And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" (1 Samuel 17:44)
David was not impressed with Goliath. He looked at him and though he was nine feet nine inches tall he seemed very small to this young man. David had big words for Goliath. “Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45)
To the observers of the battle it must have seemed like David had a death wish. I Can hear the announcer now: “In this corner we have Goliath, Champion of the Philistines. In this corner David, leader of sheep.” What would the odds in Vegas be on that match-up? Everybody’s money would be on Goliath. I imagine that some had their eyes closed not wanting to witness the slaughter, while others were preparing to run as fast as they could in the other direction. Not David; “So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:48)
He ran to the fight. Why did he do this? David knew he was small but God was big! What? That is too simplistic you say, but that is exactly why David won. Goliath was looking down at a small David, while David was looking up at a big God. Goliath wasn’t even the issue, he was just a test. David wasn’t trying to assess Goliath’s possible weaknesses, he was looking above Goliath and what he saw there was a God that towers over all his enemies including the foul mouthed Goliath. “For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy.” (Psalm 61:3) In David’s eyes God is who He says He is.
Are you giving your issue more respect than it deserves? Let’s come out of our corner using big words of faith while we look over the head of our opponent up to the One who will win the victory for us. With this outlook you will be the winner every time.
Friday, February 27, 2009
How Do You Smell?
Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
(John 12:3)
This must have been a strange and shocking scene for some of the people attending dinner at Mary’s house. She, seemingly with no notice, pours a pound of very expensive oil onto Jesus’ feet. The value of the spikenard oil was said to be the equivalent of one year’s wages. This does seem to be an extravagant thing to do. This oil could have served many purposes over many years but it got used up all at once and it was gone.
Mary, what have you done? You worked so long and hard for this precious stuff. Now it’s gone. Why?
The answer of course is that Jesus would only be there with them for a few more days and somehow Mary sensed this. Soon her Master would be gone and then the oil would be useless because there was no one else worthy to be lavished with such a precious thing; its fragrance filled the house. Only Jesus was worthy.
The life of a Christian is like this oil. The question is what will we spend our lives on? As Mary did with the oil, let us spend our self for Christ.
Let’s love people; including family, friends and strangers as Christ loves them and gave His life for them. When we are in a dark situation we can be the light as Christ is the light of the world.
Some will say you are wasting your life as Judas said to Mary. As a Christian you are a rare commodity. There are thousands of doctors, professors, scientists, bus drivers, beauticians and athletes to name a few professions, but whatever your profession is you carry the fragrance of Christ to it. That makes you precious. That makes you different. That makes you special in a way that no one can be without having Jesus Christ in their life. The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:15 put it this way “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” People still speak of Mary’s sacrificial act for the Savior.
As I look back on my life I want to be able to say “That smells good. My life was precious oil that carried Christ’s love to others.” It might be strange and shocking to people you know when they see you doing things that are out of the ordinary. Feeding the homeless, visiting nursing homes, teaching Sunday school, praying, reading a Christian book, passing out gospel tracts at the bus stop are things that even the majority of people don’t do. Why be like them? They don’t have the fragrance of the oil.
(John 12:3)
This must have been a strange and shocking scene for some of the people attending dinner at Mary’s house. She, seemingly with no notice, pours a pound of very expensive oil onto Jesus’ feet. The value of the spikenard oil was said to be the equivalent of one year’s wages. This does seem to be an extravagant thing to do. This oil could have served many purposes over many years but it got used up all at once and it was gone.
Mary, what have you done? You worked so long and hard for this precious stuff. Now it’s gone. Why?
The answer of course is that Jesus would only be there with them for a few more days and somehow Mary sensed this. Soon her Master would be gone and then the oil would be useless because there was no one else worthy to be lavished with such a precious thing; its fragrance filled the house. Only Jesus was worthy.
The life of a Christian is like this oil. The question is what will we spend our lives on? As Mary did with the oil, let us spend our self for Christ.
Let’s love people; including family, friends and strangers as Christ loves them and gave His life for them. When we are in a dark situation we can be the light as Christ is the light of the world.
Some will say you are wasting your life as Judas said to Mary. As a Christian you are a rare commodity. There are thousands of doctors, professors, scientists, bus drivers, beauticians and athletes to name a few professions, but whatever your profession is you carry the fragrance of Christ to it. That makes you precious. That makes you different. That makes you special in a way that no one can be without having Jesus Christ in their life. The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:15 put it this way “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” People still speak of Mary’s sacrificial act for the Savior.
As I look back on my life I want to be able to say “That smells good. My life was precious oil that carried Christ’s love to others.” It might be strange and shocking to people you know when they see you doing things that are out of the ordinary. Feeding the homeless, visiting nursing homes, teaching Sunday school, praying, reading a Christian book, passing out gospel tracts at the bus stop are things that even the majority of people don’t do. Why be like them? They don’t have the fragrance of the oil.
Think // Speak // Act
A certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered the temple. (Acts 3:2)
Peter and John were on their way to pray at the temple as they did daily. It must not have been the first time they saw this lame man asking for money, but it was the first time they saw him since they had been filled with the Holy Spirit.
Peter’s thought upon seeing this man in the past might have been thoughts of pity, but now they were thoughts of faith. What can God do for this man? God raised Jesus from the dead. I’m sure he can raise this man to his feet.
Peter didn’t stop and just say a prayer. He took it a little further. “Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6) Peter has not just thought faith but now has spoken faith. I think if it were me, at this point I’d have said, “I’ll pray for you brother, have a nice day,” and moved on into the temple. There’s no hurt in thinking faith. Even speaking faith is not too risky. It’s what Peter did next that makes us cringe with fear. “And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up.” (Acts 3:7a) He actually reached down and yanked the crippled man who had never walked to his feet.
Pete! Are you nuts? I see lawsuit written all over this crazy scheme of yours. Just leave the guy alone. I’m sure if God wants to heal him he’ll reach down from heaven and do it himself.
Peter was not satisfied with just thinking or speaking, he would be content with only one thing and that was giving this man healing through the name of Jesus Christ. The great Apostle acted in faith and the results were as he thought and said they would be. “And immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” (Acts3:7b)
Peter had faith thoughts. The end result was the physical healing of one man, and the spiritual healing of about five thousand who believed on Jesus for eternal life after seeing the power that one can have when he is willing to think, speak and act in faith.
Let’s do as the apostles did: think in faith, proclaim faith and follow up with faith actions as we see opportunities to make known the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Peter and John were on their way to pray at the temple as they did daily. It must not have been the first time they saw this lame man asking for money, but it was the first time they saw him since they had been filled with the Holy Spirit.
Peter’s thought upon seeing this man in the past might have been thoughts of pity, but now they were thoughts of faith. What can God do for this man? God raised Jesus from the dead. I’m sure he can raise this man to his feet.
Peter didn’t stop and just say a prayer. He took it a little further. “Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6) Peter has not just thought faith but now has spoken faith. I think if it were me, at this point I’d have said, “I’ll pray for you brother, have a nice day,” and moved on into the temple. There’s no hurt in thinking faith. Even speaking faith is not too risky. It’s what Peter did next that makes us cringe with fear. “And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up.” (Acts 3:7a) He actually reached down and yanked the crippled man who had never walked to his feet.
Pete! Are you nuts? I see lawsuit written all over this crazy scheme of yours. Just leave the guy alone. I’m sure if God wants to heal him he’ll reach down from heaven and do it himself.
Peter was not satisfied with just thinking or speaking, he would be content with only one thing and that was giving this man healing through the name of Jesus Christ. The great Apostle acted in faith and the results were as he thought and said they would be. “And immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” (Acts3:7b)
Peter had faith thoughts. The end result was the physical healing of one man, and the spiritual healing of about five thousand who believed on Jesus for eternal life after seeing the power that one can have when he is willing to think, speak and act in faith.
Let’s do as the apostles did: think in faith, proclaim faith and follow up with faith actions as we see opportunities to make known the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Seven Envelopes
Several years ago on my birthday I woke up and found a birthday card on my dresser. I didn’t open it. As I proceeded to the next location, the bathroom, I found another card on the sink. The next stop was the kitchen table, then my desk, then the computer station. All told there were seven birthday cards all from my wife, and for some reason I was not interested in opening any of them.
As the day went on there was a lot of busyness for we were having guests over to celebrate later in the day. Unfortunately the joyous occasion was filled with strife and anxiety and I asked myself, why are we even doing this?
Finally before everyone arrived I had to get out of the house, so I took a walk just to get my mind right. That’s when God spoke to me.
I realized how callous I had been to my wife that day. She had taken the time to buy 7 birthday cards and put them in places that she knew I would be to bless me, and I had ignored every single one of them. I then ran home and opened every one and apologized for my cold hearted attitude towards her loving initiations.
Then I pondered how often I have avoided messages from God. His Word is a message of love and forgiveness. The notes are there for all to see yet often we are ignorant of them because the envelope stays sealed.
The verse then came to my mind from Jeremiah 31:3 which says, “The LORD has appeared of old to me, [saying]: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you.”
Then came Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus speaks to us through His word. These are messages of love to heal us, guide us in paths that lead to good things, and to protect us from the dangers of sin. Let’s open up the cards and integrate His message of love into every thought, decision and relationship that we have.
God bless you
Friday, February 6, 2009
I'll Take Two
And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?"
Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."
So he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." 2 Kings 2:9-10
Elisha was Elijah’s “Prophet in Waiting.” It had been revealed to the prophets that Elijah would be taken up to heaven alive and Elisha seemingly would now be his replacement.
Elijah asks Elisha what he wanted from him before he went up and Elisha makes a bold request to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, and he does. Elisha had the nerve to ask this man who, among other things, had stood up to a king, killed the prophets of Baal, raised someone from the dead, and brought down fire from heaven to give him two times the spirit that he had.
When I look up at those who have gone before me and see the great feats of Christian leaders and missionaries I say in false humility, “I could never do that. There’s just no way! If I could be half the man he was, I would be content.” Imagine now if Elisha had asked for half the portion of the spirit of Elijah. What would the future have been like for Elisha? Human attitudes limit the power of the Almighty in vessels of weakness. Why do we say “I hope I can be half the man that he was?, If our marriage could be a 10th of what theirs is, if our kids were a 20th as good as theirs are.” The equations are endless if we want to think that way. It is because we are such nice people. We don’t want to be seen as audacious, or presumptuous. I have an answer for that: Stop being so nice, offend some people with your boldness, presume a little. Don’t worry about whose toes you step on and just go forward in God’s plan for your life. It might be that he wants you to be not the next Billy Graham, but the next _____________ (fill in the blank). Jesus said, in John 14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” You see the truth is that God does not need another Billy Graham, or CT Stud, or Dwight L Moody, or James Kennedy. What God needs is you. He needs you to be a person who is not afraid to ask. Elijah said to Elisha, “You have asked a hard thing.” Jesus says to us in Luke 11:9-10, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
We “are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone].” Ephesians 2:20 The things we do therefore are eternal in the Lord. In 2 Kings 13, after Elisha had died, men burying a friend had to stop because of a military incursion into their land, so they put the body of their friend into the tomb of Elisha. When the man’s body touched the bones of Elisha, the man came back to life. This represents our lives having an affect on people even after we are gone.
We must believe God for hard things. Thankfully we have many examples of men and women who have gone before us who can show the way of faith.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)