I AM____

2 Samuel 14:14 is one of my favorite verses. The old woman comes to David and asks him to allow Absalom to return to Jerusalem. She says “God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.” Isn’t it awesome that God is always looking for ways to bring healing to families and bring people back to himself? Is there someone that God is bringing to mind who does not know him? Pray for them to experience God’s love and power. I remember a story of a woman who prayed for her husband for 50 years to come to know Christ. One day, on Sunday morning, he got up and said “I think I’ll go to church today.” He went and received Christ as his Lord and Savior and never stopped going.

Once Absalom is allowed to return to Jerusalem, David never goes to see him. Absalom even sets Joab’s field on fire to try and get his father’s attention. How hard is it for your kids to get your attention? Finally David is distracted from listening to his people. Absalom uses David’s neglect, to win the hearts of the people by promising them justice. Soon Absalom is able to remove David as king.

Judas’ betrayal is very similar to Absalom. When the guards arrive to arrest Jesus, Judas betrays with a kiss. The guards ask Jesus who he is. Jesus responds “I AM.” I’ve heard that he used the same word that Moses heard when he asked God what is name was. There is definitely power in that name because the guards actually fall to the ground. Does the name Jesus have power in your life? Who is he to you?

My prayer is that I will have a respect for the name of Jesus and allow his power to change my life. I pray that I can focus on the people that God has asked me to serve. I also pray for those who don’t know God and haven’t experienced his tremendous love.

Family Strife

Amnon believed that having his sister Tamar would be the best thing in the world. He devises a plan to bring her into his bedroom. Tamar pleads with him not to force her, but to wait. The king would grant his request and she could be his wife. After he forced her to be with him, his “love” turns to hatred and he demands that she leave. Absalom gets furious and kills Amnon two years later. Then he flees. There’s no doubt that David’s family is in total chaos. It doesn’t like he did anything about the way Amnon treated Tamar. Have you ever experienced someone getting away with a terrible injustice? How does it make you feel? Because of what Absalom did to Amnon, he is estranged from David, but David longs for his son Absalom. I imagine David’s heart is crushed.

My prayer today is that God  will reconcile all the relationships that are estranged. I pray for his protection against any temptation that will destroy my family like it did to David’s family.

Conviction

I definitely appreciate David’s response to being confronted with his sin. Nathan tells a parable of rich man and a poor man. The rich man takes the poor man’s only sheep and uses it to prepare a meal for a traveler. After the story David burns with anger. To me this is how God responds when I sin. David says “Surely the rich man deserves to be put to death.” I wonder what David felt in his heart when Nathan said “You are that man.” What do you think should be the punishment for his sin? David has to go through the death of his son, and more to come. God also tells him that his wives will be given to someone close to him and what he did in secret will be done in plain daylight.  David then confesses that he has sinned against God. Has there been a time in your life when you were confronted with something that you did wrong and you got defensive or blamed something else? It’s too bad that the reading from Psalm today wasn’t Psalm 51 because it shows how David pours out his heart to God and asked for forgiveness.  My favorite verse today is 17: My sacrifice, O God, is a broken and contrite heart that you will not despise.

The New Testament reading parallels the Old Testament reading by Jesus describing how the Holy Spirit will convict. Just like Nathan convicted David, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and he will convict the world of their guilt.

Is there something that you have been hiding? 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins.

My prayer today is that God will give me a heart that is quick to confess and reject sin the sin in my life. Help me to hear when I have done wrong and give me the strength to make it right.

5-26-12 Who's your best friend

This post is for yesterday

I admire how David treated Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, and kept his word that he would show kindness to Jonathan’s family. Mephibosheth’s statement when he is brought to the king is astounding “Who am I that you should notice a dead dog like me?” Mephibosheth was lame in both feet and he had a crushed spirit. What would it take for him to realize how important he is to God?

What happens when you sit back and watch other people fight your battles? What happens if you don’t allow someone to hold you accountable? David quickly found himself getting into trouble. His best friend Jonathan died in 1^st Samuel. In 2^nd Samuel the bible doesn’t mention him replacing that close relationship with someone else. David tried to fill the hole in his heart by taking on more wives. He messed up big time when he took Bathsheba and had her husband, Uriah, murdered.

Jesus gives a great recommendation “Remain in me” as he explains to his disciples that he is the vine. He continues to proclaim that the leaders sinned greatly because they saw the miracles that he performed, and continued to hate him. Once again he asked them to love each other by doing what he commands.

My prayer is that I will humble myself and do what God asks with a cheerful heart. I ask that God will bring more awesome people into my life that I can trust to hold me accountable. I pray that God will give me a heart to show kindness to others like David did to Mephibosheth.

You won the lottery

God did something amazing for David. He removed his enemies and made peace in the land of Israel. What would you do if God wiped out all of your enemies, no one opposed you, and everyone had to do exactly what you said? (It would be kind of like winning the lottery) I think it’s important that David went through a challenging time with Saul because it developed the character that David needed to be a strong leader. When there was peace in the land, David felt guilty that he was living in a palace of cedar and God was dwelling in a tent. David wanted to honor God with a magnificent mansion next to him. If you could build a room in your house for God, what would it look like? Because David had a heart after God, God promised him that he would make his name great. What is the evidence of David’s heart for God? I noticed in Psalms 119 that David asked God to teach him the law. David saw the law as a way of protection. It’s interesting that Jesus tells his disciples in his final days with them that they will show their love for God by obeying his commands. Judas (Not Judas Iscaroit) asked why Jesus intends to show himself to the disciples but not to the world. Jesus’ response is fascinating. He says that “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.”

Is there a part of Jesus’ teaching that I have relaxed my resolve? Do I have David’s passion to know God’s law and follow it? How do I view the law? Am I in rebellion to any part of it?

My prayer today is that I will have a burning passion to know God’s word and apply it in my life. God please give me wisdom and understanding so I can love others.

Disciple?

Peter is very quick to proclaim that he would die for Jesus, but Jesus tells him that he will deny him three times. I admire Peter’s heart and his desire to honor God. David was willing to do the same thing. When the Philistines surrounded him, he did something different than Peter, he inquired of God. David asked God “Should I attack?” God answered him with how to attack. When David followed God’s instructions, he had success. Then he was able to celebrate and worship with all his heart. His wife Michael became jealous because David was dancing in an undignified way before slave girls. Because Michael didn’t worship God whole heartedly, she remained childless for the rest of her life.

Also, John 13:34 is one of my favorite verses. You will know that I am a disciple by the love that I show towards others.

Is there a big decision that you are facing? What does God want you to do? How can you worship him wholeheartedly today? Is envy robbing you of your relationship with God? How can you love someone else today?

My prayer today is that I can remove all the distractions that are preventing me from clearly hearing and seeing God. I pray that I can honor God with the way that I love others and treat them.

How do you renew your strength

The Philistine kings did not allow David to fight against his own people (very smart). When he went back home, the Amalekites had taken all of his men’s family and provisions. They were so angry at him that they wanted to stone him. However, David went to the priest to inquire of the Lord “Shall I over take them?” The Lord responded that he would give David success. Where do you go when you are faced with a difficult situation? How refreshing it is when God promises victory. God gives David another victory. Saul is killed in the battled with the Philistines. Now David has the opportunity to become king.

The New Testament reading today is pretty powerful. Judas loves money more than serving the poor, but he acted like he was concerned about them. The woman poured expensive perfume on Jesus to anoint him. This infuriated Judas because he wanted to sell the perfume and help himself to the money. Is there anything that blinds you to the needs of the poor?

Where do you find your strength? How does God renew your strength? Which of his promises gives you peace?

My prayer today is that I can find strength in the Lord and get excited that he has given me a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. I pray that I can see the needs of others and meet those needs with compassion. 

Who are you listening to?

Saul lived a life of fear. He worried about what others thought. He was afraid David was going to become king etc. Saul’s fear caused him to sin in many ways. Finally, when he couldn’t hear from God he goes to a medium to conjure Samuel from the dead. Samuel gives him a bad report but one that is consistent with his earlier prophesy. Samuel said that Saul would perish because he did not follow God’s instructions and wipe out the evil Amalekites. When Saul heard the news and realized his end was soon, he lost all his strength. There is a huge difference between Saul and Jesus. Because Jesus obeyed everything God told him to do, they had unity. Jesus was able to perform a miracle of bringing Lazarus from the dead. Many people believed in Jesus because of this miracle, but the leaders hardened their hearts and worried about losing their place and nation. The leaders then looked for an opportunity to kill Jesus and Lazarus.

What do you do when you don’t hear from God? Why do I sometimes not hear from God? What do I need to change in order to be like Jesus and the opposite of Saul and the leaders of Israel during Jesus’ time on earth?

My prayer today is that God will give me the strength to evaluate my own life and find areas where fear has a hold of me. God give me a passion to hear your voice and follow your instructions 100%. 

Murder

Saul's downward cycle continues when he killed an innocent priest of God. Saul believed that the priest of Nod knowingly helped David to flee. Saul had all of the priest murdered, and destroyed the women, men, children and infants of Nod. It’s amazing how his envy led to paranoia and he believed everyone took David’s side. It is evident that Satan had a hold of Saul. Jesus mentions in John that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. I imagine that David must have been going through one of the most challenging times in his life. Here he was helping so many people by fighting the Philistines and rescuing towns, yet his life was continually in danger from his own king. I'm blown away that David would continue to fight for Saul even after the way Saul treated him. I like what David said to one of the priest who escaped from Saul’s death sentence “The one who seeks your life also seeks mine, but you are safe here.” Even though the enemy seeks your life, Jesus is protecting you. He is the good Shepherd. My prayer today is that I will continue to do what God has called me to do even when it is difficult. 


I also love the Proverbs of the day "The way of the sluggard is paved with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway." Let's remove the thorns and stand up for what is right.

Betrayal

Jonathan experienced one of the most emotionally painful things someone can go through, betrayal of a loved one. His father, out of envy, wanted to kill David and didn’t confide in Jonathan. When Jonathan found out, he became so angry that he couldn’t eat for an entire day. Has there been someone in your life that has betrayed you? How do you forgive that person? For me it’s a challenge to see the person’s point of view and understand how they could be so blind, but when I do, I find it is easier to let it go. Jesus had to deal with the blindness of the leaders. They refused to believe that he performed this wonderful miracle for the blind man, and focused on the Sabbath being broken. How sad. Consequently, Jesus said that they will remain blind and he could not take away their guilt. My prayer today is that God will open my eyes so I can forgive quicker.