ever made, that God said “Wow, he really believes that I’m important.” What is more incredible is Solomon’s response “Please give me wisdom so I can govern your people well.” Solomon wanted to improve the lives of God’s people. He put others above his own interest. Consequently, God more than blessed him and took care of his needs.  What are you willing to give up for God? How do you think he will bless you for your sacrifice? How will you use that blessing to improve other people’s lives? (Now multiply that blessing times 10 and thank God in advance).

Excellent?

In yesterday’s reading, Solomon asked Hiram, the king of Tyre to help him cut enough lumbar for the temple he wanted to build for God. He gives a great lesson in dealing with people. He says “I will pay you whatever you ask … and I need your help because there is no one so skilled in felling timber than you.” What do you think Hiram’s response was? Have you ever experienced  something like that? How do you motivate people to work for you? This little part of the story inspired me to achieve excellence in what God has called me to do. Solomon never would have recognized Hiram if Hiram was not committed to excellence.

In today’s reading, I love how detailed Solomon was about building the temple. It definitely was a building like no other in magnificence. There is a neat correlation from Old to New Testament today : Solomon built the temple and Stephen, in his speech to the Jewish leaders, says that God does not live in buildings built by humans. God wants to dwell in our hearts. How much room in your heart is there for God to dwell?

Oh No

David messes up again. I’m not 100% sure why counting your fighting men would be considered a sin, unless it is an issue of pride. Consequently, he has to decide from three options how he will suffer because of his sin. David chooses the plague in hopes that God will show mercy. It’s interesting that the bible says that an angel was causing the plague. Also, I love that David was not willing to make a sacrifice that costs him nothing. How much would you sacrifice for God?

The story of Peter and John healing the crippled man is powerful. The crippled man asked for silver and gold, but got a healing instead. He was so excited that he did not want to let go of John and Peter.  Peter gives all the praise to God. He says that it was not his (Peter’s) righteousness that healed the man, but God. God can heal even if we are not righteous. How has God healed you? Is it a physical healing, emotional, or mental?

My prayer today is that God will fill me with his power. I pray for strength and courage to share his love with others.

Your Last words

 David’s last words are challenging and inspirational. He highlights the benefits of leading others in a righteous way with the fear of God. His house is right with God. God has made an everlasting covenant with him and is secure in every part. He will grant every desire that David has. What would you like your last words to be? Would you like to have your family right with God? Would you like to say that you ruled with righteousness and with the fear of God?

When Peter delivered a message to the Jews about Jesus being the Messiah, they were cut to the heart and repented. 3,000 were baptized and accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Later they shared everything and everyone had their basic needs met. The part that stood out the most was when Peter said “Death could not hold Jesus in the grave. He rose from the dead and we are witnesses.”

My prayer today is that I will have a grateful heart for what Christ has done for me. I pray that I am cut to the heart and repent from my sins. I praise you God for being faithful, powerful, and merciful. You are incredible.

When Things Go Bad. . .

I love what David does when a situation goes bad. He inquires of the Lord. “God, why am I not receiving your blessing?” (A famine for 3 years hurts) God revealed that Saul had made a bad decision and tried to wipe out a group of people that he was supposed to protect. Have you ever experienced the negative benefits of someone else’s bad decisions? David had to do something very difficult, he had to allow the Gibeonites avenge Saul’s family by killing 7 of Saul’s descendants. I admire David for doing what is right. Have you recently been asked to do something very difficult in order to do what is right? One of my favorite Psalms is 15:4 Blessed is the one who can keep his oath even when it hurts. Is it best to pay the price to represent integrity?

My prayer today is that God will give me the strength to do what is right. Help me to make the tough decisions. God, I pray for wisdom and a desire to go to you when things are tough. I pray for revelation about what I need to change in my life to represent you more. 

Are you a disciple whom Jesus ______

What does it take to get the title “The disciple whom Jesus loved”? When Peter saw Jesus for the first time, he leaped out of the boat and ran through the water to see Jesus. If Jesus was standing on the shore and you were in a boat what would you do? I love how John calls himself the disciple whom Jesus loved. John 13 tells us that “the disciple whom Jesus loved” leaned on Jesus’ chest. He was the disciple who wanted to be closest to the heart of God. As a result of desiring to know God’s heart, John earned the title “The disciple whom Jesus loved.” What do you think God desires? What is most important to him? What is preventing you from getting to closer to his heart?

David experienced God’s favor in many ways because he was known as the man with a heart after God’s own heart. Because of David’s humility, God took the kingdom from Absalom and gave it back to David. When he returned to Jerusalem, several people confessed that they had sinned against him in the way that they treated David when he left. David forgave Shimei for cursing him and pelting him with rocks when he fled from Absalom. David didn’t even succumb to peer pressure from the leaders to put Shimei to death. How do you respond to those who curse you? What would you do if you had the power to put them to death? On the other hand, Sheba outright rebels against David’s authority to rule. David has to pursue him to end his threatening behavior. Are you in rebellion to someone that God has put in authority over you? Is there a lesson that God wants you to learn while you are under that person’s authority?

My prayer today is that I will submit to God’s law and bless those who are in authority over me. I pray for a heart like  Shimei and to admit quickly when I have done wrong. I pray for wisdom in leadership to know when to show mercy and when to punish rebellion. Most of all I pray for heart after God’s own heart. God please give me a strong desire to know and act upon what is in your heart. Thank you for the awesome people in my life.